Watch

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. - 1 Corinthians 16.13

Paul gave the Corinthian church four key points of instruction as a church. These are words that any church in any location, at any time world do well to heed.  

Corinth, like the church through history was facing troublesome times. It was a wicked city. They faced opposition from the world, from Satan, and from their own flesh.

Be on guard

Stand fast in the faith

Be brave

Be strong

We need words like that today. We need that kid of encouragement. We need to wake up out of defeatist lethargy and stand on the promises. If any church could ever had called things hopeless it would have been Corinth.

But. Paul didn't say

Take cover

Protect yourselves

Do the best you can

We say we live in a day of wickedness and indeed we do. Some claim it is worse than it has ever been. On that point I would differ.

But the message for the church for all times in the same.

We must always be on guard. We can never let our guard down. We must be sovereign and vigilant.

We must set our feet and stand fast. We cannot be moved.

We must be brave. We cannot be cowed by fear.

We must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

It's not going to easy, but it never was supposed to be easy.