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…It is no doubt that we live in a declining culture. Our day has rejected God
and His wonderful Word as a basis for government, education, family, and
morals. Therefore, we are, as a people, stumbling into the dark. The Bible
tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach unto any
people.” And, “the nation that forgets God, will be thrown into the sea.”
Remember, “God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, he reaps…”
…We are already seeing Christians suffering persecution… Our world is
tolerant of everything, except Biblical Christianity. The moment you quote
Jesus who said, “I am the way…” you will feel the heat of hell. Without a
revival in our land, we can expect even more persecution. What are we to do?
How shall we live?
…Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers who also lived in a pagan land. His
words to them are instructive for us.
FIVE
PRINCIPLES TELLING US HOW TO LIVE FOR CHRIST IN AN INCREASINGLY DARK LAND.
As we lose the biblical foundation that our country was founded upon, there
will be greater persecution for the followers of Christ.
I. We
Must Be Alert, And Not Fall Into A Spiritual Stupor. (v 13)
…this means we must not be spiritually indifferent and listless.
A. The
word itself means to be vigilant, to be awake, to watch.
…the Christians in Corinth seemed to be in a spiritual and moral stupor. They
had allowed the pagan ideas to come back into their lives and destroy their
faithfulness to God.
B. We
are told in the Bible to be alert to many things: “watch out for:”
1.
The Devil. (1 Peter
5:8-9) We should learn his strategies…(1 John 2:16)
2. Temptation.
(Mark 14:37-38) Jesus, “could not watch and pray for 1 hour?”
3.
Apathy and
indifference. (Rev. 3:1-3) The church at Sardis, “Wake up!”
4. False
teachers and pastors. (2 Peter 2:1) Be on the lookout for them…
II. We
Must Be Firm, And Stand Upon The Truth Of The Word. (v.13)
A. The
word means “to hold your ground,” as if your were in a battle. The word
“faith” used in this verse does not mean the faith of trusting, but the faith
of truth. Stand firm in the doctrines that you have been taught. Don’t
waver. Be firm in your convictions, even when you feel the pressure to
abandoned them… (Jude 3) So, don’t be carried away by every new teaching.
B.
Satan, cannot take
saving faith from you, but he can obscure the content of your faith, and wrong
belief will lead to wrong behavior.
C. To
be firm, then means we must be well taught. Give yourself to knowing God and
His Word.
III. We
Must Conduct Ourselves In A Manly Way, Evidencing Great Courage. (v.13)
…when times are easy, great courage is usually not needed. But our times are
different.
A.
This is
a dramatic word, stressing masculinity. “be men of courage” One man writes,
“the mature person has a sense of control, confidence, and courage, that young
believers don’t have.”
B. Paul
had already plead with them (14:20), “don’t be children in your thinking.”
Grow up!!!!
C.
How does a believer
grow and mature? (1 Peter 2:2) “by longing for the pure milk of the Word.”
…the Bible provides spiritual and moral mourishment. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Read
it and more…
D. We
must move forward with great courage as we serve the Lord in this challenging
day.
IV. We
Must Become Strong In The Lord, So That We May Do God’s Will. (v.13)
A. This
is a passive word. It doesn’t mean that we find this strength in ourselves,
rather it comes to us only as we submit to Christ. (Phil. 4:13) “I can do
all things through Christ who…”
…as we submit ourselves to Him in prayer, He is delighted to give us the
strength we need.
…another thing is true, we grow in strength as we use our strength in the
Lord.
B. We
are so weak. He must strengthen us. (Isaiah 40: 29,31) “They that wait upon
the Lord…”
V. We
Must Be Loving People In All That We Do. (v.14)
…this is written “without end.”
A. Without
this love, the other four principles could make us rather crusty, militant,
and hard. Love softens. Love complements and balances everything else. The
Corinthians needed love…
B. Peter
told us, “keep fervent in your love for one another…” (1 Peter 4:8) This
love comes from the Lord. (1 John 4:7) “…let us love one another, for love
comes from God.”
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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