Quit you like men (1Cor 16:13) – Part 2

A Call To Action
In our theme Text, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong,” (1Cor. 16:13) there are four phrases that are strong calls to action. The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul urged God’s people to be watchful regarding danger, from inside as well as from outside the Church (Acts 20:29-30). Most of the problems in this Church evidently arose from within the congregation as a result of pagan influences.

The phrase “Be on the alert” or “take heed” in the Bible often occurs with anticipation of the Lord’s Second coming or the Rapture. This may have been on Paul’s mind, in view of the unpreparedness of the Corinthian Church for the Return of the King, Jesus Christ. (Matt. 24:42). He encouraged the believers to “stand firm” in their faith in Christ, and in their commitment to His Word and Will (1Cor.15: 58). Rather than remaining and living like immature children, they are to be “men.” This was a call to both bravery and maturity. They should “be strong” in the Lord, rather than be weak in the faith (Joshua. 1:7-8).

Be on the Alert
This is a very important divine instruction that we all must heed. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1Cor. 10:12). Beloved in Christ, Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy and Laity, the devil does not respect titles. If he had the audacity to tempt Jesus Christ, he can tempt anyone. First, we must pay attention to our personal lives and doctrine. We must watch our thoughts, our lives, our heart disposition, our desires and motives. Do not take for granted the little foxes that destroy the vine. Secondly, we need to be on guard against the subtle worldly and satanic influences of our day. We must be watchful because we are in perilous times and many are falling away from the faith (1Tim. 3:2-6).

We must be on the alert against the influence of these perilous times on our faith.
(Culled from the Address to the 2021 DIVCCON at the Christian Centre, Abuja by the Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, Primate of All Nigeria by The Ven. Dr. Princewill O. Ireoba)

TO BE CONTINUED