MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
TEXT: Genesis 5:22-24; 17:1
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 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 the god of this world has enticed them with materialism into spiritual sleep and inertia, and sowed tares of discord, misfortune, and sickness into their lives. Manipulated by the enemy, these Christians lose their conviction as their fellowship with God and His people become irregular. 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, who always knows what to do, 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…” (Revelation 3:2,3). Saved from sin or restored from backsliding, the believer needs to maintain a consistent righteous life to qualify to enter heaven.
THE CHARACTER OF HEAVENLY PILGRIMS:
(Genesis 5:22-24; 17:1; Hebrews 11:5,6,13-16; Philippians 3:20).
Enoch, son of Jared and father of Methuselah, is mentioned in our text as one who maintained a consistent, God-pleasing lifestyle throughout his lifetime. 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, 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 (Genesis 17:1).
Question 1: State the indispensable step to a consistent Christian living.
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 they are genuinely saved from sin. Pilgrimages to holy lands and engagement in religious rites/duties do not set the religionist free from sin. Every sinner and backslider need to repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior to be free from sin.
Set free from sin that binds and inhibits spiritual progress, the believer begins to live a life of victory over sin, the flesh, self, the world, and the devil. He is careful to “walk with God” and “walk before God” in righteousness. These phrases suggest that the believer consciously walks side by side with, lives and does everything under the watchful, never-blinking eyes of God (Psalm 139:1-12). As sane human beings do not want to expose their nakedness before the camera, so also the believer would not want to do evil while the omniscient and omnipresent God watches. These attributes of God, together with the fact that He is the final Judge who knows the minutest detail of our lives, should instill holy fear in the believer and enable him to live a consistent Christian life.
Besides, maintaining a consistent Christian life requires courage and faith. The heroes of faith grouped with Enoch and Abraham in Hebrews chapter 11 also regarded as “strangers and pilgrims on earth” all had their problems, difficulties, temptations, trials, and challenges. Rather than give in, they exercised 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:
(Matthew 24:12; Genesis 19:26; 2 Timothy 4:10; 2:16-
18; Zephaniah 1:12; 1 Timothy 6:9,10)
The heroes of faith focused 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. 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, careless living. The antidote to being poisoned by false doctrines is diligence in acquiring the word of God in both personal and congregational study of the Word (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). The global economic recession is another factor that can divert the attention of the heaven-bound pilgrim. Some would even dare to deny the faith in an attempt to survive in t h ese last days. But the B ible warns: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Men are apt to forget God during promotion and prosperity (2 Chronicles 25:14). It is possible for a fervent believer to grow cold gradually until he loses all the good virtues he once had. Other causes of inconsistency in Christian living are fear of men (1 Samuel 15:24), evil association (1 Kings 11:4), stony hearts (Luke 8:13), spiritual laziness and emptiness (Zechariah 1:12), unbelief (John 6:64,66), love of the world (2 Timothy 4:10), lust of the flesh (Proverbs 7:6-27) and quest for materialism (1 Timothy 6:10).
Question 2: Mention the causes of inconsistency of believers in the faith.
CALL TO CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUITY IN
HOLINES S: (Genesis 17:1; Matthew 5:48; 1Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:15,16; Luke 1:74,75; Acts 11:23; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 4:14; Philippians1:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:17; Hebrews12:14; 13:12,13)
Question 3: Why is it necessary for believers to respond to God’s call to consistent holy living?
God’s demand for a perfect lifestyle and consistent holy living is not limited to any generation. He is holy; He desires as well as demands that all who worship and walk with Him live holily. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). As He called Abraham to lead a perfect life, so has He called every believer to this same experience. “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7). God’s call to perfection or holy living is not limited to a particular day, week, month, or period of time in our lives; we are to walk “in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:75). You can experience this holiness, sanctification, or purity of heart through prayer and faith in the blood of Christ.
Question 4: How then can a believer maintain a consistent walk with the Lord?
Our text gives us the antidote to backsliding. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). Believers are enjoined to be strong in the Lord and to make use of divine ability. God’s power is strong enough to keep all His children (1 Peter 1:5). And this requires that the believer knows the devices of the enemy, take the entire spiritual armor provided by Christ and constantly engage in spiritual warfare. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). No Christian can afford to trifle with the devil and his cohorts. The believer is in constant warfare with the devil and his agents. The methods of the devil are so complex that the believer needs to put on the whole armor of God at all times. The devil is at work night and day trying to entrap, enslave and ruin the careless believer. Consistency is synonymous with putting on the whole armor of God. You need to remain committed to the truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness. Holiness is a great weapon in spiritual warfare; it is a shield that protects from backsliding. It is not possible to maintain a consistent walk with God without living a consistent life of holiness.
The Bible also commands believers to be consistent in winning souls to the Lord. Their feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Soul- winning is an important weapon as far as victorious Christian living is concerned. Also, you need to make use of the shield of faith. Develop your faith always. None can live the consistent Christian life without walking by faith.
Prayer is an important weapon for consistent Christians. The Bible enjoins us to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. The believer who wants to walk with God consistently needs to pray frequently. He will be able to “stand” unconquered by the enemy. Gluttony and talkativeness must not shut the believer’s mouth from praying. Also, overmuch sleep leads to spiritual poverty. Men ought always to pray and not to faint. The praying Christian is a powerful Christian. The believer who adds fasting to prayer of faith becomes impregnable: he will be able to abide in the will and word of God and have divine energy with which to do exploits for God. After all, the goal of consistent Christian living is to bear fruits of righteousness and soul-winning to the glory of God.
THE REWARD FOR CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN
LIVING: (Exodus19:5; Matthew 5:8; Numbers 32:12; Joshua 14:12-14; Numbers 23:21-24; Daniel1:8,19,20; Ruth 1:16; 4:13-22; Philippians 3:7,8; Psalm 103:17,18; Matthew 24:13)
Believers who maintain a consistent lifestyle of purity will be peculiar treasures unto the Lord. They will experience increasing abiding presence of God. The pure in heart shall see God and shall receive divine intervention of answers to prayers. They shall see the move of God in their lives and ministry on earth and live with Him in heaven.
To grow in this experience demands that the believer must wholeheartedly follow 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 forgo even legitimate things that inhibits 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 the glory of God. So also, were Enoch and Abraham in our text. 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 and obedient lifestyle will not be able to enter heaven (Matthew 7:21- 23). But the believer who is steadfast and faithful in God’s service will be blessed on earth and rewarded in heaven by the Lord.
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