Topic: Don’t Be Among The Miserable Believers
Speaker: Pastor Adesoji Oni
Text: 1 Cor. 15:19

1 Cor. 15:19
19.)If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.

You need to understand that God chooses His words carefully, so in this life we have hope in Christ, living in this miserable world.

John 10:12
12.)But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock].

Hope is a feeling and expectation for a particular thing to happen. If this life is the only place we have hope, we are off all men miserable.
Jesus can do anything concerning us if we follow him.

Luke 18:28-30
28.)And Peter said, See, we have left our own [things–home, family, and business] and have followed You.

29.)And He said to them, I say to you truly, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

30.)Who will not receive in return many times more in this world and, in the coming age, eternal life.

God broke our blessings into two that we stand to benefit here on earth and eternally.
On Earth He has given us power as in;

John 1:12
12.)But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.

Luke 10:19
19.)Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

Isaiah 54:17
17.)But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

Also He has promised us healing and Deliverance as in;

1 Peter 2:24
24.)He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

Galat. 3:13-14
13.)Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified).

14.)To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.

2 Corin. 8:9
9.)Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving them an impulse to sin].

He has promised us all round provision as in;

Psalm 23:1
1.)THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

All these promises made by God are real, these are the tangible promises that we can behold, but there are some blessings that we cannot see, yet by faith we are assured that the One who made the promise will fulfil his words. For example, the Bible makes it clear that all our blessings are in Heavenly Places an we have blessings in Eternity as in;

John 3:16
16.)For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Luke 10:17-20
17.)The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!

18.)And He said to them, I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from heaven.

19.)Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

20.)Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.

Jesus sent the 70 and they returned with great joy as they laid hands on the sick and they recovered, they were able to cast out demons in His name too, but He said in these rejoice not.
The reason of this message is because a lot of people want to hear only the gospel of excitement and prophecies of miracle money deposits in their bank accounts, although the Lord still blesses people but He will use people to bless you. He can lay in the heart of people to give you something as in;

Luke 6:38
38.)Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.

So, there are still gifts given by men, the truth is we must have the understanding that these are not the main things we are after and if we go after the real thing it will lead you to the other things. In otherwords, what brought about the power is the fact that your name is written in the Book of Life. Looking at financial blessings, the Bible says that Jesus became poor so that through His poverty, we will become rich.

Matt. 6:19-20
19.)Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20.)But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

When Sowing into peoples lives, you’re laying treasures for yourself and the rewards will come to you in this world and Someday also you will be rewarded in the Lord’s Kingdom.

Col. 3:1-2
1.)IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2.)And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

Most of us have so much focused our attention on the things of this world that we have lost complete sight of the world to come, as a matter of fact one day every one of us will leave this planet earth and we do not know when it is going to be. So, why would you break your head on everything available on earth?

When you lay hold of eternal life you are guaranteed here on earth and also in Heaven

1 Tim. 2:12
12.)I allow no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to remain in quietness and keep silence [in religious assemblies].

What does it mean to lay hold on eternal life? It means to grab it tightly.
In Christ we have every blessing, but today it is those blessings that are diverting our attention from the real core of our calling.

We must be sure that our focus is on that day(His second coming)

Matt. 6:25
25.)For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

Do not think about what you are going to eat nor the cloth you are going to wear, nor the house you are going to live in, because your Father in Heaven already knows that you need all these, but seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, then every other thing will be added unto you(No Exception).

When times of need arises most times the Lord always comes at the die-minute(Close to the end). Look unto to God at such times.
The Bible says, I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help, my help comes from the Lord the creator of the Heavens and the earth.
Sometimes, God wants to test you and see how faithful you are to Him, but many of us have put our minds on a lot of things and have lost sight of the main(Substance) and pursue the shadow. Everything we have on earth is temporal and it cannot be compared to the eternal wage of glory which surpasses all.
Reference:
2 Cor. 4:17-18
Hebrews 11:13

When the borehole drillers are drilling a borehole, when they get to a level, they introduce a drilling bit, they bring out a substance from the ground, then when they see a kind of sand that guarantees that they have entered into a clean pool of water, then they draw a conclusion. So, until we get to heaven, we cannot relax ourselves but continue to forge ahead till we see Jesus in Glory.
Therefore, Don’t Chase after temporary things, focus your heart on the things in Heaven, riches will fail man, possessions will fail man, but remember if you pursue Heaven every other thing will be given unto you by God.

In John 3:27;
27.)John answered, A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from heaven. A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source.

What is your pursuit in Life? are you among those who Paul said they are of all men most miserable? or is your focus on the kingdom and yes you believe that God will supply all your needs, if not today you are encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then watch and see if God will not every other thing available to you

Summary: Don’t because of what you stand to gain now lose sight of the great blessing.

*Prayer: Put your right hand on your chest and say “Heavenly Father, Whatever is in my heart, that will make me lose sight of eternity, I give you the permission, Uproot them Lord”