EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 69 CONTINUED

TOPIC: Steadfastness

Lesson three : Steadfastness is a character of the Saints.    Job 17:⁹ The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.  John 8:³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

STEADFASTNESS SHOULD BE MANIFESTED:

a/ IN CLEAVING TO GOD   —- Deut.10:²⁰ Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.  Acts 11:²³ Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

b/ IN THE WORK OF THE LORD —- 1 Cor. 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.

c/ IN CONTINUING IN THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE —- Acts 2:⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

d/ IN HOLDING FAST OUR PROFESSION —- Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  10:²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

[ to be continued ]

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CLOUDS

THE CLOUDS
Our lives are like the clouds,
little vapors in the sky,
we hang around awhile,
then we say goodbye.
Our lives are like the clouds,
sometimes all fluffy and white,
some times we have our trials,
like the black clouds at night.
Our lives are like the clouds,
being driven by the wind,
sometimes we are tossed to and fro,
as we fall into sin.
Our lives are like the clouds,
that are controlled by God’s hand,
when we put our trust in Him,
He will guide us across this land.
Our lives are like the clouds,
all beautiful and bright,
floating around the sun,
as it sets at night.
Our lives are like the clouds,
little vapors in the sky,
we hang around awhile,
then we say goodbye.

~ Winston Staples

[ I love this poem it was written from a hospital bed one stormy sunday after it started to clear off .]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 69 [cont’d]

LESSON 2: STEADFASTNESS IS SECURED BY:

a/ Psalms 55:22 —-²² Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  Psalms 62:2 —-² He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.  1 Peter 1:5—- ⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.                 Jude 1:24  —-²⁴ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,     Steadfastness is by the Power of God!

b/ Steadfastness is by the Presence of God—- Psalms 16: ⁸ I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

c/ Steadfastness is by trust in God—- Psalms 26:Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

d/ Steadfastness is by the intercession of CHRIST—- Luke 22:³¹ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

[ to be cont’d ]

 

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 69!

Preparation: Read 2 Thess.2 

Lesson 1. As believers [ sinners saved by God’s grace ] we are to stand firm by the renewing of our minds by God’s word. In the next few weeks we are going to look at some Bible verses on this subject. I trust you will be blessed and encouraged.

a/ We see this in God’s purposes and and ways.  The Bible states this in the following verses.  Numbers 23:¹⁹ God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?  Daniel 6:²⁶ 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 stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.  James 1:¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

b/ We are commanded to be steadfast.  The Bible states this in the following verses. Philippians 4:Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 2 Thess. 2:¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. James 1:⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

c/ Godliness is needed to be steadfast.  We read this in Job 11:¹³ If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;¹⁴ 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 steadfast, and shalt not fear:

[ to be continued ]

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 68b

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Serving God: Rewards for service  [a] Divine honor—- John 12:²⁸ Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

[b]Acceptance before God—- Romans 14:¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of:¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

[c] Inheritance— Col.3:²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

[d] Eternal blessedness—- Rev. 7:¹⁵ Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. [ Rev. 22: ³ And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:]

Prepared by Winston Staples

Patience!

In this day of fast foods, fast cars and fast communication we see less patience than any other time in our history. The only place we find a lot of patience is the doctor’s office. Being adopted children of God through the shed blood of His Only Begotten Son; we are to be patient. Patience is listed as a sign of growing in grace. We read in 2 Peter 1: 5-8 “⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”. Patience is also included in the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5: “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ let us be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to produce the produce the fruit of His Spirit in our lives so others can see Christ in our life. Let us show patience to our fellow man in all aspects as we daily walk with Jesus as our Master and guide.

~ Winston Staples

 

EXPLORING GOD’S WORD 68a!

Serving God: Requirements to serve. a/  Fear—- Psalms 2:¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

b/ Walking Upright—- Psalms 101:⁶ Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

c/ Loyalty—- Matthew 6:²⁴ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

d/ Regeneration—- Romans 7:⁶ But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

e/ Serve the Lord—- Romans 12:¹¹ Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

f/ Be Humble—- Acts 20:¹⁹ Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

g/ Do All Things in Love—- Gal.5:¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

[ to be continued ]