John Meador
First Euless

Text: I Corinthians 16
Title: Be Strong

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, and be strong.

Let all your things be done with charity.

The church of Corinth lived in a metropolis, a city of sin in the culture. To be a Corinthian in that phrase was an expression of immorality. Overrun by immorality. Let all that you do be done in love. This text says something to us about a world whose basis is not in truth. We believe that God wrote the Scriptures - how do we stand for truth in a place where we live in a hurricane of sin.

Five Imperatives:

Be on the alert
Stand firm in the faith
Act like men - Moral values - You can't live this way in your own strength. II Samuel 10:12
Be courageous
Love

Church is weak today in America and full of sin. We are what we are because of this culture. Corinthians were not expressing values of God.

We question God's absolute truth and in doing so we move ourselves away from God's protectionism - protective ways

Compromise - we open the door to a little bit of sin.

The dynamic we have in our nation ignores the fact that our nation was founded on values.

Voting, it shouldn't be a matter of who but what - and it should also be a matter of voting against certain values.

Be courageous - They showed great courage!!

It means something to support those who remain true to their values. Christians need to be in the battle. Prayer, perseverance, diligence - adversity makes us stronger

Unconditional love - it gives the person what is best for them not just what they want but what they need.

Doing what's best for them. That is love. Says what needs to be said for their betterment.

Discerning love - I want the best for everybody.

There is a way for a believer to love the unbelievers.

He is our example.

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith.