SCRIPTURE" Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Introduction
If you could pick a song that represents your life's journey, what would it be? If you had to write a song that told the story of your life's quest, what would it be? Could there be an anthem for your family?
Sometimes there is a song that fully expresses or describes your circumstance. African Americans have embraced "Lift every voice and sing" as our national anthem because it words express the full breadth of our struggle in America and our march through the blood of the slaughtered, shadowed beneath the hand of God while being true to our native land.
For many years Americans sang "My country tis of thee" at the beginning of every day because it expressed our appreciation for the land where our fathers died, the land of the Pilgrim's pride from every mountainside, we sang, let freedom ring. However, something happened during the War of 1812 that changed our national tune.
After being free from Britain for over 30 years, America was under attack again. The British came back. They captured and burned the White House in Washington, D.C. They began to bomb Fort McHenry to reclaim America as their own. Watching the fight from a distance was a man named Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and a poet. The British shot bombs and rockets into the fort all night long, but the Americans withstood bombs that fell like showers of rain.
However, at dawn's early light, at the twilight's last gleaming" he saw that despite the rocket's red glare and the bomb's bursting in air, our flag stood. To Francis Scott Key, it was terrifying, but exhilarating sight. Despite storms of explosions and the fighting, the American flag was still there; tattered and torn, but still there. The Star-Spangled Banner became the anthem of the nation because it represented our quest to survive, thrive, and stand, depending on the power of God.
Every nation has a song or anthem.
Every family has one, too. That's the song that symbolizes your journey from where you once were to where you are now.
For many, "My soul is anchored in the Lord" could be their personal anthem. Millions more have planted their flag of faith and decided that "I shall not be moved."
The Williams Brothers struck a chord when they penned a song called "Still Here." Its lyrics said,
Heartaches, I've had my shares of heartaches, but I'm still here;
Trouble, I've seen my share of troubles, but I'm still here;
Bruises, I've taken my lumps and bruises, but I'm still here;
Loneliness, I've had my share of loneliness, but I'm still here;
I made it (I made it)
I made it (yes, I made it)
I'm still here(I'm still here)
A lot of folks say that I wouldn't be here tonight, but I made it (I made it)
By the grace of God, Y'all (yes, I made it)
I 'm still here (I'm still here)
As Christians, we stand firm on the faith that has brought us thus far. We plant our flag amidst those who doubted our God and say "we made it" - and through it all, our flag still stands.
Exposition
This text focuses on the Apostle Paul as he encourages believers in Thessalonica to stand firm in their faith.
The text is connected to the last chapter in which Paul explained how the Gospel of Christ had brought them real freedom from the ceremonial demands of the Mosaic law. The general law of love of God and our neighbors set believers free from a multitude of ritual that had become a burden as they attempted to comply with its growing number of demands.
They enjoyed new freedom in Christ, but there was an apostasy among the faithful. Many returned to the rituals of the Mosaic law. They were spiritually browbeaten by those who bombarded them with claims that they had abandoned the rule of the Mosaic law in favor of the teachings of Christ.
Paul encouraged believers to stand strong on their faith in the words and instructions of Jesus. He encouraged them to continue the traditions that Christ began, such as blessing the bread and wine as symbolic of his body and blood. The tradition of weekly gathering on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection instead of Saturday, which the law mandated. They helped others, even if on the Sabbath, and abandoned many of the old ceremonies.
Christian believers thanked God for the Mosaic law, which brought the people out of Egypt. They also thanked God for providing for their care and nourishment through the wandering years. However, Paul taught them that all of the ceremonial laws of Moses, (Not the ten commandments) were designed for a purpose that fulfilled its mission with the life, death, and crucifixion of Christ.
Though the people had suffered threats, ostracism, and persecution for the freedom of their faith in Christ, some were considering returning and giving up the faith. In this passage, Paul encourages them not to give up the traditions and principles by which they lived.
He encouraged them to plant their flag in faith and stand ready with God.
Why Plant your Flag
PLANT YOUR FLAG BECAUSE GOD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH: The Christian life is challenging and will expose every believer to a considerable number of challenges to their health, finances, and social standing. This exposure will often cause considerable sacrifices, but each believer is encouraged to stay strong. Some families have encountered physical sickness and death. Others have experienced strained relationships. These are the believers who will quickly testify that if it had not been for the Lord on their side, they would not have been able to stand the trials and difficulties of these tough moments.
Just as the spirit of God lifted David as he mourned for his son or reassured Paul in his weakness, that my grace is sufficient, we have been sustained by the eternal presence of God in our life situations.
When believers faced all of these difficulties in the past, God was there; he was only a prayer away. Someone can recall how the Lord lifted a burden from their shoulder and gave them renewed strength in the midst of weakness. When Jesus told his disciples, "Lo I'll be with you alway," that meant exactly what it said, he planned to be with us continually.
We should plant our flag, and prepare for whatever storm that we may face, and know that God will see us through.
We should plant our flag because when the smoke of the battle clears, God will see us through.
Whether it is health, family challenges, or finances, building your hopes on things eternal and hold to God's unchanging hand.
Plant your flag!
PLANT YOUR FLAG; TROUBLE WILL PASS: If we stand firm, whatever troubling situation we face will pass. One significant truth about any situation is that "it will pass.” There are times when we feel extremely low. We actually hurt in our spirit, and it seems that it lasts forever. When we see our children go astray, we hurt. When our dreams are being shattered, we hurt. When our marriage is troubled, we hurt. When our finances are threatened, we hurt. When our health begins to fail, we hurt. When our business succumbs to factors beyond our control, we hurt. When hurt comes, it seems that it will never end.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon said, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, A time to be born and a time to die. A time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to plant and a time to harvest." However, while everything has a season, nothing lasts forever, except the love of God. Those who may be enduring a difficult season at the moment must rest assured that "this too shall pass.” Heartaches? This too shall pass! Discomfort? This too shall pass! Sleepless nights? This too shall pass!
The old Negro spiritual put it this way, "I’m so glad that trouble don’t last always.” That means that one day, in God’s own time, we shall hear the scripture speak to our situation, "And it came to pass.” That’s when we will say, "I was on my bed of affliction..and it came to pass!” "I tried my best to find a way out of my dilemma, and it seemed there was no end, and it came to pass!” "I gave my problems to the Lord, …and it came to pass!”
Plant your flag and stand on your faith.
Maybe that's what the songwriter who said, "I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day. No higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
IT TAKES STRENGTH TO PLANT YOUR FLAG: Those who plant their flag in faith are those who demonstrate spiritual strength. There are so many challenges to living the Christian life that only the spiritually strong are able to stand against the contrary winds of our times.
Ephesians 6:13 says, " Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
To stand requires a sense of balance. The reason that babies often fall when they try to stand is because their sense of balance has not yet developed.
To plant your flag and stand up for Jesus may sometimes require the recitation of God's word. But too many Christians are scripturally anemic. We can recite the latest happenings on television or social media, but we can't tell how to find "God so love the world."
When it comes to God's word, too many of us lack the spiritual strength to stand.
To plant your flag requires an abundance of prayer. Too many Christians today are prayerfully anemic. We have time for our club, school, and political meetings but we don't have time serve, worship or fellowship with the faithful.
When we plant our flag in spiritual strength, we are able to draw upon all that we have within us to weather the storms of life.
That's the time we sing, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."
We’re Still Alive
Finally, brothers and sisters, we must consider that God brought us through many dangerous trials and tribulations, but through it all, we're still alive
We have fixed our eyes on the cross and rejoice because despite the rockets red glare or the bombs of trouble bursting in air, the cross is still there.
For Francis Scott Key, the stars and stripes of the American flag represented hope, but those who know Jesus go even further. Jesus did more because he came from beyond the stars and bore our stripes, no matter what happens in our lives, that old rugged cross is still there.
We respect the flag, but our faith is in the cross.
When every symbol of power and achievement in the world falls, the cross still stands.
In 2019, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame was riddled by fire. But when they sifted through the debris, they saw that the pews and altar were destroyed, the windows and artifacts burned, but when they looked up, they saw that the cross was still standing.
When every symbol that man makes crumbles to the dust, rising like a Phoenix from the rubble is the cross of Jesus!
The cross is the embodiment of all our hope.
The cross reminds us that no matter how difficult our times may become, that God is in control.
To paraphrase David, every believer declares:
-Though the earth be removed, the cross still stands!
-Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, the cross still stands!
-Though waters roar and be troubled, the cross still stands!
-I’m glad to know that in times like these, the cross still stands!
These are times:
-Of wars and rumors of wars, but the cross still stands!
-When nations are rising up against nations, but the cross still stands!
The cross stands as a symbol of:
-Strength in the midst of weakness; victory in the midst of defeat;
-Comfort in the midst of despair; hope in the midst of hopelessness!
No wonder the songwriter declared, at the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!
Over 2000 years ago, the world saw a good man nailed to an old rugged cross! His name was Jesus.
On that cross, he suffered and died that we might have a chance to everlasting life!
On that cross, he dropped his head and died.
But Early Sunday morning tragedy was turned into a victory!
Early Sunday morning when three days and nights and uncertainty had ended!
Early Sunday morning, when the world had lost hope, he arose from the grave with all power in his hands.
On Christ, the solid rock I stand!
All other ground is sinking sand!
All other ground is sinking sand!
