If I was to ask you, whom was the most influential person that you encountered in your life. Who could you list? Who was the most sincere person, most loving, most diabolical, most Godly, most genuine. and the list could be long for sure. We each in some form and fashion are impacted by someone else’s life and response to it. Even as a child, we have to learn the behavior to eventually become our own person don’t we? Sometimes when a parent finds their child taking drugs, swearing at other people, becoming something they no longer recognize as their child, one can only ponder, what has changed. Is it hormones, or is it the company they keep? What influences us from doing something magnificent, versus doing something just to meet the quota.
In todays reading from Pauls letter to the Galatians, we find a very needing statement to be brought to light here. Near the end of Chapter three, Paul tells us this, “Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Paul is giving a moralism statement of concern here as not only questioning the Galatians moral blind spot per-say which we all do possess, but there’s an intense urge he is giving to follow an example of someone who not only is a icon, or beacon to the faith of Christ, but also is living it as an example. Lets read on, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.”
Paul is saying here, what is our focus to be on? God, or earthly things? Do we believe first in God, or in our earthly senses? What do we stand for? What are we holding on to? What banner are we proudly displaying amongst our homes, lives and families that shine as a light to a lost world? What unconscious enemy of Christ is amongst us, perhaps even those that are in our churches. We have an enemy, but do not be mistaken or shaken, God is always in control, and that control, we can truly rely on him.
A beautiful illustration of our dependence on a solidly established base while we are moving at a distance, is the journey of Apollo 11 to the moon. A space station in Houston, Texas, was the seat of command. The three spacemen dared not disregard it as they circled around the moon and as two of them landed on its surface. Thus Paul tells the people of Corinth that any work they undertake must be based on the firmness, the absoluteness, the dependability of the Lord Jesus Christ. He arose from the dead. He did exactly what He said He was going to do. He told us that we too shall rise. That is our control center, and we can depend on it. If we even think to disregard Gods commands and instructions friends, it literally will be a matter of life and eternal death. During the Apollo 11 broadcast a new anchor made this compelling statement, “These men cannot remain on the moon. They must follow instructions. They do not have only themselves to think of but also the entire project.” If you think about it, Christians, when we are tempted to act independently of the control center, Christ the Lord. You have not only yourself to think of, but also Christ and His Kingdom. There’s more to this than meets the eye!
But friends, there is hope, there is salvation, there is a greater tomorrow that is beyond our comprehension when we steer our compass to the Holy God of all creation. Paul tells us “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord . Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
Can you hear these wonderful words! We have a reason to have hope in the Living God. We have it all at our door step, all we have to is open the door and let him in. One thing I pray that you remember, is the importance of remembering who God is in your life! In the bible study we are doing, we are talking about Fearing God, Following Jesus and then the Holy Spirit. These teachings helps us realize that God is not mocked, God is always loving and God is always mysterious. Theres so much more to know about God than there is to forget!
I would like to point out here Pauls statement about the enemies of Christ! Everyday we walk, and talk with so many people that we truly do not know without having the Holy Spirit direct us, who is our enemy. The word enemy in Greek (ech-thros) meaning hated, hostile; subst: an enemy is used 32 times in the new testament, sparking a real eye catcher of a point. As Christians, we will have enemies. Paul tells us in his letter to Timothy, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ will be persecuted.” In the same breathe, Jesus tells us “bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” The Gospel of Matthew tells us, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Greek word (dee-o-ko) persecuted is mentioned over 45 times in the new testament, having the meaning to put to flight, pursue, by implication to persecute. If you did not know God, you would have a reason to worry in my opinion, but as a Christian, worry is not in our vocabulary. Yet, despite that persecution is inevitable in our Christian walk of life, there is always Hope found in Jesus Christ. We, as human being of flesh and bones are never perfectible, always corruptible, but always convertible from self into union with Gods company. That’s what he desires from us.
But how are we to do this work, being persecuted, falling short day after day, being susceptible to the worlds evils and temptations, and yet pray for our enemies, our persecutors. We do what Paul tells us next in his letter, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters , whom I long to see , my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”
Say that with me “Stand Firm.”
World history is full of stories about men and women whom stand firm for what they believe in. Even though some of those people stood firm for the wrong reasons which ultimately cost them everything! But the firmness I speak of can only be found in Christ, the savior of all mankind. The true and genuineness that all mankind could have experienced is the Faith, Hope and Love found only in the Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God.
When we think about being steadfast, firm, I sometimes think about the brave heroes in our armed forces, our police, fire, emergency services, etc. So many people risk their lives for others, which can claim the patron mark of a hero to so many on this earth. How they stand up, even terrified during mortal danger and very dire circumstances. Where do they muster the strength to do such a thing? Only God provides such a strength that no man can mimic or conjure up. There is however something far more compelling to human story of life that when we are faced with uncertainty, to stand firm in the word of God, we also receive something that some of us may never really expect. When we think about standing firm, we seem to think about being a statue, unmovable, a stone, hard and course. Nothing noted in those descriptions give way to soft or fluffiness is there? But how about the word Peace!
Phillips Brooks says it pretty well. “I know that there is such a thing as peace to seek and find. But here is my work to do, to worry over whether I am doing it right, to keep myself restless over how it will turn out. “My work” I say; but if I can know that it is not my work but God’s should I not cast away my restlessness, even while I worked on more faithfully and untiringly than ever? If I could go through all the good over which I am laboring the certainty that all that is good in it is God’s and must succeed, how that certainty would drive the darkness out of it! And while I worked harder than ever, my work would have something of the calmness with which he labors always. To every poor sufferer, to every discouraged worker, to every man who cannot think much of himself, and yet is to brave to despair, this is the courage that the gospel gives.”
Standing firm is something very important, in every sense of the word. The work we have to do for Christ and with Christ requires us to stand fast and wait on Him. From the foundations of the world, the mystery of mankind will be from everlasting to everlasting. The mystery of man and women is that same Spirit of God which was embodied in Christ that came to birth, like new life, at any time and when you Crucify the same Spirit, it continually comes alive! You cannot destroy it! It is a timeless truth that God and only God can save each of us. Think about it, the Cross did not kill Jesus, the Persecution did not destroy Jesus, Satans temptations did not fault Jesus, no action that the world would muster, hindered Gods only Son from fulfilling his ultimate plan of redemption of all mankind!
Standing firm friends is vital to our living the Christian life. Scripture after Scripture, from Old to New Testaments, speak of Gods everlasting Love and Judgement, Peace and Wrath, all for His Glory that none of us can fully comprehend. I want you to try to remember the message today about standing firm in Christ means that we not only depend on Him, we Live for Him.
Faithful disciples of Christ live transparent lives, teach Gods word, practice what is preached, have faithful focus on God and pleasing Him, bears fruits of the Spirit, is willingly to accept suffering for Christ. If you think about it, living a Godly life, exposes the sins of others. At the very beginning of the message today, I mentioned to you what Paul said how the people of Philipi was to use his life as an example, what he taught them, to instruct them in a Godly fashion. Can each of us do that as well? I Pray we can! That’s why standing firm in Christ, who gives us the strength and courage that we need to get things done, is vital to all whom we are. We are not to stand firm as a statue or bolder, but with the peace and Love of God in our Spirit, our very being.
I would leave with you 4 things to ponder on, when standing on firm
To Stand Firm in Difficult Times, We Must Remember the Faithful
To Stand Firm in Difficult Times, We Must Follow the Faithful
To Stand Firm in Difficult Times, We Must Expect Persecution
To Stand Firm in Difficult Times, We Must Continue in God’s Word
Don’t let it get you by surprise, we must believe it, we must read it, we must meditate on it, we must memorize it, we must obey it and then we must teach it. Amen.