WHAT EVERY CHURCH NEEDS TO STAND FAST
The Christian’s Relentless Pursuit
Pastor/Teacher Charles e Whisnant
Philippians 4:1 July 10 and 17th 2011
The text is from verse 1 to verse 9.
The subject is Spiritual Stability, or Reliability. Definition: "to with
stand pressure, force, or stress."
syns. firmness, security, soundness, stableness, steadiness, strength.
The crises today: Unstable leadership
in the church. How easy it seems to fall from spiritual leadership
today. The church seems to be in trouble today.
The problem of anxiety, worry,
apprehension, fretting, fear, perplexity as to ease, peace, contentment, calmness and assurance. The church
seems to be for ever trying to patch itself up! To fix itself
up, to solve its myriads of problems.
Why? Because they have not heeded to
the Biblical principles of stability. Far too many
are seek calmness in areas where you do not receive it.
THE CHURCH IS UNDER ATTACK
TODAY:
IB The devil does move around like a lion seeking to devour.
2B The flesh, pressures to redeem itself.
3B The world, with all its
allurements that try to entice us.
THE
PURPOSE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
The local church assembly
is a fellowship of concern believers who come before the Lord to worship Him.
THE
PROBLEM IN AMERICA for CHRISTIANS
Its easy to find
our selves compromises our convictions, because behavior is acceptable. There's little
pressure to be a stable Christian,
and that's the hardest trial of all.
Thus there is break downs
in our trust of God's promises, there is a break down in
our marriages, we feel angry, we rebel, and full of bitterness.... We are unstable in our living.
We fight the battle to stay calm and
stay steady and firm.
THE
BACKGROUND OF THE CHURCH OF PHILIPPI:
Paul's major
concern was there steadfastness. The were inclined to yield
ground, prone to retreat from a firm stand for Christ, pressure of that society and city tempted them to give way.
Paul was concern, Peter was concern, Jesus was concern. Its a theme in the N.T. that is "stability". Stay with it power.
THE
STABILITY OF UNSTABLE SOULS
Peter's view: II Peter 3:15-16 James'
view: James 1:8
IB
They are not fixed on righteous truth.
2B
They are not single mindedness.
3B They are not
focused on the character of God
Genesis 49:3-4:
Jacob said of Reuben. A very old age problem: a demonstration of spiritual instability
No one wants to be
unstable, no one wants to fall to false doctrine, or fall under problems or trails
and get crushed....
I BELIEVE YOU WANT TO BE SPIRITUAL STABLE
AND FIRM. .RIGHT! Then the question is "How, Pastor?"
RELIABILITY: is equated with
godliness, Christl ikeness, holiness, maturity, but basis to Christian living.
So how can we be standing firm, how can we get over this up's and down's of Christian Hvtii
STAND FAST IN THE LORD: vs 1 Theme of verse 1-9.
I Corinthians 15:58, Philippians 1:27.
Spiritual stability is
the theme. "Be of the same mind." They were having a tuff time holding forth the word of truth.
They had a shortage of
joy, and a lot of fretting in the
group.
Paul calls for them to "STAND FIRM". Definition: "stand
your post, your ground in the midst of battle." "Hold your position while under attract."
"The church is not
to be weakened by disunity, turmoil or wrong values. It is was to stand together to
accomplish God's will. Its God's
command to "STAND FIRM."
THE ISSUE: "The
church is frankly "bored with God." What a danger? What a bad
attitude? Frankly we want to be entertained.
"THEREFORE" . vs.
1 In view of what Paul mentions
in chapter 3.
Because of this. Our heavenly citizenship, and we're looking of
Christ's return,
we are pursuing Chri stl i keness
. Since this is
our goal and prize, we too need to
stand firm and fast .....
"MY DEARLY BELOVED", Paul's personal tenderness toward them.
"MY JOY AND MY CROWN"
On reward day in Heaven, you will be my joy
and crown. How did he get his joy, from their
salvation.
"CROWN." A laurel
wreath.
"SO THEN" In this way stand firm in this way...
PAUL'S SPIRIT OF
COMPASSION IS EXPRESSED THEN HE GIVE A STRONG
EXHORTATION:
"Stand Firm in the Lord."
Paul proceeds to explain how to stand firm: vs. 2-9
"I am convince,
that the resolution to everything in this matter of spiritual stability, reliability, goes right back to how you think about
God."
We are going to see these
principles over the next few week, so you might be spiritual reliable.
LESSON
OUTLINE
I.
TENDER ENCOURAGEMENT (Philippians 4:1 a)
A. Expressing
Compassion
B. Expressing
Confidence
II. THREEFOLD EXHORTATION
(Philippians 4:1 b-4)
A. To Stand
Together (Philippians 4:1 b)
B. To Agree
Together (Philippians 4:2,3)
C. To Rejoice
Together (Philippians 4:4)
