The Five-Fold Secret of the Life that Always Wins In Christ
BEING STEDFAST IN YOUR FAITH
Bishop James C. Hash, Sr.
I Corinthians 16:13-15...KJV WATCH YE, STAND FAST IN THE FAITH, QUIT YOU LIKE MEN, BE STRONG. 14 LET ALL YOUR THINGS BE DONE WITH CHARITY. 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that THEY HAVE ADDICTED THEMSELVES TO THE MINISRY OF THE SAINTS,)
STAND FAST IN THE FAITH,
QUIT YOU LIKE MEN,
BE STRONG.
Stephanas and his household were addicted to the ministry of the saints.
Corinth was the most important city of Greece, a great center of commerce and of educational institutions but was notoriously a wicked city. It was rich and beautiful, but it was sinful and corrupt.
These verses contain the formula for victorious Christian living. The kind of Christian life that God has made possible and that He desires for His children and that His children should desire to live.
There is a military tone about the commands that are stated here; it is almost as though soldiers were going into battle, but before going, their General addresses them and says, “Be on your guard...stand firm...be men of courage...be strong...do everything in love!”
We should remember that as Christians we are soldiers (II Timothy 2:3-5), engaged in a terrific warfare (Ephesians 6:12).
But thanks be unto God, we have a great Captain! Look at Hebrews 2:10. How are we to win? Let us examine the five-fold secrets of victory that Paul outlines for us “In Christ.”
1. ALWAYS BE ON YOUR GUARD!
I Peter 5:8...KJV BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR:
Keep awake and be vigilant!
Be on the alert all the time.
Unless we are on guard and doing constant sentry-duty, we shall be overcome by these enemies.
YOU HAVE THREE ENEMIES:
1.The world is enemy without.
I John 2:15-17...KJV LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, and THE LUST OF THE EYES and THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOR EVER.
What a powerful enemy the world is.
Love not the world; hidden deceptions.
FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, and THE LUST OF THE EYES and THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, but is of the world.
2. The flesh is enemy within. The “flesh” is evil and corrupt and is incapable of improvement (Romans 7:18).
We give place to our old nature when we show anger, bad temper, pride, irritability, and when we are critical of others.
When we choose wrong over right.
3. The devil is the enemy around (Romans 7:21). Satan is determined to try to bring you down (I Peter 5:8). But we are not to be “unaware of his schemes” (II Corinthians 2:11).
2. STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH
I Corinthians 15:58…KJV Therefore, my beloved brethren, BE YE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain.
The word “stedfast” really means “stay put”; have spiritual convictions and stick to them.
To do this, have spiritual convictions, we must be mature men/women and stick to them.
We shall never grow up into spiritual maturity and be strong in the Lord and His power unless we feed constantly upon the Word of God (II Timothy 3:15-17).
II Timothy 3:13-14...KJV BUT EVIL MEN AND SEDUCERS SHALL WAX WORSE, and WORSE, DECEIVING, and BEING DECEIVED. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
The words “STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH” also mean “keep on trusting; do not lose faith.”
Satan’s primary objective is to shatter our faith. Look at Luke 22:31-32; THEREFORE, STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH!
Let your whole trust be in the Lord who will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5-6).