The Rescuing Soldier

Hello and welcome to everyone!  Our God is so good, so faithful, and so true.  I want to pray again before we start this message.  My prayer is that He would speak into our time today.  We come to this place expecting to worship Him and to hear His Word proclaimed.  And yet, I do not want to presume upon our great God.  We have the promise that we can approach His throne with boldness and confidence.  

This week, I was reading in the book of Mark.  I read the story of blind Bartimaeus.  Bartimaeus was a blind beggar on the road leaving Jericho on the way to Jerusalem.  He heard that Jesus was passing by amongst a great crowd.  He began crying out, “Jesus, have mercy on me!”  The people rebuked him and told him to shut up.  But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said to the people, “Call him.”  They called the blind man, and it says Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.  Jesus heals him and says, “Go your way.”  He immediately recovers his sight and follows Jesus on the way.

I had two thoughts.  First, when Jesus calls us, we should throw off anything that is holding us back, jump up, and come to Him.  Don’t hold back.  We need to have the eagerness and expectation of Bartimaeus.  Then, after his healing, Jesus gave Bartimaeus the option to go his own way.  We need to make sure our way is following Jesus, that our way becomes His way.

Let’s come together to our God.

Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we come to You.  Everyone in this room needs You.  Each on of us needs You in increasing measure in our lives.  I pray that You would help us to lay aside anything that we are carrying this morning which is a distraction or contrary to what You would desire for us to hear.  Make our needs transparent to us.  Show us our weaknesses plainly that we can cling more tightly to You.  Let us not walk in pride or arrogance.  Let us not act in ignorance or folly.  Chasten us and discipline us.  Guide us in the way that we would follow You rather than any other way.  Our hope and trust is in You.  In Your Name, Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Over the last weeks, we’ve been talking through about how the Christian life shares similarities with a soldier’s life.  We are called out, set apart.  Passages in II Timothy point us toward discipline and diligence, enduring hardship as a good soldier.  We talked about the importance of relationship and interdependence in the body, how there are a host of “one another verses.”  We support one another, look out for one another, and carry one another’s weaknesses.  Ephesians 6 guides us through the armor of God, our equipment for the battle.  We also talked about several of the challenges we face as “soldiers,” things that can get us off track from our mission.  It was fantastic to take a Scriptural lens and put it over the different areas where we can struggle or get discouraged.

Today, we’re going to take the offensive so to speak.  We’re going to talk about our mission and the life of a rescuing soldier.  In many ways, the last weeks have helped us to see how to rescue and support one another within the body in our trials, dealing with issues like anxiety, shame, lust, bitterness, depression,  and covetousness. Let’s turn our focus outside the body of saints.

We’ll start with the granddaddy of them all, the Great Commission.  These are among Jesus’ last words to the disciples.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

This is the mandate that Jesus left the disciples.  Because all the people of the earth, all nations, have not become disciples or followers of Jesus, this instruction, this commandment, is still applicable to us today.

I don’t know how you feel about the Great Commission.  For a long time, I would say that I had a “Great Commission” allergy.  I would read those words, and I would just feel guilty.  I would worry.  Am I making disciples?  Am I fulfilling the Great Commission?  I think in large part, I felt uncomfortable because I didn’t really understand what fulfilling the Great Commission meant.  I put a large emphasis on my own accomplishments and skills.  If I wasn’t persuasive enough, then I wasn’t going to succeed.  Over time, I have come to realize that the Lord and specifically the Holy Spirit is doing the convicting and convincing.  I just need to be faithful to sow seed.  I need to be a witness, somebody who says what they know and have seen.

Acts 1:8 is also one of these key sending verses.  These are the last words that Jesus said before he ascended into heaven.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

The power comes from the Holy Spirit, not from our cleverness or skill.  God does equip us for action.  We can learn ways to be better communicators of what God has done and is doing in my life.  But, it is not “me.”  It’s Him at work in me.  So, let’s all take a deep breath.  Whew.  Let’s take Jesus seriously both with the Great Commission, but also His promise that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  If the burden of Jesus in our life is heavy, then there is something wrong with our expectations, our understanding, or our power source.  But, we’ll talk more about that later.

Right now, let’s talk about aspects of rescuing.  Who needs rescuing?

Proverbs 24:11 says, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”

Who are those being led away to death?  Romans 3:23 and 6:23 form a couplet.

“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

“the wages of sin is death…”  Romans 6:23

What is a wage?  A wage is what you receive in payment for the work you do.  What do we get as payment for our sin?  Romans 6 says we get death.  Romans 3 answers the question of whether someone can avoid sin.  “All have sinned.”  Earlier in the chapter, quoting the Old Testament, it says, “there is no one righteous, not even one.”

What is sin?

That’s a small word with a big impact.  I John 3:4 says, “sin is lawlessness.”   Deuteronomy 9:7 has the idea of “rebelliousness toward God.”  Sin is anything we do against God or against another person.  

I’ll give you an example.  On Friday, someone approached me at work and said that I could not allow a group of parts to ship without talking it over with a third person who was not available.  Now, the funny thing about the situation was both the messenger and I were in agreement that the parts could be shipped.  However, I did not ship the parts because I knew I had been told not to.  If I had sent the parts, that would have been sin because I would have knowingly offended that person.

The consequence of sin is lasting.  Jesus said,

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”  John 8:34

The book of Isaiah says,

Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.  Isaiah 59:2

That is why we need to be rescued.  We can be messengers and witnesses who rescue others with the truth.  But, the big “R” Rescuer is Jesus Christ.  His rescuing us from sin is called a “free gift” in the Bible.  It is the free gift of righteousness.  Jesus makes things right between us and God.  How does he do it?

He made things right between us and God by dying on the cross.  The Bible also talks about our sin being like a debt between us and God.  Our sin is like a withdrawal, except we don’t have any way to earn our way out of debt.  The Bible says all our righteous acts (the good things that we do) are like filthy rags because they are tainted, made dirty by our sins.  They are worthless to make things right between us and God.

Jesus lived the perfect life.  There was no sin in Him.  There was not even any deceitfulness in Jesus.  Can you imagine?  I can’t imagine.  Even though I rarely act on my deceitful thoughts any more, I can’t stop them from popping up.  I always find myself seeing ways around problems that would involve some deceit.  That same situation I told you about from Friday, I immediately thought, “Well, I could just wait for the messenger to leave, and then I can do whatever I want, and no one will ever know.  And if they do, won’t it be easier to ask forgiveness than ask permission?”  That’s not in the Bible, but it is tempting to think that way, isn’t it?

II Corinthians 5:14 says,

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  II Corinthians 5:14

Baptism is in part a symbol of our identification with Jesus death.  When we go under the water, it is a picture of our death to our sinful nature.  Romans 6:7 says “because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

How do we have a part in Jesus’ rescue from sin and death?  Well, it is a gift.  How do we receive a gift, like a present?  We have to take the gift and open it and use it.  It is the same way with the gift of salvation.  Romans 10 is clear on that:

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”  Romans 10:9-11

If you make Jesus Lord, that puts him above all other things in your life.  So, you must give up your old life.  The Biblical word for this is “repent.”  Repent means I turn away from my sin and turn to Jesus.  With Jesus as our Lord, we have assurance that we are saved from our sins and we will live with Jesus forever in heaven.

So, where do we come in as rescuing soldiers?

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.  Jude 1:20-23

We studied through the book of Jude last summer.  Here is some practical instruction for us.  We need to stay fed in the Word.  We need to spend time with one another, encouraging one another, and building each other up.  Prayer is key, talking to God about our problems, confessing, admitting to our sin, interceding, asking Him to save our friends and family.  Colossians 4:12 describes how Epaphras was “always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”

We also get a share in rescuing others.  We need to be merciful, gentle, and kind with those who doubt and do not believe.  In II Timothy, it explains this in more detail:

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.  II Timothy 2:24-26

But we also should snatch from the fire those who we can so that they can be saved.  Who should we look to rescue?  In the parable of the banquet, the master tells the servant

“Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”  Luke 14:23

We can go out.  We can go door to door.  We can meet people in the streets or shops or markets.  We can help rescue people we have known for a long time or maybe only a short time.  We read Acts 1:8 which talked of being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria, and the ends of the earth.  We should be open to reach anyone, anywhere; across the street, across town, far away from home.  II Timothy also talks about how we should be prepared in season and out of season.  I Peter says it this way:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

I Peter 3:15-16

Then, how do we know who and when to share with?  Our motivation and direction should be the Holy Spirit who is inside us.

For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me.  Job 32:18

For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!  I Corinthians 9:16

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.  Colossians 1:29

The Greek word behind contend is agōnizomai, the same word we get the English word agonize from.  This is a serious endeavor, not a light or trivial battle.

The last phrase from Jude 1:30 said that we should “show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”  The simple idea that I draw from this is that we are to guard our hearts.  Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  Likewise, Jesus said, “For out of the overflow [abundance] of the heart the mouth speaks.”  (Matthew 12:34)

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  II Corinthians 10:4-5

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.  Colossians 2:8

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

Above all though, do not be afraid.  We are never alone.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

With the time that we have left, I want to come back to the idea of our power source.  What is (or should be) the power behind the rescuing soldier?

Ecclesiastes 6:10 says, “no man can contend with one who is stronger than he.”  I think we have the answer already.  We are soldiers on the winning side, but the Lord is the true Rescuer.  He has been working this out since man first sinned in the garden.  In Exodus 3, God tells Moses, “I have come down to rescue [the children of Israel],” (v.8) and He did.

I found this verse, and it made me think that I should give all of you a trumpet!

When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.  Numbers 10:9

 

I don’t think that God is constrained to rescue us only when we blow a horn.  But He does love for us to be dependent or perhaps it is better to say to recognize our dependence on Him.  I think about the horn Susan was given in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  Even the mighty warrior Boromir had a horn to call for help in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Speaking of rescue stories, one that I love is when Joab and Abishai were faced with the Arameans before them and the Ammonites behind them.

Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you.  Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.”

Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.  II Samuel 10:9-14

Knowing Joab, I wonder if he ever even considered the option which appears to me first of all.  What if both of us are overcome by our enemies, then what?  However, his attitude is the right one.  Let us be strong and courageous, fighting bravely for our people and our God.  Then, we leave the results up to God, and He will do what is good and right.  And so, it worked out even better than Joab had said.  Both enemies fled before them.

There are many other great stories of people contending in their faith.  Two of the most well-known are in the book of Daniel.  If you’ll permit me, I’m going to read both of them.  First is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago where King Nebuchadnezzar has made a golden idol, but the three young Jews will not bow down to it.  We’ll pick it up where the King is addressing the young men.

“If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, O king.”

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”  Daniel 3:15-29

Their response has to be the epitome of gentleness and respect.  They did not compromise and stood firm in their love of God.  They would not worship a false god even if it meant their life.  Here also is Daniel’s experience with the lions’ den.  This one was a setup where the enemies of Daniel had a law crafted such that Daniel would have to be executed.

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:

“May you prosper greatly!  I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”  Daniel 6:13-27

No wound was found on Daniel “because he had trusted in his God.”  There was no hysteria on Daniel’s part, just quiet assurance in God.  We likewise should take confidence in God’s ability to deliver us whatever the circumstances.  Psalm 34:22 says, “The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, Colossians 1:13

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  II Timothy 4:18

We have such great promises and such a great God.  There is no reason for us to fear.  We can come again and again to the living water and be refreshed.  In addition, we can assume our role as a rescuing soldier anointed by God.

Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives be rescued from the fierce?  But this is what the LORD says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.”  Isaiah 49:24-25

Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.  Revelation 1:5-6

In my own life, I have felt more and more recently that God is more than able to do something with my old life.  I begin to catch a glimpse of God’s sovereignty in a more tangible way.  It’s not that I haven’t seen God answer prayer before.  It’s as if I am having a dialogue with God in real time.

A funny one from our trip to Nepal:  we were traveling in two different cabs.  Our driver was much faster.  We quickly got separated as our driver was more aggressive.  I prayed that God would get us both to the same location.  I prayed that we would not get lost, especially at one point where our driver slowed and called someone on his cell phone.  Still, the other cab was nowhere in sight.  Suddenly, the horn stopped working in our cab.  A cabby without a horn in Nepal is light a knight without his sword.  That poor driver just about went crazy over the next 10-15 minutes.  No one would yield to him.  For a while, he had pulled the cover off the steering wheel and was working on it while driving.

This week at work, I needed to make a decision whether or not to address a personnel issue.  I prayed about it, "God what should I do?"  I needed an answer before the next afternoon.  I had a phone call in the night and then a couple of conversations in morning that gave me clear direction.  In that particular case, it is really a chance to “rescue” someone from a dangerous personal situation.  I don’t know how it will ultimately be resolved because it depends on how the other person decides to respond, but I know that God is sovereign in it and I can depend on Him.

You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make your saving help my shield, and Your right hand sustains me; Your help has made me great.

You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

Psalm 18:28-36

I was sharing with another believer in a different state whom I had met years ago.  I said there is nothing that I cannot do that God needs me to do.  I kind of did a double-take at my own words.  Did I just say what I think I said?  Yes, I did.  And, I really do believe that.  Why shouldn’t I?  Why shouldn’t we all?

God is able to strengthen our arms and give skill to our hands.  He can put His words into our mouths.  We can be equipped for the battle and gain the victory with Him.  Here are several verses from Exodus that talk about this equipping.

Exodus 28:3 The Lord spoke to Moses, “You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill.”  God fills the skillful with a spirit of skill.

Exodus 31:3 The Lord spoke to Moses about Bezalel, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.”  The Holy Spirit is not only a deposit guaranteeing our salvation.  The Spirit is able to work out in us ability and understanding.  The result of God’s work in our lives will be stunning to behold.

Exodus 34:10 “All the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.”

When we take time aside to connect with God, we should not be afraid that we will somehow get behind in the rat race.  Exodus 34:24 promised the Israelites “no one shall covet your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God.”  If no one would covet their land, how much more will God guard the things of our lives when we “go up to appear before” Him.  We need not fear.

I don’t know how you’ve thought of your own “efforts” in regard to your treasure in heaven.  Jesus told us not to store up treasures on earth, but rather store up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy (Matt 6:19-20).  There was a song written by an artist named Eli.  It’s called The Lumber Song.  It’s about how little lumber a man “sent” into heaven, so he ends up living in a shack in heaven.  Every time I have traveled on a short term mission trip, that song comes to mind when I meet the believers who live and strive, rescuing others amidst their poverty, and I think that I will live in a shack in heaven.  But it’s not a sad thought.  It would be a blessing just to go home and to see Jesus there.  Living in a cardboard box in heaven would be great.  Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”  Better to stand outside at the door of the house of God than to have a secure place inside the dwelling place of the wicked.  I get it.  I’m okay with that.

But, it won’t be like that.  It can’t.  Just the sight of our Savior will transform us.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  I John 3:2

We will all be changed—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. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 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. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Corinthians 15:51-58

Let us be about the work of our Savior.  Let us pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You that we shall be changed.  Thank You that we will be raised imperishable.  Thank You for Your many precious promises.  It is a joy to follow all Your ways.  May we have eyes fixed on You.  Shine Your light into our hearts and give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  May that light direct us to those who we may rescue by Your grace.  It is in the name of Jesus that we pray.  Amen.