Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief or a purpose. Until he ascended from this world, Jesus continued to preach and teach what the Father had sent him to do. He never backed down even when his authority was questioned several times.
Jesus was here to fulfill God’s purpose for us. He faithfully served God until the end. He could not stop doing his mission until he finished what God sent him to do, i.e. save the world from sin. There was a time when Jesus felt like the journey was tough for him. When he was in Gethsemane he began to be sorrowful and trouble. He told Peter, John and James, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me,” (Matthew 26:38).
When he was praying Jesus asked God to take the “cup” away from him. Being in human body, Jesus was feeling and seeing the sorrow that was about to befell him. It was a painful experience for him that he wished it could be reversed. This was his purpose and for a moment he felt like it could be reversed. Now here comes perseverance… he immediately said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Even during this painful moment he persistently adhered to his purpose. Remember he said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and FINISH HIS WORK,” (John 4:34). If Jesus was not steadfast in allowing the will of God to be done even when it hurt the most, would he finish his work?
Even thought the spirit was willing to take the pain, the body was weak. However he allowed the will of God to be done. That is why when he prayed for the second time he said “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done,” (Matthew 26:42).
Here we learn how Jesus persevered to do the will of God despite the pain he was feeling. He was steadfast in prayer. The only way he could defeat the temptation of giving up doing God’s work was prayer. When you pray, God will fulfill his purpose for you. Remain steadfast (firmly loyal, constant, unswerved). When you persevere, in addition to your ability to practice self-control, your knowledge of Jesus Christ will be effective and productive. You will realize how much he loves you through the wonderful works he will do for you.
See also http://stanleylistens.blogspot.com/2010/05/effective-and-fruitful-knowledge-of.html
Showing posts with label perseverance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perseverance. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
“Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
There comes a time when you feel like you have had enough, when death becomes the best solution to your troubles. But it’s not over until God says so. You can pray that God takes your life away, unless he feels you have finished the task he has prepared for you on earth, he won’t take away your life. Instead he will show you how great HE is.
God knows the most important thing you need in order to continue with the journey. God is aware where you are coming from and he will prepare you to continue with the journey.
Elijah felt he had had enough and prayed for his death. God was aware that he had been on a day’s journey running away from Jezebel, and he was hungry and tired. He sent an angel to provide him with food. He went back to sleep.
“And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (I Kings 19: 7 -8, NKJV).
Even though Elijah was discouraged and had said “I have had enough” – God had much more in store for him. When you feel discouraged and want to give up, remember there is God who is above all situations. When you feel powerless, remember that God will give you strength.
When you are down, arise and do the will of God. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). God has a purpose for your life and therefore don’t give up before you accomplish what God has sent you to do. When you feel like giving up, remember these words - ’Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you!’ There are great things that God wants you to do.
The word of God will give you the strength to carry on with the journey, because he has sent you to do his will. Have faith in God and he will show you how great he is. All you need to do is to come closer to him and he will come closer to you.
The LORD said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” (1 Kings 19 : 11). He was about to show him how Great he is.
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” (1 Kings 19: 11 -13)
You see, sometimes God allows you to deal with challenges in life before he shows himself to you. This he does in order to show you that you are strong when you are with him. Because he was in the presence of the Lord, Elijah was not shaken by the powerful wind, earthquake and the fire. However, when he heard the GENTLE WHISPER, he covered his face because he was in the awe of God. His power is above everything!
There is nothing that will destroy you as long as you are in the presence of the Lord. Get back on your feet and continue running the good race. Elijah was lamenting that he had always been zealous for God but the Israelites rejected the covenant, broke the altars, killed the prophets and wanted to kill him also.
You may be blaming God that even though you have been faithful to him, you are having troubles that you cannot take anymore. Just know that God doesn’t want you to give up because of the trials and tribulations. He still wants you to persevere and finish the work he has sent you to do on earth.
In Galatians 5: 7 -8 Paul says; “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.”
It is not over until God says so… ’Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you!
God knows the most important thing you need in order to continue with the journey. God is aware where you are coming from and he will prepare you to continue with the journey.
Elijah felt he had had enough and prayed for his death. God was aware that he had been on a day’s journey running away from Jezebel, and he was hungry and tired. He sent an angel to provide him with food. He went back to sleep.
“And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (I Kings 19: 7 -8, NKJV).
Even though Elijah was discouraged and had said “I have had enough” – God had much more in store for him. When you feel discouraged and want to give up, remember there is God who is above all situations. When you feel powerless, remember that God will give you strength.
When you are down, arise and do the will of God. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). God has a purpose for your life and therefore don’t give up before you accomplish what God has sent you to do. When you feel like giving up, remember these words - ’Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you!’ There are great things that God wants you to do.
The word of God will give you the strength to carry on with the journey, because he has sent you to do his will. Have faith in God and he will show you how great he is. All you need to do is to come closer to him and he will come closer to you.
The LORD said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” (1 Kings 19 : 11). He was about to show him how Great he is.
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” (1 Kings 19: 11 -13)
You see, sometimes God allows you to deal with challenges in life before he shows himself to you. This he does in order to show you that you are strong when you are with him. Because he was in the presence of the Lord, Elijah was not shaken by the powerful wind, earthquake and the fire. However, when he heard the GENTLE WHISPER, he covered his face because he was in the awe of God. His power is above everything!
There is nothing that will destroy you as long as you are in the presence of the Lord. Get back on your feet and continue running the good race. Elijah was lamenting that he had always been zealous for God but the Israelites rejected the covenant, broke the altars, killed the prophets and wanted to kill him also.
You may be blaming God that even though you have been faithful to him, you are having troubles that you cannot take anymore. Just know that God doesn’t want you to give up because of the trials and tribulations. He still wants you to persevere and finish the work he has sent you to do on earth.
In Galatians 5: 7 -8 Paul says; “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.”
It is not over until God says so… ’Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you!
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