Stand Fast In The Faith

In many places in the bible, great emphasis is placed on the action of being watchful. To watch, watch out, watch ye. Watch. Websters 1828 Dictionary has multiple definitions of the word watch. Used as a noun, the word “watch” in the fourth definition listed, means Guard; vigilance for keeping or protecting against danger.

More impressive to me was definition five for it states A watchman, or watchmen; men set for a guard, either one person or more, set to espy the approach of an enemy or other danger, and to give an alarm or notice of such danger; a sentinel; a guard. He kept a watch at the gate.

Listen to this passage about how the walls of the city of Jerusalem were rebuilt when the captivity of Israel came back.

Are we not to watch? Are we not watchmen over the lost to keep evil away? Have we abandoned our posts? Have we literally thought, the world is too far gone? Have we decided to pull the plug on this old world early? I don’t think God signed off on that request or order. We’ve been given one job! One job and that job is to preach the gospel to every creature. The Bible tells us to watch. We don’t know when Jesus is going to return.

I. Watch ye

a. Against False Teaching/Doctrine 1 Timothy 6:3-4

i. We are to withdraw from these types of people. We are to withdraw from those who have corrupted the teachings of Jesus and the commandments of His Word. Some have made the teachings of Jesus the subject of strife and controversy and are not wholesome. The doctrine of our Lord Jesus is a doctrine according to godliness; it has a direct tendency to make people godly. But he that does not consent to the words of Christ is proud (v. 4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, and contentious, ignorant, and does a great deal of mischief to the church, knowing nothing. In Philippians 1:9-21 Paul talks about the fact that

b. Against Destructive Habits

c. Against Unruly Fellows

d. Against Gossip

II. Stand Fast In The Faith 1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

If we are to be secure in our faith in this Christian life we live, we must always be vigilant, be watchful we must always be on our guard. Paul advises us here to stand fast in the faith. To stand our ground. To adhere to the commands of our Lord and not the wisdom of the world. We are to stand for the faith of the Gospel, to die for it if it comes to it. We should be fixed to our place in the faith of the Gospel and never desert or renounce it. Only by faith can we stand our ground in an hour of temptation. It is by faith that we stand. 2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

a. Be Sober

b. Be Vigilant

c. Resist steadfast in the faith

d. We don’t stand alone

III. Quit You Like Men

IV. Be Strong

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