We are embarking on a profound exploration of the concept of “Consistent Christian Living.” In a world characterized by constant change and shifting values, the call to live a life consistent with our Christian faith is more relevant than ever.
Consistent Christian living is an opportunity for us to go into the principles and practices that enable us to maintain a steadfast and unwavering commitment to our beliefs.
Through the guidance of scripture and the examples set by our forebears in the faith, we will examine what it means to lead a life that aligns with our Christian values and how we can navigate the challenges that come our way.
Christian Living Sermon: Consistent Christian Living
Genesis 5:22-24; 17:1; Ephesians 6:10-18. When someone comes to know the Lord at W salvation, he has only begun a life-long journey of living the Christian life and walking unblameably before the Lord.
What matters is not how or when one begins the Christian life. It is how one continues consistently and ends the journey that matters.
Some people begin well but do not end well. Many believers usually begin with great joy, enthusiasm, and zeal but all these fizzle out too soon.
The subject of consistent Christian living is an all-important one in times like this. A careful look at the prevailing situation reveals that a number of believers are becoming lukewarm in their commitment to the Lord.
The love of some believers is waxing cold because of their love for the things of the world. Some people who began in the spirit end in the flesh. Many who were once zealous and committed to the Lord are losing their first love, while the enthusiasm of some old believers is fast depreciating.
A lot of people are looking for what will motivate them to act for the Lord. Many are yearning for what will usher them from their mournful state into excellence, virtue, and spiritual well-being The sound teaching of God’s word on consistency is what such people need.
OUR PILGRIMAGE TO HEAVEN
A Christian pilgrim is one on his journey to the land of glory. A lot of things generally happen between the time one begins a journey and the time the journey ends.
No matter what happens along the way, no matter what oppositions and trials you have to go through, no matter what you may even have to suffer, make up your mind to get to heaven.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:3-12).
THE PERILS OF OUR TIME
We live in perilous times. Rebellion, apostasy, and backsliding characterize the age in which we live. The global economic recession is another factor that can divert the attention of heaven-bound pilgrims.
Many people will attempt to do a lot of things for economic survival. Many would even dare to deny their faith in an attempt to survive in these last days. But the Bible has warned: “And he said unto them, 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 when promotion and prosperity set in. It is easy for a believer whose love for the Lord and zeal for God’s work is at a high level to begin to go cold gradually until he loses all the good virtues he once had.
One of the devices of the devil is to wreck the lives of fiery saints by influencing them little by little until the precious things that make them beloved of their God are all removed (Nehemiah 13:26). Remember how you started with the Lord.
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you… yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge…” (2 Corinthians 7:11).
How is it now? Have you lost your first love? Perhaps the term that best describes your situation is “Ichabod” (the glory has departed). If God could open your eyes to your true spiritual state, you might be shocked to discover that you are like Ephraim of old (Hosea 7:8,9).
EXAMINE YOURSELVES (2 Corinthians 13:5).
The first step to take in ensuring that one lives a consistent Christian life is to check up whether one’s Christian experiences are still intact (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Human character has no deposit. The fact that you once lived an acceptable life before God does not guarantee you are always acceptable before Him. We believe that God has called every believer to a life of consistent walk with Him. The holiness of yesteryears will not suffice for the future. Consistency is important. The Bible says:
“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die” (Ezekiel 18:24).
If a believer will turn aside from holiness, sobriety, prayerfulness, zealousness, and severe involvement with evangelism and begin to develop an interest in mundane things, it will not take a long time before he will lose all the precious things he once possessed.
That is why the Bible seriously cautions the Christian pilgrim in Deuteronomy 8:10-14:
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold are multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage”.
EXAMPLES OF GODLY MEN
Our gives us some insight into the lives of some men who walked before God consistently. One such man was Enoch. He was so consistent in his walk with God that he was translated.
“And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:22,24).
Abraham also walked consistently with God. After walking with God for about twenty-five years, God called Abraham to consistency.
The need for a call to consistency became necessary as a result of certain events in the life of Abraham. Abraham had gone down to Egypt, he had lied concerning Sarah for fear of endangering his life, and he had also succumbed to pressures from Sarah, who, despairing of bearing children, asked Abraham to raise a child through Hagar.
Although he was ninety-nine years old at this time, he still had seventy-six more years to live and walk consistently before God. Given what had happened to Abraham in the past and what lay ahead of him in the future, God needed to call him to consistency.
Abraham needed a firm resolve to walk consistently before God. He needed to be firmly purposed and thoroughly determined to walk consistently and perfectly before the all-seeing eyes of God.
His being brought to the realization of what God expected from him provided him with a great incitement to consciousness, consistency, perseverance, and blamelessness.
Every believer must ensure that he is strong at all times. A wise believer will ensure that he does not have any careless moments.
The devil knows that it is time to strike when he knows that you do not pray, you do not read your Bible, and you do not renew your strength in the Lord.
Many believers have fallen because the enemy attacked them in their careless moments. You should not think of being strong in the Lord occasionally. It is the will of God that you are strong in the Lord every moment of your life.
BELIEVERS’ 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).
Principal agents of the devil, high-ranking in the devil’s wicked kingdom, rulers in the devil’s kingdom of darkness as well as wicked spirits and demons have been strategically mandated by the devil to wrestle with believers to weaken them, overcoming them, and make them ineffective.
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 devil is conscious of the fact that there is an ongoing battle between his host and God’s people.
Another thing that calls for constancy in the spiritual strength of the believer is the subtlety of the enemy. 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. The believer who constantly lives the victorious Christian life needs not fear the devil.
Believers who pray consistently will draw sufficient grace and strength from God to face the future. Pray until you cultivate the habit of praying. “Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Finally, there is a great gain in consistency. The believer who lives the consistent Christian life will enjoy victory at all times, will be established in the faith, will live a fruitful Christian life, and will be ready to meet the Lord at the rapture (2 Peter 1:4-11).
See this video on Growing in Consistency for More Help
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lesson 50 has illuminated the significance of “Consistent Christian Living” in our journey of faith. We’ve explored the timeless principles found in scripture, witnessed the inspiring examples of steadfast believers, and reflected on the challenges and temptations that can test our commitment to living by our Christian values.
As we conclude this lesson, let us carry with us the understanding that consistent Christian living is not a one-time achievement but a lifelong journey.
It requires daily intention, prayer, and a reliance on the strength and guidance of our faith. Our commitment to living consistently as Christians not only deepens our relationship with God but also serves as a powerful witness to the world around us.
