Steadfast in the Faith
Main Scripture
Matthew 7:24–27
Jesus teaches that the one who hears His words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. Storms will come—rain, floods, and winds—but the house will stand because its foundation is secure. The one who hears but does not obey is like a foolish man who builds on sand; when storms come, collapse is inevitable.
Pastor Bryant emphasized that the “rock” is the doctrine of Christ—not trends, personalities, prophetic hype, or feel-good messages, but obedience to what Jesus Himself has spoken.
Key Themes and Lessons
1. Realignment Is Not Something New—It Is Returning to What God Already Established
Realignment does not mean God is changing His truth. The “new thing” already happened when Christ came and established the New Covenant. What God is doing now is something fresh—breathing life back into what He already ordained.
Sin, worldliness, and toxic influences pull believers out of alignment over time. God, in His mercy, calls His people back—not to innovation, but to restoration. True blessing flows from being aligned with the Creator, not from shortcuts or spiritual substitutes.
“Stop going to the shade tree mechanic—come back to the Maker.”
2. The Faith Is the Doctrine of Christ, Not Personal Opinion or Popular Trends
When Scripture speaks of “the faith,” it is not vague belief—it is the doctrine of Christ:
Faith in Jesus Christ
His atoning work
Repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit
Enduring faithfully to the end
Jesus is fully God and fully man, and He modeled perfect alignment with the Father. Believers are called to do the same—denying self, pointing everything back to God, and refusing to substitute popularity for obedience.
Trends may gain followers, but only truth produces transformation.
3. Foundations Are Revealed When Storms Come
Everyone experiences storms—pressure, hardship, temptation, and suffering. What determines whether we stand or fall is what we are built on.
Rock: The Word of God, rightly taught and lived
Sand: False gospels, emotionalism, charisma without truth
Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 15:2 that believing anything other than the true Gospel is believing in vain. Likewise, 1 Peter 1:23 reminds us that we are born again through the imperishable seed of God’s Word—not through hype or human effort.
If the Word is truly planted in us, it will produce visible fruit.
4. There Is No Grace Without Truth and No Salvation Without Christ Alone
Ephesians 2:8–9 makes it clear: salvation is by grace through faith—it is a gift of God, not something we earn or boast about. No preacher saves anyone. No prophecy replaces Scripture. No “new revelation” overrides the Gospel.
Paul’s warning in Galatians 1:6–9 is severe:
Anyone—man or angel—who preaches another gospel is accursed.
Pastor Bryant cautioned against modern spiritual counterfeits: unsanctioned prophecies, mystical experiences outside Scripture, and teachings that deny the nature of Christ. These are not harmless trends; they are dangerous distortions that lead people out of season, out of timing, and out of God’s covering.
Conclusion
God is separating wheat from weeds, truth from error, and obedience from appearance. While many may fall away, those who remain steadfast—rooted in the doctrine of Christ—will stand firm.
The goal is not popularity, platforms, or prosperity without purpose. The goal is faithfulness. God is calling His people back to the Word, back to sound doctrine, and back to true shepherding where accountability, care, and spiritual health matter.
Storms are not optional—but collapse is.
Key Takeaway
Be steadfast in the faith by staying anchored in the doctrine of Christ.
Do not build your life on trends, personalities, or another gospel. When the storms come—and they will—only what is founded on the Word of God will stand.