Jump Start # 218

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

  We return to the same verse as yesterday. We are looking at the four admonitions Paul tells the Corinthians. Yesterday it was, Be on the Alert.

  Today, STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH. We sing a song, “Standing on the promises…” The idea of “standing” or “taking a stand” is based upon beliefs and convictions. There is this invisible line between right and wrong, often the world doesn’t see it, but the followers of God can. The child of God takes his stand with God. Paul’s words were, “Stand firm in the faith.” This is not a political statement. Some take a stand against raising taxes. Some take a stand against school boards and progressive education. Here, it is spiritual. Standing in the faith.

  Just a page before in your Bible, Paul said, “be steadfast, immovable…” Those words do not fly well in our times. This is the age of acceptance and tolerance. Folks that don’t go along are called names and accused of being prejudiced. God’s way is not a cafeteria in which we get to pick what we want to follow. Jesus is the Lord. He is unwavering in His doctrine. His way is one of  holiness, purity and righteousness. Stand firm is the call from God.

  It takes two things to be able to stand firm with God. First, you need a heart to know where God stands. You can’t look around and see what everyone else is doing, that doesn’t work. The only way to know is by reading your Bible and learning what God says. God has spoken about morality, sexuality, marriage, divorce, modesty, language, attitudes, money, and raising kids. Did you know that? Do you know what God says about those things? What if you don’t like what God said? Will you stand with God or will you do what you feel like? This is what Paul is talking about. Stand firm in the faith. Immodesty is in, but not with God. Sex outside of marriage is everywhere, except with God. A little dishonesty, a little impurity, a little lying—we justify those things by saying, “everyone does it!” Not God! Stand firm. You can’t stand until you know where to stand. That’s where it starts.

  Secondly, you have to plant your feet and be ready to take a few hits. They will come. As you are standing, others are walking right past you. They don’t stand where you stand. Some may be in your family. They get on you because you don’t do what they do. Others may be people you work with. Sometimes folks at church will pass you and God standing together on His word. They shouldn’t. They ought to know better, but there they go. You stand.

  You stand when people call you narrow. Because when they do that, they are calling God narrow. You are standing with God. You stand when people tell you that you are missing out on all the fun. You’re not, because you are standing with God. You stand, when Satan tempts. You stand when people ridicule. You stand when doubts arise. You stand when fears come. You stand and stand and never move from God. The world has passed God long ago. As disciples we are traveling upstream in a downstream world.

  The delightful thing about standing with God is that you know where you stand with God. You have confidence and courage because of what the Bible says. You know. And you know the end of the journey. Those that stand with God will be with God. Now those that have passed God, changed their minds a zillion times, who go back and forth with the crowds won’t have that blessed assurance as you do. They don’t know where they stand with God.

  Dare to stand…Joshua did. Moses did. David did. Daniel did. It wasn’t easy for any of them. But they stood. Their names are in our Bibles. What about all those around them who didn’t stand…forgotten!

  Dig you heels in today—the world’s going to shove you. Hang on, hang in, and STAND FIRM.

Roger