(Matthew 7:24-27 NIV) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (25) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (26) But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. (27) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(Luke 6:48 NIV) They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came…
- 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.
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.
(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.
What does the Word say about patience or consistency?
(Luke 21:19 NKJV) By your patience possess your souls.
(Luke 21:19 TPT) And by standing firm with patient endurance you will find your souls’ deliverance.”
(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.
(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.
- 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 make a decision 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,
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!”
(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.