David Livingstone had been fleeing from those who would kill him. During his 16 years in Africa he had never been in such danger before. Facing certain death, he sat down at a riverbank and opened his Bible. Under the cover of darkness he was tempted to slip away to his safety. In his journal on that day of January 14, 1856 he wrote, “Felt such turmoil of spirit in prospect of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and this teeming population knocked on the head by savages tomorrow. But I read that Jesus said, ‘All power is given Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s an end of it! I will not cross furtively tonight as I intended. Should such a man as I flee? Nay, verily I shall take observations for latitude and longitude tonight, though they may be the last. I feel quite calm now, thank God!”

In his entry he underlined the words, “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” What a powerful truth this is that we often forget. This missionary pioneer, fleeing for his life, was not alone. He was accompanied by the sovereign Christ to whom all power was given, not only in heaven, but also at that very spot in Africa. God delivered David Livingstone that his missionary work might continue.

It was 100 years later in January 1956 that 5 young missionaries where in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador endeavoring to reach the Waodani tribe for Jesus. The other tribes called the Waodani people, Auca, which means savage. If you saw the movie “End of the Spear” in theaters these last few weeks you know that those 5 young missionaries gave their lives to tell these people about Jesus. God did not deliver this 5 men that His (God’s) missionary work might continue.

In our Scripture the Apostle Paul is writing to the early Christians at Corinth. The context of the 15th chapter is Paul’s teaching of the resurrection of Jesus climaxing in the promise of Jesus’ second coming. Listen again to verse 51, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” Verse 57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is verse. 58 that serves as our focal point this morning: “Therefore my dear brothers stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

I praise God and am humbled by those in our church who serve Jesus and the ministry of our church—those who are leaders and those who faithfully labor in the trenches embodying the presence of Jesus to so many people of all ages. Jesus calls us not only to a transformed heart and life, but we are also called to serve and to work alongside Jesus to accomplish God’s great plan of salvation for all people.

Small and seemingly meaningless words often loom large and are often extremely important. Take prepositions for example. In verse 58 Paul says, “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Note he did not use the preposition “for,” but rather used the preposition “in.” Is there a difference between ‘working for’ and ‘working in?’ Working for God means that we try to think what He wants done and then go and do it for Him. When we finish, we expect to have His approval and reward. The subtle emphasis on this perspective is upon us, the worker—how well we did, how much we accomplished, what we sacrificed, how competent we are in doing Kingdom work. The emphasis is on results and the focus in on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of serving the Lord. It becomes working “for God,” and nothing more than carrying out an assignment. It quickly becomes “religious work,” and often very quickly becomes “work”—dull and laborious, a drudgery that doesn’t inspire, encourage, lift, or excite. It becomes something that we ‘have to do’ rather than something that we love to do. Our serving, our work “for Jesus” is done in the flesh, i.e. in our own wisdom, strength and determination, and that can leave us dry and empty.

Paul says here and it is the tenor of New Testament teaching, that our “labor in the Lord is not in vain.” The difference is between working ‘for the Lord’ and ‘working in or with the Lord.’ The dry bones of working for the Lord as epitomized in Ezekiel’s prophecy, comes alive with the fresh wind of God’s Spirit working in us. The dry deserts and places of working for the Lord become times of thirst quenching as we drink deep from the River of Life in Jesus. This difference between ‘working for’ and ‘working in’ is a small idea with enormous consequences. In working ‘for Jesus,’ we often set the pace, the stage, and the place. It is our work and we want God to bless what we do. In working ‘in Jesus,’ He sets the pace, the stage and the place. He provides the wherewithal to accomplish great things. He infuses us with His energy, with His grace, with His power, with His patience, with His love, with His joy, with His Spirit. And it makes all the difference in the world.

Why does it make all the difference in the world? Look back at the previous verses---because Jesus rose from the dead and because Jesus is coming back! Therefore to you who are ministry leaders of SUMC and to you who serve Jesus, “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Keep looking East. What do you see? Here in our sanctuary we see the cross of Jesus. When we look beyond the cross to the eastern sky, what is going to happen? Jesus is coming again.

As the redeemed people of Jesus Christ, we are anchored in the cross of Jesus and we are setting our eyes to Jesus’ return. Know that your work in the Lord is NOT in vain!

Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message.
May God Use These Words to Help You and Strengthen You.