In everything give thanks: for this is the will God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. If we are truly his disciples we will steadfastly follow his example. Scripture constantly emphasizes the necessity for steadfastness in all areas of the Christian life. This is true steadfastness. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Inasmuch as we can accomplish nothing without the Lord's help, Paul's prayer for the Colossians also addresses our need today. Our Responsibility to Christ. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Christ says: "no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9: 62). 2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. "Ye therefore, beloved; seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Philippians 4:1. When we have yielded to indifferent feelings for sometime and have sadly neglected prayer, we have a hard struggle to get through to the glorious light and victory and sweetness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3: 17, 18). Therefore, "let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)" (Hebrews 10: 23). There can be no success nor prosperity in the Christian life when this principle is wanting. In view of all that Christ has done for us, we are deeply obligated to " put our hand to the plow " and steadfastly follow him. Remember, too, Jesus words: "if ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8: 31, 32). We, as the children of God, are to be led by the Spirit of God; but not all fully understand what is meant by "being led by the Spirit." Steadfastness. The man who is steadfast, unmovable in the Word, goes forward to a discharge of his known duties, no matter what his feelings may be. I would rather be led by a sense of duty than by my feelings. He petitions: "that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1: 10). The Spirit of God has illuminated the Word and enlightened your mind to know what is your Christian duty; hence when you go forward and discharge your duties faithfully, you are truly being led by the Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, Christians are made partakers of the divine nature. It is cleaving to God, let the storms rage as they may. 5: 19, 15). It is your duty to pray, to give of your means, etc., oftentimes just as much when you do not feel impressed to do so as when you have strong inward impressions. The way to enjoy serving God and doing our full Christian duty is always to do our duty and especially at those times when doing it seems to be the least enjoyable. Some (it may be many) are led by their feelings. On the other hand, neglecting the word leads to ruinous consequences. Dan.6:26. You must be courageous, manly, and decided. For if the Word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Hebrews 2: 1-3). He urges: "prayer without ceasing. 12. Ask the Lord to help you imitate Paul’s steadfastness in your journey toward righteousness and Godly kingdom building. Steadfastness. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Strangers in israel. Verse Concepts. Paul’s steadfastness serves as an inspiration and a challenge for any person who contemplates just settling for second best. ILlustration:Consider the postage stamp: Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Drawing near to God is crucial. Steadfastness is a firm, fixed purpose of the heart to cleave unto God, to attend strictly and promptly to every Christian duty. The apostle further writes "as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built-up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with Thanksgiving". This communal worship is vital to our spiritual growth and well-being. You may sometimes feel a strong impression to pray, but you do not need to have this feeling always in order to be duty -bound to pray. It is weakness and laziness to neglect prayer simply because we do not feel inclined to pray. 2. This verse reveals the infant church’s approach toward the worship of God. Barnabas exhorted that with purpose of heart they cleave to the Lord. And this, Paul promises, God will give to the humble. A man can have no true steadfastness who is influenced by his emotions or impressions. And that thankfulness, Paul further tells us, ought to be steadfastly expressed. When God delivered Daniel from the lions, Darius the king said, "I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever." Keys to Steadfastness (Acts 21:1-14) 1. PLEASE READ THE DETAILS. Again we are exhorted: "take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3: 17, 18). 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 1 Cor.15:58. We must not allow ourselves to be "moved away from the hope of the gospel" (Colossians 1: 23). Nothing is more important to Christian growth than faithfully studying the Word of God. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10: 12, 13). Christ says: " no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God " ( Luke 9: 62 ). You know it to be your duty to help the poor, to support the weak, to comfort the sorrowful, to attend religious services, to witness for Jesus, to study the Scriptures, to pray, and diligently to follow every good work. Salem Media Group. I do not understand that in order to be led by the Spirit we need always to have a strong inward impression or almost audible voice speaking to us. Hence Peter instructs: "wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2: 1,2). Steadfastness [N] Exhibited by God in all his purposes and ways. Success in the Christian life demands a steadfast hope in Christ. ...read more Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces … The church had just been established in Jerusalem. Numbers 23:19 ; Daniel 6:26 ; James 1:17. The rewards for steadfastness are incalculable. ⇒ stedfastness (KJV Dictionary) Godliness necessary to. Since good works are essential to pleasing the Lord, Paul also exhorts: "therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Lesson 12: Steadfastness. Paul's words of reminder therefore are always timely: "wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him... he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. Philippians 4:1 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ; James 1:6-8. The record indicates that he prayed frequently. Hence we are urged: "and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another..." (Hebrews 10: 24, 25). Just as Christian fortitude is noble, manly, and pleasing to God, so a lack of steadfastness is ignoble, unmanly, and highly displeasing to God. Scripture constantly emphasizes the necessity for steadfastness in all areas of the Christian life. The Psalmist said, "My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." Paul makes it clear that steadfastness in prayer is essential to successfully meeting the tests of life when he says: "wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand... praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all sites" (Ephesians 6: 13, 18). 5: 17, 18). How often the enemy of your soul will, if he can, cast indifferent feelings over you concerning prayer. There was some contention in the church over circumcision, and heavy persecutions from without, and many were being moved from the true faith. It is a firm, fixed, settled … Peter warns: "be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring Lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5: 8). Each one of us must steadfastly maintain and nurture his faith in the Lord. James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. Paul's admonition to Timothy is thus still just as appropriate today: "holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck" (1 Timothy 1: 19). "Ye therefore, beloved; seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Among the different principles in the character of God is found steadfastness. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” These new converts to Christianity were regular, faithful, and … by Douglas Jones. of
Remember, it is not he that feels to do good and doeth it not, but "he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin,". And here let us not overlook the reassuring words of James: "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5: 16). Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. "Wherefore," he says, "let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Stars, the. In their weekly assemblies "they contended steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and breaking a bread, and prayers" (Acts 2: 42). To yield to indifferent feelings is to encourage them, and they will grow stronger and stronger, so that we shall feel less and less inclined to pray. And we desire," says the writer of Hebrews, "that everyone of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6: 11, 12). 8110 Signal Hill Road | Manassas, Virginia. 11. We are further assured that God "will render to everyman according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2: 6,7). In view of all that Christ has done for us, we are deeply obligated to "put our hand to the plow" and steadfastly follow him. Since the Christian is confronted with countless temptations, he must be constantly on guard. The need for prayer to remain steadfast in ones calling is well illustrated in Jesus own life. 15:58) Many things are done in vain, but not service for Jesus. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3: 12, 13).