A timely message in preparation for the new year. This powerful presentation will energize listeners to value their time in serving and glorifying our Living God in whatever capacity a person can be because Jesus is the only promise keeper, our source of blessed hope.
A timely message in preparation for the new year. This powerful presentation will energize listeners to value their time in serving and glorifying our Living God in whatever capacity a person can be because Jesus is the only promise keeper, our source of blessed hope.
Original Title
1 Corinthians 15=50-58 Jesus Christ My Living Hope
A timely message in preparation for the new year. This powerful presentation will energize listeners to value their time in serving and glorifying our Living God in whatever capacity a person can be because Jesus is the only promise keeper, our source of blessed hope.
A timely message in preparation for the new year. This powerful presentation will energize listeners to value their time in serving and glorifying our Living God in whatever capacity a person can be because Jesus is the only promise keeper, our source of blessed hope.
I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 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. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 JESUS OUR LIVING HOPE JESUS: OUR HOPE FOR CHANGE AND IMMORTALITY INTRODUCTION: Mystery refers to truth hidden in the past and revealed in the New Testament such as the RAPTURE of the Church which was never revealed in the Old Testament. Mysteries may plague our thoughts without understanding how our Lord Jesus will work for our eternity which leads us to be more concerned with our worldly affairs. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 INTRODUCTION: No matter how hard we work to amass the wealth of this world and prolong our lives, our days are held by our Savior. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:27 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Psalms 90:10 1. HOW SHOULD WE WISELY SPEND OUR DAYS IN THIS WORLD? 2. TO WHOM SHOULD WE PLACE OUR HOPE? 50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. God desires for us to prioritize our spiritual life rather than our physical and perishable lives. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63 Empowering our spirit shall strengthen our flesh to conform to the will of our God. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. Romans 8:9 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32 Since flesh and blood cannot inherit eternity, how can we use it to attain immortality? Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 How should we hope and prepare ourselves for action? We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 1. BEAR IN MIND HOW GOD WILL TAKE US. Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. Luke 12:43-44 Our service to God is a sign of meekness therefore remember His words. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 How should we hope and prepare ourselves for action? When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 2. DECLARE THAT DEATH HAS NO HOLD IN US. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” John 8:51 How should we hope and prepare ourselves for action? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56 3. GET RID OF SIN AND SIN NO MORE. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. Romans 6:12-13 How should we hope and prepare ourselves for action? But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 4. BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR VICTORY IN CHRIST JESUS. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18 CONCLUSION Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 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. 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. John 5:28-29 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 CONCLUSION TO WHOM SHOULD WE PLACE OUR HOPE FOR CHANGE AND IMMORTALITY?
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test
yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5 Giving God our lives through our LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ONLY HOPE FOR CHANGE AND IMMORTALITY.