It Takes Effort!

If you take your Bibles, turn if you would to first Corinthians chapter 15. We're going to begin this morning by reading verses 51 to 58. First Corinthians 15, and verses 51 through 58. We already read verse 58 earlier but I want us to see it in context here. Chapter 15 of first Corinthians, Paul is writing to the Corinthians particularly on the subject of the resurrection.

There had been some at the church of Corinth that had questioned the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul says to them, if Christ was not resurrected, then neither will we be. Our resurrection, our our the rapture, our resurrection, our taking on of a new immortal body that God has promised to us. When we meet the Lord in the air, is dependent upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yea, our very salvation hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For if he did not resurrect, if he is not alive, then we do not have the promise of eternal life in him. So, it's a very important doctrine. But he goes on to say here in verse four fifty one, he says, behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. Paul likes to use the word sleep as a metaphor for the death of a child of God because though our body goes in the ground for a time, our soul goes to be with the Lord one day, we that body will be resurrected and changed.

Behold, I show you mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know, your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Let's pray once more. Lord, thank you.

We thank you for your word today. Pray that you would direct my thoughts. Lord, and my words that they would communicate the message that you have for us today. Pray Lord that you would give us understanding by your holy spirit that you would challenge us and convict us, Lord. That you would encourage us today in your word.

Lord, that you might change us more into the image of your son. We pray, Lord, if there's one here today that is unsure of their salvation in Jesus Christ, that today, they would make that sure. Lord, we thank you for your word that you've given to us and we thank you for this opportunity to worship you today. In Jesus name, amen. The title of my message this morning is it takes effort.

It takes effort. The last couple weeks, we've been talking about faith that works. Faith that works. We learned that we are only saved by grace through what? Faith.

That it is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, our works, lest any man should boast. There's no way for us to earn eternal life. The only way we can receive eternal life is through faith in Jesus Christ God's son who did all the work for us on the cross of Calvary. Suffered hell for us on the cross of Calvary. As he suffered there for the sins of the world that we through faith in him and him alone might be saved.

But we also learn that a faith that saves is a faith that works. And that when we become the children of God, God begins to mold us into the image of his son, that God's desire for us and the holy spirit to whom he has given to us enables us to do his will day by day. To do good works which bring glory to his name. I quoted Ephesians two eight nine a moment ago, Ephesians two ten, the next verse says, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. There are many verses in scripture that has that those two words put together, good works and it is good works that God does expect of those who have become the children of God.

We learned last week that true and saving faith does produce produce fruit in the lives of God's children. We looked at the parable in Matthew 13 of the sower. It is by his grace that we are saved, that we can live by faith as we are told, the just will do repeatedly in scripture. This fruit produced in our spirit by his spirit is the natural outgrowth of walking in the spirit and abiding in the vine. The vine, Jesus Christ.

He is the vine, we are the branches. Galatians five twenty two and twenty three says, but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And as we as God's children walk in the spirit, the fruit of the spirit is produced in our lives. Some produce much fruit, some produce little, but all of God's children will produce fruit in their lives. Furthermore, God is changing us into the image of his son and as and producing spiritual fruit in our lives by his spirit so that we can in turn and will do good works for his glory and the benefit of ourselves and others.

Matthew five sixteen, Jesus says, let your light so shine before men that they may see your what? Good works. Good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. Good works which bring glory to his name. Good works which benefit ourselves and benefit and edify others around us.

Good works such as denying the sinful lust of the flesh, to live a sincere life, free from hypocrisy and guile, being honest in our dealings, just in our interactions with others, people of integrity. As others see that, they will glorify the Lord. A humble life, thinking of others, their needs more important than our own. Being sensitive and considerate of others, seeking not only our own good, but the good of others. A sincere life, a humble life, a merciful life, willing to forgive, going out of the way to be kind to those who are not always kind to us.

That's not human nature, that is divine nature. Long suffering, suffering long with the shortcomings of others, loving them anyway. A life of love for the brethren, for by our love for the brethren, Christ says that others will recognize that we belong to him. A pure life, abstaining and fleeing the ungodly and youthful lust of the flesh and following after the example of our savior. Paul wrote to Timothy, flee youthful lust.

We're to be holy for the Lord our God is holy. A principled life, making daily decisions in the light of God's word and his will. Walking in the spirit. People ask me, pastor, what does it mean to walk in the spirit? Well, what did the spirit give us that we might know how to walk according to his will?

Well, he's given us his word which he uses in our life. By which he guides us. So, walking in the spirit is just walking according to the word of God. In his will, by his strength, following God's principles. A joyful life, rejoicing in the good, and not always bellyaching about the bad.

Not easily depressed or embittered. Christian, are you living a rejoicing life? You should. We have no reason to be bitter. We have no reason to be depressed.

We have every reason to be joyful. A peaceful life, not striving with others but a peacemaker and content with the things which God has provided. But why is it that we seem to struggle so much and so often fail to do those things which we know we should do. Things we should do in gratitude to our savior. Because we love him who first loved us.

In allegiance to the one who gave his life for us. Why is it that we just can't seem to stay living for the Lord and doing good works like we know we should? Why is it that the fire seems to burn low? Our heart grow cold. Our confidence vanish.

Success and victory in areas of our life God has revealed just seem to slip away. Even after we've made heartfelt commitments and sincere decisions. Why does that happen? We blame the pressures and busyness of life. I'm too busy.

That's what some say. We blame the weakness of the flesh. Well, the flesh is weak but if you know the Lord, you have the spirit. We blame our friends. We blame our church, our family, our circumstances.

We say, well, it's just the way it is. We often give up until the next big event. Hey, revival's coming up in the fall. We'll just wait till then. Somehow, I don't think that's God's will.

Sometimes, we quench the spirit. Next time, because we feel failed this time. We feel like a yo yo Up and down and up and down and up and down. Never seeming to find a place of steady growth and joy in the Christian life. That God saved us to experience here and now.

Why is it that we just can't seem to stay living for the Lord the way we know we should? By the way, Paul even struggled with this in Romans seven. He said, the things that I would do, I don't do. The things I'm not supposed to do, those things I do. Praise God as Paul pointed out.

There is victory in Jesus Christ and there is ultimate victory one day at his side in heaven. One of the problems we're going to look at two this morning. My my sermon only has two points. Can you believe that? One problem is that we underestimate the power of God.

We underestimate the power of God. He is bigger and greater than any mountain. Any trial that we must climb. He is bigger. He is bigger and greater than any giant or temptation that we must face.

He always provides a way of escape. If we will take it. He will never leave us. So, we know we need not fear or be dismayed. For he is with us.

Joshua one nine, have not I commanded thee. Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee. Whithersoever thou goest. God said to Joshua, the task that I have laid before you, it's a big one.

But you don't have to be afraid of it, Joshua. Because I will be with you. Paul said something similar to Timothy in the New Testament. God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind because he is with us and he will not forsake us. Do not underestimate his love.

Do not underestimate his strength. Do not underestimate his power. Do not underestimate his spirit. Do not underestimate his word. It is quick and powerful.

It will give you the victory. It will sustain you through thick and thin In first John four and verse four, God says, you are of God, little children and have overcome them because greater is he, can you help me finish it? That is in you than he that is in the world. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Greater is the holy spirit who lives inside your heart than the devil who fancies himself the God of this world.

What you have is greater. Don't underestimate what you have. Don't take it for granted. Tap in to the strength and the power of God in your life. That lives inside your heart.

That you can read upon the pages of his word. We are more than conquerors, the Bible says in Romans eight and nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We do have the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ and we can do all things through Christ who what? Strengthens us. Philippians four thirteen.

However, sadly, we often trust our past experiences. Well, I can't do it this time because I what? I failed last time. So, why bother? That's the devil talking.

Sometimes, we listen to the lies of the devil. You can't do it. It isn't worth it. It's justified. Sinning in this particular case.

We listen to the weakness of the flesh I know you probably struggle with sins in your life like I have at times in my life. In the flesh, the Bible says is weak. In other words, the flesh has no desire or appetite for the things of God and it fights you tooth and nail and sometimes you gotta get tired of the fight. We listen to the doubts of others who say, well, yeah. That would be nice if you did it but you can tell by the look on their face that they don't really believe it's going to happen.

We listen to our own feelings and allow our circumstances to dictate the course of our lives instead of God, his life, his word, his spirit. And so, we fail when the victory is really ours for the taking. We choose to walk in the flesh rather than to walk in the what? In the spirit. Do not underestimate the power of God that lives inside your heart.

For greater is he that's in you than any power in this world. Don't underestimate it. Don't take him for granted. The second reason, I already finished point one by the way. The second one is a little longer.

The second point is this, there is however another reason besides not believing in the Lord's power that we fail. In doing the good works that we should. That is We fail because we fail to put forth the effort. We fail to put forth the effort. Someone said, nothing in this world is worth having if it's free.

Everything cost someone something. For instance, your salvation isn't exactly free. You say, but pastor, the Bible says, and you told us two weeks ago, We're saved by grace and not by works. It's free. It's a free what?

Gift of God. Romans six twenty three. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It's free to those who put their faith in Jesus. You're right.

But it wasn't free. You see this free gift that God offers to you cost Jesus dearly. It cost him the comforts and the privileges of heaven for the dusty streets and the dirt floors of Galilee. It cost him the praises of angels for the name of donkeys and the sneers of men. It cost him pain possibly more than any other man has ever endured.

It cost him humiliation as he hung exposed on Zion's Hill. For all to see. It cost him the sting of sin and death. Which he did not deserve. Separation from the father, punishment for our peace, the price for our sins, our anguish, our hell.

As he cried on that cross, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He knew that the father had not really forsaken him. That is the way he felt. As he suffered. In our place.

It is a free gift to us but only because Jesus paid a terrible price. Only because Jesus put forth the effort. Only because Jesus did the will of his father. Nothing is truly free. The victory and success that we desire in the Christian life.

We have the power within us to fulfill through Jesus Christ. But it is going to take some effort on our part as well. Yes, the power comes from God and all the credit is due him. Yet, we will only succeed in our service to Christ, produce much fruit, and lay up much treasure in heaven if we choose to put forth some effort. In Christ's service.

Yes, Jesus bore our burden of sin on Calvary's cross so we could be saved through faith in him alone but now as his redeemed children, we have a burden to bear. A cross to carry for our Lord. Out of love for him, who first loved us. Galatians six four. But let every man prove his own work.

Then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Now, it goes on that passage to say, bear you one another's burdens. Because part of our burden is to help other carry, others carry theirs. But we do have a burden to carry We do have a job to do.

A task that is laid out before us to serve the king of kings and Lord of lords. It's going to take work. It says in Romans Ephesians two ten again, it says, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto what? Good works. Notice the word works.

What does the word mean? It means toil and labor. That's what it means and it's used many times of our responsibility as Christians in the New Testament. Yes, it takes work, labor, effort, commitment, and yes, being a profitable, fulfilled, and joy filled servant of Christ will cost you something. A great deal actually.

It will take work. First Corinthians fifteen fifty eight again, therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain. Hebrews six ten, for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have showed toward his name and that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. First Timothy four ten, for therefore, we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the savior of all men especially of those that believe.

First Corinthians three eight, now he that planteth and he that watereth are one and every man shall receive his own record according to his own what? Labor. Labor. Do we get the point? We could go on and on and on.

Serving the Lord Jesus Christ comes at a cost. If you're going to build something, it cost something. Jesus says, count the what? Count the cost. Salvation is free to us but bringing glory to God and serving him and laying up treasures in heaven, seeing other people saved.

Now, that's going to take what? That's going to take work. Now, who will give you the strength to do it? Jesus. Jesus will.

But he needs you to take that strength and do it. I can do, do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. If you want your life to count for something in return of value for Christ's sake, you need to expect some hardship and hard work in your future. You had to get up this morning and get ready and come to church That you might worship the Lord and glorify him here today with us. That took a little effort on your part.

From some of you, that took a little more than others. I'm glad to see miss Dolores here today. She's been going through a trial, not for a day or a week or a year, but for a long time. And it may have taken you little effort to get here today. It took her, brother Keith, quite a bit.

Amen. Well, the Lord to be praised for giving you mister Keith. But she's here. Most every Sunday morning. But it took effort and takes effort to get here.

For some of us, it takes very little and yet, for some of us, it's so easy just to to stay home or not bother. If you want to be a successful witness for Christ, you better be ready to endure some persecution and rejection. You'd best be ready to study the book where the answers are found and come forth with a great deal of patience. And forgiveness. It's going to take work.

If you want to be a good teacher, you have to study. You know what that means? It's going to take work and time. Paul said to Timothy, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. You think because you made another decision that this time is just instantly going to happen.

You'll just wake up tomorrow and you'll be the Christian you always wanted to be and it won't take any work to get there. It doesn't happen that way. I remember when I was in high school and the struggles I had as a teenager, and I thought, when I graduate from high school and go to college, I'm going to be a different person. Guess what? I graduated from high school.

I went to college. I was the same person. I thought when I when I graduate from college, I thought when I get married, I thought when I when I became a youth pastor, I thought when I become a pat, it's just things are just going to change. Guess what? You're still the same person you were.

Praise God. You're redeemed. Saint in Jesus Christ but your struggles are still often your struggles and the reasons they remain our struggles is because in many times, we're not willing to deal with them and why don't we want to deal with them? Because they take what? They take work and effort and commitment.

They don't just happen. God has given us the strength. That we have to put that strength. And wisdom in the practice in our lives Turn if you would Second Peter chapter one. Second Peter chapter one.

Give you a minute to get there. We're going to read verses three through 10. Second Peter one verses three through 10. Paul is, I mean, Peter is writing to Christians, at least professing Christians. Many has some things to say to them here and this little letter that he wrote.

We're just going to read a small passage of it here. To be reminded of something that he needed to remind them of. First Peter, second Peter one verse three, according as his divine power, that's the divine power of Jesus Christ, our Lord, hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises but that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Those two verses tell us what Christ has done for us.

In a nutshell. What he can do and his doing by his power in us, by what he will do. And taking us to heaven one day to be with him. However, the passage doesn't stop there. Look in verse five, and beside this, give all what?

Diligence. Diligence. What's that? Effort? Work?

Add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and the temperance patience and the patience godliness and the godliness brotherly kindness and the brotherly kindness charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor what? Unfruitful. In the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore, the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure.

For we do these things, you shall never fall. Peter writes and says to the brethren there, God has done these wonderful things for you, made you partakers of his divine nature and he says, now, as Paul pleads in Romans 12, I beseech you brethren, add, you add to faith, virtue. You add to virtue knowledge. You add to knowledge, temperance. You add to temperance, patience.

You add to patience, godliness, and the godliness brotherly kindness and the brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they shall make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful. Notice, God says to them, you add, you do diligence in your life to add these things as part of your life. As I give you strength, grace to do so. But you have a part.

God will use you. Empower you, guide you in his service, make you fruitful, but you must be willing to do, we must be willing to do as he says. We must be willing to put forth effort to see the fruit what? Abound. And good works bring glory to our God.

In our life. You must be willing to throw out the cigarettes, the beer bottles, the pornography, to shut off the TV, to get rid of the cable, to stop browsing the internet, to stop communicating with that person, to get up and read and study and pray, to make an effort to talk to that neighbor, that coworker, that relative. God says, I'll give you grace and strength but you're the one who actually has to take the cigarettes and throw them in the trash can. Or to turn off the TV set or change the channel or get up and go talk to that neighbor. God says, I will help you but you must step to the plate and you must pick up the bat and swing.

Now, I meant to bring a bat with me this morning and I forgot. Probably safer that way. I'd probably end up hitting some. But God says, here's the bat Now, get up there and swing you're at bat. It's your turn.

He'll guide the bat. He'll empower the swing. He'll sustain you beyond your human limitations. He'll be there to pick you up when you fail and challenge you to try again. But not if you refuse to pick up the bat.

And swing it and step out on faith Brother Al used to play softball a few years ago and there was a particular game. Somebody reported for us so we could watch it back few years ago after men's Bible study. Matter of fact, I got a copy of it. So, I've got it home. If you want to see it sometime.

But but Al was injured but he didn't want to tell anybody. And couldn't really swing the battle that well but it was his turn and the game was on the line. It was near the end of the game. And so he went to the plate and He hit the ball. He made it to first and somebody else hit him around and tied the game and eventually they won.

It took what? It took effort. You had to get up there and swing. Sometimes, we feel great. Sometimes, we feel lousy.

Sometimes, we feel like I can do it and sometimes, we feel like it's hopeless. Don't let your feelings stop you from trusting the Lord. Don't give up. Get up and swing. Matthew sixteen twenty four says, Oops, something happened.

Oh, well. We'll not worry about that. I know what Matthew sixteen twenty four says. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Jesus said, if you're going to follow me, if you're going to serve me, if you're going to follow in my footsteps, then, you need to deny your fleshly carnal lust, your ambitions, whatever they are, and you need to pick up your cross.

Luke says, daily. And follow me It's time for you to pick up your cross. He already picked up his. It's time for you to suffer for his name's sake. He already suffered for yours.

It's time for you to sacrifice for him and others. He sacrificed himself. For you. I have a cousin who writes songs. She lives in North Carolina.

She's never sung them on the radio or the TV or published a CD but she sings em at Thanksgiving. She's got one entitled The Crosses on the Wall. This man walked into this town and he noticed all these people were carrying these crosses on their backs. Some of them, little, some of them, big, all of them different. And wondered what's going on.

They walked into a store and inside the store, the walls were covered with crosses. Every shape, size, color, and she asked, this this is the song. What what are the crosses on the wall? And he explained that they're there. They're free for you to take the one that's for you and to carry for the name of Jesus who hung on one.

And carried it for you. There is a cross for you to carry. There is a burden, responsibility, a task for you. Our task as Christians is basically all the same. It's to serve the king of kings and Lord of lords, to bring glory to his name through our life and to tell others about him that they might know him too.

But each one's a little bit different. Not all of you are called to be pastors or Sunday school teachers or missionaries or school teachers or whatever your career may be but we all have a cross to carry. You say, I want to be a better father then sit down with God's word and search out what it means to be a better father and husband. Ask for God's help to do it. Make a game plan.

Set a checklist. Plan your schedule. Be a better father. But it's going to take what? It's going to take work.

You want to be a better witness? Sit down with God's word. Learn the Romans road. Learn the gospel. Practice it.

Pray. Schedule a time to go. Write a list of coworkers to pray for. Find a way to mention Christ. Be in a better witness but it's going to take work.

You want to stop smoking? Sit down with God's word. Memorize the scriptures that apply. Stop hanging out with the people that smoke and going to the places they go. Throw away your cigarettes, your lighter, your ashtray.

Don't buy anymore. That sounds awful easy to me. You know why? That I've never smoked. But for people that do or have that's a pretty difficult task but it's not an impossible one.

If you know Jesus. But it will take work. Over the next at least three weeks, we will be looking deeper into God's word to see what it is we must do to stay tuned in to God, on fire for the Lord, and victorious, victorious over sins in our lives. It's going to take dedication. It takes discipline and it takes dependence on the Lord.

If you want to be saved, you need to trust Christ. You can't do it. He can. All you have to do is trust him. Call on him in faith and he'll save you.

He promised he would. He did the work on Calvary's Cross but have you called out to him in faith, repented of your sins, and trusted him as savior? If not, the rest of the sermon wasn't for you because without faith, it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. First, you must come to him by faith.

Then, then, you can begin to work for him. And if you want to succeed in living for Christ here, be a profitable servant. You must learn to trust in the Lord, obey his word. And then put forth some effort. In a moment, we're going to sing a song, an invitation song.

It's entitled Only One Life. It's three ninety five in your hymn book. I want to read just a little bit about the song before we sing it to close the service today. It was written by a lady by the name of Avis Margaret Bergson Christianson. Probably don't recognize her name.

But she's the one who penned the words to the song we're about to sing. I am reading part of an article written by a man by the name of Robert Cottrell from a website called Word Wise Hymns. This is what he says, almighty God has given each of us but one life to live. After that, we have an appointment with our maker. The Bible says, it's appointed on the man wants to die but after this, the judgment.

Man's days are determined. The number of his months is with God. He has appointed his limits so that man or he cannot pass. Job fourteen five. The dust will return to the earth as it was and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes twelve seven. Then, each of us must give an account to the Lord for God will bring every work into judgement including every secret thing whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes twelve fourteen. One life, not two or 20. If my mathematics are correct, the life of seventy years will contain twenty five thousand five hundred and sixty eight days, six hundred and thirteen, six hundred and thirty two hours, thirty seven million minutes approximately.

When we're young, that may seem to stretch out before us almost forever, but as the years mount up, the limitations of time begin to seem more serious. Another day gone in a flash, was it well spent. C. T. Stud, a missionary to China famously wrote this little poem, Only one life, 'twil soon be passed.

Only what's done for Christ will last. Let's pray. Dear heavenly father, we thank you Lord. For this opportunity to worship you today, to serve you this day, to make decisions in accordance with your will, to follow through by your grace and strength, To pick back up whatever task that we might have set down to renew our dedication to the task that you have set before us, to confess our sins that maybe standing in our way, to deal with them however hard it may seem. Lord, grant us grace today and determination from you and by your spirit.

Yes, the flesh is weak in Christ, we are strong. Lord, help us to keep the task before us every day, to keep Jesus before us. Lord, that we might put forth the effort by your grace. And see the fruit abound to your glory. We pray if there's one here today that's never trusted Christ as savior.

We pray most of all that they might come today and be saved. In Jesus name, we do pray.