On Easter Sunday morning we talked about the foundation of the Christian Faith, Something to Stand On. We looked at 1 Corinthians 15, Paul's resurrection passage, and in the last verse of that passage Paul gives us four important truths.
1 Corinthians 15
[58] Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
In our previous sermon in this series we talked about the first important truth -- what it means to Stand Firm. Today we take a look at the second truth -- Let nothing move you.
King David is describes as a man after God's own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) A review of David's life will reveal a man who went through just about anything you can think of. With all the ups and downs in His life he learned to live a steadfast life for God. He truly was a man that learned to let nothing move him.
In the aftermath of his sins of adultery and murder David could have done any number of things. He might have felt that since he had failed in such a drastic way, there was no use in continuing his relationship with God. He had tasted the fruits of ultimate pleasure and power and could have continued in that way like other kings had done.
Have you ever been in that place, where you thought it was easier to just give up and have fun living life your own way instead of following God's way for you? I think that same temptation came to King David at this time. David chose another path though, David chose to turn back to God in confession and repentance. In David's prayer of confession he asks for steadfastness. To get beyond sin is the prayer of anyone who is sincere about their relationship with God. And to get beyond sin takes steadfastness. What does it take to get to the place where nothing can move you in your relationship with God? Listen to King David's words...
Psalms 51:9-12 (NIV)
[9] Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
[10] Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
[11] Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
[12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
What does it take to get to the place where nothing can move you in your relationship with God? King David gives us some guidelines.
1. He approaches God in confession.
2. He asks God to purify his heart.
3. He asks God for renewal of a steadfast spirit.
4. Then he asks God for restoration.
The pathway to an unmovable lifestyle comes through confession, purification, renewal, and restoration. Confession is the work of the man; purification, renewal, and restoration are works of God in the life of the man.
In Psalm 57:7 David makes a declaration of steadfastness in the midst of temptation and danger.
Psalms 57:7 (NIV)
[7] My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
In Psalm 108:1 David talks about how steadfastness produces joy in the life of an individual. It is a result of God's faithfulness.
Psalms 108:1 (NIV)
[1] My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
I could spend a long time giving you examples of individuals in both the Old and New Testaments that were steadfast and unmovable in their relationship with God. Men and women who were steadfast not only in the areas of temptation and sin but also in times of ridicule and persecution. Hebrews chapter 11 contains a list of people who displayed this steadfast unmovable character in their lives. There is a great example in the book of Acts that I want to look at this morning.
The determined disciples would not stop preaching about Jesus resurrection. This is how the disciples of Christ lived their lives. They would let nothing move them.
Acts 5:27-33 (NIV)
[27] Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.
[28] “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.”
[29] Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
[30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
[31] God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
[32] We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
[33] When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
[...]
[40] They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
[...]
[42] Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
These early Christians had decided that they would let nothing move them.
Today we face the possibility of a similar situation. The world is telling us that we cannot speak against certain sins that have become popular in our culture today. Very specifically the sin of homosexuality has been singled out by society as an acceptable lifestyle. Some in the media have suggested that for one to speak against homosexuality might be considered a hate crime punishable by heavy fines and prison terms. Have you considered what you would say if you were asked by authorities, or anyone else, what you believe about homosexuality? This is an important question for all of us to consider. I have thought about that a lot. It is important for me to consider this question because I am a preacher, and I speak publically about the problem of sin in our world. I want to say up front that our attitude toward sin should never be an attitude of resentment or hate toward the sinner. Jesus taught us to love the sinner but resist the sin. This is always important to remember.
In consideration of this question, I wrote my response in a paper called, Here I Stand, So Help Me God.
What will you say, how will you respond? Not just in the question of sin in our culture, but how will you respond when Satan whispers in your ear? Will you let nothing move you?
HIGH - Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest (HIGH). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2000.
NIV - The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2003.