If there is anything the Body of Christ absolutely needs today, it is to be steadfast. In the forty years I have served the Lord in ministry, I have witnessed that some people pull away from church when things are going really good in their lives, acting as though they don’t need the Word or church or the presence of God, since all seems to be going wonderfully for them.
However, this is one of Satan’s trickiest lies that must be rejected. Because just as soon the devil brings an attack against their life, regardless of its severity, they won’t have the knowledge they need, the faith they need, or the discipline they need to overcome the challenge. And so, their lack of steadfastness eventually causes their undoing.
With other people, their lack of steadfastness seems to show up during times of trouble and heartache. They take just the opposite approach to those mentioned above, and remain faithful to the things of God up until the day trouble comes, and then they bail out.
But we must become a steadfast church, regardless of what is or isn’t going on in our lives.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV
These words “stand fast” mean, to stand firm, and to remain stable and steadfast.
We are to be steadfast in the faith, and in our walk with God. And we must not allow anything or anyone to get us off track where these things are concerned.
Instead, it’s time that we grow up spiritually, and stop allowing circumstances, and even other people, to cause us to lose our stand in the faith. We must do what it takes to be strong, and not allow ourselves to become weakened by those things that are occurring in our lives.
And to accomplish this, we must fortify ourselves with daily times of prayer and Bible study, as well as faithful church attendance, among other things that are the ABCs of Christianity.
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 NASU
And what’s more, if we don’t learn to remain steadfast in our liberty in Christ, we will simply walk right back into the bondage of sin, habits and the works of darkness (see Galatians 5:1).
Our liberty in Christ means that we can enjoy living according to the Word of God, without the pressures and struggles that come from the slavery of sin.
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Philippians 1:27 NASU
Next, we are to be steadfast in our unity as a church body. Because the power and blessings that comes upon us when we are steadfast in unity is lost once we begin to focus on ourselves, and lose track of the bigger picture.
This verse tells us we are to strive together for the cause of Christ. It doesn’t say we are to get into strife with one another!
Something else I have discovered a steadfast church operates in is, the work of the Lord.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 NASU
Every Christians must be actively involved in the ministry of helps within their own local church body, if we are to obey this verse and be the steadfast church that God has called us to be.
Now let’s return to the first verse we looked at above. It tells us that we are to be found holding on tightly to the traditions that we have been taught, which is another key ingredient to remaining a steadfast church according to the Bible.
“…and hold the traditions which ye have been taught….” 2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV
A steadfast church has a firm grip on the traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. In an age when everyone wants to approach any seasoned minister as being “old-school,” and therefore to be considered out of touch somehow with the times we are living in, we must become extra attentive in this area. Because if I have to choose between having a cool pastor, and one who is highly anointed and full of the wisdom of God’s Word, and who knows and walks closely with God and can teach me to do the same, then you can keep the cool guy.
Obviously, there are good traditions and then there are bad ones. The good ones are those that are in alignment with God’s Word, and which edify and build up the church. However, any traditions that cause the Word of God to become ineffective are those we are to eliminate (see Matthew 15:6).
The Children of Israel passed down the good things of God from one generation the next. The Body of Christ should be doing the same thing.
It is possible for our local churches to be strong, steadfast and even unmoveable, in the last days. But for us to be that steadfast church, we must get our eyes off of ourselves, and instead focus on the big picture as the verses shared above will help us do.
Determine to be strong and steadfast, regardless of what anyone else does, and watch God pour out abundant blessings upon you as you do.
