Exhortations
Notes
Transcript
Intro
This morning we’re going to be reading a few of Paul’s exhortations to the Corinthian church that he put here at the end of his first letter to them.
An exhortation, according to the Holman Bible Dictionary, is an “Argument or advice intended to incite hearers to action.”
You could look at it in a couple of different ways
Paul, and many other writers of the NT books, used exhortations as a closing statement on the letter that they wrote.
They used them to summarize their letters, to drive home points that they wanted their readers to remember, or to offer them as quick hitting important pieces of wisdom and a call to action
Exhortation is also when we encourage one another in our pursuit of the Lord
As believers, we’re called to exhort or encourage one another - that’s one of the main reasons we’re called to gather together.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
I love what those verses tell us in Hebrews
It’s so important to live life with other Christians!
I know things have been weird during these COVID times, and many haven’t been able to gather in person
But whether you watch online, whether you come each Sunday, whether you have a small group that meets or whether you have a believer that you still faithfully do Zoom calls with, it is so important to have other believers in your life to do what Hebrews told us, stir us up!
We need to be encouraged and reminded to love others and to do good. We need to encourage one another that Jesus is coming back soon, and to be busy about His business.
This morning, I want to give an exhortation to you all, one that Paul gave to the church in Corinth, and one that I think is an excellent reminder for us all.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Paul lays out 5 things here, 5 exhortations to the believer
Watch, stand fast, be brave, be strong, and do everything in love
Let’s break these down a bit more
#1 - Paul tells us to Watch
If you were here a couple of weeks ago, we talked about how it is important as Christians that we understand the times that we are living in and that we are watching and waiting for the return of the Jesus
Acts 1:10-11
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
And if you remember that study, we saw that it’s pretty clear that the return of Jesus is imminent
So as believers, we are called to watch
Matthew 24:42
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
When we are expectantly watching for the return of Jesus, that’s going to change how we live. It should hopefully cause us to be busy doing the things of the Lord.
One of the things I’m really starting to enjoy in my life as I continue to become more of an old man is woodworking.
My latest venture is building furniture and cabinets
Now, before you start putting in your orders - 1) I’m not very good, and 2) I’m not very good
But I’ve started by building a desk and some cabinets for our home office.
I figured I’ve been stuck working from home for almost an entire year, why not start a home office remodel now? Make things really cozy just as the vaccine is coming out and I’ll probably have to go to the office....
And I’m the type of person that when I have a project or a goal in mind, so much of what I do is driven by that goal
Oh, we need to run some errands in Glenwood Springs this weekend, I’ll drop by Lowes to pick a few things up
I need to pick up my daughter from gymnastics class? I’ll leave a few minutes early and swing by Ace
Need to order something on Amazon for my son’s birthday? Let’s throw in some rail and stile router bits that I need.
Kids want to watch a movie? Guess who’s working in the garage?!?
I just get consumed by spending any free time I have (which isn’t a lot), trying to get my project done
It’s that same idea as Christians. B/c that we know that Jesus is coming back soon, if we are focused on that soon return, we’re going to be consumed by doing things that get ready for Him to come back
Mark 13:32-37
32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 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—36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
This is the same idea Jesus gives in this parable here. We are servants that He left in charge of the house while He’s gone. But He’s coming back! We don’t know when, so we should be watchful and be busy serving Him so He doesn’t come back and find us sleeping
#2 - We’re called to Stand Fast in the Faith
It’s this picture of standing your ground, not moving, not wavering
There’s many things God calls us to stand fast in across the NT
We’re called to stand fast in liberty
Galatians 5:1
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Not being weighed down by legalism or the righteous requirement to keep the law and do what is right so that God will be happy with you.
We have freedom, or liberty in Christ
Not the freedom to sin, but the freedom from sin and to enter into a love-based relationship with God
We’re called to stand fast in the gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
We’re supposed to not be moved in the gospel which we heard when we were saved
Remember the first time the gospel made sense to you? Whether you had grown up in a Christian house, or whether you had nothing to do with Jesus until one defining moment in life, that moment when the gospel really clicked, it really made sense, is amazing.
Knowing that there isn’t a single thing that I can do to get to heaven on my own. I am doomed because of my own sin and how far short of God’s standard of perfection I fall. But then seeing that God loved me so much that He couldn’t let me drown in my sin, but sent His Son to meet that perfect standard, so that He could lay on him the iniquity of us all, and then turn around and freely offer us His forgiveness, love and eternal life
That simple gospel message is amazing!
Stand fast in it! Don’t give up on it, don’t turn to anything else to save you, don’t grow tired in it, stand fast.
We’re also called to stand fast in unity as believers
Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
There needs to be unity among the church where we are striving together for one cause, the sake of the gospel
This weekend is Conference Championship weekend in the NFL. The winner of today’s games will get to play in the Super Bowl for a chance to become world champion in a couple of weeks
As pro athletes, there are many reasons that they play
To make lots of $, for the fame, to be considered the best of all time
But it seems like time and time again, the teams that end up winning the Super Bowl, are ones that lay all that aside for the sake of pursuing one common goal, winning a championship.
As believers, to be successful, we need to stand fast in our unity with one another under the common goal of sharing the gospel to the world around us
Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians to stand fast in the word
2 Thess 2:15
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
Paul tells us to stand fast in the traditions which you were taught by word or epistle
Stand fast in the teaching of God’s word
#3 - Be brave
Kinda in the same mindset as standing fast
But you can still plant your feet and not move out of fear rather than faith
In the book of Joshua, Joshua was tasked with one of the most difficult tasks given to someone in the OT
He was to be the new leader of Israel after Moses, and to do what Moses could not, which was to finally lead them to the Promised Land after 40 years of not having a home
Following after Moses was hard enough
It’s like coming after John Elway or Peyton Manning as the QB for the Broncos - you’re going to constantly be held to the previous standard of greatness that was before you
And I’m sorry Broncos fans, but John Elway pales in comparison to Moses’ greatness
Moses! He brought the 10 plagues to Egypt and freed his people from being slaves to the Egyptians
He parted the Red Sea. He brought water out of a rock. He got to go up on the mountain and receive the law of God including the 2 stone tablets on which the 10 commandments were written. The OT tells us that Moses spoke to God like a man speaks to his friend face to face. Moses is called the most humble man that ever lived, even though he had to lead a nation of 2-3M people who constantly tried to get him booted from office.
So you’re Joshua, and you gotta follow that dude. Talk about big shoes to fill!
And not just that, you’re biggest job is still ahead. You have to lead this nation into their homeland. You have to conquer all of the nations that were there. And don’t forget, the whole reason Joshua was having to lead the people into the Promised Land was b/c they were too scared 40 years previously, so it’s not like he’s dealing with the bravest of people
I’m sure Joshua was scared, and God knew it
So God comes to him right after Moses died and he was appointed as their leader and tells him:
Joshua 1:6-9
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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.”
The phrase here “be strong and of good courage” is the same idea that Paul gives us in 1st Corinthians.
We’re not supposed to be brave b/c we’re some mighty warrior, we’re called to be brave b/c God is on our side.
God gives Joshua some good keys to being courageous
Read the Word, meditate in it, follow what is written in it
But it’s God doing the fighting, and we need to remember that
Romans 8:31
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
#4 - Paul tells us to Be Strong
Similar to what he just told us in having courage.
This life is a fight. We don’t wrestle with flesh and blood, but the scripture tells us that our battle is spiritual
We need to be prepared for that fight and to be strong in that fight
Ephesians 6:10-11
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
#5 - Finally, Paul tells us Let all that you do be done with love
We get a lot of pictures and ideas of strength in verse 13. Watch (like a sentry at the edge of a battle field). Stand fast (hold your ground). Be brave, be strong.
But Paul, inspired by God, very appropriately reminds us here that above all else, we are to be governed by love
It doesn’t matter how brave or how strong you are if the way that you serve the Lord isn’t done in love.
One of the greatest sermons on love was written by Paul in the very book just a few chapters ago. Paul reminds us of a very similar thing, that it doesn’t matter what you do in your service for the Lord if love isn’t behind it
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 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.
Jesus would tell us in the gospels that the greatest of all the laws that God had given Moses was to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
The ultimate example of that love we’re called to have is shown to us by Jesus
You can see in the gospels how He served others, how He took care of them, how He had compassion on them, how His heart moved for them
I love the gospel of John b/c it’s a bit different from the other 3 gospels as it focuses in on some of these more personal moments that Jesus had with different people
It tells us of when a Pharisee came to Him by night so the other Pharisees didn’t know he was speaking to Jesus and hearing of the hope of eternal life by being born again in the spirit
It tells us of when Jesus found a woman who was an outcast to the Jews, and who had experienced a rough life of bouncing from man to man, and He told her that she could be finally and truly satisfied in her soul by experiencing the living water He has to offer.
We also read of the time a woman, caught in the act of adultery, was shamefully drug before Jesus to be punished, executed for her sin, not in concern of the law or righteousness, but for the Pharisees to hopefully trap Jesus and prove to the people He wasn’t as good as they all believed. We see how Jesus didn’t condemn her, but forgave her and transformed her life.
Those examples are how we are to live with others around us. To do all that we do in the same hopeful, living, forgiving love that Jesus showed. The same love that He gives to us day after day after day, whether we are faithful to Him or not.
So my encouragement, or exhortation, to you this morning is this:
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.