By Pastor Laban
Associate Pastor in Teens' Department, Fedha Church KAG
To be steadfast is to be firm and unwavering.
Firmly fixed and established not subject to change.
Endure patiently, being true to the end.
James 1:2-3,12-15
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Steadfast in trials
Trials are from external forces; they are for testing and growing our faith
Our faith is very precious to God.
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
James 1:2-3
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Job 1:19
when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
God tests us not to fail but to learn
We don't have the same trials because God trains us for different destinies
Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Trials may knock us off our feet if we are not steadfast in God
James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
When pain strikes the tendency of man is to move away from God or numb it with pleasure
(Annie Johnson Flint, God skills a man)
There comes a breaking point in every person's life.
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Living with an eternal perspective
Hebrews 11:9-11
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[a] considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Steadfast in temptations leading to sin.
James 1:13-14
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Temptations are from inside forces like lust and stealing.
They target our weak points.
We are tempted when we succumb to the lusts/wickedness of our hearts.
When we give in to the temptations/lusts of our hearts death is birthed.
The heart of man is desperately wicked above all things
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Simply because the world is rotten we don't have to live with the rot
Noah
Genesis 6:12
God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
2 Peter 2:15
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer,[a] who loved the wages of wickedness.
How to stay steadfast in Christ
1. The word of God must be in our hearts and minds.
Psalms 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
2. Having the right attitude
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
3. Maturity
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Looking to Jesus... When we look at the cross we see how ruthlessly God deals with sin, but when we look at the world we will be easily enticed by the things therein.
4. Living with an eternal perspective
Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Conclusion
The biggest knockdown is compromise and an uninformed decision
Lamentations 3:22-23 (steadfast love of God)
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Comments
Post a Comment