Stand Firm and Be Strong!
The Apostle Paul said in (1 Corinthians 16:13), “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong!” Oh, glory to God! That ain’t a suggestion; that’s a battle cry! Paul is saying, “Wake up, Church! Be alert, stand firm, and fight the good fight of faith!” Let me break this down for you. When Paul said “Watch ye,” he was sounding the trumpet of vigilance! The Church has too many sleepy saints, too many distracted soldiers. But the Bible says in (1 Thessalonians 5:6), “Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Watch your heart! Watch your thoughts! Watch your walk! Because the enemy don’t take naps, so why should your prayer life?
Then Paul said, “Stand fast in the faith!” In other words, don’t you move, don’t you bend, don’t you bow, and don’t you break! (Philippians 1:27) says, “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Oh, Glory to God! You gotta have a made-up mind! When hell comes against you, when storms rise, when critics talk; stand fast! Because (1 Corinthians 15:58) says, “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Somebody shout, “I’m standing firm!” Then he said, “Quit you like men!” In other words, act like a soldier, not a spectator! Be brave, be bold, be battle-ready! (2 Timothy 2:3) says, “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Soldiers don’t run from war — they run into it, knowing their Commander-in-Chief has already won the victory!
Oh, and don’t forget what God told Joshua in (Joshua 1:9); “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.” That’s the same Spirit speaking through Paul! The same power that brought Joshua through Jericho is the same power that will carry you through your storm! When the devil says, “You can’t,” God says, “Be strong!” Then Paul says, “Be strong!” But how? Not in your own might. (Ephesians 6:10–11) tells us, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God!” You can’t fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons.
You need truth for your belt, righteousness for your breastplate, faith for your shield, and prayer for your power! And look what (1 Peter 5:8–9) says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Oh yes! The devil’s roaring, but the saints are standing! He’s prowling, but we’re praying! He’s attacking, but we’re armored! Because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!
Paul told the Galatians in (Galatians 5:1), “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” ...You don’t have to live bound by fear, doubt, or sin. Jesus set you free; so stand in that freedom! Stand in your faith! Stand in your calling! Listen; when the enemy comes in like a flood, stand fast! When your faith is tested, stand strong! When life gets heavy, watch and pray! When your back’s against the wall, fight like a soldier of the Cross!
Don’t let the devil move you out of your position — you’ve come too far to turn back now! The same God that brought you out will keep you standing until the victory is complete! Are you watching? Are you standing? Are you fighting? Are you strong in the name of Jesus?” Because this ain’t the time to sit down; it’s time to stand up! This ain’t the time to bow down! It’s time to rise up! This ain’t the time to give up; it’s time to fight on, in the strength of the Lord!