STEADFAST CHRISTIAN LIVING

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”Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that you labour is not in vain in the Lord”
1 Corinthians 15:58

One of the negative end-time prophecies of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that the love of many Christians shall wax cold. Its fulfillment, as the Christendom is presently witnessing, spells grave consequences. It is obvious now that many who were once zealous and committed to the Lord are losing their first love and enthusiasm with which they served God.

This is because of god of this world has enticed them with materialism, injected them with spiritual sleep and sown tares of discord, misfortune and sickness into their loves.

Manipulated by the enemy, these Christians lose their conviction as their fellowship with God and His people become irregular.

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They have consequently become unstable and unpredictable in character, and unfaithful to God and His church. Outright backsliding has become rampant. With this development, Christ, the ever-living One, charges fervent believers and the church to wake up to their responsibility of reviving despondent, weak, lukewarm and inconsistent believers.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain,
that are ready to die for I have not found
thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard,
and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch,
I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour
I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:2-3

Saved from sin or restored from backsliding, the believer needs to maintain a consistent righteous life to qualify for heaven.

THE CHARACTER OF HEAVEN BOUND PILGRIMS

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And Enoch walked with God after he
begat Methuselah three hundred years,
and begat sons and daughters.
And all the days of Enoch were
three hundred sixty and five years.
And Enoch walked with God and he was not
for God took him.
Genesis 5:22-24

Enoch, son of Jared and father of Methuselah, is mentioned in our text as one who maintained a consistent, God-pleasing lifestyle throughout his life time. According to Scripture account, he knew God at the age of 65 and walked with Him for 300 years. That he lived in the Old Testament period before the cross strips inconsistent believers of excuses they give for rising and falling in the Christian faith.

Enoch lived in this same wicked world infested with demons as we do today. Moreover, with the death and resurrection of Christ at Calvary, every earnest seeker can live a consistent Christian life. If it is not possible to live a righteous life, God would not have called Abraham to it.

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However, the call to salvation precedes the call to consistent Christian living and perfection. Abraham had first responded to the call to come out of sin unto salvation and separation before this time. None is on pilgrimage to heaven until he/she is genuinely saved from sin. Pilgrimages to holy lands and engagement in religious rites/duties do not set the religion is free from sin. Every sinner and backslider need to repent of their sins and believe Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour to be free from sin.

Maintaining a consistent Christian life requires courage faith. The heroes of faith grouped with Enoch and Abraham in Hebrew 11 also regarded as strangers and pilgrims on earth all had their problems, difficulties, temptation, trials and challenges. Rather than give in, they exercised their faith in God and were victorious.

The challenges we face as believers will not last; we will continue to overcome if we lean on the Lord.

CAUSES OF INCONSISTENCY AND BACKSLIDING

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The heroes of faith focus their desire and attention on the city of God.

But now they desire a better country,
that is an heavenly: wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God:
for he hath prepared for them a city
Hebrews 11:16

Just as they did not allow their challenges to overcome them, they were not divided in heart and aspirations like Lot’s wife. They forgot the sinful world and lifestyle that existed in it when they came out. To this end, Paul the Apostle exhorted believers to set their affections on things above where Christ is.

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Demas returned to the world because he loved it just like some believers who have not burned the bridge that linked them with the world. They want to enjoy the best of two worlds. But Christ says no one can serve two masters and fervently love both at the same time. Therefore, those who seek to maintain a consistent life of holiness with God must be crucified to the world.

False doctrines are deadly to the spiritual health of a Christian. Beliefs in purgatory, unconditional security of saved souls, continuing to live on earth without any hope of going to heaven, etc. engender licentious, doctrines is diligence in acquiring the word of God in both personal and congregational study of the word.

Study to shew thy self approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and vain babblings:
for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker:
of whom is Hymenaetus and Philetus
2 Timothy 2: 15-18

The devil may allow a man to start the journey to heaven but he will do all he can to obstruct him from making heaven. In these last days, he uses scoffers to dissuade believers from continuing on the path of righteousness 2 Peter 3:3-11

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The global economic recession is another factor that can divert the attention of the heaven-bound pilgrim. Some should even dare to deny the faith in an attempt to survive in theses last days.

But the bible warns

Take heed, and beware of covetousness:
far a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance
of the things which he possessth
Luke 12:15

Men are apt to forged God during promotion and prosperity

Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah
was come from the slaughter of the Edomites,
that he brought the gods of the children of Seir,
and set them up to be his gods,
and bowed down himself before them,
and burned incense unto them.
2 Chronicles 25:14

THE REWARD FOR CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN LIVING

Believers who maintain a consistent lifestyle of purity will be peculiar treasures unto the Lord and experience increased divine presence. The pure in heart shall see God and shall receive divine interventions and answers to prayers. They shall see the move of God in their lives.

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Consistent Christian living demands that the believer whole heartedly follows the Lord, constantly examines his life and conduct to make sure they are scripture-based; sincerely renews his vow to walk with and serve the Lord. He must be ready to deny self, carry his cross and forego even legitimate things that inhibit his entire consecration to the Lord and his holy pilgrimage to heaven.

Joshua, Daniel, Ruth, Paul the apostle, etc were consistent and faithful in their walk with God and they were blessed and used for His glory. So also were Enoch and Abraham. Enoch in particular was translated to glory without seeing death, giving hope of eternal bliss in heaven to every believer who lives a consistent holy life. It is obvious that those who do not maintain a consistent holy life will be denied entry to heaven.

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Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
Matthew 7:21-23

But the believer who is stead fast and faithful in God’s service will be blessed on earth and rewarded in heaven by the Lord.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

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STEEMCHURCH PARISHIONERS - STEADFAST CHRISTIAN LIVING

STEADFAST CHRISTIAN LIVING

THE CHARACTER OF HEAVEN BOUND PILGRIMS

CAUSES OF INCONSISTENCY AND BACKSLIDING

THE REWARD FOR CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN LIVING

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES