“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13 ESV)

Stand firm with God’s full armor

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11 NASB)

Hold fast your confession since you have Jesus

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (Heb. 4:14 NASB)

Do not waver

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 NASB)

Be strong with the strength of God’s might

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Eph. 6:10 ESV)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6 ESV)

He will not leave you or forsake you

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” (Josh. 1:5 ESV)

God is with you!

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10 ESV)

Always!

“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20 ESV)

Therefore…

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 NASB)

Your mouth speaks from what fills your heart  

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” Luke 6:45 NASB)

Be transformed by renewing your mind

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 NASB)

Prepare your mind for action

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3 NASB)

Therefore…

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 NASB)

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” (Eph. 2:19 NIV)

The above passages says two things

1) You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Rom. 12:5 ESV)

2) You are members of God’s household.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 ESV)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (2 John 3:1-2 ESV)

Therefore…

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10 ESV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18 ESV)

Be thankful because God is good

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107 1 ESV)

Be thankful because God is your Father

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Eph. 5:20 ESV)

Be thankful because God gives you good and perfect gifts

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17 ESV)

Be thankful because God gives you peace

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15 ESV)

Be thankful for God’s gift of salvation through Jesus

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15 ESV)

Therefore…

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17 ESV)

“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” (1 Cor. 10:6-11 ESV)

For our instruction

The above passage points out that examples in the Bible were written down for our instruction, “that we wouldn’t desire evil as they did.” It used to be that Bible stories were a part of our children’s general education. They developed a sense of right and wrong as a result. Sadly, that is no longer the case in our public schools. Now, without these powerful Bible examples being taught, situation ethics has become normal thought and children lack a moral compass.

For training in righteousness

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Cor. 3:16-17 ESV)

For wisdom for the future

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” (Prov. 19:20 ESV)

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 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. (1 Cor. 15:58 NIV)

Courage: firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty; mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship.

Examples of courage

There are many great examples in the Bible concerning those having courage. To name just three of them: The Hebrew children who stood up to the king, rather than bowing down to an idol, choosing instead to be thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel:3:1-30). Young David, facing the giant Goliath with only a slingshot and five small stones (2 Sam. 17:1-58). Queen Esther, approaching the king about the attack against her people, the Jews, even though doing so meant she was facing possible death (Book of Esther).

Be strong and courageous in the face of adversity, knowing God goes with you

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Deut. 31:6-8 NIV)

A command to be courageous

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 ESV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.) (Ephesians 6:10)

God provides power, love and self control

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim. 1:7 ESV)

“For each will have to bear his own load.” (Gal. 6:5 ESV)

Responsibility: the quality or state of being responsible: such as moral, legal, or mental accountability; dependability, reliability, solidness, sureness, trustability, trustworthiness

To be irresponsible is to deny your faith

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim. 5:8 ESV)

To be responsible is to be mature in your ways

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Cor. 13:11 ESV)

To be responsible is to use your gifts

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Rom. 12:6-8 ESV)

To be responsible is to do what you know is right

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17 ESV)

 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5:15-17 ESV)

God’s wisdom defined

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)

Ask God for it

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV)

Act wisely by hearing and doing God’s Word

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24 ESV)

Therefore…

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” (Col. 4:5 ESV)

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13 ESV)