The Importance of Having Consistency in Our Walk with the Lord

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING CONSISTENCY IN OUR WALK WITH THE LORD

-The Apostle Paul wrote,

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)

-In the book of Revelation we see the importance of continually leading an overcoming Christian life – That we continually maintain our focus on things above and are not distracted by the things of this world. Jesus emphasised our need to overcome and persevere in our walk with Him,

“But Hold fast what you have till I come. And He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations –” (Revelation 2:25-26)

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)

“He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” (Revelation 3:12)

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:7)

-WE NEED TO BE CONTINUALLY FAITHFUL IN WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO IN LIFE

-What we do for the Lord is never in vain. God has uniquely gifted every believer – As we commit to using our gifts for the Lord our lives will bear much fruit and impact the lives of many for eternity

-The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

-In the book of Hebrews we read,

“For God is not unjust to forget you work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:10-12)“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)

-We need to be simply committed to finishing the race that is set before us – God has much in store for every believer’s life but we need to be people of commitment and consistency if we are to fully embrace all that God has planned for our life

The Apostle Paul at the end of his life wrote,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8-9)

-We are now living in those perilous times that the Apostle Paul spoke about – times in which so many influences exist that can pull our heart away from the things of God if we do not stay focussed on things above

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

The Apostle Paul also warned that in the last days some would depart from the faith, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1 Timothy 4:1)

Jesus Himself said,

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold, But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

-God has so much in store for every believer’s life – Given the uncertain times that we are now living in, we can all make a great difference in this world by living for Jesus

-If we simply remain consistent in our walk with the Lord over the period of our lifetime we have the potential to make a great impact in this world for eternity

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

-However like Jesus we need to be committed to finishing all that God gives us to do in life – In doing this our lives will bear much fruit

-At the beginning of His ministry here on earth Jesus said,

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)

-Towards the end of His time here on earth Jesus said to His Father in heaven,

“I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4)

-In many ways the Christian walk is always one of continually rowing against the stream or tide of this world as we stand up for our faith in Jesus Christ. But as we do we will help many others to come to faith in Jesus Christ and to receive the gift of eternal life.

Jesus Himself said,“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

-OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS I WILL BE SHARING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING CONSISTENCY IN A NUMBER OF AREAS OF OUR LIFE AND CHRISTIAN WALK.HAVING CONSISTENCY IN THESE AREAS HELPSUS TO LIVE FRUITFUL AND OVERCOMING CHRISTIAN LIVES

1)The importance of consistently choosing to do the will of God for our life (Allowing God’s plan for our life to continually unfold over time)

-God has a unique plan for each believer’s life. The Apostle Paul wrote,“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

-We must however on a daily basis be prepared to allow the Lord to direct our steps in life. In the book of Proverbs we read,“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

-God’s plan for our life unfolds progressively over time. Jesus Himself said,“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

-Knowing the will of God in each season of our life is crucial to seeing His plan for our life unfolding over time. The Apostle Paul wrote,“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)The Apostle Paul also wrote,“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Colossians 1:9-10)

-As we simply consistently pursue the will of God for our life over a period of time, we have the potential to make a great difference in this world for eternity

-God never looks at our ability but simply our availability – As we continually live for Him He raises us up to do great things for His glory. The Apostle Paul wrote,“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

-GOD’S WAYS ARE FAR HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS

-We must simply choose on a consistent basis to just to what Jesus tells us to do

-Brian Houston is the Senior Pastor for Hillsong in Australia. He has just recently celebrated his 60th birthday and 40th year in ministry. As he and his wife have simply allowed God’s plan for their lives to unfold over many years, their first church plant that started with just over 50members has now grown to a mega church of around 20,000 in Sydney with many extension services.

-They have also now helped to plant several other mega churches in London, Kiev, New York, Cape Town and many other areas such as Melbourne and Brisbane

-When we simply consistently live for the Lord over the period of a lifetime God can do much through our lives

-Nehemiah was an example of how God could do incredible things through a man who was focused on living for God – In just 52 days he co-ordinated the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem that had been destroyed. We see this in chapters 1-6 of the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament

-As we live for the Lord we must also be careful to consistently operate within our gifts and callings

-As we flow in our unique gifts and callings we will be most effective in serving the Lord with our time and efforts and our lives will bear much fruit

-The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads,with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8)

2)The importance of consistently meditating on the word of God

-In a world in which the darkness is getter darker in so many areas and where lawlessness is on the increase, it is so important that now more than ever before, that we continually as Christians renew our mind with the Word of God

-The Apostle Paul wrote,

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

-In a world which is becoming more and more unsettled and in which there is now no certainty about many things, we can build our life on a firm foundation by being both hearers and doers of the Word of God. Jesus Himself said,

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

-CONSISTENTLY MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD IS CRUCIAL FOR MANY REASONS

i)It is a key to receiving continual guidance and direction from God (The Holy Spirit will illuminate passages of Scripture to give us clear direction in life when we read the Word of God to seek guidance from the Lord) The Psalmist wrote,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)“Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133)

Meditating on the Word of God helps us to not stumble in our walk with the Lord and to consistently stay on track with what God has planned for our life

ii)Mediating on and speaking out the Word of God also helps to build up our faith and to set us free as we begin to embrace and build our lives based on the promises of God contained in His Word

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Jesus Himself said,“If you abide in My word you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

MEDITATING ON AND SPEAKING OUT THE WORD OF GOD HELPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH AND TO LIBERATE US DURING TIMES OF GREAT TRIALS AND CHALLENGES – The truth makes us free

iii)Reading and studying the word of God helps us to make good choices which are based on God’s wisdom so that we are prosperous and have good success in life. God’s Word: We need to read it! Study it! Memorize it!

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

The LORD said to Joshua just before he led the Children of Israel into the land of Canaan, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”(Joshua 1:8)

iv)Meditating on the Word of God helps us to grow in Christlike character

The Apostle Paul said to the young pastor Timothy,

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

3)The importance of having a consistent lifestyle of worship and prayer (We need to continually keep our focus on the Lord)

-OUR LOVE FOR JESUS IS THE KEY TO REMAINING STRONG IN OUR FAITH

-Worship helps us to remain passionately in love with Jesus AND strong in our faith

-King David was a worshipper who wrote many of the Psalms

-He was the only one that God ever referred to as a man after His own heart. In the book of Acts we read,

“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ (Acts 13:22)

-The Apostle Paul achieved much for the Lord but his primary pursuit in life was to know and to love Jesus Christ. Though he experienced much persecution and trials for his faith, nothing could stop the Apostle Paul from living whole heartedly for the Lord because of his great love for Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote,“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

-As Christians we are in a constant spiritual contest in which the enemy will try and distract and discourage us from fulfilling all that God has planned for our life – It is our unwavering love for Jesus Christ that helps us to remain strong during the trials of life

-The Apostle Paul wrote,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28-29)

-It is so important that we continually keep our focus on the Lord and that we spend time getting to know the Lord in a real and personal way.

-The Prophet Isaiah wrote,

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

-Worship and prayer helps us to keep our focus on the things of God and to maintain our peace

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)