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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Wednesday,
January 3, 2024
"Steadfast"
(Part
2)
Message
summary: God's
steadfastness
is a great
motivation for
our own
steadfastness.
"I
make a decree
that in every
dominion of my
kingdom men
must tremble
and fear
before the God
of Daniel. For
He is the
living God,
and steadfast
forever; His
kingdom is the
one which
shall not be
destroyed, and
His dominion
shall endure
to the end"
(Daniel 6:26).
This
week we are
considering a
single word,
"steadfast".
The word
steadfast used
a total of 208
times in the
Bible (ESV).
BTW, in the
KJV the word
is spelled
"stedfast".
In
most of the
Old Testament
"steadfast" is
used as an
attribute of
God forming
the two words,
"steadfast
love".
These two
words are
found in
greatest
concentration
in Psalm 136
where each
of the 26
verses
concludes with
"for His steadfast
love
endures
forever".
This is also
in the theme
verse we used
last year from
Lamentations
3: "The
steadfast love
of the Lord
never ceases".
But
today let us
consider a
verse uttered
by an unlikely
source, King
Darius the
Mede. This
follows
Daniel's
deliverance
from the den
of lions.
Witnessing the
mighty miracle
he had a
personal
awakening and
issued an
edict with one
of the
strongest
faith
statements in
the entire
Bible:
"Then
King Darius
wrote: To all
peoples,
nations, and
languages that
dwell in all
the earth:
Peace be
multiplied to
you.
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions" (Daniel 6:25-27).
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions" (Daniel 6:25-27).
All
versions do
not all use
the word
"steadfast" in
this passage
as some use
phrases like
"enduring
forever". The
Amplified
version uses
"enduring and
steadfast
forever".
The
word
"steadfast"
translates a
Hebrew word
that is used
only once in
the Old
Testament.
Interestingly,
these words
were uttered
by a secular
ruler.
According
to
dictionary.com,
"steadfast"
means to be
firm in
purpose,
resolution –
unwavering.
Here's an
expansion from
that
dictionary
that blesses
me,
"Steadfast,
staunch,
steady imply a
sureness and
continuousness
that may be
depended upon.
Steadfast
literally
means fixed in
place, but is
chiefly used
figuratively
to indicate
undeviating
constancy or
resolution:
steadfast in
one's faith."
What
great
assurance the
steadfastness
of our God
brings to the
trusting
heart! Taking
just these
words from our
daily text
which are
timelessly
true, "For
He is the
living God,
and steadfast
forever; His
kingdom is the
one which
shall not be
destroyed, and
His dominion
shall endure
to the end."
In
the New
Testament this
is expressed
as a prayer
for ourselves
and for each
reader, “May
the Lord
direct your
hearts to the
love of God
and to the steadfastness
of Christ”
(2
Thessalonians
3:5).
God's
steadfastness
is a great
motivation for
our own
steadfastness
which we will
consider in
the next two
messages.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, what
great joy and
peace comes
when we
realize that
You are always
steadfast and
You hold us in
Your firm
grip. You are
the only wise
God our Savior
in whom we can
truly ascribe
glory,
majesty, power
and authority
through Jesus
Christ our
Lord in all
generations
both now and
forevermore.
Because You
are holy and
surrounded by
holy we can
fully
surrender our
lives to You.
Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Steadfast
God"
Watch
on YouTube
Breakaway
Worship
We
declare Your
love is never
ending
Our praise will rise, we sing it in the morning
This is who You are
From life to death, Your faithfulness surrounds me
I lift my hands and praise You in the evening
This is who You are
You are a steadfast God
Our praise will rise, we sing it in the morning
This is who You are
From life to death, Your faithfulness surrounds me
I lift my hands and praise You in the evening
This is who You are
You are a steadfast God
"Holy
Forever"
Watch
on YouTube
CeCe Winans
"Surrounded
By Holy"
Watch
on YouTube
Zahriya
Zachary
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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Weber
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
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Encouragement
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Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
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