Subject: A Call to Courageous Christian Living
Text: I Corinthians 16:13-14, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.”
Introduction: How do we stand up for Jesus in a generation that is not willing to stand for much? If we desire to “stand tall” for Jesus, we must stand firm in the liberty that His saving grace has provided. We must ever stand strong in His power, not in the wisdom of men. We must stand strong in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, not allowing any additions or subtractions to the finished work of Christ. In this closing chapter of I Corinthians, When Paul says, "Quit ye like men," it is the same as telling us to be courageous. Commentator Albert Barnes says in his Notes that Paul means a man should not be "a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but is to be bold and brave." This applies to all Christians, no matter the age or gender. They must be on the lookout for any kind of false teaching. Paul also tells them to act like men, or to "be men of courage," and to be strong. He has made clear that their faith in Christ will face opposition from the culture around them. They must be resolved to remain in their faith with strength and courage. The late writer Maya Angelou was right when she said: “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
By the time Paul visited Corinth, it had become a thriving commercial center and was predominantly Roman in cultural orientation. Competition, patronage, consumerism, self-promotion and success shaped the attitude of the city. The attitude of the city affected the culture within the church. The problem in the Corinthian church was that some of its members were involved in sexual immorality, others consistently got drunk, and some were even justifying their sinful behavior as permissible under the gracious, loving, forgiving care of God for them and was permitted and celebrated by the culture.
Paul gives directions for courageous Christian living and encourages benevolence for the saints in Jerusalem. After years of instruction, his desire for the Corinthian Church was for them to excel in the Christian race. He promises to visit them, and even to winter with them. He then makes a series of tender personal references and so brings the great epistle to a close. First, he is concerned about the ministers who would follow him, especially Timothy. He encourages the church to receive him, help him and be a blessing to him. Then Paul encourages the church to “Stand up for Jesus.” Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian Church that Christian believers are always in danger of attack. Satan, the adversary, comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan has a way of attacking us on many accounts. He attacks us spiritually causing us to struggle in our relationship with God. He attacks us socially causing us to struggle in our relationships with each other. Satan attacks our finances, physical bodies and our minds in an effort to cause us to faint, to give up, to quit or to compromise. Paul knew that this church needed encouragement, especially while he was absent from them. The affects of the culture pushed many towards compromise. The Corinthian Church had been plagued by division and factions. Some claimed to follow Paul, some Apollos, others Cephas and Christ.
There were also irregularities in their worship and shameful practices during communion. There was confusion about the resurrection. Some of the Corinthian Christians were practicing open sin. In such an environment, Paul sends this wonderful exhortation for those who were faithful in Christ Jesus. The faithful Christians in the service of the Lord must not allow themselves to be shaken by the practices of those around them. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Paul understood that Christians sometimes become weary. They become weary because there is so much opposition; there is so much to be done; there are so many calls on their time and their money; and there is so little appreciation and gratitude shown them that they become disheartened. Paul exhorts them and us not to give up nor stand down, but to stand up and persevere. Listen to the scripture again:
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity” (I Corinthians 16:13, 14).
If we are going to “Stand Up For Jesus”, Paul charges us to do several things: (1) be watchful, (2) be steadfast, (3) be strong and (4) be loving.
1. Be Watchful. Being watchful is a necessary duty because we cannot be safe one moment without it. The Bible teaches us to watch and pray! There are some things that we must watch over: our relationship with God, with others and ourselves. We must be honest and truthful with God, with others and with ourselves. There are some things we must watch against: sin – the appearance of sin, the occasion to sin and the temptation to sin. We were taught to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” And finally, there are some things to watch out for: Opportunities to glorify God and to benefit mankind. Another writer has said, “Watch ye for you have many enemies; be continually on your guard: watch against evil; watch for opportunities to receive good, to do good and watch over one another in love. To Watch means to be continually on your guard, lest you be surprised by your enemies; keep your scouts out and guard up.
2. Be Steadfast - Standing fast in the faith has to do with where you are standing, how you are standing and why you are standing. To stand fast means to keep in your ranks; do not be disorderly; be determined to keep your ranks unbroken; keep close together. We are standing on the word of God. We are standing because we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We are standing in unity and harmony. “Together we stand and divided we fall.” We are called to stand up for God, on the word of God, and with the saints of God. If our enemy succeeds in breaking our ranks, and dividing one part of our army from another, our defeat will be inevitable.
“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). This proverb declares how necessary it is, that men should live in society and stand together. We are called to be watchful, to keep our scouts out, and guard up and to be steadfast, to stand up for God and with each other. The third command is to be strong.
3. Be Strong - Quit yourselves like men. Paul is talking about Christian fortitude and holy courage. Successful Christians must develop a warfare mentality. In other words, be manly, brave, firm and fixed. You see, as Christian laborers in the army of the Lord, we are in a war and we will be attacked. When you are attacked, do not flinch; maintain your ground; resist with all your might; and then press forward. Be strong for God, be strong for His cause and be strong for one another. Mount your post and accept your responsibility. Deliverance belongs to us, but we must fight for it. Healing belongs to us, but we must fight for it. Salvation belongs to us, but we must fight for it. Every good and perfect gift has been given to us in Christ Jesus, but do not expect Satan to give up without a fight. We must fight for our homes, our children, our marriages and our very lives. Be strong for each other and help one another. You are doing a good work! Your cause is a just cause. Your faith is grounded in Jesus the Christ. He is the Captain of your salvation, the chief shepherd of your soul and your battle-axe in the time of battle. And the victory is sure!
Be watchful because every day the enemies of your soul will try to stop the work of God in your life, stop God from working through your life and stop God’s working for your life. Be steadfast and immovable because you are working for God, on behalf of His kingdom and for the benefit of humankind. Then, be strong and full of courage. Act like a man who accepts responsibility and steps up to the plate. Work in such a way that God is glorified, Christian brothers and sisters are inspired, and Satan is terrified. Finally, love!
4. Be Loving – “Let all your things be done with charity” (I Corinthians 16:14)
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8).
We should let our love for God, our love for mankind, and our love for one another, be the motive of all our work and activity. Living the Christian life is about loving people. The reality is, this will take work, because some people will wear you out! What traps many Christians, is when they look for a spiritual way to disconnect themselves from their responsibility to love people. Love at times will invoke strong emotional feeling, but love is more than a feeling. Love is working for the benefit of others at the expense of self.
Paul addresses this same subject in I Corinthians 13-14 where he calls love a more excellent way. Now he reminds us that the sum of all the commandments towards God and towards our neighbor is love. All the work of God is important: praying, listening to the word, receiving communion, singing on his choir, ushering in his temple, identifying with Christ through baptism and doing good deeds. But walking in love is sum of all the commandments of God. Any duty or service rendered without love can never be pleasing to God nor does it fulfill his commandment. When any Christian service or duty is done in love, that act will bring glory to God and benefit to mankind.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (I John 4:7-8).
Where there is love, there is concern. Where there is concern, there is kindness. Where there is kindness, there is harmony. Where there is harmony, there is helpfulness. Where there is helpfulness, there is
Christ. Where there is Christ, there is love. --William Arthur Ward
Love is the lubricant that makes everything run smoothly; the seasoning that makes everything taste better; the glue that holds everything together; the medicine that heals every wound; the light that brightens the darkest corner; the food that satisfies every hunger; the drink that quenches every thirst; the gift that’s perfect for every occasion; the weapon that conquers every enemy; the nutrient that makes everything grow. This text “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.” We must “Be watchful because every day the enemies of your soul will try to stop the work of God in your life, stop God from working through your life and stop God’s working for your ministry. We must “Be steadfast and immovable because you are working for God, on behalf of His kingdom and for the benefit of humankind. Then, be strong and full of courage. Act like a man who accepts responsibility and steps up to the plate. Work in such a way that God is glorified, Christian brothers and sisters are inspired, and Satan is terrified. Finally, let everything be done in love! Love covers sin, not expose it. Love builds up and not tear down. Love heals wounds not inflamed them.
How difficult must it have been to accept this call to courage, when the culture is filled with compromise, competition, patronization, consumerism, self-promotion and everyone seeking worldly success. When there is a crisis of courage in the government, in commerce, in the community, in the home and even in the church. How difficult it is to accept this challenge today. Who will stand up for Jesus? Who will pay the price? Who will stand for right? for the poor? for the homeless and helpless? for the imigrates and foriegners? May we allow God’s call to courage to shape our attitude as Christians as we choose to stand up in a culture that’s bowing down.
I close with the words of this hymn, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus!”
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory, His army shall He lead, ‘til every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day. Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in his strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long; this day the noise of battle, the next the victor's song. To Him that overcometh a crown of life shall be; He with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
He calls us to (1) be watchful (2) be steadfast (3) be strong and (4) be loving. Amen.
