1 Cor. 16:13

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Cor. 16:13 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” NKJV “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” ESV

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph. 6:11 Two Weaknesses

1. Lack of Knowledge “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hos. 4:6  Only do as good as we know to do “For though by this time you ought to be teachers…” Heb. 5:12

Results of a Lack of Knowledge 1. Easily Led Into Error  Eph. 4:14  1 Jn. 4:1 2. Worldly Living  Think like them, talk like them, and act like them – 1 Cor. 6:9-11 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus”

2. Lack of Love  Without love Christianity is dead “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” 1 Jn. 4:21

2. Lack of Love

 Fruits – fussing, splits, gossiping Gal. 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”  Jealousy, envy, selfishness can damage 

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Tim. 4:1-2

Bible Can Destroy Ignorance  Acts 20:26-27  2 Cor. 3:12  Eph. 4:15  2 Pet. 3:18 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech” “But speaking the truth in love...” “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Destroy Hate with Love  Necessity of love - 1 Cor. 13 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 Jn. 4:10-11

Destroy Hate with Love  Necessity of love - 1 Cor. 13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Col. 3:13-15

Gal. 5:22-23 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love Love for God Love for God’s Word Love for God’s People Love for God’s Lost

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Cor.16:13

Study - “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15 Love - “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another.” Jn. 13:35

In Christ = SAVED Baptized (Gal.3:27) Confess (Rom.10:10) Hear (Rom.10:17) Believe (Jn.8:24) Repent (Lk.13:3)