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.
Scientists put together formulas for medicine that help us. There is also a formula to help us live a victorious Christian life. We should always be on our guard. The word “watch” means to be alert to dangers. Stay vigilant. We have some great enemies. One is the world, the enemy without. It wants us to buy into the world system, but that’s not what God wants. We’re living in this world but we’re redeemed and not of this world. We’re to be separate people. Another is the flesh, the enemy within. We battle the flesh every day. Paul described this struggle very well in Romans 7:14-25. The Law revealed the sinful condition of mankind but had no power to bring anyone out. It demanded perfection. Only one person ever lived up to that: Jesus Christ. He fulfilled the Law of God and became the perfect, sinless, spotless sacrifice for sin. You and I are perfect in Jesus due to his death on the cross. Paul found himself sinning in ways not attractive to him. He struggled, wanting to do good but didn’t always do it. He said For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. We can relate. The devil is our enemy, out to tear us down. Being a Christian doesn’t stop temptation. But our help is in the Lord. The devil can’t make us do anything we don’t submit to do. None of us are a match for the devil. We must let Christ live in us. Satan and sin are defeated enemies due to the cross. Jesus Christ came out of the tomb victorious over death, hell and the grave.
“Stand fast.” Stand true to the Lord. Stay put. Stick with spiritual convictions. Personal convictions may be good, but don’t try to convince others to stand to them; they’re yours. But if the Bible says not to do something, then don’t. Christians have accepted things. We’re no longer a peculiar people. We need to show the world we’re different. What we have is supposed to be better than the world. Why else would others want to come to the Lord if what they see in us is no different. Stand true.
“Quit you like men.” Behave like a man. In other words, behave maturely. Put away childish things. First Corinthians 13:11 says When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Grow up. Paul told the church at Corinth they needed to grow up spiritually. Be strong. Don’t rely on self. We can’t do this on our own. If we could, then the death of Jesus on the cross was in vain. Even our best efforts come up short. We are only strong in the Lord when we rely on him.
“ Let all your things be done with charity.” Love. I preach to you in love, even if I step on your toes. Love should regulate all we do. Can people see Jesus in you by the life you live? Is God pleased with your actions? Love must be seen in our actions. It must be heard in our words. When Peter denied the Lord, they said that his speech betrayed him. What comes out of our mouth should indicate who we are. When the Lord cleaned up my heart, he cleaned up my mouth.
Watch. Stand fast. Grow up spiritually. Do all you do with love. This is a good formula for a victorious Christian life.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 