Staunch or Shaky?

STAUNCH OR SHAKY?

“Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!” (Philippians 4:1)

Paul says, “stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!”  How would someone describe you – staunch, steadfast, and firm, or shaky or weak in the faith?  The admonition here is to stand fast.  Many believe this is accomplished by having more faith or a stronger faith.  However, it is not possible to stand fast, unwavering, unless you are on God’s foundation.  He is the Rock on which to rest your faith.

In another passage, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul says to hold the truth, as revealed by God, with a firm grasp.  Be steadfast in the faith!  Also, be steadfast in the liberty Christ alone grants (Galatians 5:1).  He gained your liberty by His death; by faith you enter into it; by faith you continue in it.  It is this marvelous liberty that frees you from sin’s dominion and rule in your life.

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Next, be steadfast in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27) and stand firm in one spirit.  Never forget you are baptized into one Body by one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).  It is a mystical union – One Head, One Body, One Life.  It is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1, 2) to be steadfast in the Lord (Philippians 4:1).  Put on “the armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17) and be steadfast against the enemy, whatever that might be in your life.

Today our battles are not with flesh and blood but with spiritual forces of evil.  God’s strategy for protecting you and glorifying His name is to make you victorious.  1 Corinthians 15:57 and 58 reminds you, “He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.”  Claim His victory!  Are you working on your devotion, your fidelity to the Lord?  The fellowship it produces makes for a staunch, steadfast Christian rather than a shaky one. – Pastor John Hibbard serves on the Board of Trustees of America’s Keswick and is an itinerant Bible teacher.

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Ezekiel 44-45; Psalm 58; Proverbs 1

Compass Pointers: God does not require a man to have one talent, three talents, or five talents. He only requires that a man be faithful with whatever he has been given.

Anonymous

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 6:35; Level 2: John 6:35-40

Anchored to the Rock: If you cannot go to the house of the Lord, go to the Lord of the house. C. H. Spurgeon