[NN] [PREACHING LESSON 19:] A CHALLENGE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH: ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD

 

A CHALLENGE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH: ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD

 

(1 Corinthians 15:58) 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.

 

INTRODUCTION:

The Lord Jesus Christ is our prime model for always abounding in His great ministry.

 

( John 9:4-5 ) [4]I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

[5]As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

1. THE GREAT COMMISSION IS THE ULTIMATE REASONS TO ALWAYS ABOUND IN THE WORK OF THE LORD.

 

Christ commanded the Church to go into all the world to preach and share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with a lost mankind.

 

( Matthew 28:19-20 ) [19]Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

[20]Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

2. THE GREAT VISION FOR MISSIONS REQUIRES URGENT ACTION

 

The missionaries of the Lord Jesus Christ must move with urgent action to fulfill the great vision for missions. When God gives a vision, we must respond immediately.

( Acts 16:8-10 ) [8]And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

[9]And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

[10]And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

 

* Without a clear, God-given vision for the lost, the spiritual condition of the people decays.

 

( Proverbs 29:18 ) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

 

3. THE GREAT HARVEST OF PRECIOUS SOULS NEEDS THE ABOUNDING ACTION OF CHRISTIANS.

 

The spiritual fields are ready right now, and we must pray for and become the answers to the shortage of workers in God's harvest.

 

( John 4:35 ) Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

( Mathew 9:36-38 ) [36]But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

[37]Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

[38]Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

 

4. THE GREAT HOPE FOR HOPELESS AND HELPLESS PERISHING PEOPLE IS ABOUNDING SOULWINNING

The local church must always be ready to do an abounding work, rescuing lost people from the sure judgment of eternal hell.

 

( Ephesians 2:12 ) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

 

* When the church dedicates itself to prayer, leadership, and the ministry of the Word, God multiplies the results.

 

 The Church are always ready to do an abounding work to rescue the lost people in a sure judgement in eternal hell forever.

 

( Acts 6:4-7 ) [4]But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

[5]And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

[6]Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

[7]And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

 

5. THE GREAT CHALLENGE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH IS TO ALWAYS ABOUND IN LOVE FOR LOST PEOPLE.

 

( 2 Corinthians 5:14 ) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

 

* The Jerusalem Church showed great love and unity daily, which drew people to Christ:

 

( Acts 2:46-47 ) [46]And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

[47]Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

* The Apostle Peter also demonstrated a deep concern for the lost to be saved on the Day of Pentecost:

 

( Acts 2:41 ) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

 

God bless you all always!