Subject: Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus
Text: I Corinthians 16:13-14
Introduction: Using these verses of Scripture, I want address the subject: Standing for Jesus. “Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus” is the theme song for the Life Member’s Council of the AME Zion Church. The hymn is really a call to service, but it is also the challenge of every believer. How do we stand up for Jesus in a generation that is not willing to stand for much? In this closing chapter of I Corinthians, Paul gives directions as to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem and his desires for the Corinthian Church. He promises to visit them, and even to winter with them. He then makes a series of tender personal references, and so brings the great epistle to a close. First, he is concerned about the ministers who would follow him, especially Timothy. He encourages the church to receive him, help him and be a blessing to him. Then Paul encourages the church to “Stand up for Jesus.” Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian Church that Christian believers are always in danger of attack. Satan, the adversary, comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan has a way of attacking us on many accounts. He attacks us spiritually causing us to struggle in our relationship with God. He attacks us socially causing us to struggle in our relationships with each other. Satan attacks our finances, physical bodies and our minds in an effort to cause us to faint, to give up or to quit. Paul knew that this church was in need of encouragement, especially while he was absent from them. The Corinthian Church had been plagued by division and factions. Some claimed to follow Paul, some Apollos, others Cephas and Christ. There were also irregularities in their worship and shameful practices during communion. There was confusion about the resurrection. Some of the Corinthian Christians were practicing open sin. In such an environment, Paul sends this wonderful exhortation for those who were faithful in Christ Jesus. The faithful Christians in the service of the Lord must not allow themselves to shaken by the practices of those around them. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Paul understood that Christians sometimes become weary. They become weary because there is so much opposition; there is so much to be done; there are so many calls on their time and their money; and there is so little appreciation and gratitude shown them that they become disheartened. Paul exhorts them and us not to give up nor stand down, but to stand up and persevere. Listen to the scripture again:
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity” (I Corinthians 16:13, 14).
If we are going to “Stand Up For Jesus”, Paul charges us to do several things: (1) be watchful, (2) be steadfast, (3) be strong and (4) be loving.
1. Be Watchful or Watchfulness. Being watchful is a necessary duty because we cannot be safe one moment without it. The Bible teaches us to watch and pray! There are some things that we must watch over: our relationship with God, with others and ourselves. We must be honest and truthful with God, with others and with ourselves. There are some things we must watch against: sin – the appearance of sin, the occasion to sin and the temptation to sin. We were taught to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” And finally, there are some things to watch out for: Opportunities to glorify God and to benefit mankind. Another writer has said, “Watch ye for you have many enemies; be continually on your guard: watch against evil; watch for opportunities to receive good, to do good and watch over one another in love. To Watch means to be continually on your guard, lest you be surprised by your enemies; keep your scouts out and guard up.
2. Be Steadfast - Standing fast in the faith has to do with where you are standing, how you are standing and why you are standing. To stand fast means to keep in your ranks; do not be disorderly; be determined to keep your ranks unbroken; keep close together. We are standing on the word of God. We are standing because we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We are standing in unity and harmony. “Together we stand and divided we fall.” We are called to stand up for God, on the word of God, and with the saints of God. If our enemy succeeds in breaking our ranks, and dividing one part of our army from another, our defeat will be inevitable.
“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). This proverb declares how necessary it is, that men should live in society and stand together. We are called to be watchful, to keep our scouts out, and guard up and to be steadfast, to stand up for God and with each other. The third command is to be strong.
3. Be Strong - Quit yourselves like men. Paul is talking about Christian fortitude and holy courage. Successful Christians must develop a warfare mentality. In other words, be manly, brave, firm and fixed. You see, as Christian laborers in the army of the Lord, we are in a war and we will be attacked. When you are attacked, do not flinch; maintain your ground; resist with all your might; and then press forward. Be strong for God, be strong for His cause and be strong for one another. Man your post and accept your responsibility. Deliverance belongs to us, but we must fight for it. Healing belongs to us, but we must fight it. Salvation belongs to us, but we must fight for it. Every good and perfect gift has been given to us in Christ Jesus, but do not expect Satan to give up without a fight. We must fight for our homes, our children, our marriages and our very lives. Be strong for each other and help one another. You are doing a good work! Your cause is a just cause. Your faith is grounded in Jesus the Christ. He is the Captain of your salvation, the chief shepherd of your soul and your battle-axe in the time of battle. And the victory is sure!
Be watchful because every day the enemies of your soul will try to stop the work of God in your life, stop God from working through your life and stop God’s working for your life. Be steadfast and immovable because you are working for God, on behalf of His kingdom and for the benefit of humankind. Then, be strong and full of courage. Act like a man who accepts responsibility and steps up to the plate. Work in such a way that God is glorified, Christian brothers and sisters are inspired and Satan is terrified. Finally, love!
4. Be Loving – “Let all your things be done with charity” (I Corinthians 16:14)
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8).
We should let our love for God, our love for mankind, and our love for one another, be the motive of all our work and activity. Paul addresses this same subject in I Corinthians 13-14 where he calls love a more excellent way. Now he reminds us that the sum of all the commandments towards God and towards our neighbor is love. All the work of God is important: praying, listening to the word, receiving communion, singing on his choir, ushering in his temple, identifying with Christ through baptism and doing good deeds. But walking in love is sum of all the commandments of God. Any duty or service rendered without love can never be pleasing to God nor does it fulfill his commandment. When any Christian service or duty is done in love, that act will bring glory to God and benefit to mankind.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (I John 4:7-8).
Where there is love, there is concern. Where there is concern, there is kindness. Where there is kindness, there is harmony. Where there is harmony, there is helpfulness. Where there is helpfulness, there is
Christ. Where there is Christ, there is love. --William Arthur Ward
LOVE is the lubricant that makes everything run smoothly; the seasoning that makes everything taste better; the glue that holds everything together; the medicine that heals every wound; the light that brightens the darkest corner; the food that satisfies every hunger; the drink that quenches every thirst; the gift that’s perfect for every occasion; the weapon that conquers every enemy; the nutrient that makes everything grow.
The hymn and the Apostle Paul charge us to “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus!”
(1)Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory, His army shall He lead, ‘til every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
(2)Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day. Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
(3)Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in his strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
