Never Give Up!

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph at NLF, Vashi on 1st Nov. 2009. Statuary warning exists...recalled from notes etc...yeah, better be there to hear than read here...otherwise happy reading!)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1, 2).

Let me share with you today on Perseverance; about never giving up! All of us are in a race. The Word here talks about running the race with perseverance. There are people here who are born-again, water-baptized and they start of the race. There are some who make a spectacular start to their spiritual race. But as they face obstacles / hindrances, they become discouraged and fall away. It IS a matter of great importance, on how you finish the race; and not how well you started. The Bible clearly tells us that '…he who endures (perseveres / stands firm) to the end shall be saved' (Matt. 24:13, Mark 13:13).

If you look at 2 Peter chapter 1, the Bible lists 7 qualities of the Christian. And perseverance is one of the seven. The author of Hebrews shows us the example of our Lord Jesus, ‘…WHO for the joy set before Him, endured the cross…’. There is a sure reward to those who run the race with endurance and finish the race. Never give up!

As a young lad of 15, I was water-baptized, having a simple trust and faith in Lord Jesus. I did not know of what the future held for me; what obstacles, what hindrances. One thing I learn during these 31 years, is to run the race with perseverance. One thing we know is that the Lord is with us! He has promised never to leave us.

I'm going to share with you about perseverance in 3 areas/dimensions of our life.

(i)              Persevering in the midst of trials

(ii)            Persevering in prayer

(iii)          Persevering to bear fruit

(i)              Persevering in the midst of trials

Romans 12:12 talks about being ‘patient in tribulation’; persevering in the midst of trials. James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” This is persevering even when we don’t understand. There is not a single believer on earth who will not face trials in his life. Just as Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him, every disciple is called to endure trials for the reward-a crown of life.

Trials in your life do not mean that you have done something wrong – or you are out of favor with God. Oh No! You see, as humans we tend to have intellectual understanding of our situations; rationalizing and reasoning for our circumstances. Job was a man like that! He looked for reasons in his trials. He could find none. His miserable friends too joined to help him find his wrongdoings! But you know what! Trials are for even the righteous ones.

God allows trials in our lives so that we may pursue perseverance, trust Him, stand firm, determined in faith and finally have the reward. Job answers “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” (Job 13:15). That is a statement of faith. Trusting God, no matter what! No human may understand, yet we can manifest a heart of faith. And it will see us through the trials! ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding’ (Prov. 3:5). Don’t be submerged in your trials; don’t collapse under the weight of hindrances. As you keep on trusting, you will come out victorious.

God has promised us that no trial will be too hard to bear. For He knows our weaknesses. He knows each one of us. He has promised us ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor. 12:9). That is why we must NEVER GIVE UP!

(ii)            Persevering in prayer

Our Lord Jesus spoke many things in parables. We learn about persistence and perseverance in prayer from two parables of Jesus. In Luke 11, we find a parable of a man going to his friend's house at midnight and asking for loaves of bread for his guests (v5-8). Jesus concludes the parable, saying though the friend may not rise to give him because of friendship, yet he will rise to give him because of his bold persistence. Jesus compares the message of the parable to prayer and says ‘… ask (and keep on asking) and it will be given to you; seek (and keep on seeking) and you will find; knock (and keep on knocking) and it will be opened to you’ (v9). God will answer every prayer; God will positively answer every persistent prayer! If you know it is the will of God, you must keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking till the answer is manifest. Jesus has promised “…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

In Luke 18, we find another parable about perseverance in prayer. A judge-who did not fear God, nor regard man; a widow pleading for justice “Get justice for me from my adversary” (v2, 3). Jesus concludes the parable saying, the unjust judge will certainly do what the widow wanted because of her persistence. God's word says that Jesus spoke this parable that ‘…men always ought to pray and not lose heart’ (v1). Therefore, persevere in prayer!

When you know it is the will of God, you must continue to pray. It may surprise you to know that in the will of God, there will be hindrances; that can be overcome by persistent prayer. When God anointed Jesus with His Spirit, it says in the Bible, Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. As we start the spiritual race, we may feel elated in the spirit, but then there will be trials and hindrances; even when we are 100% in God's will. That is why we must NEVER GIVE UP!

(iii)           Persevering to bear fruit

Luke 8:15 says, “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”

We can bear fruit only by patience. Ask any farmer who has sown a seed. They know that they have to wait patiently to see fruit from their seed. Look at the verse in front of you ‘…God will make us fruitful’ – the promise for this year 2009. And already 10 months are past. Do you now think ‘O, the promise is so wonderful; but only this does not work for me’? If you’ve patiently waited all these months, it is time to bear fruit. Never give up!

Gal 6:9 says “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”. Do not lose heart! Do not be discouraged! It is a deception from Satan to bring discouragement and disillusionment. Hope in God! Psalm 42:5 says “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance”.

In the great commission-the great mandate, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). If you notice, in the great commission, there is no provision. Just go and preach! And then the promise “…Lo, I am with you always” (v20). You see, God is our provision. God with us! And we can keep on seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness…and ALL these (other) things will be added to us. You will bear fruit in your ministry, if you persevere. That is why, we must NEVER GIVE UP.

We can find encouragement in God’s written word. Rom 15:4 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”

We can meditate on God’s Word. Every thought-every dart of discouragement can be conquered by the ‘Faith’ shield. As we choose ‘Life’, we must know it is not going to be a bed of roses all the way. But we must press on towards the goal and ‘…lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold…’ of us. NEVER GIVE UP!

Therefore, let us run the race with perseverance through trials, persevering in prayer and persevering to bear fruit in the calling God has called us for. Amen.