…if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith, and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a minister of it.
1 Corinthians 4:2
In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful.
Faithfulness must be proved over a period of time in your actions. If you are continuing in your faith, it will bear itself out in productivity in your service. It is a continuous commitment to service for Him. You depend upon God’s Word to continue in faith, and you desire to do more for Him.
Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
We are to be prayerful that trials and difficulties do not cause you to shrink away from or become unsettled in your faith. It is a good practice to stay around persons that are like-minded in their faith that will encourage you to press forward and stay the course.
1 Thessalonians 3:2-4
2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s co-worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter.
We are also to be mindful that when we waver from the faith, we subject ourselves to being moved away from where God would have us to be.
Galatians 1:6
I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel–not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ.
In your continuous walk in faith, you are able to watch closely your life and your doctrine (your teaching and instruction).
1 Timothy 4:16
Be conscientious about yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
When you are established in the faith, it is a good habit to have. To be steadfast and unmoved in your faith is a state of mind. It resists running away from the faith and leaving the gospel. To be established in the faith, we live in faith with a high expectation of God’s intervention, moment by moment, into our lives.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Ephesians 4:14
Give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9
Now the one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive his own labor. For we are God’s co-workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
Colossians 3:23
Your efforts to remain steadfast in the faith are not in vain.
Revelation 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them!”
John 14:12
I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works that these, because I am going to the Father.
We need to always remember that we are co-workers in service, but it starts with your attitude and mindset to remain steadfast in following Jesus Christ and His Word.
To be firm in your faith, as a servant of God, is to be set, unchangeable, sound and secure.
Luke 6:46-49
46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!”
Matthew 7:24-25
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.
To be sound in your faith means that you cannot be moved away from the gospel (God’s Word). You will resist negative influences and company that will not encourage you to remain faithful.
1 Kings 13:4-9
4 When the king heard the word that the man of God had cried out against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Arrest him!” But the hand he stretched out against him withered, and he could not pull it back to himself. 5 The altar was ripped apart, and the ashes spilled off the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.
6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Please plead for the favor of the LORD your God and pray for me so that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God pleaded for the favor of the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it had been at first.
7 Then the king declared to the man of God, “Come home with me, refresh yourself, and I’ll give you a reward.”
8 But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your house, I still wouldn’t go with you, and I wouldn’t eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for this is what I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or go back the way you came.’ “
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Become right-minded and stop sinning, because somd people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.
This approach should always be undertaken with prayerful humility, wisdom and understanding by yielding to the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:18
No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise.
Lord, we pray that you will continue to build us up as we serve you, and that you will give us opportunities to minister to others according to your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 