Consistency – The Mark Of A Serious Christian
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BE CONSISTENT
MEMORY VERSE
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due faint not."
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
LESSON TEXT
season we shall reap ,
LESSON TEXT
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
INTRODUCTION
The Christian journey is that of a pilgrimage to the kingdom of God. it requires consistency in our work with God .
The journey could be lonely and the duration is not one that anybody can just predict.
It will be a nice thing to go on this journey with God. He will be the one to dictate the terms can never regret the total obedience. Enoch, Noah and a host of others and there was no regret. The situation cannot be different with you.
OUTLINES
The situation cannot be different with you. OUTLINES 1. Important Hints 2. Outcome Of Consistency IMPORTANT HINTS Falling from grace does not just happen, overnight, it takes a gradual processb Nothing just happens, so take note of the following that could serve as important guides a) Learn from the mistakes of others. Those who learn from the mistakes of others avoid the scars that normally form after each fall! ) Listen to the advice of elders. Pay attention to the admonitions of those who had walked the way before you because of their experience, ) Stay away from slippery grounds because those who walk on slippery grounds will fall. To be successful, avoid unholy companies, Birds of the same feather flock together, . And anyone who walks too close to a river is likely to end inside it, . d) Do not look back, . You must forget a bout past successes and past failures but concentrate on the goal to avoid any slip.
1. Important Hints.
2. Outcome Of Consistency.
IMPORTANT HINTS.
Falling from grace does not just happen, overnight, it takes a gradual process.
Nothing just happens, so take note of the following that could serve as important guides
a) Learn from the mistakes of others. Those who learn from the mistakes of others avoid the scars that normally form after each fall! .
b) Listen to the advice of elders. Pay attention to the admonitions of those who had walked the way before you because of their experience,
c) Stay away from slippery grounds because those who walk on slippery grounds will fall. To be successful, avoid unholy companies,
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
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Birds of the same feather flock together, . And anyone who walks too close to a river is likely to end inside it, .
d) Do not look back, . You must forget about past successes and past failures but concentrate on the goal to avoid any slip.
13 Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. 14 I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
e.) Overconfidence. No one is too big to fall. One way to be on your feet constantly is to take heed .
One way to be on your e) AVotly is to take heed, . King David committed nstantly is to take heed, . King David committed feet co y when he stayed at home instead of being in the war front,
. King David committed adultery when he stayed at home instead of being in the war front,
OUTCOME OF CONSISTENCY
a) One major advantage of being consistent with the Lord is that it is never easy to catch up with a man who never stops moving forward "the journey of a thousand miles starts with but a step." Therefore, if you are consistent, if you keep moving forward, if you keep improving steadily, you will soon leave your competitors behind. Be consistent and you will soon become the envy of those who are not. You will make a mark if you are consistent and persistent. For example, Isaac started by sowing little in the time of famine, .
Then as he harvested that year a hundred-fold, he sowed much more. And so he reaped much more. And he persisted in his sowing and reaping, so he prospered more and more, . But he did not stop. He was consistent such that within a short space of time, he had gone so far ahead of others that he became the envy of a whole nation, . Remember that "slow and steady wins the race .
Remember, the cloud of those who persistently and consistently load up with sowing is sooner full of rain than lather, , .
Keep loading your clouds; use every opportunity you have to give and soon the abundant rain will come,
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
b) On the other hand, some unpleasant things always happen to those who stop moving.
1). They usually end as, "Has-been", "Ex-this", "Former champion" Quenched light", "Ashes", and so on and so forth. For example, there was a man called Demas. Once he was called by Paul, "My fellow- labourer" . He was once ranked as high as Luke, the beloved physician, the writer of the gospel of Saint Luke, .
But he stopped walking and ended up with a terrible testimony, .
10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
2 tim 4He started the journey but ended a disaster!
He started the journey but ended a disaster! .
He started the journey but ended a disaster!
2).It is equally distressing to note that those who will not keep walking ways end up as mere observers of those who write history. They always get a "ring-side view" of those who keep moving. An example is sons of the prophets in the days of Elijah and Elisha. Though they had the revelations that something historic was about walked as far as river Jordan and then stopped.
had the revelations that something historic was about walked as far as river Jordan and then stopped. While Elisha rpen, tiey with Elijah, these other sons of the prophet got themse view of history in the making, . They saw a maior m happen, but they were not part of it because they stopped! Much mon distressing was the fact that they were so close to a unique mirad physical rapture of Elijah yet saw nothing. Only Elisha, the manwNEia kept walking saw that miracle of a lifetime happen and partook of t, . lves a rin Ore iii. Another obviously distressing thing about those who stop walkingis that they remain stagnant. And as anyone will tell, stagnant water almost invariable stink. The sons of the prophets were sons of the prophet before the "rapture" of Elijah, they remained sons of the prophet after the event, while Elisha moved on to become "the prophet', and worse still, they all died still sons of the prophet! The how evidence that they made no progress in revelation and discernment is bene aptly illustrated in a near-tragic incident in . LESS Deut INTR Davic QUESTIONS Lord 1. 2. 3. Why do we have to learn from the mistakes of others? Why must we avoid overconfidence in our walk with God? What are the outcomes of failure to walk with God consistently? appr BLESSED WEEK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT MON: - Walking with God involves includes standing firm in His doctrines TUE: -A successful walk with God involves confidence in Him. WED: - Effective walk with God must involve moving to the mountain top. THU: - You must be prepared to walk in truth. FRI: -God can humble those who walk in pride SAT: - Doing good work is part of yo SUN: - Be consistent with your w vant to live long. The h God f you grea wit
While Elisha pressed on with Elijah, these other sons of the prophet got themselves view of history in the making, .
They saw a major miracle happen, but they were not part of it because they stopped! Much mon distressing was the fact that they were so close to a unique miracle physical rapture of Elijah yet saw nothing. Only Elisha, the man who kept walking saw that miracle of a lifetime happen and partook of t, .
iii. Another obviously distressing thing about those who stop walking is that they remain stagnant. And as anyone will tell, stagnant water almost invariable stink. The sons of the prophets were sons of the prophet before the "rapture" of Elijah, they remained sons of the prophet after the event, while Elisha moved on to become "the prophet', and worse still, they all died still sons of the prophet! The how evidence that they made no progress in revelation and discernment is bene aptly illustrated in a near-tragic incident in .
SECOND … Example ..
Title: “Consistency: The Mark Of A Serious Christian!”
Text:
() “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” (KJV)
Introduction:
• Daniel is known in the Scriptures to be one who was faithful, dependable, endowed with a good spirit, a man of prayer, a man who endured the lion’s den and a man who was a diplomat!
• Our text shows what Daniel did when crisis came.
“When crisis comes you find out what people are made of.”
• God said Daniel prayed like he consistently did previous to this adverse situation.
• Consistency, which is an earmark of solid leadership, and also of serious character, would also be a term that we could use to describe Daniel.
• Webster define the word “consistent” as: holding together; firm or coherent – agreeing; in harmony; in accord; compatible – holding to the same principles or practice.
• When I think of consistency, I think about words like: practice, continuing, perseverance, determination, and faithfulness!
• When I think of consistency, I think about people like: Moses, Joseph, Abraham, John the Baptist, and The Apostle Paul!
• When I think of consistency, I think about teachers I had like: My sixth grade teacher (I forget her name, but she made a lasting impression on me.); my new convert’s teacher, David Murrell; and my college professor, Pastor Richard Jones.
• When I think of consistency, I think about preachers like: Tom Malone, Bob Roberson, J. Vernon McGee, Curtis Hutson, and John Rice.
Proposition: There are three things I want us to consider about the subject of consistency!
I. We Need To Accept Nothing Less Than Absolute Consistency!
A. Consider the world’s insatiable appetite for consistency!
i. Example of athletes: Olympics & professional.
ii. Example of employers: demand of attendance.
iii. Example of employees: receive pay check on time.
iv. Example of military: skills; life or death depends upon consistency.
v. Example of farmer & equipment: breakdown – cost money.
vi. Example of doctors: if skills are not perfected, then sickness can result.
B. Consider the Bible’s admonition for consistency!
() “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (KJV)
() “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (KJV)
() “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (KJV)
¶ “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”
¶ “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
¶ “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
“Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”
“Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”
“And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
“And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
C. Consider the dilemma!
i. We see how the world demands consistency and how the Bible declares that we as Christians should be consistent and continue, but why do we think consistency is not needed in our lives!
ii. The plain fact of the matter is that we are consistent in the things we think important!
iii. For example, if we think it is important to read our Bibles then we will consistently read it, etc.
II. We Need To Understand The Necessity Of Consistency!
A. As has already been stated, life or death can depend upon one being consistent!
B. Consistency could be the very trait that enables you to make it through your dark valley! It certainly drove Daniel to his knees when crisis came!
C. Daniel benefited tremendously from his previous consistent walk!
D. Consistency itself can be a friend that encourages you to press on and “stick by the stuff!”
III. We Need To Develop An Appetite For Consistency!
A. A sanctified, God-honoring walk with our Heavenly Father does not come about by chance, luck, good intentions or osmosis.
B. It does come about by an appetite that has been cultivated over a period of time!
C. We must acquire a standard, a disciplined mindset, and a consecrated desire for consistency!
D. This appetite should not be feasting on a self-promoting, and pharisaical motive.
E. No, our motive should be for God’s glory and should desire consistency in our life for His glory alone!
Conclusion:
To The Christian:
• Can you characterize your life as consistent?
• Prayer Time?
• Bible Time?
• Giving?
• Witnessing?
• Godly Attitude?
• Walk?
To The Sinner:
• Be saved!