The requirement of steadfast abiding for continued divine approval.
The requirement of steadfast abiding for continued divine approval.
2 Chro 7:17-20.
Steadfast abiding refers to a firm, fixed, and unbroken relationship with the Lord majorly in 3 areas: prayers, word study, and Kingdom service. There’s no other massive way to know God or have a relationship with God outside of this triad. Even though we pray and receive grace to be steadfast in abiding, we still have the larger responsibility of ensuring our steadfastness and maintaining our stand, guarding against anything that may shake or reduce our commitment to God.
In another light, steadfast abiding exerts a domino effect or a lot of spiritual encounters and ultimately results in abundant fruitfulness – Luke 22:28-30; John 15:4,7 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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
It is also a sure way to steer clear of the dangerous lurings of sin and the world. Keeping a clear sight of the master and continually dwelling in His presence ensures our continual safety and separation from the evil one – Psalm 91:1. The enemy is always lurking around seeking for an inroad into our lives. Our distance away from the Lord creates an enabling environment for him to perpetrate his cunning attack chiefly against our spiritual life and continually wield a dark advantage over us through this loophole- I Peter 5:8,9. This also applies to the fellowship of saints and the body of Christ in general- Galatians 2:4,5. We must not give any avenue to the distractions that seek to derail the vision and mission committed to the Church of Christ.
To be steadfast, we need an unyielding commitment to the triad of prayer, word, and service earlier mentioned. We need a rugged, disciplined, and dogged lifestyle of subjecting the flesh to a continuous “burning on the altar” – I Corinthians 9:27, and keeping an “eagle eye” of watchfulness against the element of sin and the world – I Corinthians 16:13.
