Power of Steadfastness - 2

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-8oqse">Yesterday, we started discussing the need for order and steadfastness of our faith. To be steadfast, we need to be focussed and fixed just like the concrete that is used to erect the foundation of a building. When we see a building that is not solidly founded, we see a wobbly structure – unfit to live in, hazardous to the inhabitants. The steadfastness of our faith means to be resolute on the object of our faith. In 1 Cor 2:5, we are advised not to put our faith in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Why? Because the wisdom of men is unstable and panders to the whims of man – it is sensual, earthly and demonic (James 3:15).</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-a5ll">For example, as a believer if I believe that there is a ‘season’ called flu season, I will expect it and will also experience it just like an unbeliever would. Why? Because i have believed in the wisdom of men instead of the power of God that declares me to overcome adversities.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-5legv">Since we are God-possessed, our faith should stand in the power of God. The power of God is the gospel (Rom 1:16). If I live my life based on the gospel, then my faith will stand when adversity comes. Since the gospel brought salvation, I must regulate my life based on the gospel – the death, burial, resurrection and incarnation of Jesus Christ. Salvation is from the Greek word “soteria” which means to “to restore, recover, save, healed, delivered from danger, fear and bondage of sin, to be made whole, to be preserved, delivered from wrath” etc. Essentially, salvation is the total blessings of God bestowed by God on men in Christ through the Holy Spirit.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-d22fq">Jesus told us that the foundation determines how the building (Luke 6:46-49) stands against the storms of life. He advised that we should be a ‘doer’ of the Word if we want to stand during adversity. If we live by the wisdom of this world, we can’t enjoy the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not just going to heaven but the sphere of salvation entered only by the new birth (John 3:5-7). All that Christ died for, we should enjoy NOW - not in the future by and by. What determines whether I enjoy that is how steadfast my faith/trust in Him is. My faith is what overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). In Luke 9:57-62, we see the attitude required in the kingdom of God – “resoluteness”. A person who is not resolute in Jesus, wavers just like Lot’s wife who looked back when Sodom &amp; Gomorrah were being destroyed (Gen 19:17, 26) because her faith is not resolute in Jehovah. We cannot dilly dally around the Gospel. We cannot live our lives based on the world view but on who we are in Jesus.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-58a2r"><strong>Action plan</strong>:</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-56bjv">Find an area in your life where you believe God has come through for you recently. Thinking about the event, how did you feel when God came through? What could you learn from this experience on God’s faithfulness? How could that help you to trust Him more for the other areas that answers may seem to be delayed?</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-e67e"><strong>Prayer</strong>:</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-bvq1d">Father, I pray that I will see me the way you see me. Father I renew my mind today on your faithfulness. In any way that I may have doubted you, I am sorry. Lord, I lean on you today so that I can become all you have planned for me in Jesus name</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image -->

<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_e1ac8887d0e04dd5b98fb4c263af1180~mv2_d_4915_3277_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_740,h_493,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/a27d24_e1ac8887d0e04dd5b98fb4c263af1180~mv2_d_4915_3277_s_4_2.webp" alt="Steadfastness"/></figure>

<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p>Steadfastness is required in building lasting relationships</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-7m1ov"><strong>What can members do?</strong></p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-510a1">Members can follow each other, write and reply to comments and receive blog notifications. Each member gets their own personal profile page that they can customize.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->

<h2 id="viewer-esurl">Tip:</h2>

<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:image {"align":"right"} -->

<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright"><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_37dd352948ab4551ad5316b1287d59bb~mv2_d_4329_3000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_360,h_249,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/a27d24_37dd352948ab4551ad5316b1287d59bb~mv2_d_4329_3000_s_4_2.webp" alt=""/></figure></div>

<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-9ac8c">You can make any member of your blog a writer so they can write posts for your blog. Adding multiple writers is a great way to grow your content and keep it fresh and diversified.</p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->

<h2 id="viewer-amuh5"></h2>

<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->

<p id="viewer-d1qmk"><strong>Here’s how to do it:</strong></p>

<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->

<ol><li>Head to your Member’s Page</li><li>Search for the member you want to make a writer</li><li>Click on the member’s profile</li><li>Click the 3 dot icon ( ⠇) on the <strong>Follow</strong> button</li><li>Select Set as Writer</li></ol>

<!-- /wp:list -->