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Consistency is the Key To Power
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. James 1:2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. We can have all the steps and methods to witness or share our faith. But if we don’t have consistency in every area of our life, we can never be a good witness for God. Being consistent definitely involves being patient. It can take time for us to see results. If we give up, we will receive nothing. Let’s look at some of the areas that we need to be consistent in. These are by no means all of them, but key ones to start with.
Consistency in Faith
Romans 4: 3, 13-24 Abraham had consistency of faith. Regardless of circumstances he never wavered in his belief and faith in God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead He no doubt withstood ridicule and mockery. But in the end his faith won out James 1:6-8 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” hat has quite an impact! If you are unstable or double minded in one thing, it stands to reason, you will be that in everything you do. We are creatures of habit, and even if we want to be strong in every area of our lives, we will go towards the weak point. We need to stand firm and not waver and have our faith built on the Rock! Mark 11:22-26 “22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” We must have faith in God, in that, he will do what he says he will do. If you don’t have faith in God and His ability and willingness to do as He says, how can you share His message with others. Colossians 2:5-7 “5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Be steadfast in your faith, rooted and built up in Him. Walk in Him, people will see your faith by the way you talk and walk your faith. Don’t compromise the word. Always speak what the word says, no matter what. Don’t speak one thing and live another. Or people will see right through you.
Consistency in The Word John 8: 31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free John15:1-8 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me Abiding in the word brings fruit, makes us disciples, it makes us effective witnesses. Brings answers to prayers. Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee The Word keeps us from sinning against God. II Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” Study, become a workman, rightly dividing the word of truth. Know the word. James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” It’s not good enough to just know the word, we must do the word. Give out what we have received. Be what it says you should be, do what it says to do.
Consistency of Confession Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Healing, prosperity and all that God’s word promises) Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Hebrews 10:19 [Hold Fast Your Confession] Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Without consistency in our Confession, our faith has little to stand on. By consistency in confession, we develop faith not only in God’s Word, but in our own words and we will see it come to pass. Having the knowledge that Jesus stands behind our confession, and makes it come to pass, should reinforce in us the desire to be consistent in our confession. As we continue to be consistent in our confession, we will see the Power of God work in our lives. Allowing words of doubt and unbelief to be mingled with our faith confession will negate the positive effect of our Word confession. And according to James, we will receive nothing.
Consistency in Holiness Psalm 96:9 Beauty of Holiness. Inward beauty, shining out. II Cor. 6:16-18 Have no fellowship with ungodliness I Thess. 5:22,23 Shun even the appearance of evil. II Cor. 7:1 Cleanse ourselves from all unholiness I Cor. 3:17-18 We are the temple of God I Peter 3:15-17 Have a clear conscience that no man can point a finger at your life. Something that has been lost is an awesome respect for the Holiness of God and the desire to be Holy as He is Holy. Be an imitator of God, in whatever you do. You don’t know who is watching you and who you may cause to stumble, if you are not living a life consistent with the word. Walk worthy of your calling, and honour God and he will honour you.
Consistency in Love
Love towards one another and for God John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” It is a commandment to love, not a suggestion. By this will people know we love God. John 17:21 Work towards unity. That the world may believe on Him I John 3:1-2 God has bestowed love toward us. I John 4:7-21 Love one another to show we love God.
Consistency in our Talk
James 3:1-18 V2 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Our tongue will give us away every time. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks John 12:34-37 We can profess we love God and His Word, but when stress or anger comes, we find out just how much of God’s word is in our heart. The world is looking for this. The tongue can be used for either, backbiting, deceit, lying, muttering, bitter words or speaking God’s righteousness, wisdom, God’s word, Sing praises, kindness, confessing Jesus.
Consistency in a Winning Spirit Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” I CAN DO!! Know who you are in Christ. Know you can do what He says you can do. II Corinthians 5:17-20 We are His ambassadors Ephesians 2:1-7 We are raised up and sitting with Christ in Heavenly Places Philippians 3:8-15 I have His righteousness. The Power of His Resurrection |
