May I encourage you to study with your Bible brethren.
Once a person becomes a Christian they must learn to start serving God and seeking out ways to glorify Him. Let see how Jesus sums up the life of a Christian very well in the story He tells His disciples as in, Luke 17:7-10,
“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? “But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ “
Note: Every Christian has a duty that they can do for the Lord. And in this lesson we are going to examine 5 duties that Christians can do based on what Paul wrote in, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.
Duty (1). Starting with Watch.
Brethren when you read through the New Testament you will find several places where Christians are watching so that they will remain faithful.
A.) For instance Elders are watching out for our souls, as in, Hebrews 13:17, Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
B.) Christians should always be watching how they conduct their lives so that they will be ready for the second coming of Christ. As in, Mark 13:35-37
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — “lest, coming suddenly, He finds you sleeping. “
And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
READ also: (1 Thessalonians 5:4-10).
C.) Watch for opportunities to teach others about Christ. As Jesus said in, John 4:35
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest”
D.) Watch for false teachers. As in, 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Also in Romans 16:17-18, Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
E.) We are to Watch our temper and our speech. James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Duty (2). Stand fast in the faith.
As the Apostle Paul said in, Ephesians 6:11-12, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Brethren this is how we stand fast in the faith, we put on the whole armor of God and Paul goes on to describe how that is to be done in verse 13-18, Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints –
If you want to stand in the faith you must immerse yourself in God’s Word and must make prayer a part of your life every day. Brethren, the armor of God will not do you any good if you don’t ever put it on and certainly will not be good at defending yourself against the devil if you don’t practice using God’s word every day. Let us never forget the source of our strength to stand in the faith.
Reading through Philippians 4:11-13, Said: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Let us always strive to take a stand for the Lord.
Duty (3). As Paul wrote Be Brave.
The idea behind this word from the Greek is to grow up and be like men. Every Christian whether they are male or female should strive to grow into maturity. Too many Christian today are content to be living in the milk of the word. They don’t want to grow or learn more so they just want to know the most basic principles of the word. However, notice what Paul says to the Ephesians that should be the result for those who are striving to grow in the Lord in unity. As in, Ephesians 4:14-15, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ –
Brethren if you’re not growing then that means you will be susceptible to every wind of doctrine, and you will never be able to be brave or be like a mature man or woman and you will be like a child who can be easily manipulated and deceived.
Reading through 1 Corinthians 13:11 , Said: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things). Finally Paul says in, (1 Corinthians 14:20, Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. Every true Christian should strive to be more mature in God’s words.
Duty (4). Be strong. As Paul wrote:
Brethren God has always wanted His people to be strong as in, Joshua 1:6-9 “Be strong and of good courage, for to these people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Brethren courage and being strong goes hand and hand. It takes courage to follow God’s will. Joshua was instructed not to turn away from God’s commands to the right or to the left. Today it is imperative that we do not turn to the right or the left from God commands. Notice how this is accomplished. But you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
Every christian needs to be strong in the Lord. We need strong Elders in the church that are willing to stand against false teaching within the church and that are more afraid of God than man. We need strong deacons who are willing to serve boldly in the capacity that has been given to them. We need strong preachers within the church. Preachers who are willing to preach the whole counsel of God. Too many preachers today stay away from those topics which step on people’s toes and all they will preach are lessons that have very little scripture in them and finally all the rest of the members of Christ should be strong for the Lord by being committed to Him. Looking for ways that you can glorify God Almighty. If you are going to be strong in the Lord you must be an advent student of the Bible and in prayer.
Reading through Hebrews 5:13-14, said: For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. The truth is, if you want to be strong in the Lord you must be willing to leave the milk behind and go on to the solid food.
Duty (5). Do all things with love.
Brethren, love is one of the major themes of the Bible. It is because of Love that God gave us His only begotten Son and it is because of this love that is why we love God enough to try and obey His will. In, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, said: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Brethren, without love in our heart for God and love in our heart for His people we are nothing. It doesn’t matter how many good deeds you do if you do not do it out of love, then it’s a big fat waste of time. We are examples of God’s love and we should try real hard to show others the beautiful love that can only be found with a close relationship with God.Reading through the following verse: John 14:15
” If you love Me, keep My commandments. 1 John 5:3, For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Brethren, this is how a christian can really show that they have the love of God and are being obedient to God’s will. A person can say that they have love all day long but until they show it by how they conduct their lives their words don’t mean much. Again in, 1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth). John is basically saying actions speak louder than words.
Brethren we must be careful that we don’t become lovers of ourselves or lovers of sinful pleasure. Notice Paul’s warning to Timothy in Timothy 3:1-5, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power, and from such people turn away.
People who have misdirected love will find themselves separated from God and separated from God’s people because as Christians we are to turn away from those who have this misdirected love.While perhaps one of the hardest tasks a Christian must learn to do is to love your enemy. As in, Matthew 5:44-46
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
It’s easy to love your friends and family, and even non-Christians do the same, but if you want to be pleasing to God you must also love your enemy. Once again we encourage you to read the 5 duties that Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. Thank you and God bless for listening to His Word.
Amen.
Lesson brought to you by, Robert H Brown
