Abounding in the Work of the Lord

TEXT:  1 Cor. 15:58

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OURS IS A LIFE OF WORK( 1 Cor. 3:9 ).

B.      WE SING OF WORKING FOR THE LORD - TOLD TO ABOUND.

C.      WHAT DOES OUR TEXT SAY?

I. "MY BELOVED BRETHREN"

                - WORK BELONGS TO ALL.

A.      NOT JUST A PREACHER( 2 Tim. 4:5 ), OR ELDER( Acts 20:28 ).

B.      ALL MUST DO THEIR PART( Eph. 4:16 ).

C.      THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BUT NO EXCEPTIONS( Rom. 12:3-8 ).

II.     "STEDFAST, UNMOVABLE"

                - A BASIC REQUIREMENT.

A.      A CONVICTION IS NECESSARY FOR THE TRUE WORKER.

          1.       The Corinthians were hindered by a lack of conviction.

          2.       Paul had the glue to stick to it( 2 Tim. 1:12; Acts 20:24 ).

B.      ZEAL IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT CONVICTION( 1 Cor. 15:19 ).

III.    "ALWAYS ABOUNDING"

                - PERSISTENCE IN OUR WORK NECESSARY.

A.OURS IS A RELIGION OF "ALWAYS."

          1.       Col. 4:6; Phil. 4:4;2:12;1 Pet. 3:15.

          2.       "In season and out of season"( 2 Tim. 4:2 ).

B.      SPASMODIC SERVICE IS UNACCEPTABLE!

          1.       Sunday only.                                      3.       Things are going good.

          2.       When praised.                                    4.       Old age or youth only.

C.      "HOT" + "COLD" = "LUKEWARM" ( Rev. 3:15-16 ).

IV.   "ABOUNDING"

                - THE FERVOR OF THE WORK.

A.      "ABOUND."  perisseou - "TO BE OVER AND ABOVE, TO EXCEL."

          1.       Above and beyond the call of duty.

          2.       More than just enough to get by.

B.      ABOUNDING SERVICE IS WILLING( Titus 3:1 ).

C.      ABOUNDING SERVICE IS FERVENT( Rom. 12:11 ).

D.      IT IS FROM THE HEART( Eph. 6:6 ).

E.      IT COMES FIRST( Mat. 6:33 ).

V.    " YE KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN"

                - THE MOTIVES OF THE WORK.

A.      CONTEXT - THE RESURRECTION.

B.      OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN.

          1.       It bears fruit( James 5:19-20;Mat. 5:16 ).

          2.       Its effect increases( 2 Cor. 9:6, 11 ).

          3.       It brings great reward( Gal. 6:8-9 ).

VI.   "OF THE LORD"

                - THE NATURE OF THE WORK.

A.      DOING HIS WILL HONORS HIM( John 4:34;Phil. 1:20 ).

B.      HIS WILL( Mat. 7:21 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ABOUND IN THE WORK, ABOUND IN THE BLESSING.

B.      WE NEED TO ABOUND( John 9:4 ).

C.      WORK FOR THE LORD IS IN JESUS( John 15:4-6;Gal. 3:27 ).