10.19.08 Sermon.Be Not-Moved
By William Akehurst, HSWC
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9
Philippians 1:27
For the last 2 weeks, we were looking to scriptures regard what it was to be a Christian, and what we were to be...
Be Kind, Joyful, Patient, Loving, Gracious, Forgiving, Forbearing
In Acts we read: ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’
I will BE
To BE a Christian, we must BE-LIEVE
But, this morning I want to look at another be… and this time, what something we must not be, in order to be…
Shakespeare said it…to be or not to be, that is the question.
And I will say it this way - to be ____ is to be not ____
This morning, I want to look at what we are to be not.
NEGATIVE VS POSITIVE
We can think of the negative be nots: be not lying, cheating, stealing, hateful, etc.
But I want to look at the positive BE NOT...
HOLD ON, HANG ON TIGHT
I remember growing up around the nursery and greenhouses. We used tractors, wagons, and other equipment around the property. I remember my father driving the tractor and I would ride in the bucket, or on the scraper on the back of the tractor.
“Hold on, or Hold On Tight”, he would say.
I remember riding on the back of the pickup truck with the tailgate down. “Hang on” Hold on tight.
Military Directive: Hold your - position
IMPORTANT WORDS FOR TODAY
I think these words are vitally important for us today. The world as we know it…is changing. Not only are we are experiencing financial and economic strife in this country, but our entire globe, worldwide, has taken a downturn. We see economic systems all impacted and in decline.
NEW LEADERSHIP
In the next few weeks, we will be taking part in electing new leadership for our country.
My prayer is that our leaders will be those who love, seek and know the one and only LORD GOD.
We are not above going through turmoil and pain. We as a country, have been spared much because of the LORD’s hand of protection on our country.
Billy Graham’s daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her ’How could God let something like this happen?’
(regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, ’I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.
And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?’
We need God’s protection. We can’t deny the LORD and expect everything to be OK. We must remain fixed on HIM, personally, and as a country. Our country, government and nation were founded on the LORD GOD HE IS ONE.
As we go through these changes in our world.
We must remember who we are, and what our purpose is.
We must keep to the principles of the WORD of GOD.
We must remain Strong
As the World Changes, We as a people of the LORD, must stay the course.
If we face persecution, affliction and distress, we must remain constant.
In my fathers words…HOLD ON
To BE a BE LIEVER - WE MUST NOT BE_____
I will NOT BE - M O V E D
Our world is changing, but we must remain steady
THE BIBLE USES WORDS LIKE Stand Firm, Steadfast, Fixed, Focused, Purposed, Rock Steady
We must NOT BE MOVED by the changes of this world. We must REMAIN FIXED, HOLDING ON, NOT MOVING from what we know is the truth, from what we know as the WORD OF GOD.
We must STAND FAST, in the LORD
1 Thessalonians 3: 7-13 (7-9)
7Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
STAND FAST IN THE SPIRIT AND IN THE SAME MIND STRIVING TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL
Philippians 1
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
26That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
WE HAVE THE WORD THE WORLD NEEDS TO HEAR
WE HAVE THE FAITH THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW
WE HAVE THE LORD THE WORLD NEEDS
AND WE MUST NOT BE MOVED BY WHAT THE WORLD WILL DO AND SAY
STAND FIRM IN FAITH
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14Do everything in love.
Loving God and Loving your Neighbor
STAND FAST, HOLD ON TO WHAT WE’VE LEARNED AND BEEN TAUGHT BY THE WORD OF GOD
2 Thessalonians 2:14-16 KJV
14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
STAND FAST in the LIBERTY (FREEDOM) THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE
Galatians 5
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
REMAIN FIXED. DO NOT BE MOVED
Psalm 10:6
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Psalm 16:8
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalm 21:7
For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
DO NOT BE MOVED – REMAIN GROUNDED AND SETTLED IN THE FAITH AND HOPE OF THE GOSPEL
Colossians 1:23, 19-29
19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
CALL OUT TO THE LORD
VS 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god – money?
Vs 5 – but the LORD is my portion, he maintains, sustains me.
Vs 8 and I shall not be moved!
Psalm 16
1Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
2 CHRONICLES 7:14
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
NOTICE THE WORDS. IF MY PEOPLE CALLED BY MY NAME.
IF WE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS WILL HUMBLE OURSELVES AND PRAY, AND TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS.
WE MUST TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS.
WE MUST NOT BE MOVED FROM THE LORD, BUT MOVED TOWARD HIM. HOLDING ON TIGHT
REMAINING STEADFAST
STANDING FIRM
IN THE FAITH
IN THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
AND IN ONE ACCORD WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
WE MUST REMAIN AS THE BODY OF CHRIST
WE MUST ENDURE AND STAND TOGETHER, UNDIVIDED, STRONG
SO- To be a Christian is to BE-LIEVE
And in our BE-LIEVING, we must NOT BE MOVED by the things of this world
Holding on, remaining steadfast, standing strong and firm in the LORD, who gives us strength.
We are not above affliction and disaster, but GOD is, and by HIM we will BE STRONG. AMEN
