I. EXORDIUM:
Do you love the company of believers?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that the secret to standing firm in the faith is - FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BELIEVERS.
IV. TEXT:
Philippians 4:1 (Amplified Bible)
THEREFORE, MY brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
V. THESIS:
The secret to standing firm in the faith is - FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BELIEVERS
VI. TITLE:
Stand firm in the LORD
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Apostle Paul
B. Date written: 60 - 64 A.D.
C. Purpose: 3-fold purposes:
1. To express Paul's affection for the Philippian believers
2. To thank them for their gift
3. To encourage them to a lifestyle of unity, holiness and joy
D. To whom written: Philippian believers
E. Main theme: JESUS CHRIST
After all of these 2 things revealed by Apostle Paul, he then said, "THUS stand firm in the LORD", hence the secret are these 2 things, he said prior that.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. Love and long for the brethren
"THEREFORE, MY brethren, whom I love and yearn to see"
Joshua 23:7 (Amplified Bible)
That you may not mix with these nations that remain among you, or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them.
You stick with the brethren not with people that worship other gods and swear by them. You stick with your own kind. You stick with your own people, the children of GOD, your brothers and sisters in CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (Amplified Bible)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].
Abound in the work of the LORD. The work of the LORD always and will involve different nationalities of people, it has to involved people, the souls for which CHRIST died, resurrected and ascended. Prioritize on the people, build upon relationships upon relationships, once you do this, you will never fall since your faith is based on people with the same faith that will lift you up.
Galatians 5:1 (Amplified Bible)
IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].
Philippians 1:27 (Amplified Bible)
Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).
These people must live out the manner of life worthy of the good news, let's be united in spirit and purpose, with a single mind for the faith of the Gospel.
1. Example of love for the church
a. Apostle Paul
Philippians 1:8 (Amplified Bible)
For God is my witness how I long for and pursue you all with love, in the tender mercy of Christ Jesus [Himself]!
Romans 16:4 (Amplified Bible)
Who risked their lives [endangering their very necks] for my life. To them not only I but also all the churches among the Gentiles give thanks.
2 Corinthians 12:15 (Amplified Bible)
But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you exceedingly, am I to be loved [by you] the less?
2 Timothy 1:17 (Amplified Bible)
No, rather when he reached Rome, he searched diligently and eagerly for me and found me.
2. Example of brotherly love
1. David and Jonathan
1 Samuel 18:3 (Amplified Bible)
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own life.
Life for life, that's what brotherly love is, the same love or secondary to what the LORD JESUS CHRIST offered to us in the cross of Calvary, that's GOD-kind of love.
Leviticus 19:18 (Amplified Bible)
You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Same GOD of the Old Testament and the New Testament full of love for His creations and His children, He want us to love our own kind. This love, further strengthened by the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Matthew 5:43-48 (Amplified Bible)
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;
But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].
For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?
And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?
You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.
B. Consider them as joy and crown
"my delight and crown (wreath of victory)"
Revelation 3:11 (Amplified Bible)
I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.
1 Corinthians 9:25 (Amplified Bible)
Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 (Amplified Bible)
For what is our hope or happiness or our victor’s wreath of exultant triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?
For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!
2 Timothy 2:4-5 (Amplified Bible)
No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.
And if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully (fairly, according to the rules laid down).
1 Corinthians 16:13 (Amplified Bible)
Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!
We are responsible for adding knowledge to our minds so we grew in our strength and stand firm in the faith, because it's the same faith that our brothers and sisters will see in us thru CHRIST. We draw strength and faith from the brethrens.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (Amplified Bible)
Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor;
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Especially if that brethrens gather together in CHRIST's Name and Presence.
Matthew 18:20 (Amplified Bible)
For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Keep our treasure inside GOD's House - the church, that is the gathering of the people if not where do you want our heart to be placed? on the things of these world??
Matthew 6:21 (Amplified Bible)
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Hebrews 10:25 (Amplified Bible)
Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
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