C. BOSTIAN                             LEARNING TO ENDURE PT.1                         11/16/03

 

Hebrews 12:1-3 (MsgB)

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. [2] 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 (Insert Slide) there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. [3] When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

 

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT LIFE ISN’T ALWAYS FAIR?  THE DEVIL NEVER PLAYS BY THE RULES BUT HAS AN AGENDA TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY.  HE EXISTS TO WORK HAVOC INTO OUR LIVES AS A MEANS OF GETTING BACK AT GOD.  HE WILL ATTEMPT TO USE PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILIES, PEOPLE AT WORK AND EVEN PEOPLE AT CHURCH TO MAKE LIFE HARD AND SOMETIME UNBEARABLE.  AND YET INSPITE OF IT ALL GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE PATIENT, TO PERSEVERE AND ENDURE THROUGH IT ALL.  AT TIMES, WE ALL NEED A SHOT OF SPIRITUAL ADRENALINE TO ENABLE US TO ENDURE.  SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT LEARNING TO ENDURE.

 

(Insert Slide)

2 Tim. 2:3-4 (MsgB)

When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. [4] A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders.

 

2 Tim. 2:3-4 (KJV)

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

 

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE A SOLDIER IN HIS ARMY.  THE MOMENT YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR YOU ENLISTED IN GOD’S ARMY (LIKE IT OR NOT).  WE ARE HERE TO TAKE ORDERS AND TO STAND OUR GROUND.  DO YOU REMEMBER THE SERIES I DID A WHILE BACK ON STANDING ORDERS? (Insert Slide)  WE’VE BEEN CALLED TO ENDURE UNTIL OUR TASK IS DONE AND NOT TO LEAVE OUR POST PREMATURELY. TO DO SO IS CONSIDERED IN MILITARY TERMS AS AWOL: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.  SO AS A SOLDIER WE’VE BEEN CALLED TO TAKE ORDERS AND TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD.  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT ISN’T ALWAYS EASY, IN FACT MANY TIMES ITS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT GOD’S INTERVENTION INTO OUR LIVES.

 

(Insert Slide)

Hebrews 11:32-40 (MsgB) 

    I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets... . [33] Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, [34] fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. [35] Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. [36] Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. [37] We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in (Insert Slide) animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless— [38] the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world. [39] Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. [40] God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

 

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 

HEBREWS CHAPTER 12 IS PRECEDED BY CHAPTER 11 WHICH IS A HISTORY LESSON ON THE CHAMPIONS OF FAITH IN THE O.T.  CHAPTER 12 BEGINS BY REMINDING US THAT THEY ARE ALL CHEERING US ON AS WE PURSUE THE RACE OF ENDURING FAITH.  AND SO THERE IS ON THING WE DO NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING A CHAMPION OF ENDURING HOPE AND FAITH AND (Insert Slide) THAT IS THAT THERE ARE NO RAMBOS IN GOD’S ARMY.  DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOVE STALLONE FIRST BLOOD.  LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY WITH A SHORT VIDEO CLIP FROM THAT MOVIE:

 

INSERT CLIP HERE:

 

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT GOD DOESN’T EXPECT YOU TO BE A CHRISTIAN RAMBO?  ONE OF THE BASIC LIFE SKILLS OF BEING A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN IS LEARNING HOW TO ENDURE HARDSHIP AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST.

 

2 Cor. 6:3-13 (MsgB)

Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing.  [4] Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, (we patiently endure trouble) unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;  [5] when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;  (SO WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM TODAY, TAKE A COUPLE OF ADVIL AND YOU’RE OK, THIS IS PRETTY TOUGH STUFF) [6] with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;  [7] when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;  [8] when we're praised, (Insert Slide) and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;  [9] ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;  [10] immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. [11] Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.  [12] We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way.  [13] I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

 

WE KNOW FROM ACTS 18 THAT PAUL FOUNDED THIS CHURCH AT CORINTH.  AND NOW THERE’S A GROUP OF FALSE TEACHERS THAT HAVE ARRIVED IN CORINTH AND THEY’RE STIRRING UP DISENSION AND DISUNITY.  PAUL IS WRITING TO THE PEOPLE OF CORINTH TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW YOU RECOGNIZE THE TURE FROM THE FALSE BELIEVER IN LIFE, IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE MINISTRY.  HE SAYS ITS NOT THE WORK OF A SUPER HERO, ITS MARKED BY SOMEONE WHO REMAINS FAITHFUL DURING TESTING, FAITHFUL DURING TRIAL AND FAITHFUL DURING THE ADVERSITIES OF AN ORDINARY LIFE BY SPIRIT EMPOWERED ENDURANCE.

 

1 Cor. 4:1-2 (KJV)

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 

2 Cor 6:3-9 (Lvg)

3 We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord. 4 In fact, in every-thing we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure suffering and hardship and trouble of every kind.

5 We have been beaten, put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, stayed awake through sleepless nights of watching, and gone without food. 6 We have proved ourselves to be what we claim by our wholesome lives and by our understanding of the Gospel and by our patience. We have been kind and truly loving and filled with the Holy Spirit. 7 We have been truthful, with God's power helping us in all we do. All of the godly man's arsenal-- (Insert Slide) weapons of defense, and weapons of attack-- have been ours. 8 We stand true to the Lord whether others honor us or despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us. We are honest, but they call us liars. 9 The world ignores us, but we are known to God; we live close to death, but here we are, still very much alive. We have been injured but kept from death.

 

MOST PEOPLE WHO WATCH CHRISTIAN TV THINK THAT LIVING A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NO TROUBLE AT ALL OR ITS MEASURED BY OUTWARD OBSERVANCE TO RULES OR THE STATUS OF YOU LOUI VATANT OR ARMONI CLOTHES.  NOW LISTEN, THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH NICE THINGS IT JUST THAT IT PAINTS THE WRONG PICTURE FOR CHRISTIANS STRIVING TO BE SUCCESSFUL THAT ISN’T REAL.  SO WHAT YOU’RE GONNA FIND OUT IN THIS MESSAGE THIS MORNING IS THAT THE SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE ISN’T MEASURED BY ANY OF THOSE THINGS, ITS JUST MEASURED ON WHETHER YOU FINISH OR NOT.  IF YOU’RE GONNA FINISH THEN YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO ENDURE AND SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END.  THAT’S WHAT MARKS A REAL SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN. (Insert Slide) WE HAVE THE WRONG PICTURE OF A RAMBO ACTION FIGURE WHO GETS BEAT UP, CLUBBED, SHOT IN THE SHOULDER, PUNCHED IN THE FACE AND NONE OF IT SLOWS HIM DOWN.  HE LAUGHS IN THE FACE OF DEATH AND STRIKES DOWN ANYONE WHO COMES IN HIS WAY, HE’S A MACHINE, HE’S INVINSIBLE.  HE DOESN’T EXIST, FOLKS….IT’S A MOVIE.  AND YET WE PAINT AND INCORRECT PICTURE OF A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN OR CHANPION OF FAITH AS A RAMBO FIGURE AND IN THE PROCESS BECOME DISCOURAGED AND ON THE BRINK OF GIVING UP. 

(Insert Slide)

Hebrews 10:35-39 (KJV)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. [36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. [37] For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. [38] Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. [39] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

(Insert Slide)

Hebrews 10:35-39 (MsgB)

So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! [36] But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. [37] It won't be long now, he's on the way;  he'll show up most any minute.

[38] But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.  [39] But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

 

SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO PAINT A BIBLICAL PICTURE OF A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN WHO IS EMPOWERED BY GOD TO ENDURE THROUGH THE NORMALCY OF A BORING LIFE AMIDST ADVERSITY, SETBACKS, PROBLEMS AND DISSAPPOINTMENTS AND YET FINISHES WELL.  YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE READ OF A SAMSON OR AN ELIJAH IN THE BIBLE AND WE THINK THAT’S THE PICTURE OF A CHAMPION OF FAITH THAT ENDURES.  BUT WHAT WE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT BETWEEN THE GREAT MIRACLES OF FAITH THEY HAD TO GET UP, GET DRESSED, PAY THEIR BILLS, DISCIPLINE THEIR CHILDREN AND LIVE A NORMAL, BORING LIFE.  (Insert Slide) WE READ THE INRODUCTION TO MOSES IN THE BIBLE AND WE FLIP A PAGE AND 70 YEARS OF HIS LIFE HAS TRANSPIRED BEFORE HE IS PARTING THE RED SEA.  WELL, WHAT’D HE DO DURING ALL THOSE BORING, NORMAL, MIRACLESS YEARS?  THEY LIVED LIFE, ENDURED HARDNESS AND REMAINED FAITHFUL UNTIL THEY WERE CALLED TO THE SERVICE OF THE LORD.  THEY ENDURED THROUGH IT ALL BUT WHEN THEY WERE CALLED UPON THEY WERE STANDING AT THEIR POSTS AND READY FOR ACTION AND THAT’S WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BE.

(Insert Slide)

Romans 5:3-5 (MsgB)

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, [4] and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. [5] In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

 

HERE’S WHAT WE NEED TO SEE ABOUT TRIALS AND ADVERSITIES.  GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR LIVES THROUGH IT ALL IN WAYS THAT WE CAN’T SEE AND UNDERSTAND CAUSE HIS OBJECTIVE IS DIFFERENT FROM OURS.  WE WANT A FAITH THAT MAKES LIFE EASIER.  HE WANTS A FAITH THAT WILL BUILD CHARACTER BY OUR ENDURING THROUGH LIFE, THROUGH HARDSHIP, DIFFICULTY AND ADVERSITY.

 

James 5:11 (KJV)

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 

James 5:11 (MsgB)

What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

 

 

IN THE EARLIER PART OF THIS CENTURY THERE WAS A CONCERT PIANIST BY THE NAME OF PATERISKI.  ONE OF THE STORIES TOLD ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE’S GIVING A CONCERT IN A GREAT AUDITORIUM AND ALL THE PEOPLE WERE GATHERED AND SEATED BUT HE WAS DELAYED IN COMING OUT.  SO ALL THE PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING AND IN THE MEAN TIME AN 8 YR. OLD BOY WHO’D BEEN DRAGGED TO THE MEETING BY HIS MOTHER STOLLS OUT ON THE STAGE AND BEGINS TO PLAY CHOPSTICKS.  ALL OF A SUDDEN A BUZ GOES OVER THE ROOM: GET THAT KID OUT OF HERE.  WHAT’S HE DOING?  PATERASKI HEARS ALL THIS COMOTION AND LOOKS OUT ON STAGE TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON.  SO INSTEAD OF CALLING THE SECURITY PEOPLE HE PUTS ON HIS TUEXEDO, WALKS OUT ON STAGE AND REACHES AROUND THE BOY AND STARTS PLAYING AN ACCOMPIANENT TO CHOPSTICKS AND WHAT WAS ONCE A MESS NOW BECOMES A MASTERPIECE.  PATERISKI LEANS OVER AND WHISPERS TO THIS KID, SON WHEN WE’RE THRU I’M GONNA KILL YOU.  NO, HE DIDN’T SAY THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW CLOSE YOU WERE LISTENING TO ME THIS MORNING.  PATERISKI SAID ONE THING: DON’T STOP PLAYING SON, DON’T QUIT, KEEP GOING.  THIS IS GOING TO BE A MASTERPIECE BUT DON’T STOP, KEEP PLAYING.  YOU SEE, HE’S TURNING A BAD THING INTO A GOOD THING.  SO ITS ONE THING FOR YOU AND I TO UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR LIVES AND ANOTHER THING TO JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE’VE BEEN CALLED TO DO.  THERE IS A DEEPER MUSIC TO YOUR LIFE AND MINE THAN WE KNOW.  GOD IS AT WORK EVEN IN TRIAL AND HARDSHIP.  SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO? DON’T STOP, DON’T QUIT JUST KEEP GOING.

 

(Insert Slide)

Romans 8:26-28 (MsgB)

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. [27] He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. [28] That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:28 (KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

THIS SCRIPTURE DOESN’T SAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU IS GOOD.  HE DOESN’T SEND OR ORCHESTRATE SICKNESS OR CANCER BUT IN THE MIDST OF IT HE CAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN YOUR LIFE FOR HIS GREATER GOOD.  HE DIDN’T SEND BANKRUPTCY IN YOUR LIFE BUT HE CAN WORK THROUGH IT AND MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON IN THE END.  ROM.8:28 MEANS THAT I CAN REDEEM ANY DIFFICULT SITUATION WHETHER ITS CAUSED BY MY OWN DISOBEDIENCE OR THE WRATH OF MY ENEMIES AND TURN IT AROUND FOR MY GOOD AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  YOU SEE, GOD EVEN MAKES THE WRATH OF MAN TO PRAISE HIM. THAT’S COMFORTING TO ME TO KNOW THAT GOD CAN REDEEM ANYTHING FOR ME CAUSE I’M ON HIS WINNING TEAM.  LISTEN, HE’S SOVERIGN, HE CAN DO ANYTHING HE WANTS.

 

Job 12:9 (MsgB)

Isn't it clear that they all know and agree

that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand—

 

Job 23:13 (MsgB)

"But he is singular and sovereign. Who can argue with him?

He does what he wants, when he wants to.

 

Job 25:2 (MsgB)

"God is sovereign, God is fearsome—

everything in the cosmos fits and works in his plan.

 

Psalm 102:12-13 (MsgB)

Yet you, God, are sovereign still, always and ever sovereign.

[13] You'll get up from your throne and help Zion—  it's time for compassionate help.

 

THE WORD PAUL USES FOR HARDSHIP IN THE N.T. DESCRIBES SITUATIONS THAT APPEAR, AND NOTICE I SAID APPEAR, TO BE OVERWHELMING AND INSURMOUNTABLE.  MAYBE YOUR FACING FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL PRESSURE THIS MORNING.  YOU FEEL LIKE ITS GONNA CRUSH YOU AND YOU CAN’T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.  MAYBE YOU’RE IN A MARRIAGE OR RELATIONSHIP THAT IS CAUSING YOU INTENSE DIFFICULTY AND FROM WHENCE THERE IS NO RELEIF AND ITS ALL YOU CAN DO TO MAKE IT FROM DAY TO DAY RIGHT NOW.  SOME OF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH A SIN THAT YOU’RE NOT SURE YOU’RE EVER GONNA OVERCOME IT.  SOME OF YOU LIKE PAUL ARE FACING UNRELENTING CRITISICM AND PERSECUTION AND IT MAKES YOU WANT TO CRAWL IN A HOLE AND DIE.  SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE IN PHYSICAL PAIN SO BAD THAT YOU’RE NOT SURE YOU CAN ENDURE IT.  YOU ARE TEMPTED WHEN YOU’RE IN PLACES LIKE THAT TO THINK THAT THIS IS ALL JUST A WASTE OF TIME CAUSE ITS ALL YOU CAN DO JUST TO HOLD ON.  SO HEY!  YOU NEED TO HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING.  SOMETIMES THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL VICTORIES ON THIS PLANET EARTH ARE PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY ENDURE UNTIL THE BREAK THRU. ITS SIMPLY PEOPLE WHO ENDURE IT.  IT’S PEOPLE WHO HANG ON TO THEIR INTEGIRTY WITH SINCERITY AND FAITH THAT GOD CALLS A TRUE OVERCOMER.

 

Rev. 3:5 (KJV)

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

 

Rev. 3:12 (KJV)

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

 

Rev. 3:21 (KJV)

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

Rev. 21:7 (KJV)

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

 

THE FIRST 3 CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS DESCRIBES SEVEN CHURCHES THAT ARE ALL GOING THRU INTENSE TRIAL AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE PROMISE IS GIVEN TO THE ONE THAT OVERCOMES, REWARD AND A CROWN OF LIFE.  OVERCOMING SEEMS TO BE SUCH A WONDERFUL CONQUERING WORD BUT REVELATION DEFINES OVERCOMING AS HOLDING FAST TO THE FAITH EVEN IN THE MIDST OF TRIAL.  ENDURING WHEN IT LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE AND INSURMOUNTABLE. NOW ISN’T THAT A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE MEASURE AN OVERCOMING, SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN.  WE USUALLY MEASURE IT BY HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE, BY HOW FEW PROBLEMS WE HAVE OR HOW FAST I’M GOING UP THE LADDER OF SUCCESS OR HOW FAST MY CHURCH IS GROWING OR MY COMPANY OR MY PORTFOLIO OR MY 401K.  WHEN INFACT THAT IS NOT HOW GOD LOOKS AT IT AT ALL.  HIS PERSPECTIVE OF GREATNESS IS ON WHENTHER WE ENDURE CAUSE EVERYBODY HAS TROUBLE.  THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY ALL GOT TROUBLES.  THE POOR GOT TROUBLES AND SO DO THE RICH.  EVERYBODY FACES TROUBLE BUT THE ISSUE IS DO YOU ENDURE.  SO WHAT GOD’S SHOWING ME IS THAT IT’S NOT MY HAIR STYLE OR MY CLOTHES, ITS NOT HOW LOUD I SHOUT AMEN OR HOW LONG I PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, IT WHETHER I’M A QUITTER.  ITS JUST EASIER TO QUIT THAN IT IS TO ENDURE.

 

SO ONE THING TO UNDERSTAND: GOD IS AT WORK IN YOUR PAIN AND TRIAL IN WAYS YOU DO NOT KNOW YET.  SO DON’T QUIT, DON’T STOP BUT KEEP DOING WHAT YOU’RE CALLED AND DESIGNED BY GOD TO DO.

 

NOW LET ME PAUSE AND MAKE ANOTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION ABOUT ENDURING HARDSHIP AND ADVERSITIES.  WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENDURANCE IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WHATEVER SITUATION YOU FIND YOURSELF IN NOW YOU’RE STUCK IN FOREVER.  THAT’S THE PICTURE THE DEVIL WANTS TO PAINT IN YOUR MIND SO THAT YOU THROW UP YOUR HANDS IN DESPERATION AND QUIT.

 

IN ACTS 12 PETER IS IN PRISON BY HEROD, HE’S IN JAIL AND ITS MIDNIGHT.  HE’S WRAPPED IN CHAINS.  AN ANGEL APPEARS TO PETER WHILE HE’S IN PRISON AND A BRIGHT LIGHT BEGINS TO SHINE, THE CHAINS FALL OFF AND THE ANGEL SAYS TO PETER: FOLLOW ME.  PETER DOESN’T SAY NO LEAVE ME ALONE AND LET ENDURE THIS PRISON SENTENCE.  IT’S A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE AT A LATER TIME SO NO I’M GONNA STAY HERE ROT IN THIS DIRTY PRISON AND ENDURE. NO THAT’S NOT WHAT PETER SAID: HE’S OUT OF THERE FASTER THAN A BOOTLEGGER IN ALABAMA ON A FIRDAY NIGHT. HE’S GONE.  HE’S NOT STAYING THERE ANY LONGER THAN HE HAS TO.  SO DON’T GET SILLY ABOUT ENDURING AND DEVELOPING A MARTYRS COMPLEX.  CAUSE THERE IS A TIME TO WALK AWAY FROM A BAD SITUATION.  THE CALL TO ENDURANCE DOES MEAN THAT YOU DON’T LEAVE ANYTHING.  IF YOU’RE IN A PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP I’M GONNA COUNSEL YOU AND THE KIDS TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW.   YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THAT.  WHAT YOU DO NEED TO DO IS TO ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR WISDOM IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

 

THE CALL TO ENDURE IS THE CALL TO HOLD FAST TO CHRIST AND BY EXTENSION, YOU HOLD FAST TO THOSE COMMITMENTS YOU MUST HONOR IF YOU’RE GONNA BE A CHRIST FOLLOWER.  IF YOU’RE IN A SEXUAL HARRASEMENT SITUATION AT WORK GOD’S NOT CALLING YOU TO ENDURE THAT.  THAT’S ILLEGAL, THAT’S WRONG AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO ENDURE IT.  BUT THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFICULTY IN THE MARRIAGE AND YOU’RE NOT AS HAPPY AS WHEN YOU FIRST GOT MARRIED AND YOU WANT OUT.  BUT IN THAT SITUATION YOU HAVE TO ENDURE AND WORK THROUGH YOUR DIFFICULTIES.  MAYBE YOUR DREAM HASN’T HAPPENED AS SOON AS YOU THOUGHT OR MAYBE YOU HAVEN’T GOTTEN OUT OF DEBT AS SOON AS YOU THOUGHT.  THEN YOU GOT TO ENDURE CAUSE EVEYTHING IN LIFE TAKES LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT AND COST MORE THAN WE THOUGHT AND IS NASTIER, MESSY AND DIRTIER THAN ANYBODY TOLD US.  PEOPLE USUSALLY GIVE UP IN THAT SITUATION CASUE IT IS SO DIRTY AND IT DOES TAKE LONGER AND THEY QUIT TOO SOON.

 

NOW IF YOU’RE GONNA ENDURE YOU’RE GONN HAVE TO EVALUATE YOUR LIFE TODAY FROM THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE. THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO PERSPECTIVES ABOUT MY LIFE AND YOUR LIFE AND ONLY ONE OF THEM WILL EMPOWER US TO ENDURE.

 

2 Cor. 6:8-10 (MsgB) 

    when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;  [9] ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;  [10] immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

 

PAUL SAYS THERE WERE TIMES IN HIS LIFE WHEN HE WAS PRAISED BY SOME BUT BLAMED BY OTHERS.  THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE WAS IGNORED BY THE WORLD BUT RECOGNIZED BY GOD.  THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE FELT ABUNDANTLY ALIVE BUT OTHERS VIEWD HIM  AS BEING DEAD.  WHEN YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE BY THE NORMAL STANDARDS OF THIS WORLD AND YOU’RE LIFE DOESN’T AMOUNT TO MUCH.  THE WORLD MIGHT EVALUATE PAUL’S MINISTRY AS A FAILURE AND IF PAUL ACCEPTED THAT THEN HE’D BE SURE TO QUIT.  HOWEVER PAUL SAID IF YOU LOOK AT MY LIFE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND IT’S ANOTHER STORY.  FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THIS WORLD WE’RE TREATED AS IMPOSTORS BUT GOD KNOWS WE ARE TRUE.  NO, PAUL SAYS I AM KNOWN AND HONORED BY GOD AND HE PRESERVES ME IN THE MIDST OF DANGER AND JOY JUST KEEP SPRING UP INSIDE ME.  I CAN’T STOP IT AND I CAN’T QUENCH IT EVEN WHEN I’M IN PRISON.  HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT HE’S ENRICHING DYING PEOPLE WITH LIFE WHICH DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING BY THE WORLD’S STANDARD BUT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD I’M THE RICHEST GUY I KNOW.  WHEN YOU LOOK AT MY LIFE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, PAUL SAYS, WHY IN THEE WORLD WOULD I WANT TO QUIT.  FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE QUITTING WOULKD BE THE DUMBEST THING I COULD DO.  THIS GAME IS SOLD UP, ALL I GOT TO DO IS TO ENDURE.

 

2 Cor. 4:8-10 (MsgB)

As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do,  [9] but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.  [10] What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives!

 

 

PAUL IS WRITING HERE ABOUT HIS COLLEGUES IN MINISTRY AND THE EXTREME PROBLEMS, PRESSURES AND PERPLEXITIES THAT THEY HAD TO ENDURE IN THE MINISTRY.  LISTEN, WHETHER YOU’RE IN FULL TIME MINITRY BEHIND A PULPIT OR BEHIND A THE STEERING WHEEL OF A TRUCK, YOU’RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS.  YOU GOT PROBLEMS, I GOT PROBLEMS, ALL GOD’S CHILDREN GOT PROBLEMS.  PROBLEMS ARE A FACT OF LIFE AFTER THE FALL.  LET’S JUST KIND OF EXPECT THEM TO OCCASSIONALLY COME OUR WAY.  BUT DON’T EVER QUIT BECAUSE THERE’S A PROBLEM TOO BIG FOR YOU TO SOLVE BECAUSE WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH MAN IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD!  LET’S LEARN TO FINISH WHAT WE START AND ENDURE.

 

FRANK SINATRA SANG THIS SONG: EACH TIME I GET BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN I GET BACK INTO THE RACE AND THAT’S LIFE!

 

2 Cor. 4:17-18 (KJV)

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

PAUL TALKS ABOUT BEING IN PRISON, BEING BEATEN, BEING SCOURGED AND EVEN BEING TAKNE OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED TO DEATH.  BUT LISTEN WHAT HE CALLS ALL THESE SUFFERINGS: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY.  LET’S DO A LITTLE QUIZ THIS MORNING.  HOW ARE YOUR PROBLEMS: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY.  WHEN YOU GO TO WORK TOMORROW AND YOU BOSS GETS IN YOUR FACE YOU’RE GONNA SAY: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY.  WHEN THE IRS GIVES YOU YOUR TAX BILL YOU’RE GANNA SAY: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY.  WHEN THE DOCTOR GIVES YOU THE BAD NEWS YOU’RE GANNA SAY: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY.  PAUL SAYS, PERSECUTED, IN BEATINGS, IN PRISON, IN DISHONOR, IMPOVERSIHED AND DEATH AND PAUL SAYS: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY.  SO ACCESSING YOUR PROBLEMS AND ADVERSITIES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, YOU COME UP WITH THE ONLY POSSIBLE CONCLUSION: LIGHT AND MOMENTARY AND YOU’D BE A FOOL TO QUIT.  SO LEARN TO ENDURE, WAIT ON GOD AND HE WILL ENDUE YOU WITH POWER TO ENDURE.