(Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (26) “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
(Luke 6:46-49 NKJV) “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? (47) Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: (48) He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. (49) But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
- Jesus taught us that the storms of life come to everybody!
- Storms come to good people!
- Jesus taught us that you can be prepared for the storm!
(Luke 8:4-8 NKJV) And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: (5) “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. (6) Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. (7) And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. (8) But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
(Luke 8:11-15 NKJV) “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (12) Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (13) But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. (14) Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (15) But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Notice verse 15 which states that those who are good ground are the ones who hear the Word, keep it, and with patience bring forth fruit.
To “keep it” – to hold, to possess, to take possession, to take hold of, to procure for oneself.
(Luke 8:15 MSG) “But the seed in the good earth–these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.
(Luke 8:15 TPT) The seed that fell into good, fertile soil represents those lovers of truth who hear it deep within their hearts. They respond by clinging to the word, keeping it dear as they endure all things in faith. This is the seed that will one day bear much fruit in their lives.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:21 NKJV) Test all things; hold fast what is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21 TPT) but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.
(Hebrews 10:23 NKJV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
(Hebrews 10:23 AMPC) So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.
Patience means endurance – the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.
Patience does not mean, just barely hang on until the storm is over.
Patience does mean to be consistently constant.
Being consistent is a spiritual force that will enable you to produce fruit as a doer of the Word.
What does the Word say about patience or consistency?
(Luke 21:19 NKJV) By your patience possess your souls. (have your soul under your control)
(Colossians 1:11 AMPC) [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,
(Hebrews 6:12 NLT) Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
(Hebrews 6:12 TPT) So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm, but follow the example of those who fully received what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance.
(James 1:2-4 NKJV) (2) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
(Hebrews 10:36 AMP) For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
Four reasons people are inconsistent:
- People are inconsistent because of discouragement.
(Galatians 6:9 NKJV) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Weary (Greek: ekkakeo) out of courage or discouraged.
(Galatians 6:9 MSG) So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit.
Discouragement is a product of disappointment or frustrated expectation.
People start out excited about what the Bible says but then get discouraged because it does not happen as fast as we would like for it to happen or the way we thought it would.
Discouragement is a product of disappointment which comes from a negative past experience or, something not working out as you had hoped it would.
No one has ever been disappointed and thus discouraged by something that has not yet happened.
Answer for discouragement: You must forget the past.
(Philippians 3:12-14 TPT) I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. (13) I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. (14) I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.
- People are inconsistent because we get lazy.
(Hebrews 6:11-12 NIV) We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. (12) We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
(Hebrews 6:12 MSG) Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
(Proverbs 13:4 NLT) Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
Many people are not lazy in the natural but where spiritual things are concerned, they are lazy and slothful.
How much time and effort are we devoting to spiritual things?
You must prioritize your life to give spiritual things the pre-eminence in your life.
We must decide to be diligent in spiritual things.
- People are inconsistent because they are weighed down.
(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The Greek gives a picture of someone laying something down and then pushing it far from them, beyond easy reach. It implies a deliberate decision to change your behavior. This does not happen accidentally!
Lay them down and push them away, far out of reach!
- People are inconsistent because they lack joy.
(James 1:2-4 GNB) My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, (3) for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. (4) Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Count it all joy when the storm comes because if you remain consistent you will become perfect and entire wanting nothing.
Joy is the strength of your life to motivate you to become consistent.
(Hebrews 12:2 MSG) Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed–that exhilarating finish in and with God–he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
(Nehemiah 8:10 NLT) And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”