Steadfastness: The Fruit of Belief

A: SUFFERING PRODUCES STEADFASTNESS

1 Peter 5:8-10 KJVS

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

[10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

In this lesson we will examine one of the greatest attributes of belief, steadfastness.

Steadfastness: to be firm; secure; sure; a support or a foundation; not turning to the right or left, but straightforward, bold and fearless (II Tim. 2:19).

The work of the ministry calls for steadfastness. He who is called to serve in the ministry of reconciliation must take on the mindset of a suffering servant and a willing slave. He must be content to serve his master without expecting to be compensated for the service that he renders.

The servant that is content to work in adverse situations, realizes his purpose and will not allow anything to cause him to rebel or disobey his master. Your willingness to suffer (inside of circumstances, situations and relationships), is the measuring stick that will determine the degree to which God can use you.

Your willingness to suffer will determine whether God can use you.

Isaiah 22:23

And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place.

The work of the ministry calls for steadfastness.

2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: For when I am weak, then am I strong.

The burden of proof is on God to bring you to a place of belief in His Word. However, the burden of proof is also upon you to provoke God to trust and use you. When God sees you going through an offense, trial, or temptation (rendering righteous responses), He is pleased and glorified.

God is glorified when we suffer for Christ’s sake. As we look at the life of Paul in the above scripture, we see that he had come to a place of total trust and belief in God’s Word and His ability to bring forth deliverance.

He suffered a tremendous trial of afflictions (as you read in previous verses). As we look at his initial response to the “thorn in the flesh,” we can see that he understood the purpose of his suffering and did not allow this affliction to neutralize his ministry. Nevertheless, Jesus began to explain to him that the grace he had recieved was sufficient, and that the strength of God is made perfect in the weakness.

At that point, Paul received another revelation. He already understood that he could not depend on self. Now, he understood that if he is allowed to suffer in the midst of persecution, there will be no war or resistance against the Spirit. He saw more clearly that the power of God is stronger when his own control over his flesh diminishes, and that if he could bring forth righteousness in the midst of suffering, the power of Christ would rest upon him; which is the anointing.

2 Corinthians 12: 6,7….

for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh...

Hebrews 5:8

Though he were a son, learned he obedience by the things he suffered.

Like Jesus, purpose should cause you to submit to the suffering in the flesh. We, as sons of God, must also come to that same place, where we take on the mindset of suffering. We must be partakers of the sufferings of Christ. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin . . . I Peter 4:1.

In order to experience the strength and power of Christ in the midst of a trial you must learn to glory in your infirmities. The spirit of might, which is the power of Christ, will enable you to bear all manner of suffering.

“AFTER YE HAVE SUFFERED AWHILE... MAKE YOU PERFECT...”

God deals with you according to the season and amount of influence He has dispensed in your life. His foresight and foreknowledge, as well as His wisdom and prudence, enables Him to know the type of test you need to bring forth the fruit of character He desires.

Inside the test, He also installs the element of time. When you are going through a trial, sometimes it seems God has prolonged it. You may then ask, “how long is a while”?

1 Peter 5:10

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

A while is the time it takes for you to lose confidence in your own control of the flesh and realize He ordained it to reveal the disposition of your mind. Remember, He has already considered the amount of influence you have received, therefore, He knows if you would simply submit to His Word, you would be able to bear the pain of the suffering.

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...

Many times in my life, (in the midst of my pain, suffering, disappointment and offenses), God has given me great revelation. I did not understand God’s purpose when I entered the trial, therefore I did not readily submit to it. It wasn’t until He instructed me in the midst of it, that I realized He had used the circumstance to get my attention. Saints, don’t despise the chastening of the Lord, this may be a method He is using to instruct you.

B: INSTABILITY: THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF

2 Peter 3:15-18 KJVS

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

[17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

[18] 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.

One of the greatest hindrances to the saints of God is to fall into unbelief. Unbelief means to reject known and witnessed truth. Known truth is the word that you have personally or directly experienced. Witnessed truth is the word that you have experienced indirectly, while viewing the life of someone other than yourself.

A person that is religious or legalistic, has not been brought to a place of total belief in God’s Word. Such a one will obey the Word for a season, but as soon as the Word starts to put restraints on him or brings him face to face with his true spiritual location, he will reject the truth he knows. Such a person must be perceived as unstable, unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, or decides concerning God. The scripture refers to this person as being double minded.

1 Corinthians 15:58…

be ye stedfast unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord...

James 1:7-8 KJVS

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.

INSECURITY IN GOD

Insecurity is another attribute of unbelief. Insecure means to have a feeling of anxiety (more than is warranted). Not safe; not firm or dependable, to feel unprotected.

God has proven His steadfastness toward us throughout our lives. Even when we were in sin, separated from Him, His Word never failed us. However, our disobedience to the Word can cause us to become insecure in Him.

Disobedience was birthed in the garden of Eden. As a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, the entire world took on the nature of disobedience. We were steadfastly rooted and anchored in it. We knew it was right to obey, but because of the captivity of our conscience, we could not consistently come forth with righteousness. Thus, we became very insecure in God, and started to trust in ourselves.

The mind must be trained to accept God’s Word as truth if we are ever to walk in the power of Christ. The following operations will help you to understand why we, the saints of God, cannot walk consistently in the Word:

I. A LACK OF VULNERABILITY TO THE WORD. When you do not trust the Word exactly as it is written, you will turn a deaf ear and walk in disobedience. You must train the spirit of the mind to submit to the innerman (the conscience).

II. A LACK OF TRUST IN THE METHOD THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BRING YOU TO A PLACE OF LIBERTY IN HIM. Though you desire to reach this place, God’s method may be offensive to you. If you don’t submit, you will rationalize and conclude, “this is not God”. You then begin to kick against the prick by plotting your own route and start establishing your own righteousness.

III. SERVANT OF SIN. When you are engaged in sinful desires and activities you are not capable of serving God. You become a willing servant to the devil and all of your members are in agreement with the pleasures of sins, therefore you have replaced God with sin and serve sin rather than God.

When you are operating in sin you automatically become an enemy to the agenda of the Holy Spirit and you would set yourself in array against the influence of the Word for fear of losing control. The carnal disposition of your heart will cause you to discredit the Word (God's influence).

Remember that to be steadfastly rooted and anchored in obedience to the Word will cause God to bless you.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

C: MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE (STEADFAST)

2 Peter 1:4-10 KJVS

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. [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.

[9] But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. [10] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

We acknowledge the fact that we have received the divine nature. However, Peter admonishes us, as does Paul, to go on to perfection. We must grow up in God and in the power of His might.

To do this Peter encourages us to add to our born again experience:

1. Virtue - “tested fruit” - to maintain the character of Christ in the midst of a trial or test.

2. Knowledge - “experience” - to experience the Word having preeminence in every circumstance, situation and relationship causes you to know God.

3. Temperance - “self-control” - the ability to resist carnal desires as they conflict with the purpose of God.

4. Patience - “steadfastness and endurance” - to wait on God in all things. To submit to the will of the Word in every circumstance, situation and relationship.

5. Godliness - to maintain a posture that is acceptable to God in all relationships.

6. Brotherly Kindness - To love and treat your fellowman as a kinsman.

7. Charity - “agape love” - to love your neighbor as yourself. Willing to deny yourself for the sake of others. To render mercy in the lives of those who are most undeserving.

Note that Peter declares: If you do these things you will never fall. Therefore, beloved, if you utilize these materials in the building of your soul, (which is anchored in Christ), the storms of this life will never prevail against you.

Remember, it is suffering that makes you perfect. It is suffering that establishes you, makes you strong and settles you. Anchor yourself in the faith. Be steadfast and unmovable in righteousness and the God of our salvation will keep you in perfect peace.

Love you!

Bishop