Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-11-19

as a result of his service
to Gentiles.
An Appeal.
I'VE stand fast in the Lord" These
words imply several things.
"a They had enemies; otherwise
they had not needed an exhortation to
st~eadfastness. Many seem unaware
that we wrestle against principali-
ties and powers in the heavenly
places" Even modern s~piritualism,
8 far as 1t is not fraudulent, sug-
gests a great, shuddering world OF
evil spirits about us. While we slum-
Der they restlessly oppose us, and
we need to take the whole armor OF
God IL we would stand. How beft-
ing this appeal in a day when many
are slipping from their moorings OF
faith in the Word of God.
(2) They would need to progress II
they were to stand fast. We gather
this from the use Of the word So
This seems to send us back to the
previous chapter where we see Paul,
forgetting the things behind, pressing
toward the mark for the prize: so"
we are to stand fast. In other words.
we may not stand still If we are to
stand fast; as in riding a bicycle, the
only way to stand is to keep NOV
ing.
(3) They had a secure position:
they were to stand fast "in the Lord"
Reader, are you not in the church
merely, but ''in the Lord?" Main
tanning our position there, we are Sc
cure. Charles Simeon. the Cambridge
scholar and saint, exerted a marvellous
influence in his day. In the early
hours Of the morning. he would be
heard walking in his study or on the
roof above it, and they knew he was
having communion with God. Main
tanning thus our position Sin the
Lord" we shall be steadfast.
The Argument
Our text begins with therefore"
This leads US back to the verses pre-
ceding, and we find in them high en-
couragement to steadfastness.
q Our conversation (citizen-
ship, r. W. is In heaven" Philippi
was a Roman colony. and many Of its
inhabitants were citizens Of Rome.
This honor was highly appreciated.
and they would have endured much
for sake Of 1t. To have our names
in the Lambs book. in the city OF
God, is worth any price which stead
fastness may cost us.
(2) From whence also we look for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ"
The word look" indicates expect
ancy. like a garrison looking out for
re-enforcements or a mother watching
| for her boy. Such an attitude toward
| the coming OF the Savior was common
in apostolic days, but is not SO now.
| Perhaps this is partly explained by
| the fact that many think much OF
| Christ coming as a judge and they
are filled with terror. But the empha-
sis here is quite otherwise: we look
for "the Savior. the Lord Jesus
| Christ" and should not Christians de-
sire his appearing? There have been
star.gazers who neglected practical
duties, but they are ne more unscrip-
tural than those who attend to other
| duties, but do not look for the Lord.
He gave to every man his work and
commanded the porter to watch"
working and watching make the full
program. Since Christ Is coming we
should stand fast.
(3) VINO shall change u vile
body, that it may be fashioned like
| unto his glorious body?" When Arch
bishop Whateley was dying his chap
lain read this passage to him: Stop"
said the archbishop. mot vile body,
| but body Of humiliation" Our bod
les are not vile. but they do humble
us. The TRANSPORTATION and the AZ
days after the resurrection hint the
glory that awaits us. Surely. We
should stand fast!
ca He ia able wen to subdue all
things unto himself" Voices shall be
heard at least saying. "Alleluja; fol
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.'
with such a helper we need not sur
render. so stand fast in the Lord
..Hold the fort. for I am coming"
Jesus signals still:
Uay. the answer hack TO heaven.