FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

                                         

BE STEADFAST
1 Cor. 15:55-58
2 Tim. 4:1-5

We are living in a day when we see very little of steadfastness being demonstrated in the lives of many Christians.  Today some Christians who used to serve the Lord have fallen by the wayside.  In 1 Cor. 15:55-58, Paul states emphatically that we are to be steadfast and unmovable.

We need to be steadfast in our service to the Lord as stated by Paul and exhibited in his life.  But, what does that really mean?  Webster defines steadfast as "firm in belief, determination, or adherence."  This is exactly what Paul meant:  FIRM in faith; DETERMINED to stay the course; and ADHERENCE to God's principles.

With this in mind, let's examine a few critical areas in which Christians must be steadfast:

    1.    Be steadfast about the Word of God.

            A.   If you examine God's Word, you will find we are commanded
                   to read, study, pray, and live by His Word.  Those who do are
                   being steadfast.

            B.   There are some people who will always follow trends, and
                   today they are following the way of the modernists and
                   liberals.  If you are not steadfast about God's Word, you
                   could easily follow after many fables and false teachings
                   rather than God's truths.

            C.   Happy will be the people who know God's truths and learn to
                   trust them as their final authority.

    2.    Be steadfast about the way of salvation.

            A.    I have heard a number of times people addressing salvation
                    in a way that implies it requires more than faith.  God has
                    made the plan very simple.  Unfortunately, man is the one
                    that tries to complicate it.

            B.    The following references very plainly and clearly state the
                    way to salvation.  No one should add anything to it:  Eph.
                    2:8-9, Rom. 1:16, John 3:36.

            C.    The Philippian jailer asked a very simple question, "Sirs what
                    must I do to be saved."  The answer was very plain, "Believe
                    on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

            D.    No one should ever compromise the plan of salvation.

    3.    Be steadfast about the Christian life.

            A.    In this day and age, many people are critical of the Christian
                    way of life.  There is nothing wrong with having a lifestyle
                    that is based upon the Word of God.  Holiness is always right
                    (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

            B.    There is only one way that we will be able to do this.  We
                    must have a fresh and continual anointing of the Holy Spirit
                    in our lives (Eph. 5:18).

    4.    Be steadfast about the Lord's greatest work (Psalm 126:5-6).

            A.    In Luke 10 Jesus said, "The harvest truly is great but
                    labourers are few."  In Matthew 18 He said, "The Son of Man
                    is come to save that which was lost."  He later said, "It is not
                    the will of your Father, which is in heaven, that one of these
                    little ones should perish."

            B.    Is there any greater calling than to be a witness for the
                    Lord?  As Christians, we are the Lord's laborers called to the
                    harvest.

            C.    There is no better thing that we can be doing while waiting
                    on the Lord's return than to win souls.

            D.    There is nothing of greater value on this earth than a
                    person's soul.  "What would it profit a man to gain the whole
                    world and lose his own soul?"

    5.    Be steadfast about your future work.

            A.    James, the half brother of Jesus, in James 2:17-18 writes,
                    "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea,
                    a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me
                    thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by
                    my works."

                    In 2 Peter 1:10, Peter states, "Give diligence to make your
                    calling and election sure."

            B.    Working for the Lord is a necessary by-product of our faith. 
                    Unfortunately, and all too often, Christians start a work for
                    the Lord and eventually give up.  Many times it is a result of
                    getting ahead of the Lord.  We must always remember it is in
                    His time - not ours.  Other times Christians simply lose the
                    vision the Lord has given them.

            C.    Remember we have only one life to live for the Lord and
                    staying in the center of God's perfect will for our life will
                    allow us to do our very best.  After all that the Lord has done
                    for us, how could we do less than give Him our best?

While there are many other areas in which we need to remain steadfast, I believe these should be sufficient for us to re-evaluate where we are and reflect upon what we need to do with the rest or our life.

In 2 Tim. 4:7-8, Paul writes, " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."

Surely one day we all want to be able to say what Paul said and hear the Lord say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant."

If you've never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and would like to, please click on How to Be Saved.

                               

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