“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

I. WE ARE ASSURED OF FUTURE GLORY

Romans 8:18 – For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17:  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

1 John 3: 2-3:  Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

II. WE ARE CALLED TO GOD’S PURPOSE

1 Corinthians 1:9 – God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Timothy 1:8-9:  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

III. WE HAVE THE VICTORY!

Romans 8:31-32: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58:  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

SYNOPSIS

Often time, as saints in the Lord, we are faced with an array of challenges

and difficulties. It seems as if we are losing the battle, even to the point of just throwing in the towel and giving up. This is exactly what the devil expects us to do. Give Up!

Nevertheless, we must not give up, and we must keep on keeping on knowing that our labor is not in vain. Our work unto the Lord is not meaningless nor worthless. In fact, our work unto the Lord is both victorious and glorious!     We have this confidence of our future glory with the Lord and that we are called according to his purpose. And finally, we have the victory, “our labor is not in vain.”

The promise of God in 1 Corinthians 15:58 is encouraging and empowering. It is crucial to know that the apostle Paul is not just writing to the leaders in the church, but rather his message is to the laity as well.

           

What Is Your Calling and Purpose for Living? 

{Your Passion That Fuels Your Heart Desire for The Work of

The Ministry} – In relation to 1 Corinthians 1:9

“The Compassion of Jesus” — In relation to our labor in the Lord. Matt. 9:35-38 / Luke 8:40-53

“All Things Working Together” – In relation to our calling and purpose. Rom. 8:28

“Why Is Our Labor Not in Vain?”   — What every believer should know. 1 John 3:1-3

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16

The Church is more than a mere building; it is the living body of Christ. Its effectiveness is not confined to a physical space, nor does it rest solely upon a few individuals. God has called all of us, especially the laity, to be the light of the world, allowing our lights to shine, and glorifying our Father (Matthew 5:14-16). The impact of the Church, both in the collective (big C) and in our local congregations (little c), shines brightest when every individual’s light has the opportunity to shine.

In Church culture, there’s a tendency to place emphasis on the preaching microphone as the ultimate expression of ministry. However, ministry exists within all of us. Whatever our roles may be – nurses, teachers, encouragers – everything we do should be ministry.

Consider the story of Joseph, who was, in fact, a layperson. When Pharaoh, a secular king, had dreams that he couldn’t shake, he learned of a young inmate whose light shone through the gift of dream interpretation (Genesis 41:9-13). Joseph’s God-given skills would prove crucial in saving the nation from famine.

Pharaoh sought Joseph’s counsel, and Joseph essentially crafted his own job description. As he revealed God’s plan to save the nation, Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was the only one who could execute it. This recognition not only led to Joseph’s release from prison but also to his promotion as prime minister of the nation, allowing his light to shine in a way that was beyond what he could have imagined in Canaan (Genesis 41:37-45).

It is critical to understand that Pharaoh did not ask Joseph to lead a national prayer meeting or put on a clergy collar and deliver sermons. Instead, Pharaoh recognized the value of Joseph’s existing God-given skills, urging him to lead a non-preaching, non-credentialed secular undertaking. That alone will preach.

Joseph’s gifts and talents were not only crucial for the king but also instrumental in saving the entire nation, including God’s chosen remnant – which today is the Church. Although Jesus has already paved the way for the Church’s preservation, we need to recognize that each of us possesses unique gifts, tailor-made to meet specific needs in our local churches.

Jesus was a problem solver, and as His representatives, we are likewise called to be problem solvers. A life of salvation is a life of continuous problem-solving. Therefore, it is a disservice to the world and a dishonor to God if we restrict problem-solving and light-shining to the pulpit. Each of our local churches is full of opportunities for us to make a difference, and each problem awaits a spirit-empowered problem solver, representing the ultimate problem solver – Jesus Christ.

Today, more than ever, the laity matters. So, laity, shine forth, shine brightly, and witness how God receives all the glory through your shining. After all, the laity in ministry know that it makes no difference who gets the credit as long as God gets the Glory. (Dr. Kyle J. Boyer)

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