Category: Steadfastness

AOTS Number 35

Every time that life knocks us down – with trials, tribulations and temptations – we must get back up if we expect to be successful in life.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

“Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed’” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

Consider the implications of Moses’ words to Joshua. He would take over the rule of the people of God, to lead them into the promised land. There would be many battles, many hardships, and (as it turned out due to the unfaithfulness of the people) many setbacks in his time as the leader of Israel. The words, spoken in front of all the people, were designed not only to bolster Joshua’s courage, but to present him to Israel as God’s chosen leader over them. The path taken would not be easy, but the victory of Israel was assured due to God’s presence. “He is the one who goes before you.”

Continue reading “Be Strong and of Good Courage” →

AOTS Number 24

As Christians, we are held by our God to a higher standard. It is appropriate for us to work on our faults, and conquer them that we might please God.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

A tent was the common dwelling for the nomadic people of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Psalm 118:15 speaks of the “tents of the righteous”, and establishes a picture that is very instructive to the child of God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In his epistle to the Philippians, the apostle Paul expressed his attitude toward his service to Christ. Simply put, he wasn’t about to “count his chickens before they hatched.” In his own words, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

The reason for this single-minded approach in his service to the Lord is stated in the preceding verses, “that I may gain Christ, and be found in him” (vs. 8b-9a). Further, he longed for the result of such a fellowship with his Lord, “if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead” (vs. 11).

Continue reading ““I Press Toward the Goal”” →

Podcast Number 23

In 1 Peter 2:11-17, the apostle gives instructions to his readers as to what is required by God of Christians. Such practical advice will help us greatly in our quest to live acceptably for Christ.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

Each of us are personally accountable for our actions before God. We must be diligent to “keep ourself”. This necessitates purity in heart, tongue and action.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Podcast Number #9

Whether it is observing the Letter of the law (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25) or observing the Spirit of the law (cf. Matthew 10:37,39) it is obvious that God expects for us to be regular and diligent in our attendance to worship services and classes in the local church. We should not be seeking to do the “minimum”, rather we should be diligent to do all we can for the Lord.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Christian, with the help of the Lord, is able to accomplish what Christ requires in the areas of: Courage, Selflessness, Influence, Godliness & Steadfastness.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Lord’s church today needs devoted disciples. Six years into the new century, there needs to be the recognition on our part of the many challenges besetting the church, and the part we play as individual Christians in overcoming these challenges.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the podcast feed, click here .

Sermon Title: Prices We Pay

Anything that is of value costs us something. We must be diligent and focused to obtain the imperishable crown, and all the spiritual and valuable objects in life.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

A majority of Canadians celebrated Easter over the weekend but not all of them went to church.

While 73 per cent of Canadians responding to a poll by Ipsos-Reid believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected to eternal life and 62 per cent agreed that through his life, death and resurrection, God provided the way for the forgiveness of sins, just 17 per cent said they attend church regularly.

Continue reading “Religion Without the Pews” →

In 1 Corinthians 16, the apostle Paul ended his epistle with various exhortations to the Christians at Corinth. In light of the tone and purpose of the letter, these exhortations are understandable. The church at Corinth was a struggling church, divided, and in the midst of much controversy.

A short list of their problems includes: Continue reading ““Watch, Stand Fast in the Faith”” →

Recently, while reading through a stack of bulletins, I came across the following pithy statement under the heading: Sentence Sermons:

“Many people fail in life because their wishbone is where the backbone should be.”

There is a lot of truth in that short statement, as it establishes the truth that each one of us must have conviction to be successful in any endeavor.

Continue reading “Backbone? Or Wishbone?” →

(Hebrews 12:12-15) “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be {dislocated}, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all {men}, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

The writer of Hebrews discusses the need for endurance in the context preceding the above passage. In verse one he states the Christian’s life as being a race which must be run “with endurance.” The picture is of a marathon, not a sprint. We must maintain our steadfastness to the end of the race. We must continue to the finish. A suggestion is given here as to how we can maintain that focus, it is by looking to Jesus (12:2). When our eyes are locked on Jesus, and we see the hope He has made available to us by His sacrifice, we are given strength to endure to the end.

The idea of endurance is continued in verses 3-11, as the writer discusses God’s chastening of His children. As verse 11 states, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” This trek we are engaged on is sometimes difficult, but to maintain our steadfastness “trains” us and makes us righteous.

Having stated the need for great endurance, the writer now gives recognition to the inevitability of fatigue. Picture again the marathon runner. Is it possible for a man to run 26 miles, and not get tired? Of course not! The arms grow tired, causing the hands to “hang down”. The knees grow feeble, and the legs feel like lead weights. Therefore the writer says to “strengthen” the hands and knees!

How to strengthen and renew your spiritual vitality? There are two things we would do well to remember. First is the need for training. The marathon runner does not get too tired to continue because he has prepared for the race. He has trained. Exercising his body prepares him for the rigors of the marathon. The Christian must also train. He must study his Bible. He must pray. He must exercise his senses to strengthen them. Earlier in Hebrews, the writer discusses the need for study, and says, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, {that is,} those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Second, you must recognize your weaknesses. Some marathoners do not finish the race because they do not recognize their limits. They begin the race on too fast a pace for their training, or they begin the race too soon after an injury. The Christian is in danger of this as well. Hence, the writer states that we should, “…make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be {dislocated}, but rather be healed.” We must recognize the impediments littering the path of life, and try our best to remove them that we may not stumble. Proverbs 4:25-27 states, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.” While the image is slightly different, the lesson is the same. Stay away from evil, let your weakness (lameness) be strengthened. Do not allow yourself to be continually tempted with evil, but rather direct your paths in such a way as to stay as far away from temptation as possible.

Listen to inspiration in this matter, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed {is} willing, but the flesh {is} weak” (Matthew 26:41). “{Let} love {be} without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12).

Remember, as indicated in verses 14-15 of the text, the danger is of defilement. Without maintaining steadfastness through exercise and focus, we can fall short of our goal. Therefore we should “pursue peace with all men”, pursue “holiness”, and be diligent, “lest anyone fall short of the grace of God.”

Brethren, let us not falter. We need to exercise ourselves through prayer and study. We need to resist evil, and carefully place our steps on the straight path. And finally, we need to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”