WEBVTT 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:11.839 Bless the Lord. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:12.960 Thank you. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:17.839 Thank you so much for that wonderful worship and for ministering to our hearts. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:19.120 Praise God. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:19.679 Okay. 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:22.239 This water doesn't want to stand still. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:23.359 Ah. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:25.679 Bless the Lord. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:29.120 I got a quick question for you, loved ones. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:33.920 Um, how many of you have been keeping up with the war in Ukraine? 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:36.799 Uh, got more than a few. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:37.840 All right, all right. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.159 What about uh the wars and the unrest that's happening in Haiti? 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:43.280 Anyone? 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:44.960 Got one or two hands? 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:45.359 Okay. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:50.159 What about in the Sudan or in Gabon in uh Central Africa? 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:51.200 The recent coup. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:52.000 All right, all right. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:53.920 So we have we have a few more hands. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:55.679 Okay, that's good. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:07.920 The issue is though, unless we have family or friends in those locations that I mentioned, these war reports don't really resonate with us. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:19.120 Not to mention, since we are geo geographically distant from these locations and from these wars, we have the luxury of being removed from what's going on and being somewhat indifferent towards it. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:29.439 But before you can get too comfortable, I want to remind you, fellow Christian, that you are presently in the midst of a war. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:36.640 And what makes this war so vicious is that it's invisible and that it rages every day. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:39.359 And that's whether you want to fight or not. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:45.200 And you know what else makes this war so vicious? 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:48.799 These opponents, they don't fight fair. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:50.400 No, sir. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:54.799 There's no United Nations peacekeeping committees trying to broker any deals. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.560 No, these enemies, they simply want to destroy us. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:04.079 And having one enemy with that agenda would prove to be tough enough. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:07.599 But we actually have three. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:13.680 And that is the devil, the world, and our very own flesh. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:17.360 And the battlegrounds are not always the same. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:20.159 Sometimes they take places in our church. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:29.680 Sometimes they take place in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, sometimes in our very own minds and in our hearts. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.439 So, how do you defend yourself against such a formidable foe? 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.439 Especially when it seems like they've been given some intel, right? 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.240 Like there's some spies working against us, right? 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:46.639 And they know how to easily infiltrate areas where we thought we were protected. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:50.479 And it's like they know our weaknesses better than we do. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.000 Well, I don't want you to fear. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:55.280 Praise God. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:04.800 We can look to God's all-sufficient and authoritative word to get instructions on how we can live victoriously as Christians in this present war. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:08.319 And praise God that in Christ we have the victory. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:13.759 And so I want to direct your attention, loved ones, to the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 16. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:16.719 We'll be looking at verses 13 through 14. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:22.479 And we will receive our marching orders from our chief and commander, Jesus Christ. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:27.199 1 Corinthians chapter 16. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:32.560 And the scripture reads as follows. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.479 I'm actually going to read this from the uh New American Standard Version because I like this one. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:40.400 Be on the alert. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:43.039 Stand firm in the faith. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:44.560 Act like men. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:45.919 Be strong. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.680 Let all that you do be done in love. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:51.199 Praise God. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:53.439 Praise God. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:54.400 Amen. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:04:05.840 So, loved ones, I just want to share with you that we have five imperatives that we must follow so that we can be victorious in this Christian, in this war as a Christian. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.199 Our marching orders, number one, we must be on the alert. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:18.240 Number two, we must be firm. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.360 Number three, we must be courageous. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:28.800 Number four, we must be strong. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:32.639 And lastly, we must be loving. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:33.839 Amen. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:34.800 Amen. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:47.680 So now, I'm sure many of you are familiar about the church in Corinth, and you probably have, obviously, some memories that come up that make you not want to think of Corinthians. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:58.560 But nonetheless, I want to just remind you that aside from all the problems that the church in Corinth had, from an economic standpoint, the city of Corinth was actually a great place to live. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:10.000 And commentaries point out that since the city of Corinth was located in the southern part of Greece, it was once considered a very popular trade route for most of Greece, North Africa, Italy, and Asia Minor. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:16.000 It was also one of the major cities of the Roman Empire, along with Rome and Alexandria and Egypt. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:24.000 So, because of its premier location, it naturally attracted sailors and merchants from around the world to this specific area. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:29.040 Corinth was also popular for hosting the Ithmian Athletic Games. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:36.480 And this biannual event was typically held in the spring and featured events like chariot racing, boxing, and wrestling. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:46.000 And the event was held in honor of the Greek god Poseidon, which was actually considered the violent and ill-tempered god of the sea. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:51.040 And as you know with pagan cultures, you can't have just one god to worship, right? 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.399 You gotta have more. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:52.879 Okay? 00:05:53.040 --> 00:06:02.720 And so there were several other temples made to honor their gods in the city of Corinth, to include a temple to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, fertility, and beauty. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:10.800 And it was known that this temple was the center of many varieties of religious prostitution. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:22.480 Corinth was so known for their vile and immoral lifestyle that the philosopher Plato once coined the term Corinthian girl to refer to a prostitute. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:33.120 Yet, in spite of this depraved culture that was so pervasive in Corinth, by God's grace and by his providence, Paul planted a church there. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.040 And you may ask, why? 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:37.600 Why would you want to plant a church there, Paul? 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:45.600 Oh, this was a man that was determined to get the gospel out as far and as wide as he could. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:49.920 And he was confident that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:50.639 Amen? 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:51.360 Amen. 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:52.480 Romans 1:16. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:53.839 Don't forget it, loved ones. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.319 Not to mention, Paul was an intelligent man. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:09.040 And from a strategic standpoint, with the city of Corinth having the advantage of those various trial, excuse me, trade routes, he knew that if he could preach the gospel there, it would reach a multitude of people beyond the city of Corinth. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:18.800 And so with the help of a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who he met during his second missionary journey there in Corinth, actually, Paul planted the church. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:23.680 And it was, praise God, there were other Jews in the area, and they already had a synagogue in the area. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.560 So it made it very easy for Paul to plant the church there. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:27.839 Easy. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:28.399 Okay. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:38.480 Now, having only spent a total of 18 months in Corinth, and as in typical Pauline fashion, he did not shrink from preaching the whole council of God while he was there. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.480 And he caused quite a stir. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:47.519 And if you want more information on that, you could read Acts chapter 18, verses 1 through 22 for your homework. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.240 Alright. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:49.680 Now you heard me. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:51.920 You heard the title, hopefully. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:53.839 And if not, there you go. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:54.800 All right, praise God. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:55.759 It's up there. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.319 There's a war going on, loved ones. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:00.639 There's a war going on. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:10.079 And the war was not happening only on the outside in Corinth, but we will learn that there was a war going inside the Church of Corinth. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:19.839 And now the purpose of Paul writing this letter to this church was because he received a war report from Sister Chloe's people that basically the Corinthian church was a hot mess. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.079 There was all types of disunity in the body over their favorite teachers and preachers. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:26.639 They were filing lawsuits against one another. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:29.920 They had issues regarding marriage and divorce. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.519 There were sexually immoral issues that were not being addressed. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.559 There was disorder in their worship services. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:41.600 There were people even denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.240 So you get the impression this would not be the first church that would come up in a Google review, right? 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:47.840 You wouldn't want to go to this church. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 You probably would be considering whether you want to go to the membership class here. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:55.279 But, praise God. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:05.519 And follow me as the scripture reads as follows. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:15.679 The Apostle Paul says, Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:32.080 Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:34.799 Listen to this, verse 11. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.120 And such were some of you. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.159 Praise God. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:46.639 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:53.200 Praise God, that the Holy Spirit impressed upon the Apostle Paul's heart to record this text. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:10:00.879 Because I don't know about you, loved ones, but we need to be reminded that the blood of Jesus Christ was sufficient to wash away even the most vile of sins. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:01.759 Amen? 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:02.799 Amen. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:08.960 But you must know that these were some of the sins that this church was struggling with. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.879 And so you must get in your mind that this was not a no-fly zone. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:16.559 There was a war going on in the Corinthian church. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:20.320 And now with this in mind, now we could get into our text. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:22.480 And we can get to our first point. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.399 Praise God. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.279 Be on the alert. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:29.120 Be on the alert. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:35.039 So, loved ones, our first marching orders is that you and I, we must be on the alert. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:40.799 And the word that Paul uses here in Greek, it actually means to be in constant readiness. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:41.360 Okay? 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:45.440 The ESV translation has it as be watchful. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:49.039 The NIV has it as be on guard. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:58.080 And so it's in the present tense, the active voice and the imperative mood, which means you and I are constantly to be on the alert. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:00.720 This is not a suggestion that Paul is making here. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.000 This is a command. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:10.000 And it is similar to the command that our Lord gave in Matthew chapter 24, verse 42, concerning the perilous times and his imminent return. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:18.080 The Lord Jesus Christ says, Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:24.240 And this command to be alert, it has some eschatology flavor to it. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:28.559 And Paul actually referenced the imminent return of the Lord throughout his letter. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:36.799 And you can see that in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 18, also in chapter 3, verse 13, and again in chapter 5, verse 5. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:50.080 And so whether we are to be on the alert for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, or to be on the alert for the enemies of our faith, the point is this, loved ones, you and I are always to be on the alert. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.039 Amen. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:58.720 And Paul, he utilizes that same word again in Acts chapter 20, verse 31, in his last words to the Ephesian elders. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:08.320 The Apostle Paul says, Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years, I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:14.799 We also see the Apostle Peter using this same word in 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:19.840 Here the Apostle Peter says, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:26.480 Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:31.919 This is why we need to be constantly on the alert, loved ones. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:33.600 We have an adversary. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.440 And you heard me reference it earlier. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.360 We have three adversaries. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.039 And Paul recognized that. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.399 He even mentioned it earlier in this in this in verse 9. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:48.879 He says, For a wide door of effective service has been opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:13:01.600 Now you must be on notice and you must be on alert that whenever you are seeking to do something for the Lord, you can expect that you will encounter some adversaries. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:15.759 May I remind you, loved ones, if you are a Christian, you are enlisted in the Lord's army, and there is a target on your back, and you must know that you are on the battlefield. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.519 You are not on a playground, you are on a battlefield. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.559 And if you think I'm joking, just try. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:27.039 I'm hoping that many of you already do this, but just try. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:30.000 This week, go and share the gospel with someone. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.759 Watch how many distractions may come upon you. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:38.320 If it's not your own cell phone that's ringing, it may be the person whom you're endeavoring to reach with the gospel. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.320 All of a sudden their phone starts ringing. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:44.720 All of a sudden a friend stops by and says, Hey, come on, we need to go. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.679 You are in the midst of a war. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.480 You are in the midst of a war. 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:53.840 And you know what? 00:13:55.440 --> 00:14:07.360 It'd be one thing if it was just that the Corinthian church was facing the culture and having to fight and living holy and living in that wicked culture, and that was the only thing that they had to be concerned about. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:15.120 But the the worst part about it is that the Corinthians had their own internal warfare, and their biggest problem was pride. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:21.440 They were so prideful that they were actually boasting about one of their members committing incest. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.519 And Paul was like, What is have you lost your mind? 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.200 Paul had to rebuke them. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.480 He had to rebuke them. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:34.559 And in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, he says, in verse 6 through 7, he says, Your boasting is not good. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:38.879 Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:44.639 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:48.639 For Christ, our Passover, also has been sacrificed. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:53.120 Loved ones, this Corinthian church, they were compromising. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:59.440 And it was ruining their witness and their testimony in that fallen culture that they lived in. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:02.799 And we have to remember that it is no different for us. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.120 There's nothing new under the sun. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:09.679 You need not look very further than the front news headlines. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.639 You know the wicked and immoral culture that we're living in. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:20.399 We see the battles against all types of just trying to figure out what gender is, what a man and a woman is, right? 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.080 There's nothing new under the sun. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.480 And so we have to be on the alert, and we cannot compromise when it comes to sin. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.600 Right? 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:36.399 Just like if I had asked you for a bottle of water, and you said, hey, uh, I put a little poison in it just to give it a nice little taste. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.399 Do you think I'm gonna drink the water? 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.120 No! And you wouldn't drink it either. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:44.720 But that's how we tend to compromise when it comes to our sin. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.279 We think, oh, a little pride, it's not that bad. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.639 It's not that serious. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.000 Oh, a little envy. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.879 Come on. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.320 No big deal. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:56.240 It is a roaring lion, not a precious little kitty. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.759 It wants to devour us. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.919 And so we must crucify our flesh. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:06.399 We must crucify those things that threaten our very command to live holy in this culture. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.919 And in order for us to do that, we must be on the alert, loved ones. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:10.799 Amen? 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:11.759 Amen. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:13.440 So let's get back to our text. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.799 Be on the alert. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.639 Now we're at point number two. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.720 You must stand firm. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.759 You and I, we must be firm, loved ones. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.279 We must be firm. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:28.159 And here, Paul continues in his command to the church about their next set of orders. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:32.559 And the word in Greek means to be firmly committed in conviction or belief. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:37.120 And Paul would use that same word again in Philippians chapter 1, verse 27. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:46.879 He says, only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.360 Excuse me, I will hear. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:58.960 Excuse me, I will hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:08.000 Now the Corinthians, they were behaving more like the culture that they lived in rather than the holiness that the Lord had commanded them to. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:11.759 And they were divided over all sorts of issues. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.440 And you know what? 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:20.160 We must remember, loved ones, that unity is of great importance when it comes to the body of Christ. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.480 That's why the enemy threatens it so much. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:31.839 That's why he's always attacking so much, because he knows that we are far more powerful when we are united by the Spirit, by the gospel, right? 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.680 Rather than being divided. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:45.200 And if you need a reminder of that, we can easily look at this past three years and how the pandemic and all types of critical race theories and politics, it caused some serious damage to the church. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:52.880 And our culture may want to, you know, try to remind us that we want to be on the right side of history. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:57.119 Loved ones, we want to be on the right side of Christ. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.599 Okay? 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.920 When it's all said and done, we stand with Christ, not with the culture. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:21.279 And so, in order for us to stand firm, we have to make sure that we are on the alert, spending time in God's word, making sure that we are obeying his truth, that we are applying his word to our hearts, because we can see what happens when Christians are paying more attention to the culture than paying attention to Christ. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:29.200 They could get easily swayed, easily blown by every wind and every doctrine. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:35.359 And notice, loved ones, that we are not only to stand firm in a faith. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.240 No, no, no. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.200 That's not what Paul says. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:40.000 Paul says, stand firm in the faith, right? 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.920 This is the true faith. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:47.839 And we must recognize that the faith that we stand in, it's not a smorgasbord, okay? 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.319 It's not take a little of this, take a little of that. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:54.400 You know, God is too big, God is too wide, surely he can't be so narrow. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.480 No, no, loved ones. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.960 We stand firm in the faith. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:04.799 And that faith, as Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, faith is the assurance of things hoped for. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:07.279 It's the conviction of things not seen. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.160 And without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:15.039 And the only faith that pleases God is faith in his precious Son Jesus Christ. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.000 Amen. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.279 Amen. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:27.599 And so when we see people who are falling to the wayside, we must remember that we must be on the alert, loved ones. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.519 We must stand firm in the faith. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:35.759 And we must be in God's word so that we can see these things as they are coming our way. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:40.960 And so now we've reached our third part, our third marching orders. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.119 Point number three. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:46.079 You and I, we must be courageous. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.759 We must be courageous. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.640 The Greek word that Paul uses is translated to conduct oneself in a courageous way. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:56.319 And some translations, like the NIV, have that same usage. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:01.440 And the NAS, excuse me, the NASB and the ESV have rendered it act like men. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:09.759 And the previous two commands, you must know they were present, active, and imperatives, but the last three commands that Paul gives us are actually present and passive. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:13.839 This means that Paul was commanding the Corinthians to receive courage. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.319 Okay? 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:17.920 And this Greek word is not seen anywhere else in the New Testament. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:26.079 And the closest use of this word we have is we can find it in the Septuagint, which is the earliest Greek translation of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:31.440 And we see this in Joshua chapter 1, verses 6 through 6 through 7. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:41.119 And the scripture reads as follows Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:43.839 Only be strong and very courageous. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.480 Be careful to do all the law which Moses, my servant, commanded you. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:54.799 Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.799 And we just need to finish it off. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.279 Okay? 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:08.640 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:13.920 For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.759 Have I not commanded you? 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:18.400 Be strong and courageous. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.359 But how? 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:26.799 Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:30.799 Loved ones, our strength cannot be in and of ourselves. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:40.720 We cannot place any confidence in our flesh, thinking that we can dare fight this enemy called the devil or the world or our very own flesh in our own strength. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.759 It won't work. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.960 It won't work. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:47.119 We must be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.000 Amen. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:54.240 We must rely upon the Lord to give us the strength to face these battles. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:57.759 Because left to ourselves, we will become mincemeat. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:09.200 We can only stand And a fighting chance, and more than a fighting chance, when we are in Christ and we are letting His Holy Spirit lead us and guide us in the warfare that we face. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:12.480 And so we must let that happen to us. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:18.000 And now we've reached our fourth imperative. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.480 You must be strong. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:23.519 You and I, loved ones, we must be strong. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.319 And the word in Greek is used similarly. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:30.000 You heard me reference it already in Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:34.319 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.759 Alright. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:41.680 We must recognize this is not some pull yourself up by your own bootstraps kind of kind of text. 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.240 Alright? 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:45.839 This is a strength again that we need to have done to us. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.640 We must let it happen to us. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:52.799 And this is Paul's instruction again in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 16. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:23:12.400 Paul picking up at verse 14, because you've got to start off with verse 14, the apostle Paul says, For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives this name, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his spirit in the inner man. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:19.119 Loved ones, if you needed more of a reminder, just hear what the Lord is saying to you. 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:22.480 Stop trusting in your own strength. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.720 Stop trusting in your own intellect. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:28.160 Stop trusting in whatever it is that is other than Christ. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.759 You don't stand a chance. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.680 I don't stand a chance. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:35.359 We must stand upon the rock. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:42.640 We must allow Christ to grant us strength in the inner man in order to endure, in order to persevere. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:46.480 Left to ourselves, we will shudder in the darkness. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:50.559 We must be strong in the Lord. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:58.960 And lastly, Paul instructs us in verse 14, we've reached the final port of our outline. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.319 Point number five. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.400 You and I must be loving. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:04.079 We must be loving. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:11.200 And John MacArthur in his commentary on this verse states the fifth principle for powerful living is the most comprehensive. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:17.279 And without it, the others could make us crusty, militant, and hard. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.880 Amen. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:24.400 And so I don't know about you, but when I hear these types of sermons, right? 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:30.960 I mean, this is like Paul, he it's like he broke out the Gatling gun, and he's just releasing these commands one after the other, right? 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.400 Be strong in the Lord, right? 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:37.680 I mean, excuse me, be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong, right? 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:45.599 You hear a command like that, you want to burst through the doors, you want to go out, and you want to start lopping heads off with the sword of the spirit, right? 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.640 That's what you want to do? 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:46.960 No? 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.680 No one else? 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.400 All right, sorry. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.359 Confession time. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.799 I'm sorry, please forgive me. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:56.799 That's how sometimes when you hear those words and you think about these military commands, you want to go to war. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.400 You want to go to war. 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.559 Well, at least I want to go to war. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.960 I don't know about you, but I want to go to war. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.359 But I have to be reminded. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.559 And I'm so glad. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:12.640 I'm so thankful to the Lord that He put this here in the text that we must be loving. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.400 We must be loving. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:22.160 Ephesians 6 reminds us that we are to put on the whole armor of God so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:34.319 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:39.839 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.319 And having done all to stand firm. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:50.400 We must, we must remember that we are not to be going out and fighting with the culture in our own flesh. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:54.559 We are not to be tearing them down and demonizing them with our words. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.160 We're to love them. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.920 We're to love them. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:00.319 Because such were some of us. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.440 Remember? 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.519 Such were some of us. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:09.839 Remember, the Lord Jesus Christ says in John chapter 18, verse 36, My kingdom is not of this world. 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:16.400 If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:19.279 But my kingdom is not from the world. 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:23.200 And so, loved ones, we're not gonna fight in the flesh. 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.599 No, that's not how we're gonna see victory. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:27.599 We fight on our knees. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:31.119 We pray for those who are still in darkness. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:42.319 We pray for the culture and all of their being swayed by the prince of the power of the air, that the truth of the gospel will penetrate their stony hearts. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:47.920 We don't point our fingers at public schools and institutions and just write them off. 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.039 No, we pray. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:52.559 We pray because there are Christians who are on that front line. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:27:04.480 There are Christian teachers and there are Christian staff and they are trying to keep shining the light of the gospel in these dark places because they know that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:08.480 And so they need our prayers, they need our support. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:15.839 And most of all, we need to stand with them and show the love of Christ to this lost and fallen world. 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:23.200 Loved ones, Paul had to remind this church who was so prideful, right? 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:27.680 They only all they needed to do was boast in me, me, me, me, me. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:30.640 It was like the only note that they knew in a musical chord. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:32.400 There was no do, no re, no me. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.160 No, it was just me, me, me, me, me. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:36.240 That's all the Corinthians knew, right? 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:39.039 And Paul had to remind them that's not love. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:41.039 That's not love. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.240 And he reminded them. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.079 And we need that reminder. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:51.519 First Corinthians chapter 13. 00:27:53.119 --> 00:28:02.720 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:15.279 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:25.920 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:36.079 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:29:00.319 Love does not brag, and is not arrogant, it does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, it does not take into account a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:09.680 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:14.000 You love like that, loved ones. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:21.839 I know oftentimes I failed in that battle. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:29.039 But praise God. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:38.559 Paul, the Apostle Paul, as he wrote in Romans chapter 7, oh wretched man that I am, who can deliver me from this body of death? 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:40.480 But thanks be to God. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.920 Thanks be to God. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:48.079 Loved ones, so long as our hope is in Christ, we can win the battle. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.839 We can win the war. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:52.400 But it must be in Christ. 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:55.359 And he must have his way in us and through us. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:58.559 And that is the only way that we can see the victory. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:06.960 Now, before we conclude, we must ask ourselves a question. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.079 Why? 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:12.720