Stand Firm

 

 

My wife and I participated in Small Groups at our Church.  The group we joined studied 1 Corinthians.  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the last class over chapters 15 and 16.  But I had studied it this past week, and I was convicted by the passage, 1Corinthians 16:13-14 and the phrase, “stand firm.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

Today I was reminded of verse 13 by K – Love through their “Encouraging Word.”

I read verse 13 and 14, and I continued to the end of 1 Corinthians.

Final Instructions – 1 Corinthians 16:12-18

“Final Instructions” is the heading in my ESV translation for 1 Corinthians 16:12-18.  As I said, the verses 13-14 got my attention.  I was also taken by verse 18.

1 Corinthians 16:18 (ESV) ¹⁸ for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

Paul was speaking of three men Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus and the encouragement they gave him as well as the church at Corinth.  I loved the passage; Paul said, “they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.”  I just started thinking of all the people in my Church home and other brothers and sisters in Christ that I have met and how so many help me to “stand firm” with their encouragement and council.

Stand Fast – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I thought of verse 13 and Paul’s words.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

Now as I think about the words here I think of the unity of the Church and the need we have for each other.  I read verse 12-18 again.  Paul said something in verse 12 that got my attention.

1 Corinthians 16:12 (ESV) ¹² Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

It sounds like the folks of Corinth liked Apollos.  It kind of sounds like they might have become a bit dependent on him, maybe a bit too much, so Paul pressed upon them to “stand firm in the faith.”  He also reminded them of others in their congregation they could go to, specifically, Stephanas,  Fortunatus, and Achaicus.

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 (ESV) they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— ¹⁶ be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

Then in verse 17-18, he reminded me of how I should look at those around me.

1 Corinthians 16:17-18

Paul found joy in His meeting with these three men.  They refreshed his spirit.  He reminded the Corinthians to give recognition to such men.

1 Corinthians 16:17-18 (ESV) ¹⁷ I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, ¹⁸ for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

I read all of 1 Corinthians 12-18 again and could not get past verse 13 and I meditated on “standing firm in the faith, ” and I looked at some cross-referenced verses.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 came first.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (ESV) ¹ Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

What power there is in this passage for me.  I cannot get past “hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”  This Word Paul spoke of is the good news of Jesus Christ – His death, burial, and resurrection which paid our debt and overcame death.   But what a waste if we do not believe in the whole truth; and not just the truth, but the truth in love.

Closing

In all this discussion, I cannot help but return to verse 13.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

Paul was very specific in this verse.  He directed the Corinthians to be alert, stand firm, be mature, be strong, and to be loving. I prayed about this passage and the direction Paul set, and I just got stuck.  But the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage that gave me peace.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Prayer

Father, please help me to be alert, stand firm, be mature, be strong, and to be loving in the exercise of my faith.

Lord let me not forget, “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!