"Standing Firm in the Lord"

Philippians 4:1

 

A goal that each of us should have after we make our commitment to Jesus Christ is to walk consistently with Him.  For those of you reading my message for this week, the question I ask you is "are you satisfied with your consistency?"  

 

Philippians 4:1 is the beginning statement after a powerful chapter three.  From this chapter we can draw the following:

 

1.    The model for standing

2.    The command to stand

3.    The strength to stand

 

Our writer of this week's text, Paul, is a model for consistency.  When he was
Saul, a man of the world, he was consistent.  When he became Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, he was consistent and firm in the Lord.

 

Paul tells us to stand firm and in chapter three he tells us to "watch them dogs."  Philippians 3:2 says watch out for those who look to bark and bite trying to scare and distract us from doing the Lord's work.  He goes on to say that we need an intimate close relationship with God in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

 

Consistency also requires the right attitude.  An even greater framework for our passage today comes from Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

 

a)    Surround yourselves with good spiritual role models

b)    Obedience to God’s commands are expected

c)    The ability to do as the Lord commanded lies in the strength of the Lord

 

Closing prayer:

 God I pray that every believer would desire and be able to stand firm in the Lord.  Let them be firm in mental focus and firm in their service.  Let us always remember what Paul said in I Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  Amen