THE CONSTANCY OF GOD AND OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

We are all aware of the constancy and order in our universe. We have learned to depend upon it and any deviation from it brings great consternation. Without such constancy, there could be no advancement in any field of knowledge and all scientific experiments would be but vain games. This idea of constancy does not follow through to the spiritual realm, but rather stems from it.

In this message we look at three things;
1. the constancy of God’s attitude toward man and sin.
2. The problem of man’s inconstancy and undependability.
3. The solution to the problem.

I. God’s constancy -
A. In the stated purpose of man’s existence.
Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

B. In His unchanging hatred of sin.
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

C. In His desire for man’s redemption. This is seen from Genesis to Revelation
1. The promise - Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
2. The picture -Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
3 The performance - Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
4 The perpetuity - Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

D. In His instructions to the saved
1. In prayer - Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
1 Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
2. In Service - 1 Cor 15:58 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.
3. In our hope - Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
4. In our doctrinal position - Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
5. In resisting satan’s devices - 1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
1 Pet 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

II. Man’s shortcomings and the results of them.
A. Physically. Our endocrine glands and metabolism provide a constant body temperature. When anything upsets this, we become ill.
B. Mentally. Man functions best when he has a stable mind.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
C. Spiritually. When this constancy is affected, we wax hot and cold like the Laodicians. Man’s natural spiritual condition is cold but with God it is to be on fire with fervent zeal. The first is subject to the conviction by the Holy Spirit and knows it. The second is being used by God and is thrilled by it. The lukewarm christian can’t seem to decide one way or the other. He has a form of godliness but no power.
1. Some wavered because of strong teaching.
John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
2. Peter wavered out of fear.
Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
3.Demas was lured off course by worldly attractions.
2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
4.The Corinthian Church veered off course because of sin in her midst.
1 Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1 Cor 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from
5. The Galatians were led astray by bewitching teachers.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
6. Thyatira allowed a Jezebel to teach and seduce her members into spiritual fornication and idolatry.
Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

III. The Solution.
God, who has provided so wondrously for stability in the universe, has not neglected that which is eternal.
The answer is CHRIST! Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
A. For stability of mind. Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

B. When Christ is present we cannot be bewitched by judaizers. Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

C. He is the the answer to the constant need to face life’s problems.

Mat 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

D. For unswerving loyalty to God’s service, let Christ be your life!
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
E. For an unchanging hope.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

F. He can even provide unchanging purity of life.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A SPIRITUAL YO-YO !!