“Stand Fast In The Lord”

Introduction

I. 	Last week we considered the lesson, “Give Thanks, Put Your Care on The Lord, and Obey His Will.”
A. 	This lesson was the result of thinking upon the sad situation in Littleton, CO where twelve children and a teacher were murdered.
B. 	I trust that you have been giving thanks for your safety and the safety of our children, that you have prayed so as to put your care on the Lord and that you are seeking to obey God’s will.
II. 	We need to be encouraged to faithfulness by the example of the young woman who would not deny her faith in God in order to save her own life.
III. 	The scriptures teach us to take a stand, and we shall consider this lesson this morning.
 
Body
I.   We are commanded to stand firmly for truth.
A. 	“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  I Cor. 16:13.
1. 	The faith is the gospel.  Gal. 3:23-25.
2. 	“Quit you like men” means to act like men.
B. 	The Philippians were to join with their brethren in standing fast.  Phil. 1:27-30; 4:1.
C. 	Paul was deeply concerned to know that the Thessalonians were standing fast in the Lord.  I Thess. 3:1-10; Note verse 8.  
1. 	Upon learning of their faith, love and service, Paul gave thanks.  I Thess. 1:1-10.
2. 	They had suffered for their faith.  I Thess. 2:13-16.
3. 	In his second letter he is thankful for them and exhorts them to stand fast.             II Thess. 2:13-15.
D. 	The Galatians had been set free from the law and were urged to stand fast in this freedom.  Gal. 5:1-12.

II.  We must stand fast today.  
A. 	We must stand fast in worshipping as the Scriptures teach, observing the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:20-30), without the addition of such things as instrumental music (Eph. 5:15-21; Col. 3:16-17).
B. 	We must stand fast in the work of the church doing the work of evangelism (I Tim. 3:14-15; Phil. 4:10-19), edification (Eph. 4:11-16) and benevolence (Acts 2:43-45; 4:32-37; 6:1-6; 11:27-29; I Cor. 16:1-4).
C. 	We must stand fast in purity of life.  I Pet. 1:22-23; James 4:2-10; I John 3:1-3;           I Tim. 2:8-10; 4:12; 5:1-2; I Peter 4:1-5.
D. 	We must stand fast in obedience in order that we can be saved.  Heb. 5:9; Acts 2:36-38; Gal. 3:26-27.

“Stand Fast In The Lord,” page 2

Conclusion

I. 	Make your decision to stand fast in the Lord.
II. 	It is appointed that each of us will die, but we don’t know when that time will come or when the Lord shall come.  Heb. 9:27-28; II Peter 3:8-13.
III. 	“Who is able to stand” in a time of earthly judgment?  Rev. 12-17.
IV. 	Who will be able to stand in the day of final judgment?  II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15.
V. 	Believe in Jesus (Jn. 8:24), repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), confess Jesus as Christ (Matt. 10:32-33) and be baptized into Christ Jesus for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38: Gal. 3:26-27).

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   May 2, 1999