Being Steadfast 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1. In this day and time there is a great need for steadfastness in Jesus Christ s Churches. 2. Compromise is more popular than to stand for Bible doctrine. 3. Many churches have abandoned the King James Bible. 4. They have turned from God honoring traditional hymns. 5. The Christian standards that have set the church apart from the world for hundreds of years have been abandoned. 6. Steadfastness has never been more needed than today. 7. What does it mean to be steadfast? 8. To be: unwavering, unfaltering, resolute, persistent, committed, dedicated, loyal, dependable, faithful, or devoted. 9. The dictionary definition is simply: 'firmly fixed, not subject to change." 10. We need men and women of God to continue to stand where they have stood. 11. God doesn t change, His word doesn t change and His followers should not change. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 12. We are to stand for the faith. Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 13. In the King James Bible we have the faith which was once delivered to the saints. 14. We are to contend for this faith. 15. Not compromise in the face of opposition. 16. David stood when faced with adversity. Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 17. David was fixed in his belief in God and His word. 18. He would not turn from that belief to bring peace and comfort in this life. Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 19. We also should be fixed in our hearts. 20. Not tossed about by all the lies of false religion and of the world. 21. Knowing and following God s word so that we are not easily deceived.
22. Standing for the truth of the Bible. We have a biblical examples of steadfastness in the book of Daniel Go to Daniel chapter one 1. We read of David saying his heart was fixed; not moving in his relationship with God. 2. We see action put to a fixed heart by Daniel. 3. Daniel had every reason to follow the crowd; to fit in. 4. He was a captive in a foreign land. 5. He would probably never get back to Israel again. 6. No one would accuse him of doing wrong if he was an obedient captive. 7. But Daniel determined to be faithful to God; he would be steadfast. 8. Daniel stood on his convictions and God blessed his life in captivity for doing so. Daniel 1:1-8 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. (2) And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. (3) And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king s seed, and of the princes; (4) Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and 2killful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (5) And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. (6) Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: (7) Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. (8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9. Because Daniel purposed in his heart to be obedient to God in spite of the circumstances in his life God blessed him. 10. Daniel was made 2 nd in power in Babylon only under King Nebuchadnezzar. 11. He served as high in other king s reigns as well. 12. Daniels friends determined to stand for God as well. 13. They stood with Daniel on the food and later were willing to die for their faith. The stand of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego 1. They were captives along with Daniel. 2. Their stand on not defiling themselves with the king s provisions and the blessings received from God strengthened their faith. 3. Standing for God brought them some trouble.
Daniel 3:1-7 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (2) Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (3) Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (4) Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, (5) That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: (6) And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (7) Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 4. Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of his dream. 5. He demanded that it be worshipped. 6. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were called on to worship an idol rather than the God of heaven they would not turn from God. Daniel 3:8-18 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. (9) They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. (10) Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: (11) And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (12) There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (13) Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. (14) Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? (15) Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? (16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. (17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 1. When it was worship or be thrown into the fiery furnace they stood steadfast. 2. They were thrown in the furnace but did not burn.
3. God protected them from the fire. 4. He blessed their stand for Him. 5. On the day of Pentecost after Jesus ascension three thousand were saved and added to the church at Jerusalem through baptism. Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 6. Their steadfastness in following God s word was one of the reasons the church in Jerusalem grew from about 120 to over 8000 in a very short time. Why is steadfastness so important? 1. The world has a saying, If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything. 2. Christianity is not as convicted these days to follow God s word steadfastly as it has in the past. 3. Much of Christianity is about entertainment. 4. For adults as well as children. 5. Many we talk to are concerned about music, (they want rock based music; not hymns). 6. They ask about children s programs. 7. I read of a large church over near Loveland years ago that spend a small fortune on a play center. 8. One member donated one hundred thousand dollars to help pay for it. 9. Steadfastness is important because we are vulnerable. 10. We must live aware of the fact that we are not invincible when it comes to compromise. 11. Paul knew this and exhorted the. Corinthians to be sure it would never happen to them. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 12. Because we have a future home in heaven with the Lord and should have a desire to please Him. 13. Because we want to be as blameless as possible when judged; we need to be steadfast. 14. To be unmovable in our determination to follow God through His word. We must be steadfast because our enemy never gives up 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1. Satan is our enemy. 2. He becomes someone s enemy the day they get saved. 3. When we chose to be on God s side through salvation we put a target on our backs.
4. We are not important enough for Satan to personally trouble us, but he has enough fallen angels to give us trouble. 5. He works through temptation; hoping to get us to fail in our walk with God. 6. He can do it with circumstances that try us. 7. He can encourage a hateful or angry spirit we have about us. 8. Think of those days when it seems as though every little thing brings you to the verge of blowing up. 9. For someone who has been a drunk in the past, he can tempt with alcohol. 10. For men who were womanizers; he can bring about opportunities to commit adultery. 11. Former thieves can be left alone around things of value. 12. You name it; the devil can tempt with it. 13. Satan and his devils can t read your mind. 14. But they can know your past; places where you have failed before and encourage a recurrence of that sin. 15. Though Satan is no match for God; he is wiser and more powerful than we are. 16. God warns us to be vigilant. 2 Peter 3:17 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 stedfastness. 17. We must remain steadfast because it gives us victory over the devil. 18. In our own strength and ability we cannot battle with the devil. 19. He is stronger and more ingenious than we could ever be, but according to the Scriptures, if follow God, and then stand our, ground, he will flee. James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 20. The key is submitting to God. 21. If I reject God s word and sin even though God calls is sin I am not submitting. 22. If I am not obedient to God, He is not obligated to drive the devil from me. We must be steadfast because to do otherwise displeases God Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 1. God s desire for us is to get saved and serve Him. 2. Life with God doesn t end with salvation; it is the beginning. 3. God has a purpose for each of us. 4. If we don t grow in faith and serve God, He has no pleasure in us. 5. If we serve a while and then slow down or quit, again He has no pleasure. 6. Following the faith of Jesus Christ found in the Bible is what pleases God. 7. It may not appeal to many people today; it didn t appeal to very many in the days of the apostles.
8. Our goal in life should not be to please men, but to please God. 9. Living according to God s word through trying circumstances and temptations is steadfastness. Being steadfast is important because of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 1. The day of the rapture and the Lord s coming to earth to rule seven years later is something Christians need to be aware of. 2. We don t know the day of His return, but we are to be ready. Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 3. It would be a shameful thing to be in sin when the Lord calls us home. 4. I think it would be unpleasant to have fallen from the faith before He comes. 5. We have all heard stories of people who gave up too soon. 6. I read of a man who filed a mining claim, hit some gold but never a great amount. 7. He gave up, another man bought his tools and the claim. 8. The new man struck a vein of gold by digging three feet farther than the first man. 9. We are warned to watch for the coming of the Lord. 10. It could be anytime. 11. It could come as an accident or heart attack on the way home. 12. Being found faithful to the Lord the day we meet Him will bring great rewards. 13. Be Steadfast. 14. Follow God s word. 15. Don t fail through sin. 16. Don t fail through compromise. 17. Be steadfast and unmovable in the Lord. 18. Because following God is not in vain. 19. He will reward steadfastness, but wavering in faith brings Him no pleasure. 20. We can choose today what it will be. 21. God s way for Christians; the world s way of compromise. 22. Be STEADFAST; Choose God!