| OCR Text |
Show THE CALL TO STEADFASTNESS Isaiah 50: 4-9a Back in the early 1900, this congregation had an Alexandre Dumas book club. Among other books that Dumas wrote is Twenty Years After. In that book, one reads "The prince kept his gaze fixed in the direction of the sound with the steadfastness of a bird of prey." Whenever you start something, it is good idea to finish it no matter how a :t;f ++.,J-,{ .. t":};J:::M thatt:i;rl much it cost you. To finish requires you run with patience and be disciplined unto faithfulness and steadfastness. A strength of one out until the end, never giving servant attitude is the who holds up never quitting because the cause is 1 Dr kf- faf(. .. greater than any person. Y ou run and make it when you have what the Lord wants you to have. God wants His can children to be steadfast, loyal in the face of trouble and difficulties. What a powerful notion. This word steadfast speaks of being fixed or unchanging, steady, firmly loyal, constantly unswerving, faithfully committed, staunchness, trueness, resolve, resolute, fast in purpose. Listen to the Prophet as he addresses this book to anyone that obeys the voice servant"(Isaiah 50: 1 0) He talks "fears the Lord his ... that of about the call to steadfastness. First, the call to steadfastness is the call to daily faithfulness. The prophetic words of Isaiah assures 2 us, "The Lord god has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season He awakens me to him who is weary. morning by morning, he awakes my ear to hear as the learned." (4) The image here is that of a student eager to learn all he can but he knows it is a continuous process, day by day, morning by morning. to say the one room The ole folks used that is never filled is that of self- improvement. If you would be all you can be, you must keep learned day by day. Set aside some regular time for daily devotional life, regular time to "listen" to God's directives and be strengthened. f, hy Second, the call call to stand firm. a.f '" +"'Wlt-; f'JL w --/t_ls cky ()"'rJ., to steadfastness is the Moving in 3 and out will get you no place. When it all settles down, you will be same place you have always been. like the . waves of the ocean But when you stand firm, you will not tum to the right or to the left. Isaiah it up, "The Lord God has opened my ear; And I was not rebellious, nor did I tum away." (5_ The New Testament sums put it well, "Having done all stand." (Ephesians 6: 13) to stand firm and hold on. to stand, Have a reason Vigorously oppose and press against any obstacle. Bravely resist. Stand face-to-face against adversary. Stand your ground and never yield your territory. Withstand the evil forces about you. Engage the enemy actively and never let him get the upper the hand. 4 Third, the call persecution. There always be trouble along the way. call to will to steadfastness is the overcome One song writer put it, "Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that is Keep you hand upon the throttle and your eye upon the rail." The only brave. way to climb the mountain is up the rough side. "And we labor, working with our own hands, being reviled, being persecuted, defamed, 12-13a) be we a we entreat. good win the battle. endure: " .. (1 we bless: being Corinthians 4: soldier and you will Fourth, the call to steadfastness is the call to find help in the Lord. "For the help me; therefore I will disgraced; therefore I have set my Lord God will not be 5 flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed." (Isaiah 50: 7) The refuge we need so badly can be found only in the Lord. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46: 1) Our help does not come from the hills but from the Lord. (Psalm 121) There is always hope and help is on face like a the way. I close when I tell you that the call to steadfastness is the call to justification. who justifies me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together "He is near who is my adversary? Let him come near me." We have been rightly accused, but God's divine grace results in our acquittal of guilt and we have been declared righteous in the 6 sigh t of the The world Lord. was in a mess declared Noah justified to build save a remnant. Job was and God an ark to confronted by satan but God justified him and gave him twice as much committed him . a as he lost. David double sin but God justified as a man after His own heart. Peter denied the Savior but God gave him another chance and called him to preached the gospel to the pilgrims dispersion. Paul met Jesus on the Damascus road and was of the blind until God justified him and sent him to bring good news to the gentiles. 7 |
