5 Commands for Spiritual Battle

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

As the Apostle Paul begins to wrap up his first hard-hitting letter to the Corinthians, he doesn't disappoint. Chapter 16 gives the Corinthian Christians – and all of us today – five commands that pull together so much of what Paul has been teaching in this letter.

 

When it comes down to it, each of the commands Paul gives in verses 13 and 14 provides a short and sweet recap of rebukes and instructions from the first 15 chapters. To win in spiritual battle, Paul writes, you must be alert, doctrinally sound, courageous, strengthened and loving.

 

Let’s take a close look at each of these 5 vital commands:

 

Command #1: Be alert (v. 13). As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live our lives with eyes wide open—alert and watchful. The New Testament tells us to watch out for 5 things: Satan (1 Peter 5:8-9); temptation (Mark 14:38); apathy (Revelation 3:1-3); false prophets and teachers (Matthew 7:15); and the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:42 and 25:13).

 

Command #2: Stand firm in the faith (v. 13). Paul is talking about standing firm in the TRUTH of our faith. Some of the Corinthians weren’t standing firm in the important truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also failed to stand firm in the truth about church unity, sexual purity, forgiveness and spiritual gifts. Too many Christian churches are like that today—blown and tossed by the wind of every new, more politically-correct teaching. Most tragically, many Christian churches refuse to proclaim that Christ is the only Way to salvation. It’s not politically correct – but it’s true.

 

Command #3: Be men of courage (v. 13). The Greek word Paul uses here conveys two things: Courage and maturity. Whether you’re male or female, if you’re a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you must stop thinking and acting like a baby Christian. God has called us to grow up in our faith and be men and women of courage. And when Satan and the world start throwing jabs at you, don’t run away like a scared 5-year-old.

 

Command #4: Be strong (v. 13). The verb Paul uses here means, “Be strengthened” or “Be made strong.” The New Testament makes it clear that you and I are inherently weak. Thankfully, Jesus tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My power is made perfect in your weakness.” And Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Only God can strengthen you. Your job is to sit at the feet of Jesus, learn from Him, and submit to God’s strengthening process.

 

Command #5: Do everything in love (v. 14).  As Chuck Swindoll points out, the first four commands sound like orders shouted in battle: “’Wake up! Stand firm! Be a man! Be strong!’…. The next imperative, however, put everything in perspective: ‘Do everything in love’.” John MacArthur agrees: “Without [this principal] the others could make us crusty, militant and hard…. Love is what the Corinthians needed most, and is what believers of all ages have needed most.”

 

I say “Amen!” to that!

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd., or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

Timeless Principals for Giving

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.”  –  1 Corinthians 16:2

Whoa! Where did that sudden shift in gears come from?
 
The Apostle Paul ends 1 Corinthians 15 with a beautiful climax: “Death has been swallowed up in victory…. Therefore, my dear brothers…. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (vs. 54-58).
 
Then, on the heels of this uplifting teaching about the resurrection, Paul begins chapter 16: “Now about the collection for God’s people” (v.1). What?
 
Well, Paul did move from subject to subject rather abruptly at times. But I think Paul’s teaching at the end of chapter 15 drives what he says in the first few verses of chapter 16. Because our “labor in the Lord is not in vain,” we must give generously to Christians in need.
 
In the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 16, we can find 4 biblical principles for Christian giving:
 
Principle #1: Offerings should be given on the Lord’s Day as an act of worship (v .2). In this verse, Paul tells the Corinthians to “set aside” a certain amount of money on the first day of the week (Sunday). Across the world, Christians gather on the Lord’s Day to take communion, pray, sing songs of praise and study God’s Word. But it’s not true worship if you’re just receiving. So, giving an offering is one of the beautiful ways that Christians worship God on The Lord’s Day.
 
Principle #2: “Each” Christian should give an offering (v. 2 & 2 Cor. 9:7). Notice these four little words that Paul uses in verse 2: “each one of you.” When Paul wrote these words, he wasn’t just talking to the Christians with full-time jobs and 401K plans. He was talking to EVERY Christian. Never forget: All that you have in your possession has been given to you by God. And He has given you the privilege of giving some of what you have to Christians who have even less than you do. It’s not just rich Christians who have the privilege of giving; broke Christians can give too!
 
Principle #3: The amount of your offering should be in proportion to your income (v. 2). Nowhere in the New Testament do Jesus or His apostles REQUIRE every Christian to give a certain dollar amount, or even a certain percentage, to the church. You won’t find a “Thou shalt tithe 10%” command. Do I think tithing 10% is a good practice for all Christians? Yes, I do. But the fact remains: In the New Testament, God doesn’t tell Christians to give 10%. Instead, He calls you to give on the Lord’s Day as part of your worship – and He wants you to give in proportion to your income, from the heart, as the Holy Spirit leads you to give.
 
Principle #4: It is good and proper to support needy Christians in other congregations (vs. 1 and 3). Because our labor in the Lord is not in vain, Paul tells the Corinthian church to take up an offering for the Christians in Jerusalem, where poverty and unemployment were rampant. To this day, one of the best things the Church does is to bless Christians on the other side of the world. We are most like Jesus when we are making sacrifices and giving to “the least of these,” knowing that they’ll never be able to pay us back.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services at 9am: at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville, or at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.