“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love,” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (CSB).
We need to advance to maturity.
‘Being alert’ means to be quick noticing any unusual and potentially dangerous or difficult circumstances. ‘Standing firm’ refers to refusing to change a decision and/or position.
‘Being courageous’ means you are not deterred by danger or pain, because you are brave. ‘Being strong’ means you are able to withstand great force or pressure.
During the ever-growing changes of society and people, we must remember the wisdom of God as seen through the Apostle Paul in our key verses. We must become more spiritually aware. Spiritual awareness is a shift in consciousness in which a person moves from identifying with the physical body and mind to recognizing a deeper connection with the divine.
Christians should be like strong soldiers. Be on guard and watch for their Lord’s return. Jesus commanded us to “watch” (Matthew 24:42, 26:41, Mark 13:37).
Paul warned Christians to “stand fast” in their liberty in Jesus (Galatians 5:1), in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27), in the Lord Himself (Philippians 4:1), and in the teaching of the apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
Christians are told to “be strong” in passages like Ephesians 6:10 and 2 Timothy 2:1.
The theme in this verse is ‘militant,’ e.g., ‘watch’ and be continually on your guard. ‘Stand fast’ in the faith, and ‘keep in your ranks.’ Do not be disorderly Be obedient and resilient. Keep close together when you are attacked and do not flinch. Maintain your ground. Resist. Press forward and don’t stop. Stay unified in order to conquer. Be strong. If one part of the enemy is too great a force, strengthen that division. Maintain as the body of Christ and summon up all your courage. Sustain each other and fear not, because you were made to be fearless.
God is calling on all the children of His Kingdom to rise up and be strong together. As Christians, we have become complacent. We believe we are strong in sections, instead of being all unified. As previously explained, if one part of the body is weak, go and strengthen it. We have some weak parts of the body of Christ today. As the Kingdom leaders of today, we are required to build the Kingdom and maintain. God called us out as His army for the Kingdom of God, and we have a war at hand in the Spirit.
All the watching, all the standing fast, all the bravery, and all the strength the Corinthian Christians might show meant nothing without ‘love.’
“If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing,” 1 Corinthians 13:2 (CSB).
Even as we teach, preach, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ we must do it in love. We can no longer be known as the church of Judgment. We must grow up and strengthen our weaknesses. We need to be alert, stand, be brave, and be strong ‘in love’!
Will you grow? Or will you keep allowing the Kingdom of God to suffer underneath your leadership? It’s time for a change, and it starts with us. We need to be renewed, revived, and anointed fresh with God for this new era of time.
