“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, 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.” –1 Corinthians 15:57–58, emphasis added
As those of us in America enjoy Thanksgiving tomorrow, it is truly time to celebrate. The whole world is being confronted with the reality of sin and brokenness. Our cries for the coming of Jesus are growing louder! This morning, we climb up a little bit higher and see things from Heaven’s perspective with the cross in view. We are going to choose to take hold of one truth: we have the victory! We are the triumphant ones in Christ. We are supernatural carriers of hope because of Jesus. We have reason to overflow with gratitude all of our days, no matter what this all looks like. We can face the giant or face the battle and write the word “Triumph” over it. The story isn’t done, and we know who wins!
“The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.” –Isaiah 42:13
Whatever your situation or trial is, see the word “Triumph” written over it. Receive that promise, even unfulfilled right now, fully complete in Christ!
I want us to look at the word “labor” in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “… your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” The meaning behind this statement is that your labor in the Lord is not empty or resulting in nothing. Do you know that the word “labor” is actually associated with grief or sorrow and even trouble? It’s interesting to me that Paul doesn’t disregard this intimate part of being seated, persistent and firm, increasing and overflowing, and yet “‘In this world you will have trouble,’” Jesus said. “‘But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).’” Yes, victory is ours, immovability is ours, increase is ours. And yet in this world, our labor or work can have pain, tears, and suffering associated with it.
Being in the Lord and trusting you’ve heard clearly does not mean it won’t come without tears and pain. In fact, you can count on two things: every calling will be tested, and before every breakthrough, there will be a battle. He sees the finished prize, and yet He rejoices in the process. He is faithful to carry us in the process. No one and nothing can snatch you from the hand of God. Come hell or high water, you are in Him, sealed with His Spirit, and He’s coming back for you.
Your labor and your pain in the Lord are not in vain!
I need you to hear these words because, as we move from glory to glory, we become more like Jesus. He takes the areas of our lives that need to be shaped and pruned and purified, and if we will hand them to Him, we will put His glory on them. And we will look more and more like Jesus. Your pain and grief and sorrow are not in vain because you are in the Lord. Your God will never fail you; He will never forsake His own. Why? Because your triumph was written by the blood of Jesus on the cross.
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” –Hebrews 11:32–40
If you trust Him for the victory, will you trust Him in the trial?
Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Even when we are walking in perfect union with Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, we are going to face toil and trial. We will begin to view it from the perspective of God the more we walk with Him in deeper intimacy. We will realize the necessity of gratitude to be the game changer for acceptance and embrace. And on the flip side of the pain will be the redemption of God. He will cause the pain and suffering to bring the overflow and even greater authority for ministry! The Lord is enlarging our capacity to carry more of His manifest power and presence through our lives. None of what you have gone through or are going through is in vain because you are in the Lord. But if it is not processed by the Word of God and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, this is where we can begin to believe the whispers of the enemy, and our faith can begin to waver.
So today, let’s stand on the precipice of our tumultuous days and give Him praise. He knows how this story ends. Until we see that day come, our only option is to praise Him!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” –James 1:2–4
He is making you complete so that you will not be lacking anything. And the outcome of the pain is He will redeem and return to you sevenfold what the enemy has stolen. Take heart; you are secure in Him, and He is for you. Today, let’s just praise Him and give Him thanks for His triumph and tenderness to His beloved Bride.
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