The Steadfast Man
series:Developing the Character of a Man of God
Scripture Reading: 1Cor 15:51-58
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 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, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Phrase: Therefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast
Stedfast = also spelled steadfast, sometimes translated stand fast
Meaning:
1. fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze. (as Christians focused, not distracted)
2. firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend. (our purpose is to glorify God, in all that we are and do)
3. unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
4. firmly established,
5. firmly fixed in place or position.
1) God’s Call to Steadfastness
a) 1Cor 15:58 our initial text be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord
b) Gal 5:1 tells us we are to “Stand fast in the liberty”
c) Jb 11:14-15 “If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:”
2) Great Need of Steadfastness
a) This is a character trait
i) Needed in every area of life
(1) Relationships
(2) Education
(3) Careers
(4) Faith
ii) Without it we will come short everytime
iii) How many have struggle to succeed only to have given up because of discouragement, fatique, or distraction; when if they had just held on they would have overcome and won the prize
iv) Developing a character of steadfastness pays dividends in every sphere of our life
v) Perhaps there is no greater need for steadfastness than in the arena of faith – for faith is dealing often with the unseen and requires a greater discipline in this area of character
3) Biblical Examples of Steadfastness
a) The Man of God Refusing a Reward 1King 13:8
i) And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
b) Josiah consistent in his duties as King 2King 22:2
i) Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
c) Job walked in obedience Jb 23:1
i) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
d) Three Hebrew Captives Stand for God Dan 3:18
i) 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.
e) Peter & John Stand for what is right Acts 4:19
i) But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye
f) Paul in Finishing the course Acts 20:24
i) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
4) Requirements of Steadfastness
a) Endures Hardship
i) Of Persecution Matt 10:22
(1) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
ii) Of Temptation Ja 1:12
(1) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
iii) Of Suffering Wrongfully 1 Pe. 2:19
(1) 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
b) Perseveres in all things to the End (perseverance is the second cousin of steadfastness)
i) Jb 17:9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
ii) Jn 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
c) Focuses and Moves Forward towards the Goal
i) Phil 3:13-14 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
(1) Does not mean to be stagnant or standing still
(2) Implies a constancy in moving forward to the goal
(3) Never settling
4) Hinderance to Steadfastness
a) Instability -The scriptures are replete with warnings against instability
i) Pr. 24:21 “My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;”
ii) Jer. 2:36 “Why do you gad about so much to change your way?”
iii) Eph 4:14 (we are exhorted) “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things in Him..
iv) Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed
b) Cause of Instability
i) Selfishness – Pr 14:14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.
ii) Spiritual Indifference – Matt 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
iii) Bondage to Traditions (former ways) – Gal 4:9 - But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
iv) Loss of enthusiasm/fervor – Rev. 2:4 - Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
v) Double Mindedness –
(1) 2Kings 17:33 – They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods––according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away
(2) Luke 16:13 - "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
vi) Indecision (cousin of double minded) –
(1) 1King 18:21 - And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.
(2) Luke 9:62 – But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
5) How to Cultivate Steadfastness
a) Purpose in your heart – Daniel & three friends
i) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
b) Intentialize your action – Daniel & Co
i) therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself
c) Practice it daily especially in the little things –
i) Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
d) Repent immediately of sin & indecisiveness
i) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
e) Listen to the Holy Spirit Coaching you – “You Can Do All Things through Christ”
i) Video clip from facing the Giants – death crawl
