Steadfast and Unmovable!
Most everyone who attended the annual Watchnight Service had a great time. One of the delightful surprises was viewing the film from the 1988 Christmas Play and Concert. I was humored by the rather youthful membership, including the brief glimpse of your pastor from fourteen years ago! Many of us are growing old together! What a blessing to serve the Lord in the same church for these many years. Two words come to mind as I reflect upon the overall membership of Christchurch: steadfast and unmoveable. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).
Let me encourage all of us to be steadfast and unmoveable this year.
1. Let us be steadfast and unmoveable in character.
It has been said, “You can borrow brains, but you cannot borrow character.” How true! Theognis said, “Adopt the character of the twisting octopus, which takes on the appearance of the nearby rock. Now follow in this direction, now turn a different hue.” We live in an age of the “twisting octopus.” We don’t need to borrow the character flaw of pretending to be something that we are not, so as to take advantage of others. Allow me to make a “play on words.” Let us not take the opportunity to “prey” on others’ mistakes, but let us instead “pray” for the opportunity to go through the God-ordained path chosen for our lives by our loving Heavenly Father.
It is the way of Satan to scheme; it is the way of godly character to pray, plan and act in accordance with purity of motives. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Corinthians 2:11). “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3, 4).
2. Let us be steadfast and unmoveable in gaining Bible knowledge.
After reading the Bible for as many years as many of you have, it is easy to slack off, thinking, “I’ve already learned the basics, I can afford to not be as studious in the Word.” Let me admonish you to stay with the stuff when it comes to learning the Word of God. God’s Word is designed to give you comfort and guidance! “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me” (Psalm 119:50). There will never be a time when you will not need God’s Word in this life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
3. Let us be steadfast and unmoveable in prayer.
Is there someone in your sphere of family and friendship that you know is praying for you? How would it affect you to know that the person closest to God would not be praying for you after today? What if God takes them to Heaven or they backslide? Does that place you in a panic mode? I believe with all my heart that we should be appreciating the fact that many wonderful things have come our way because of the prayers of others. But, it is spiritually dangerous to be dependent upon the prayer life of others and not develop your own prayer life.
Consider that God uses people of like passions as yourself and He also uses everyday occurrences to change the course of history. Consider this amazing verse of Scripture: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:17). Elijah had the same temptations, pitfalls and blessing as you or I would have. We also see that Elijah asked God to change the patterns of common rain to give a strong message. What a message of God’s sovereignty and might it was! Don’t view other Christians as “super-saints” and yourself as a weakling, unable to get a prayer answered. See yourself as an Elijah this year. When Elijah was taken up in to Heaven by the fiery chariot, Elisha began his ministry. Elisha did not apologize for being left after Elijah was taken; he was bold enough to ask for a double portion of God’s power to rest upon him. Elisha asked, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah…” (II Kings 2:14). The answer is clear; the God of Elijah is still here! Perhaps the question could be asked today, “Where are the Elijahs of the LORD God?”
In a changing world where many changes should be made, let us be steadfast, unmoveable and never changing in character, Bible knowledge and prayer.
- Pastor Pope -