How to Keep Going

1) Attitude

REM the goal - keep focused, v. 15 let US - UNITY

Where we differ, Christ will show us, “It will be revealed”

Admit we need to grow, learn what we don’t know, admit that we need to learn (that’s the hard first step)

-Paul asked for trust in his leadership, teaching, so do I

Allow where God has brought you, to this point, today, to guide you - be a future-thinker, acting now. Future-focused, presently guided.

We already know, these are facts:

Christ

Resurrection to come

Attitude can be affected by

Opponents

Assuming circumstances are permanent, or more important than they really are

Resistance to change, especially in ourselves

LET GOD CHANGE YOU

2) Stick to the Truth (no deviation), v. 17

Isaiah 30:21 NASB95

Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

God WILL lead, let Him

IF unity is desired, it is only found in truth

John 17:17 NASB95

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

We have lots of alternatives to the truth - and false teachers abound

Characteristics of false teachers

Enemies of the cross - not just opponents, enemies, to keep others from the cross

Their “end” is not ours

Their desires are their god

Earthly success defines them

They actually derive glory from being anti-God

False Teachers today

Heretic - blatant contradiction to essentials of Christianity

Charlatan - interest in Christianity to fatten wallet

Prophet - “gifted” with revelation outside of Scripture

dreams, visions, lately about election

Divider - sly, un-Biblical doctrines, to divide a church

Tickler - focus on what people want to hear, craving praise and popularity, speak little of sin, speak Jesus, but no true Gospel

Speculator - obsessed with what may happen, same old truth is boring, need originality- End Times is big (and people love to follow this stuff…)

Know the truth, and avoid these false teachers - AVOID

Imitate others who do, and who follow the truth

Paul, Me, others?

3) Rejoice in Our Citizenship

If this election these politics, don’t drive us to cherish our true citizenship, I’m not sure what will.

Citizenship - not a place, but a PEOPLE

People who are here now, in Heaven forever

So we need to value each other

So we need to live together, productive citizens - unified in truth

False teachers cannot see beyond this time into eternity, they are not citizens there

Careful, we can take on the same characteristics...

Characteristics of True Believers

Trusting God, not some human system

1 Samuel 8 - Israel demands a king

When you trust in a human system (false teachers tempt)

Forget God

Trust in own strength - Prov. 3:5-6

Measure success by the world

Fail to trust and follow Jesus

(easy to want quick fix, feel better, make it go away)

ASIDE:

We have placed great trust in our elections, as if our well-being depends on them

We expect laws to change hearts - faulty

Israel was under attack

Response? A king like the world’s kings, instead of follow God’s ideal - Deut. 17

Church is, and had been, under attack

Response? We want a president, or a justice, or a representative, or a false teacher to do something or provide security - security that we ALREADY have!

God still says to follow Him - all “this” is temporary; look toward the “then” which is permanent, eternal

CLOSING ASSURANCE

John 14:16 NASB95

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

John 14:18 NASB95

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:26 NASB95

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

The Holy Spirit - the paraclete - the Helper, the Comforter

BELIEVERS’ ATTITUDES

Focus on what will last

Even the body, yes, it will be resurrected to join our soul

The soul of the believer is already spiritually resurrected, awakened

Citizenship - we are an outpost, we have a central authority in Heaven - Christ

We represent Him here, NOW

Things we KNOW

What will happen tomorrow, next day, beyond - WE DO

Jesus will lead us, His Word will be available to us

Believers will follow Him, trust Him

He will hear our prayers

Believers deciding to follow, will decide to purposefully unify around the truth

V. 21 - KNOWING

Philippians 2:10 NASB95

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

ALL THIS: REJOICE! CALM!

Jesus promised tough times would come

It could well get worse

CHOOSE:

Panic, frustration, worry, FEAR

REJOICE - CALM - PRAISE

I’m glad I’m a part of the family of God - YOU!