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)
