All in Moderation

Philippians 4:1-5
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Before you give up on these scriptures because of the hard names this morning, read them again. You really don't want to miss out on the message that is within them. It is something needed more today than ever before. There is a huge battle between the flesh and spirit of a Christian in our days. We know that we must take a stand for truth and Christ being the only way to heaven while at the same time being gracious and merciful like He would be. So how do we do this? Look at what these passages say. Let's start with the last one.

He tells us that our moderation must be known unto all men. Moderation is not having respect for one person over another. Moderation is having self-control, fairness, balance or restraint. It is beholding the filthiness of sin but looking at the value of that soul to God. First of all this scripture is not, nor any other scripture in the Bible, telling us to accept sin and that everything is okay in moderation because it surely is not. This scripture is teaching us that to have grace upon the good and not upon the ungodly is wrong and sinful. We must treat all people with value and grace. "...be known unto ALL men." is what the scripture says.

So you may be asking... How can we be graceful and moderate while standing upon the Word of God? It's in the way you ask. See we stand UPON the Word of God! Too many today think that it's all about standing UP for the Word of God. Can I tell you that the Bible says that Heaven and Earth will pass away but His words will stand forever? Our mission and goal in Christian life is to stand UPON the Word of God. This means to live according to the scriptures in everything. Our greatest tool that we have as Christians is called a testimony. Testimony is not what you say you are, it is what you live before others.

Lastly, look at what the scriptures said. "...stand fast in the Lord, ...be of the same mind in the Lord, ...rejoice in the Lord, ...The Lord is at hand." Surrounding this scripture of moderation and grace we see that we can accomplish this how? IN THE LORD. Will you go out this morning and stand IN the Lord and UPON His Word? Come on, let's do it.