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Abounding Always

Mark Dunagan
12/17/17 - Sunday Morning

Abounding Always

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

I am impressed that God views the Christian life as a life in which one is always abounding. Decades after he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts chapter 9), the apostle Paul viewed whatever time he had left on his earth as being a period of fruitful labor (Philippians 1:22). Never do I find Paul saying that he had reached a time in his life where all the doors of opportunity were closed. As he ended the letter to the Corinthians, opportunities still abounded (1 Corinthians 16:9). Even when in prison, there were many opportunities (Philippians 1:12-13). Even near the end of his life, he was still needed and there were still great openings to spread the gospel (2 Timothy 4:17).

Always Abounding Rather than Arriving and Declining

In this life, people often think that they have arrived, or that they have crested and are on the downhill side of life. Thus I have heard people speaking as the honeymoon being the peak of the marriage experience and everything fades after that. Or, that the glory days of a person’s life are either in High School or College. For many people, turning 30, 40 or 50 is the transition point from going uphill to going downhill. This can be very depressing, because there is a lot of marriage left to be lived after the honeymoon and lot of a life to be lived after 30, 40 or 50. 

• Paul never spoke of himself as “arriving” at a peak of spiritual experience or knowledge.  Rather, he simply spoke of himself as reaching forward and pressing on (Philippians 3:13-14).
• The passage we started this lesson with, 1 Corinthians 15:58, speaks of continual growth and meaningful activity for the Christian.
• Paul did speak of decline in our physical body, but at the same time spoke of renewal in our spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16). 

In 2018: Work Still Needs to be Done

• “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
• “In all things show yourself an example of good deeds” (Titus 2:7).
• “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed” (Titus 3:1).
• “So that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds”(Titus 3:8).
• “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

I am amazed that God has entrusted the most important work in the world, that of sharing the gospel with men and women and helping them grow and live the Christian life, to God’s own imperfect people. Even in the First Century when God communicated directly with certain individuals, the task of reaching the lost and teaching them God’s truth was always given to mere human beings (Acts 8:26). This will be still the plan in 2018. Rather than viewing this as a duty or unwanted assignment with a lot of pressure attached to it. We need to view this as a compliment and a privilege. 

The Unnamed Heroes

In Hebrews chapter 11 there is a list of individuals who manifested the faith that finds favor with God (11:6). Yet there were many others, who are not named: “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of… and others experienced” (Hebrews 11:32-36). These verses are filled with unnamed heroes, people who did great things, yet they are not mentioned by name. Every generation contains many believers who are like that. Each congregation has them. Hard working, serving, sacrificing, and doing very important work behind the scenes. Just ordinary people doing extraordinary things for God, and God wants each one of us being like that. After given this list of heroes, named and unnamed, the Holy Spirit exhorts the audience receiving this letter to walk in the same path (Hebrews 12:1-2). Which means that each one of us can be and needs to be a hero of faith in our own time. 

The Progression of Nicodemus

When we first encounter Nicodemus, we find that he has come by night to talk with Jesus (John 3:1-2). Next we find him defending Jesus to his fellow Pharisees who wanted to arrest and condemn him: “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” (John 7:51). Finally, we find him coming forward, along with Joseph of Arimathea, taking the body of Jesus and preparing it for burial (John 19:39-40). Some have said that Nicodemus is the opposite of Judas. Judas moves further and further toward the darkness, while Nicodemus is moving further and further toward the light and taking a public stand for Jesus, instead of against Him. If you have been kind of holding back, let this be the year that you step forward and take a very public stand for Jesus. Let this be the year that you really invested yourself in Him.

Telling Your Story

After healing the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes, the people requested that Jesus leave (Mark 5:17). The man that Jesus had healed was begging to go with Jesus (5:18). Yet Jesus told him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you” (5:19). My question for us, are we telling to those around us what great things God has done for us? Are we freely sharing how God has displayed mercy in our lives? Or, are we being quiet about it?

Remembering it is Personal

When the gospel was spread in the First Century, it was not the result of big and expensive programs. Rather, much of the evangelism done in the First Century was the result of simple, yet personal efforts that were not part of any humanly designed program. The Great Commission is very personal in nature (Mark 16:15). The church in Antioch was started by individuals simply teaching others about Christ (Acts 8:4-5; 11:19-20). So I would exhort us all to take an active role in our own lives in this area. As I grow older, I am very aware of the limited amount of time that I have to make a difference in the lives of others (John 9:4; Psalm 90:10).

Who Will Live in Me This Year?

“For I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).

• This last year, did people see Jesus living in me? If not, let us make the decision, that this year, what will come through us, will be Jesus. There is a lot at stake here. People need to see Him, far more than they need to see you and me.
• Along those lines, Jesus loved people, He loved the lost (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28). Do I love people, or do I find them annoying? 

I Need to Share This With Others

When the Prodigal Son looked back upon his former home, he said after coming to his senses, “How many of my fathers’ hired men have more than enough bread” (Luke 15:17). Even non-family members who were around the Father’s house never lacked. The reality is, that in our relationship with Jesus we an abundance of blessings (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3). We cannot keep this all to ourselves, we must share it with others!

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net