Right Now Counts Forever

Right now, counts forever 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (Nkjv)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a [a]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O[b] Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Recap 

• • Fresh and blood cannot inherit or be part of the kingdom of God 
    • The perishable cannot inherit the imperishable – (and in closing)
  • Paul reveals a secret: we will not all die, but in an instant, we will be transformed 
  • When? – Now, maybe now …I could be going to work in the morning and before I even start my car, boom here we go 
  • This here keeps me heavenly focused
  • In a blink of an eye, the trumpet will sound and the King of King, Lord of Lords will be back to take us up and away 
  • It will be so epic that the dead will be raised to live forever, and they will be transformed – what a day (Joy & joy or fear or sorrow)
  • Death will be swallowed up in victory 
    • Oh death, where is your victory 
    • Oh, death where is your sting 
  • Just like that, Jesus overcomes death and for those who love and are devoted to the Lord, death will be vanquished forever 
  • Paul writes, thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ – it’s because of Jesus’s sacrifice that this is possible
  • He concludes with our FVC verse of the year “therefore my beloved, be Steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord 

• This evening, I want to speak to you about being immovable 

• • • not moving or not intended to be moved
    • Steadfast, unyielding- Not capable of being moved 
    • An example: despite tears and pleading, the police officer was immovable on the matter of a hefty fine for speeding

• You as a Christian has been called to stand firm – to be immovable 

• Ephesians 6:11(Nlt)- Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

• 1 Peter 5:9(Nlt) – Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers[a] all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

• Philippians 1:27 (Amp)- Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one [a]mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.

• 1 Corinthians 16:13(Amp) –Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong.

• Philippians 4:1(Amp)- Therefore, my [a]fellow believers, whom I love and long for, my delight and crown [my wreath of victory], in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved 

• • It’s interesting that in most cases the word STRONG comes up when you see the word firm 
  • No one want a weak person and especially when it counts – No one thrives in a weak spouse, dad or mom, leaders, friend or even a weak car 
  • Being strong and courageous (Standing firm) in Christ is a recipe for Victory in Jesus name    

• Ephesians 4:14(Nkjv)– that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ( Strong Mind)

• • Here is my question, in a society that keeps on changing the meaning of words, What’s the standard?

• The standard according to the Word of God is to always be ready- Be immovable

• Matthew 24:44 (Amp) Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

• • Vs 51 Behold, I tell you a [a]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
  • In an instant we are transformed, we are made new, and our lives are changed forever
  • Those in Christ have a new life and those not in Christ also have a “new’ life 
  • Paul is reminding them to keep eternity in the forefront of their mind 
  • It’s one thing, to adhere to a standard that makes you look great on the outside, only to realize that the same standard disqualifies you when it counts 
  • Jesus speaks of this in a parable- That if we don’t adhere to God’s standard, its easy to have a standard that seem right, until it’s put to test
  • Jesus tells a parable about the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins in Matthew 25

• Matthew 25:1-5 (Nkjv)Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

• • • Let’s give credit where its due, all 10 took a step of faith 
    • They probably left 99% of the other people in the city – I liken it to Church on Wednesday
    • They were intentional -it could be easily said, look at these great Christians 
    • They prophesy, cast out demons, speak in tongue and even teach others- at this point you cannot tell between the 5 foolish ones and the wise ones
    • They thought they had what it takes to make it to the end (They thought they had time!!)- they were comfortable
      • I will change my ways tomorrow, give up that thing tomorrow, make that relationship right tomorrow
    • Its easy to put cruise control in this Christian Walk, the plate is spinning, let’s just check in every other day and just give it a touch 
    • Half were intentional, while half were not. – Litmus paper test (alkaline vs acidity). Where are you bro? Where are you sister?

• Matthew 25:6-10 And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

• • • All those virgins arose and did the Christian thing, they read their Bible, they prayed, they even worshipped, they fasted, consecrated themselves  
    • The Bible says even the fooling trimmed their lamps 
    • But they said, give us some oil our lamps are going out- how many of us know that if we don’t have a deep relationship with the Lord we will easily weather and die
    • We can look ready and healthy for a minute, but the truth is that outside this church walls death is imminent 

•  John 15:5 (NLT) Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing(dead)

• • Jesus said that the door was SHUT!! All the preparation, the separation, only to have their guard down when it counted!
  • Folks right now count forever! – What you are doing today/who you are/your current desires counts, and we cannot be passive about our Christian Walk

• Matthew 25:11-13 Nkjv “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.

• • • And here again we see the same Horror words: “I do not know you! 
    • I understand that most of us if not all know God, but does He know you?
    • Are your in a relationship with Him, I am not talking about an acquaintance, of a friend or you are a “follower”, do you know the mind of Christ 
  • Immovable means, that you are firm in your relationship with Him as He is with you 
  •  Remember that life changing, History Changing, life transforming, lives changed forever moment that happened 2000 years ago? 
  • That was God being Immovable for our sake 

• Romans 5:8 (Ampc) But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

• • Are you immovable? Remember your relationship with God right now counts forever!!!

• Philippians 2:12 (Ampc) Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [a]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

• • Right now, counts forever – not the success of the past, but right now 
  • One of the most sobering verses in the Bible is when Samson, the bad boy in the Bible – Caution to all single ladies, those “bad boys” future is already written, they wake up with eyes plucked out and taking out everyone with them
  • Samson, the strongest man in the Bible – granted amazing gift of strength, and a huge potential to make a difference in the Kingdom of God, but doesn’t (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) the work set before Him 
  • He is seduced by Delila to reveal his secret about where his strength comes from – and while he slept, she called for his hair to be cut and this is what the Bible says: 

• Judges 16:20 (Nkjv) And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

• • His past strengths and success did not come to his rescue. NOW is what counts! Now
  • Right now, your relationship with the Lord- Right now brother and sister 
  • We can’t allow anything today to affect our forever 
  • Eternity is too long to get it wrong!!
  • Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready!

• Because we know death is defeated and we have an eternal, resurrected destiny with Jesus Christ, we should stand firm and unshakable all the more for Him right now. We should work hard in everything now, working for the Lord, because right now counts forever!