#12 6-10-07
Live Worthy of the Gospel
Text; Philippians 1:27-30
Introduction,
When you make Christ the center of your life, your commitment will be tested?
I. Standing Firm (1:27b)
A. Standing firm defined:
1. Holding one’ ground regardless of danger.
2. Strength in the midst of opposition, like a soldier defending his position
at all cost.
B. Standing firm Spiritually
1. Holding fast to beliefs and convictions
2. Being fixed on holy living
C. Standing firm for God (4:1, 1Cor. 16:13, 1Thess 3:5)
(1Corinthians 16:13) “Be alert stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
(1Thessalonians 3:8) “For now, we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”
D. Standing firm against Satan (Ephesians 6:11, 13)
II. Sharing in Unity (1:27c)
A “In one spirit with one mind”
1. United in spirit, referring to our human spirit
2. United in mind, referring to our perspectives and purpose
B. Unity is necessary to stand firm
C. Unity was among believers is Jesus’ great passion (John 13:34, 35)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
III. Striving Together (1:27d).
A. Striving defined:
1. To compete in a contest especially as a sport
2. To give full effort
B. “Striving together”
1. Not against each other within a church
2. Not striving together between churches
3. But as a team Illustration of my coaching the Charles Finney High School foot
ball team. They had a lot of talent but struggled to work together as a team
C. Unity needs a common purpose
IV. Suffering for Christ (1:29, 30)
A. For Christ’s sake
1. Suffering for other reasons like personal wrong doing.
2. Suffering because of your faith in Christ (2Timothy3:12)
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ will be persecuted”
B. It is a high honor to suffer for Christ. (Matthew 5:11, 12)
How strong is your commitment to Christ?
Are you standing firm in your beliefs,
Are you standing firm in your commitment to live a moral life?
Are you trying to stand alone in your strength?
Do you just have a conditional commitment to Christ?
