STEDFAST
“When Everything Changes, Don't You Change”
September Theme: STEADFASTNESS
Theme Scripture — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Main Character: Daniel
Key Scripture — Daniel 6:10 (KJV)
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
INTRODUCTION — EVERYTHING AROUND DANIEL CHANGED
There are some things in life we cannot keep from changing.
People change.
Jobs change.
Neighborhoods change.
Governments change.
Technology changes.
Our bodies change.
Our circumstances change.
People who once walked with us may leave us.
Doors that were once open may close.
Seasons change.
But the question is:
WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND YOU CHANGES, DOES EVERYTHING IN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE?
Daniel teaches us:
NO!
Daniel's location changed—
but his God didn't change.
Daniel's government changed—
but his faith didn't change.
Daniel's circumstances changed—
but his commitment didn't change.
Daniel was taken from Judah to Babylon.
He was removed from familiar surroundings.
He was exposed to a different culture.
He lived under pagan governments.
Kings came and went.
Laws changed.
But there was something inside Daniel that Babylon couldn't change.
That's:
STEDFASTNESS!
ILLUSTRATION — THE THERMOMETER AND THE THERMOSTAT
A thermometer changes according to the atmosphere.
If the room gets hot, the thermometer goes up.
If the room gets cold, the thermometer goes down.
It simply reflects whatever is happening around it.
Too many Christians live like spiritual thermometers.
When everybody is praising—
they praise.
When everybody is faithful—
they're faithful.
When everybody agrees with them—
they're happy.
When circumstances are good—
they trust God.
But when the atmosphere changes—
THEY CHANGE.
God is looking for somebody who can say:
“My environment may change, but my convictions will not.”
That's Daniel.
Babylon changed the atmosphere around Daniel—
BUT BABYLON COULDN'T CHANGE THE GOD WITHIN DANIEL.
Paul calls that:
“stedfast, unmoveable…”
So let's take the word STEDFAST and see what it means to live a stedfast life.
S — STAND ON YOUR CONVICTIONS
Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…”
Before Daniel ever faced the lions' den, he made a decision:
“I WILL NOT DEFILE MYSELF.”
Notice where the decision was made:
“in his heart.”
Daniel didn't wait until temptation came to decide what he believed.
He settled it beforehand.
That's important.
If you wait until temptation comes to decide where you stand, temptation may make the decision for you.
Some things need to already be settled.
I will serve God.
I will live according to His Word.
I will remain faithful.
I will not compromise my convictions just to fit in.
Joshua 24:15
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
PREACHING POINT
STEDFAST PEOPLE SETTLE SOME THINGS BEFORE THE BATTLE STARTS.
T — TRUST GOD UNDER PRESSURE
Daniel's greatest test came when a law was passed prohibiting prayer to anyone except the king for thirty days.
Daniel knew the consequences.
He knew the lions' den was waiting.
But Daniel 6:10 says:
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed…”
He knew!
He wasn't ignorant.
He wasn't confused.
He knew what could happen.
AND HE PRAYED ANYWAY.
That's trust.
Trust isn't merely believing God when there is no danger.
Trust says:
“Even when obedience costs me something, I'm still going to obey God.”
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
ILLUSTRATION
A child walking with a parent may not understand where they're going.
But the child holds the parent's hand because the child trusts the person leading them.
You don't have to understand everything God is doing to:
TRUST THE HAND THAT IS LEADING YOU.
E — ENDURE THE TEST
Daniel 6:16
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.”
Daniel's faithfulness did not keep him:
OUT OF THE DEN.
But God kept him:
IN THE DEN.
That's an important distinction.
Sometimes we think:
“If I'm faithful, nothing bad should happen.”
But sometimes being stedfast doesn't prevent the test.
It gives you strength to:
ENDURE THE TEST.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego still went into the furnace.
Joseph still went into prison.
Job still experienced loss.
Paul still went through persecution.
Daniel still went into the lions' den.
But the test didn't have the final word.
Matthew 24:13
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
DON'T CONFUSE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING WITH GOD ABANDONING YOU.
D — DON'T CHANGE BECAUSE PEOPLE CHANGE
Daniel served under different kings and governments.
Nebuchadnezzar.
Belshazzar.
Darius.
Different rulers.
Different personalities.
Different administrations.
But:
SAME DANIEL.
People came.
People went.
Kings rose.
Kings fell.
But Daniel remained faithful.
That's stedfastness.
Some people are faithful as long as the right people are around them.
But your relationship with God cannot be built on people.
Psalm 118:8
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
People may change toward you.
DON'T CHANGE TOWARD GOD.
People may stop encouraging you.
DON'T STOP SERVING GOD.
People may walk away.
DON'T WALK AWAY FROM GOD.
F — FAITHFULLY KEEP YOUR ROUTINE WITH GOD
This may be my favorite part of Daniel's story.
Daniel 6:10
“…he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Daniel didn't suddenly start praying because he was in trouble.
HE ALREADY HAD A PRAYER LIFE.
“As he did aforetime” means:
He prayed yesterday.
He prayed before the law.
He prayed before the threat.
He prayed before the lions.
And he prayed after the law was signed.
The crisis didn't create Daniel's relationship with God.
THE CRISIS REVEALED IT.
ILLUSTRATION
You don't wait until your car is speeding down the highway to decide whether you need brakes.
Some things need to be maintained:
BEFORE THE EMERGENCY.
Don't wait until trouble comes to start praying.
Build your prayer life now.
Build your Word life now.
Build your worship life now.
So when trouble comes:
YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO DO.
A — ALWAYS ABOUND IN GOD'S WORK
Now we come directly back to 1 Corinthians 15:58:
“…always abounding in the work of the Lord…”
Stedfastness isn't merely:
STAYING.
It is:
SERVING WHILE YOU STAY.
Daniel didn't become bitter in Babylon.
He continued serving with excellence.
Daniel 6:3
“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him…”
Daniel could have said:
“I'm a captive. Why should I care?”
Instead, wherever God placed him:
DANIEL GAVE HIS BEST.
Don't let difficult circumstances become an excuse for mediocre service.
Whatever your hand finds to do for God:
KEEP ABOUNDING!
S — STAY THE SAME WHEN NOBODY IS WATCHING
Daniel's enemies investigated him.
Daniel 6:4
“…they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful…”
Imagine your enemies investigating your life trying to find something against you—
and the only thing they can find is:
YOU'RE TOO FAITHFUL TO GOD!
Daniel wasn't one person publicly and another person privately.
His faith was consistent.
That's integrity.
Character is who you are when nobody is applauding.
Character is who you are when nobody from church is watching.
Character is who you are when you could get away with doing wrong.
Proverbs 10:9
“He that walketh uprightly walketh surely…”
STEDFAST PEOPLE DON'T NEED AN AUDIENCE TO BE FAITHFUL.
T — TRUST GOD WITH THE OUTCOME
Daniel obeyed God.
Then Daniel had to leave the results with God.
The stone was placed over the lions' den.
Dani
