Man Up!
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
William Jones, captain of the Marines on the 28-gun frigate the Providence, advertised in the March 20, 1779 Providence (R.I.) Gazette the need for "a few good Men" to engage in "a short Cruize" giving the Marine Corps a recruiting slogan they would use two hundred years later." In Ezekiel 22, God was looking for a man who would stand in the gap to lead the nation of Israel in His way. Among all Israel, God found none who would stand up and therefore God allowed national destruction and degeneration to occur. I believe that God is looking for a few good men to “man up” and stand in the gap for Christ today. Pastor Bill Kryger of Smokey Hill Baptist Church in Ellsworth, Kansas wrote, “As I examine the state of the Church I am finding that it is the men in our churches that are not standing in the gap. Men, we are not stepping up to the plate and fulfilling our God-given responsibility to be the men that we need to be." Paul in the closing of his first epistle to the church at Corinth lays out some very practical advice on Christian living, calling for Christian men to “man up”. While his focus is primarily toward men it is also great advice for anyone within the Body of Christ.
I. Be Watchful
A. As believers we must “Be on the alert”
B. The word, watch, was a term used by the military in the orders given to those who were posted as sentinels instructing them that it was their duty to keep awake, to be vigilant, and to observe the motions of an enemy seeking to infiltrate or attack the camp. There was to be no sleeping at the post or while on duty.
C. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant (watchful, on the alert); because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”
D. Paul in telling the Corinthians to be watchful was saying (1) wake up and stay awake. He alo was saying keep your eyes open to the activities and tactics of the enemies of your soul.
E. We need to wake up and be aware that we are in the midst of a spiritual war: that there are enemies seeking to spiritually shipwreck Christians, to destroy their lives, kill their testimonies, and steal their joy.
F. Just because as a Christian believer you everything may be going smoothly and everything in your life appears peaceful and tranquil, that does not mean there isn't a battle raging all around you. Satan would like you to have you think that there is no conflict raging.
G. Far too many of us claiming to be followers of Christ are slumbering along having been lulled to sleep by the lullabies of the world and Satan.
H. Paul was telling the Corinthian Christians that they “were to watch, or be vigilant, against all the evils of which he had admonished them--the evils of dissension, of erroneous doctrines, of disorder, of false teachers, etc. They were to watch lest their souls should be ruined, and... lest the enemies of the truth and of holiness should steal silently upon them, and surprise them.” – Albert Barnes
I. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober: for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
II. Stand Fast
A. If you fail to be watchful you will not be able to obey the command to stand fast. Men who are asleep just don’t stand very well.
B. Paul’s command is again a military command that would be given in the heat of the battle – Stand Firm! Don’t break ranks!
C. As a young man Philip was kidnapped and held as a hostage in Greece. There he remained for several years. During this time he received a military education. Then he returned to his homeland, which had conceded many defeats and had lost much land. Within five years he had become king. Philip II of Macedon desperately needed his army to stand firm. He is remembered for two major innovations. First is the sarissa, a very long spear. Second is a rectangular military formation known as a phalanx. A core of highly-trained infantrymen armed with Philip’s longer spears stood shoulder to shoulder in files normally eight men deep. As long as they stood firm and did not break rank they were virtually invincible and struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. Using this tactic, Philip united the city-states of Greece and took the city of Philippi (which is named after him) in 356 BC. - copied
D. As good Christian soldiers we are commanded to stand fast in the faith. We are commanded by Christ, “Don’t break the ranks!”
E. Be firm in holding and defending the truths of the Bible. Do not yield to any foe, but maintain the truth, and hold fast to your confidence in God and to the doctrines of the gospel with unwavering constancy.
F. Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
G. Ephesians 6:13-14 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”
H. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are engaged in spiritual warfare with unseen wicked forces. To overcome our enemy in the power of the Holy Spirit, we must remain resolute in our confidence in God and determine never to accept defeat. A story from the Korean War illustrates this attitude. As enemy forces advanced, Baker Company was cut off from the rest of their unit. For several hours no word was heard, even though headquarters repeatedly tried to communicate with the missing troops. Finally a faint signal was received. Straining to hear, the corpsman asked, "Baker Company, do you read me?" "This is Baker Company," came the reply. "What is your situation?" asked the corpsman. "The enemy is to the east of us, the enemy is to the west of us, the enemy is to the north of us, the enemy is to the south of us." Then after a brief pause, the sergeant from Baker Company said with determination, "The enemy is not going to get away from us now!" Although surrounded and outnumbered, he was thinking of victory, not defeat.
I. A great Oak is only a little nut that held its ground’.
III. Man Up
A. Quit you like men – “andrizo” - literally “play the man”. The term Paul used means, to render one manly or brave; to show one's self a man; that is, not to be a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but to be bold and brave.
B. Paul uses a military command “Act like men” In light of the spiritual war that is raging around us it’s time for us to grow up and show the courage to live radically courageous and bold Christian lives.
C. A child, somebody immature tends not to be courageous a, a, mature person tends to be courageous, a child tends to be rather fearful, a mature person tends to have a sense of control and confidence, and that's essentially what he's saying. You should be courageous men, grown up and mature. Conduct yourself in a manly way. – John MacArthur
D. There is a great lack of spiritual maturity among Christians which is the source of most of the turmoil that occurs within churches and of Christians falling prey to doctrinal heresy and being distracted by the world.
E. Ephesians 6:14 “we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”
F. Be not like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine; let your understanding receive the truth; let your judgment determine on the absolute necessity of retaining it; and give up life rather than give up the testimony of God.
G. 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
H. Many Christians have a peter-pan syndrome where they want to live in a child's care-free attitude toward life, doing whatever makes them feel good, avoiding anything that might obligate them, and have committed themselves to non-commitment.
I. 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
J. Paul is telling the Corinthians to grow up and behave in a manly manner, not to be fickle children but have the courage to live for Christ in a world that is hostile to Christianity.
IV. Be Strong
A. This is the only passive form verb in the text meaning "be strengthened", “increase in strength”, “grow strong” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)..
B. Ephesians 6:10 - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
C. A weak and cowardly soldier is a pitiful object, but a weak-kneed, cowardly Christian is still more so. - Buxton
D. Much of the unbelief and indifference of these days is caused by the weakness of professing Christians. When a man can point to a soldier of Christ who has deserted his post, and fled from the battle, it is no wonder that he hesitates to join an army which has such weak and cowardly warriors. - Buxton
E. Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
F. We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope tin the midst of tragedy, who can encourage others by their example and their Christian commitment, consistency, and compassion,
G. We need strong Christians who will resist Satan and the world standing in defense of the Gospel against the forces of darkness.
H. To become and stay strong as believers we must:
• Read your Bible daily - The word of God is spiritual food which will give you strength. – Psalm 119:28 “…Strengthen me according to Your word.”
• Pray regularly. Through prayer, we speak with God. Luke 21:36 (HCSB) But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Fellowship with other Christians. – Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
• Put on the Armor God has given us – Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
V. Let all that you do be done with love. (verse 14)
A. May all your actions be motivated by love.
B. It doesn’t matter if a man is strong, brave, and watchful if he doesn’t act out of love. We should be careful that Christ’s love not only reigns in our hearts, but that it also shines in our lives. - copied
C. Philippians 2:15 “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
D. The effects of doing all things in love:
• Peace and love is promoted
• Strife and contention is lessened or prevented
• Animosity and opposition diminish.
E. Love is to be the overriding principle and is to regulate all that we as Christians do.
F. Our love for the Lord should motivate us to want to please Him.
• John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”
G. Out of our love For God our Motivation should be unselfish love for others
• 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
