{"id":23260,"date":"2024-10-29T22:48:50","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T22:48:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/?p=23260"},"modified":"2024-10-29T22:48:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T22:48:50","slug":"an-exhortation-to-steadfastness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/2024\/10\/an-exhortation-to-steadfastness\/","title":{"rendered":"An Exhortation To Steadfastness"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Posted by permission. Chippenham Old Baptist Chapel<\/a>.]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prayer Meeting Address given at
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Old Baptist Chapel, Chippenham by Mr. G. D. Buss<\/b> on Wednesday evening, 27th December 2017<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, 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.\u201d 1 Corinthians 15:58<\/i><\/p>\n

The Church at Corinth, among many other things, was going through a very testing, trying time. Paul gives a hint of it in writing to his son in the faith, Timothy. There was a man called Hymenaeus, who caused great damage among the Church and the Churches, by suggesting that the resurrection was over and past already, and that there was no such thing as the resurrection of the Lord\u2019s people to be made like unto their Lord and Saviour in that great Day of His return. We read that Hymenaeus overthrew the faith of some. And the overthrowing of the faith of some must have greatly shaken those who were left and must have made them wonder where the scene would end. We read in the eleventh Psalm: \u201cIf the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?\u201d Paul tells us in this chapter that the foundation of the resurrection of Christ is essential for several reasons.<\/p>\n

One reason Paul gives is this: if there was no resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, then there is no gospel to preach. He says: \u201cYour faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.\u201d There would be no prospect of going to glory hereafter. The resurrection of Christ is absolutely essential for the entrance of God\u2019s people into eternal bliss and rest. If there is no resurrection of Christ; then God\u2019s people cannot look forward to a resurrection body. The Lord Jesus Christ, in assuming the nature that He did in body and soul; assumed it for the purpose of redeeming both body and <\/i>soul. At death, the soul is separated from the body and the souls \u201cof just men made perfect.\u201d God\u2019s dear people, who die in the faith, are received into glory. They join that vast congregation that is ever growing around the throne, casting their crowns before the Lamb, crying: \u201cWorthy is the Lamb that was slain.\u201d Their bodies in which they sinned and thus must return to corruption (yet while they were yet in the body, the work of grace was begun, carried on and finished) must, in due season, be redeemed from the dust. An incorruptible, immortal body will be given as eternal clothing to the soul in that great day of our Lord\u2019s return.<\/p>\n

So, Paul is emphasizing these things to encourage the Church, at Corinth, to continue in the faith for it was a stumbling thing to the believers and it was a stumbling thing to those who were preaching the gospel. If there was no resurrection, then how could they continue? It was a \u201clabour in vain.\u201d Thus, the first principle for us, this evening, is that the foundation had not <\/i>been removed. The Lord Jesus Christ was born, He did live here below as the Son of God and the Son of Man, He did \u201cgive His life a ransom for many,\u201d He did rise from the grave, He did ascend on high and He now sits at God\u2019s right hand, clothed in a body like our own.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Man there is, a real Man,<\/p>\n

With wounds still gaping wide,<\/p>\n

From which rich streams of blood once ran,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In hands, and feet, and side.\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Hart<\/i><\/p>\n

And, He is gathering to Himself all those given by the Father to Him to redeem, and to be among that congregation that will never break up and will enjoy the Sabbath that will never end.<\/p>\n

So, the apostle says: \u201cYour labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d \u2018You are to continue preaching this gospel. And, as God may give you the grace, you are to continue believing it, clinging to it and cleaving to it. And, if you want to know where your strength will come from (it must come from somewhere) it is in the previous verse to our text \u201cBut thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d The same victory gained over death, sin and hell and the satisfying of the law is the strength on which the believer draws. It is a well of salvation in his times of need. This is the background to our text this evening.<\/p>\n

But, I want, with God\u2019s help, to look at our text in a slightly different way which may be an encouragement to those of you who are looking into the coming year with some trepidation. You know that you are yet in the body. And, while you are yet in the body, you will be plagued by what you are by nature. You know that the devil will still be busy, and the world will get no better. You realise that you will still have to bear the crook in the lot and the thorn in the flesh with which you are called to live, and the heavy burden that perhaps you are staggering under. Perhaps you say: \u2018Lord, how can these things be?\u2019 Well, here is a blessed exhortation. There is a promise in it. The exhortation: \u201cTherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.\u201d The promise is implied in the last clause: \u201cForasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d In other words, the Lord will give all-sufficient grace. These things you are passing through are not in vain, but they will fall out \u201crather unto the furtherance of the gospel\u201d in the Lord\u2019s own time and way.<\/p>\n

Now, looking at this word, I am reminded of a road not far from here. The A4, which goes up from Calne to Avebury. If you look at the sign, you will see it is called \u2018Labour in Vain Hill.\u2019 It was probably so called because the horses; that used to pull the carriages up, probably had to be changed half way up because it was such a steep hill; or perhaps the passengers had to get out, so they could pull the carriage to the top \u2013 that is just a suggestion. Nevertheless, it is called \u2018Labour in Vain Hill.\u2019 It is a steep hill, and you can imagine it was a tiring work to get up it. And, in a sense, that is what our text is saying: it is a tiring way, it is uphill. Good John Bunyan calls it \u2018Hill Difficulty.\u2019 We wonder, \u2018Will we get to the top? Will we get to a smoother place? Will we get to a place where it will be, as it were, less rugged, less rocky and less awkward?\u2019 Well, here is the answer. It is not labour in vain.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus Christ, your Father\u2019s Son,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bids you undismayed go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Cennick<\/p>\n

The \u2018going on\u2019 is in the strength that He gives.<\/p>\n

Now look at it another way. The Church at Corinth must have reasoned like this. If they were wrong concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, they were wrong in everything. If this one thing were not true, then they had no hope; they were without hope. Sometimes God\u2019s dear people feel to be in that place. There are certain things of which they cannot and dare not let go. If they are wrong in that, they are wrong in everything.<\/p>\n

Two cases immediately spring to my mind. Firstly, let us consider Abraham being called to offer us Isaac. It was a tremendous thing that Abraham was required to do by Almighty God. Perhaps a greater act of faith in the life of a poor, fallen man has hardly been known on the face of this earth. As Abraham toiled up mount Moriah, he must have had many thoughts. \u2018Was he wrong in Isaac, after all? Was this child of promise not the one the Lord had given?\u2019 If he was wrong in Isaac, he was wrong in everything! He could not and dare not give up. Yes, mount Moriah must have been \u2018Hill Difficulty\u2019 for him. And, half way up it must have been made more difficult for him when Isaac himself asked the question: \u201cBehold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?\u201d It was a difficult question to answer, wasn\u2019t it? But the Lord gave the dear man the grace. What was his answer? \u201cMy son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.\u201d In other words: \u2018Isaac, it is not in vain that we are walking up this mountain. This is not labour in vain. Good will come out of it. Jehovah- Jireh will appear.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIn mounts of danger and of straits,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My soul for His salvation waits;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jehovah-Jireh will appear,<\/p>\n

And save me from my gloomy fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Franklin<\/i><\/p>\n

They did get to the top of that Hill Difficulty, didn\u2019t they? At the very last moment, when all seemed lost, the Lord intervenes. Isaac is spared. The ram, caught in a thicket, is offered up in Isaac\u2019s stead. They prove, after all, that it was not \u201clabour in vain.\u201d The Lord was in it. The Lord commanded them. The Lord was in it from the beginning to the end. And, when the Lord is in the beginning of a matter, dear friends, He is in it right the way through, until it comes to its conclusion. That is why David could say in Psalm 138: \u201cThe LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.\u201d May this be a word in season to anyone here tonight who is staggering under the thought of what may lay before them. Sometimes we are like good John Berridge describes:<\/p>\n

\u201cCreatures of fear, we drag along,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And fear where no fear is.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, the end of that little hymn is very precious:<\/p>\n

\u201cO if to me Thy strength be given,<\/p>\n

If Thou be on my side,<\/p>\n

Then hell as soon shall conquer heaven\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I can be destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Berridge<\/i><\/p>\n

Take another example: the two on the road to Emmaus. Their reasoning was this: \u2018If we are wrong concerning Jesus of Nazareth being the Christ, the Son of God \u2013 the One who should redeem Israel, we are wrong in everything.\u2019 That was really the centre of their reasoning as they made their way to Emmaus, before our Lord \u201cHimself drew near, and went with them.\u201d It was a very testing time for them. The very thing they had clung to; this blessed fact: \u201cThou art the Christ the Son of God,\u201d \u2013 if they were wrong in that, then they were wrong in everything. And, when this mysterious Stranger drew near; \u201cJesus Himself drew near, and went with them,\u201d they told Him that if they were wrong in this matter, they were wrong in everything. But He showed them they were not wrong. He began to unfold the Scriptures to them. \u201cOught not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.\u201d As He did so, the crooked became straight, the rough became plain, the mountains were lowered, the valleys were exalted, and the way was made plain. They saw light in God\u2019s light, so much so that by the time they got to the end of that journey they were in the full assurance of faith. Love was burning in their heart, and they proved, after all, that their labour was not \u201cin vain in the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Go back to Manoah and his wife. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah\u2019s wife and told her she would bear a child who would be called \u2018Samson.\u2019 She was told \u201cthe child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.\u201d Manoah, as a token for good, asked that he might see the angel, too. The angel kindly came again with the same message and with the same assurance and did wondrous things before their very eyes while \u201cManoah and his wife looked on.\u201d But, when the angel left, Manoah immediately thought that all had been in vain. He said: \u201cWe shall surely die, because we have seen God.\u201d \u2018No,\u2019 says Manoah\u2019s wife, \u2018this is not labour in vain.\u2019 \u201cIf the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would He have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.\u201d \u2018No, Manoah. You have got it wrong. The Lord does not lie. He is a faithful God. He cannot <\/i>lie. Our labour \u201cis not in vain in the Lord\u201d in this matter.\u2019<\/p>\n

So, there are some wonderfully encouraging instances to confirm the principle of our text this evening. There are three particular labours that are \u201cnot in vain in the Lord.\u201d The first one is this, that labour that comes upon the soul when it is convinced of its sin. Some are convinced more deeply than others, undoubtedly so. But it is labour, isn\u2019t it? The law demands of us what we cannot give; our wretched heart shows its true colours; it has no good thing in it. We are debtors; bankrupt before the Lord. And, until the Lord appears, it does seem to be \u201clabour in vain,\u201d doesn\u2019t it? Until the Lord comes, it appears that there is no way out: there is no deliverance and no door of hope. But the very Spirit who convinces of our sin, then <\/i>leads to Jesus Christ. Is there anyone here tonight under deep conviction of sin? It is a profitable place to be, although not a pleasant place. It is <\/i>a profitable place to be, and you can be sure that \u201cyour labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d If the Holy Ghost is showing you something of God\u2019s holiness and something of your depravity, something of your law-debt, something of your hopelessness in self, and helplessness out of Christ, that is not labour in vain. No. Whom He convinces of sin, in due season, He will lead to Christ: to the cross and to the blood. There you will find what the hymnwriter desires:<\/p>\n

\u201cConvince us of our sin,<\/p>\n

Then lead to Jesus\u2019 blood;<\/p>\n

And to our wondering view reveal\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The secret love of God.\u201d<\/p>\n

J. Hart<\/i><\/p>\n

Then again. Labour in prayer. The Lord Jesus Christ said: \u201cMen ought always to pray, and not to faint.\u201d How often we are tempted to believe that it is labour in vain! Jeremiah thought so. \u201cI cry and shout, He shutteth out my prayer.\u201d \u2018It seems labour in vain, Lord!\u2019 The devil says: \u2018Give up praying.\u2019 But I often think of the widow woman and the unjust judge. Hers was a very poignant case. She had an adversary who had, as it were, the whip hand over her. The judge was a most ungracious, ungodly man whom the Lord had permitted to be in the position to handle her case. He did not fear God, (that was his boast) and he did not regard man, (that was his boast). He only acted on selfish principles. For a long while he would not hear that woman\u2019s case, at all. She must have often thought: \u2018This is labour in vain. Why keep knocking? Why keep asking? He will never change! He will not alter!\u2019 But, friends, God could change him, God could alter him. And, although we do not have any reason to believe the unjust judge was called by grace, what we do know is that the hearts of even ungodly men are in the Lord\u2019s hands. And, in His time He can move them whichever way He will. So, one day, the widow knocks at the door of the unjust judge. To her surprise (not for good reasons, but nonetheless) to her surprise he grants her request. I am sure she looked on that as an answer of prayer. \u2018The Lord did it!\u2019 She looked beyond second causes. Then the Lord went on to say: \u201cHear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God…,\u201d (that just Judge of which Abraham said: \u201cShall not the Judge of all the earth do right?\u201d) \u201cand shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.\u201d Friends, Holy Ghost wrought prayer is not labour in vain. I know sometimes there are prayers without the heart, I know that only too well. Prayers of words alone we sometimes, sadly, have to admit are ours. But there are times when our \u201cheart is inditing a good matter.\u201d When the blessed Spirit works in us to will in prayer and to wrestle in prayer, then we know our text is true. \u201cYour labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d \u201cIn due season we shall reap, if we faint not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thirdly. \u201cYour labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d Friends, the pathway of God\u2019s dear people is ordered. \u201cThe steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.\u201d In any path the Lord leads us in, we will be labouring in it. It will not be an easy path. You will have yourself, the world and the devil to contend with. Whatever path it may be, whatever calling it may be; you can be sure there will be mountains, there will be valleys, there will be thorns and there will be crooked things. You can be sure of it; indeed, you must expect it while you are in the world. But, if God has put you in that labouring position, then you will prove our text to be true: \u201cYour labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d He does not send His people \u201ca warfare any time\u201d at their own charges. When He puts forth His sheep, He goes before them. He has said: \u201cAs thy days, so shall thy strength be.\u201d He has promised never to leave, nor to forsake. Then, you know \u201cyour labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d What a mercy when we are enabled to press on! It is the Lord who enables us so to do.<\/p>\n

And, there may be one here (I know not), who may be greatly tried, greatly tested and greatly tempted as to whether the path you are in is the right one indeed. Will your prayers ever be answered? Will the Lord ever appear? You are ready to sit down and almost despair. Here is a word for you this evening: \u201cTherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast\u201d (in prayer), \u201cunmoveable\u201d (in faith), \u201calways abounding in the work of the Lord\u201d (the labour He has laid on you), \u201cforasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.\u201d There is that lovely word at the end of Psalm 126: \u201cHe that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.\u201d Think of it: when that one set out on that labour, his basket was full. It was heavy. It only became lighter by him continuing in the labour; by him spreading the seed from the basket that the Lord had given him. He proved his labour was \u201cnot in vain in the Lord.\u201d However heavy your seed basket may be tonight, remember, this text is true. \u201cHe that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless <\/i>come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.\u201d That promise he has put in your heart to plead: you will \u201ccome again with rejoicing.\u201d That exercise He has laid on your heart with heavy weight, perhaps over a loved one: you will \u201ccome again with rejoicing.\u201d Friend, the Lord knows the end from the beginning. As good John Bunyan said: \u2018There is no armour for the back.\u2019 \u201cTherefore, 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.\u201d It is \u201cin <\/i>the Lord.\u201d There is your strength. There is your security. There is your guidance. There is your help. There is your hope. There is your success. \u201cBut thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

One final thought. Just think, my dear friends, how our Lord laboured that death might be \u201cswallowed up in victory.\u201d He laboured that the sting of death should be taken out of the grave, and the law satisfied so that it had no more power against God\u2019s dear people. He knew what it was to labour as none other has ever known. Yet, the fruit of that labour, and the victory gained; is the strength for all of God\u2019s dear labouring people. \u201cCome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.\u201d Why is it light? Because He is bearing the heaviest end of it.<\/p>\n

May God add His blessing.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/i><\/p>\n

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The Church at Corinth, among many other things, was going through a very testing, trying time. Paul gives a hint of it in writing to his son in the faith, Timothy. There was a man called Hymenaeus, who caused great damage among the Church and the Churches, by suggesting that the resurrection was over and past already, and that there was no such thing as the resurrection of the Lord\u2019s people to be made like unto their Lord and Saviour in that great Day of His return. We read that Hymenaeus overthrew the faith of some. And the overthrowing of the faith of some must have greatly shaken those who were left and must have made them wonder where the scene would end. We read in the eleventh Psalm: \u201cIf the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?\u201d Paul tells us in this chapter that the foundation of the resurrection of Christ is essential for several reasons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":480,"featured_media":22558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1728],"tags":[1227],"class_list":["post-23260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gerald-buss","tag-spiritual-assurance"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/480"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23260"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23262,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23260\/revisions\/23262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.baptists.net\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}