November 5, 2023 - #8 How to have faith for the long haul

Good morning. Everyone my coming through there we are.

I want to thank you for your gathering with us this morning. Thank you for that time of worship. Can you I would say I was going to say give them a hand but everyone has a thing of bleach in their hand and that would not work out, but I'm just going to thank everyone who is part of part of the worship whether you up front or in sitting down here because I'll tell you it kind of threw me because I knew it was good and I knew it was long and then I looked at the clock and when I saw the clock it freaked me out because it's like I got I got a long sermon here and how am I going to I can divvy it up, but I can do that and I got a note so that you can just have the notes and go with that and then I realized it hasn't been changed yet. So I got lots of time anyway, so it's all good.

Are you tired of feeling that your faith is a short-lived flame that flickers out as soon as adversity strikes. Do you want to have the kind of unwavering faith that not only can help you weather any storm but actually increase and grow in any storm. We're looking at strategies for how to have faith for the Long Haul and it were talking about endurance and that is biblical patience over time is the definition of endurance and the ability to grow deeper in your face when everything around you seems to be falling apart.

When I studied for this message, I was I was a little surprised because I was expecting to find a lot on in during the day today of every day that difficult things that were faced with in and yeah, it's there. But almost every author and so I know it's Holy Spirit encourage people to get through those dated every day so that they could endure for the Long Haul. It was about being ready for when Christ came back time and time again, that's why we need endurance. No expected at the faith is a lifelong journey. It's not a one-off event. Faith is only faith when it injures.

Very often by way of encouraging to endure through the very present and brutal realities of Life the authors of the Bible point to our future reality and they say things like this Romans 5 325 Paul rates, we can Rejoice too when we run into problems and trials for we know that they will help us develop endurance and endurance develops character strength of character and character strengthens our confident. Hope of Salvation and this hope will not lead to disappointment for we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love and look at with Jean says in James 12 and 4 is as dear brothers and sisters when Troubles of any kind come your way considered an opportunity for great joy for you know that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow so let it grow. For when you are your endurance is fully developed. You will be perfect and complete when your patients over time is fully developed. I am in Paul tells Timothy in 2nd Timothy 2:10 to 12 he says so I am willing to endure anything if it will bring Salvation and eternal glory in Christ. Jesus to those who God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying if we die with him will also live with him if we endure hardship we will reign with him if we deny him he will deny us. The Bible encourages us to endure through the brutal reality of whatever we are facing in the day-to-day of every day. But its main focus is that we do that in order to endure to the end. That is the hope that we have. That is the trust that we have. Paul says in in Romans 8 18 of his realtor what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory that's going to be revealed later.

So going through present trials is the only way that we can develop endurance so that we can endure to the end. And so today we're going to talk about how to have faith for the Long Haul. Let's prank.

Or do you know everyone here and everyone listening? You know what they're facing right now? And I pray today that they would have hoped to know that you are going to work all things together for good. You are going to let it be with them when they go through the fire be with them when they go through the flood be with them when they go through the Deep Waters and they will not be burned. They will not be overcome. They would not be crowned because you are with them. And Lord, I pray that we would have ears to hear what you're saying and hearts to obey what you tell us to do in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

So Jesus told us that in this world will have trouble and although prices promise to always be there with us and to take heart because he's overcome the world. He's also promised to return and judge the living and the dead and make everything right. We need to be ready and we need to long for his appearing.

These are clearly states that no one is going to know the exact time of his return and we should remain in a state of expectation and anticipation and Readiness God. The father has given Jesus authority to judge all the nations of the Earth. He will judge each person for what they've done and he'll judge right The Godly will inherit eternal life and will rule with Christ forever. And those who deny him will be cast in the Lake of Fire called the second death. Now everything I just read There is scripture. I didn't give you the quotes of the quotations. They are all in these notes you have homework today because the pic if you don't have notes right now pick him up on the way out and study the context of all these things because it it does it get it from here to hear get it in here. It's important.

Another problem with enduring to the end is that we know he said he's coming soon to thousand years ago. What does that mean? What you might be encouraged to know that the first church had that problem. They were they were concerned because they knew Christ was coming back soon. And yet people started dying. And what happens if they're dead and soap All rights to them and says you don't worry because the dead in Christ are going to be raised first in the trumpet call of God. The dead in Christ will be raised first and we who are alive will be caught up together to meet with them to be with him forever. You don't have to worry about that and Peter tells the church in Asia Minor in 2nd Peter 3:8. He says.

3/8 to 10 Oh, that's where I start but you not you must not forget. This one thing dear friends a day is like a thousand years of the Lord and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to some people think know he's being patient for your sake. He doesn't want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent But when the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise and the Very elements themselves will disappear in Fire and the Earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgement.

So I was like every Christian for 2000 years need to know how to endure for the Long Haul. because faith is not a one-time thing

Faith is only Faith with it indoors.

What does this really matter will? Paul rates in to the Corinthians in 2nd Corinthians 31135 e says examine yourself to see if your faith is genuine test yourself know that you have Jesus Christ among you if you if not, you failed the test of genuine faith. Did Christ is with you? Always? Do you know that?

One day we're going to be with him a literally. We're going to have new bodies and will be like him or he'll see him as he is.

Question you need to answer is will you endure to the end? Will you be ready when he comes?

now I don't know if you knew this, but for Hebrews chapter 11 is called the you know that it's the faith chapter in the book. And we've been talkin about faith for a number of weeks now, and we've pulled verses from it. But I don't think I've ever read the whole thing in its context now its context is a whole book of Hebrews in the whole new testament. We don't have time for all of that. But I'm going to read chapter read Hebrews 11 a few verses before a few verses after because the first people who heard what was written here, they knew it was for encouragement to endure till the end. That's what Hebrews 11 is. It's for encouragement to endure to the end. so

I won't tell you the versus I'm reading but they'll come up on the screen if you need to know while I'll start with 10:35. oops Maybe I want to where the heck is that other side?

It says do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you patience endurance is what you need now so that you'll continue to do God's will then you receive all the he has promised for in just a little while the coming one will come and not delay and my righteous ones will live by faith, but I take no pleasure in anyone who turns away but we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones whose Souls will be saved Faith shows the reality of what we hope for its the evidence of things. We cannot see through faith. The people of the old days of old earned a good reputation by faith. We understand that the entire universe was formed by God's command that what we now she did not come from anything that can be seen. It was by faith that evil brought a more acceptable offering to God then came did Abel's offering Evidence that he was a righteous man and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although April is long dead. He still speaks to us by his example of Faith by faith in Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying he disappeared because God took them because sport he was taken up. He was known as a person who please God and it's impossible to please God without faith anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him It was my face that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God who warned him about things that we had never happened before it was his faith by his faith. Noah condemned the rest of the world and he receive the righteousness that comes by faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed God when he called him to leave home and go another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And when he reached the land God promised them he lived there by faith for it was like he would live like a foreigner living in tents and so did Isaac and Jacob who inherited the same promise Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal Foundation a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that Sarah was able to have a child who she was bearing it and was too old to believe that God would keep his promise. And so with the whole nation came to from this man who was as good as dead a nation with so many people that let's start like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. There's no way to count them. All of these people die before I still believe in what God has promised them. They did not receive what was promised but they start from a distance and welcome did agreed that they were foreigners and Norm no match here on Earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country. They can call their own if they had longed for the country. They came from they would have gone back but they were looking for a better place a Heavenly Homeland. That's why God is not ashamed to be called their God. He prepared a city for them. It was by faith that Abraham offers Isaac is a sacrifice when God was testing him Abraham who received God's promises were ready was ready to sacrifice his only son Isaac even though God had told him Isaac is the son of whom your descendants will be accounted Abraham reason that if Isaac died God was able to bring them back to life again. And in a sense Abraham did receive a son back from the dead. It was by faith that Isaac promise blessing for the future of his sons, Jacob and Esau it was by faith that Jacob when he was old and dying blessed each of Joseph sons and about on the staff as he worshipped at 8 mean on this app. Is he worshipped God it was by faith that Joseph when he was about to die. I said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt he even commanded them to take his bones when they laughed it was by faith that Moses parents hit him for 3. I might when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child and they were not afraid to disobey the King's Command. It was by faith that Moses when he grew up refused to be called the son of the pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share with the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of life of sin. He thought it was better to suffer that for the sake of Christ then to do own the treasures of Egypt and he was looking ahead for his great reward. It was by the priest that Moses left the land of Egypt not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible It Is by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and sprinkle the blood of the Lamb of the door post so that the angel of death would not kill the firstborn. It was by faith that those people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground in The Thing You Gyptian tried to follow they were all drowned. It was by faith that the people of Israel March around Jericho for seven days and the walls Came Crashing Down. It was by faith that Rahab The Prostitute was not destroyed by the people in their City who refused to obey God for she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. How much more do I need to say? It would take far too long to recount the stories of faith. Alien, Barack Samsung J5 the Lions. They quench the flames of fire in escape the death by the edge of the sword their weakness was turned to strengthen became strong in battle and put on whole armies the flight women receive the loved ones back again from Death. They were tortured refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They Place their hope and a better life after the resurrection somewhere jeered at with a back to their backs were cut open with others were chained in prison some died by stoning somewhere sawed in half others were killed with the sword someone about wearing skins of sheep and goats destitute in the Preston Retreat mistreated. They were too good for this world water over deserts and mountains hidden in caves and holes in the ground all these people earned a good reputation because of their face yet. None of them received all the god of promise God has something better in mind for us so that they would not reach protection but perfection without eyes. therefore Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of Witnesses in the life of Faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down. Especially the sin that so easily strips at and let us run with endurance the race got us set up for us. We do this keeping our eyes on Jesus the author and Perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him under the cross courting it shame he's now seated at the place of honor besides God's Throne think of all the hostility that he endured from sinful feature few people and you will not become weary and give up

first readers of this letter

understood that this thief chapter was encouragement to endure not only through their present suffering, but till the end to keep their eyes on Jesus to keep their eyes deal. I don't believe the Bible ever tells us not to deal with the present reality we got to do what we can do in the present reality. But we do that understanding God is going to turn all this over for good. God is going to work it so that he is glorified.

How about that verse that all these people died still believe in what God has promised them. They did not receive what was promised but they saw it from a distance and welcome to have they agreed. They were foreigners and Nomads here on the Earth.

Do you agree that you're a foreigner and in The Nomad here on Earth?

The world we live in is a world that is yet to be redeemed. It's fallen and is yet to be redeemed. We're surrounded by people. Who either. Are being redeemed or are have yet to be redeemed? And it's perishable body must put on the imperishable our mortal body must put on immortality. Will right now we await with all of trees. And with all of creation We Grown as if in childbirth waiting for the children of God to be revealed. We are the children of God. but we She has not been yet revealed, but we know we'll be like him because we will see him as he is again. I'm just at all scripture guys go the notes look at

so whether we die in Christ and be with him today in Paradise. Over here on Earth when the trumpet sounds in the dead in Christ are raised and then we who remain are caught up together to meet him.

We need to know how to have faith for the Long Haul.

Not just endured to The Bitter End, okay. But to continually build our faith into the add goodness to our faith in the goodness knowledge into knowledge self-control and is self-control perseverance in the perseverance endurance and perseverance and the perseverance. Godliness in the goblin is mutual affection and a mutual affection. Phileo Love adopt. You phileo love at agape. Love.

Is Faith is a lifelong journey? Not a one-time event. Faith is only faith when we enter.

Imagine what it would be like to have trouble, and not being able to stop yourself from laugh. because you know that the work of the enemy who's come to steal kill and destroy. Your God is going to turn around. the good to know that that no weapon formed against you will prosper in all who are nice out for going to fall because God is going to take what they use and make it good for the world for him. I like to know that that It doesn't matter with God. You can't lose in this life. I'm going to be present with the Lord in the next life. I'm going to be in his presence. I can't lose.

Cannot just give mental assent but then no and no and no. It is it's absolutely ridiculous to give joy for when troubles come your way.

Until your transformed by God and and then you can't stop yourself. You can't it's just okay. What's it going to be? It doesn't matter. You know it if we're working is unto the Lord. It really doesn't matter what the result is because he's going to make it good.

Ridiculously awesome. He is a Scott that we serve.

Everything the enemy meant for evil he will turn around for good. He's coming back to judge the living and the dead and make everything go right to dry every eye and to show all of creation is Glory.

So, how can we be ready for Christ's return?

That's a great question. I'm so glad you asked. Tool that I'm giving you today and we got time this tool is a it's a it's a tool of tools and we're going to go through all of them very quickly here. So Notes are there following up on your own time? Literally I counted I could have made this 9 sermons I could have it would have probably been smarter, but we'll get to that.

Honestly, it sucks. It's a sermon on endurance. It's got to be long, right if it's not right to do a sermon on endurance and make it short. It's got to be a long walk right Pastor has agreed there we go to Liz it will I be ready to roll and ready reminds us. We need to repent of our sins and turn to God. We need to expect instead of having expectations. We need to always walk in the light. We need to don't forget to stand and yield to Jesus as Lord. This is how you live ready to meet your God whether your next breath. You're in his presence or whether you are here for the long haul. It doesn't matter. These are the things we need to do. We need to be ready. So repent of your sins and turn to God acts 3:19 says repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins will be wiped out. God has given us the tools of confession and repentance and it works coming into your kitten into his kingdom and it works while we're in his kingdom as well. If we have not confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that our heart he is been risen from the dead. We are not part of his kingdom. When we do it's through confession and repentance that we are brought into his kingdom. When were in the Kingdom? We are not all perfect. We are going to send. He is making us more and more like him, but we need to fashioned in Repentance to clean up. Confession is agreeing with God that what you did or didn't do is send there are sins of commission and sins of omission. So the good things, you know, you're supposed to do and you don't do Caught calls that sin. the things that you don't anyway, yeah, I agree and a confession is agreeing with God knows what you did or didn't do is send and we tell God we agreed with him that what we did or didn't do he calls send until Bree we accepted in sin. and it can be

I'm just I don't know. I was going to hit more on the coming, confession of coming into the kingdom. But if you any if you need that or need to be baptized talked to Patrick on after to confession is the tool that we have to agree with God repentance. The word in in Greek is metanoia. It means to change your mind the word in Hebrew is shoov. It means to turn around and go the opposite direction. So it's changing our mind and going in the opposite direction. That's what repentance means. I need to confess that Jesus is Lord. They need to confess your sin and salvation. And if you don't think you have any just check out John 1st, John 1:8 and 9. He was writing to church that people in the church. When he said if we claim to have no sin, we're only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Question we can ask ourselves as do. I need to confess and repent of a new thing. keep accounts for with God his grace is sufficient for you.

So we need to repent of our sins and turn to God. We also need to expect instead of having expectations. Matthew. 2442 says keep watch then because you don't know what date what day your Lord will come. Do you know the difference between being expectant and having expectations?

Expectations have real or imagined deadlines or standards. You know that restaurant that meet my Rick and my expectations it's okay to have expectation. But with God, we need to have the expectant. We don't set him up to any standard that we don't we can't we don't we don't sit. Up to some standard that we make up in our my God. You failed me in this. Well, you can feel that way, but it's not the truth.

How do you expect this is a tool how to expect God to be good tool. You're going to expect you're going to employee testimony. You're going to exchange your problems first piece. You're going to patiently wait. Enjoy gratitude. You're going to the commit everything to God and you're going to tune in to purity. Employee testimony Revelation 12:11. They have it says it they defeated him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony and they didn't love their lives so much that they weren't afraid to die.

testimony reinforces our thoughts and behavior if we

if we think about things that aren't True or honorable, right or Pure or lovely your admirable or excellent or praiseworthy? We we think about other things we invite the enemy to make more of those things in our life what are negative there's more negative things for us to be negative for When we do think about what is true and right and honorable and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and worthy of praise.

More things good things happen to us. It could be when a revelation 1019 says that the spirit of Jesus is the test of the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy. So what that might mean is it might they might mean it might be the reason why when we talk about the good things of God or good things happen. I don't know if you caught that that's exactly what the writer of Hebrews did for Hebrews chapter 11. He was trying to encourage people to endure with their faith and so it's testimony after testimony after testimony after testimony. That's all he was doing testimony is so powerful for us. If we don't have our own grab somebody else's if you're dealing with something that fits if it's in or if it's physical or if its Financial or relational find the testimonies of people that have gone through it before and hear the good things that they tell you how God brought them through invite him to do it again. Testimony is extremely powerful for us to be expectant. expect expectancy, from positive testimony

Next thing we need to do is exchange your problems first piece. I know exchange is not the proper word, but I cannot find a verb in English that starts with X. So I had to do this with butcher. The word Hebrews are 1st, Peter 5:7 and eats his humble yourself under the mighty Gods Almighty power and at the right time he will lift you up and honor give all your worries and cares to God for he cares for you.

We don't ignore the brutal reality of anything. We're facing. It's not that we just stay positive and positive things will happen.

It's that we take those real concerns those real problems. We take them to God. And through prayer we exchange our problems for his peace. It really is that simple? When you come to a place before God and you enter his gates with Thanksgiving his courts with praise you think I'm for what he's done and you bring your request to hit everything to him and and then she might give you the solution for this problem that you're working on or at least he's going to give you your peace. He's going to give you his peace. So you have peace in that.

Don't leave his presence without his peace.

If you do, all you've done is complained.

Kiefer expect is to patiently wait Psalm 27:14. Wait patiently for the Lord be brave and courageous yet. Yes be patiently for the Lord.

You understand the patience isn't passive toleration of things. We don't like.

That's what the world tells us patience is. That we just suck it up and put up with things. We don't like that's not biblical patience biblical patient's that we find out lined jeans 12 and 4. You can look it up later. It's independent unyielding defiant perseverance in the face of aggressive Miss March. That's what patience is its God you are going to make this right in this life or the next you are going to make it right? It's patient because I know God is good. And I know he's in a good mood. I know he will work all things together for I will not just in jerk this thing and think that I'm being patient.

You become Patience by taking all your cares and casting them on him because he cares for you. You get his peace and you can be patient.

Durance is ancients overtime. critically important for all of us

So we employ testimony exchanger problems for his peace patiently wait, and then he has enjoyed gratitude 1st Thessalonians, 5:18 be thankful in all circumstances for this is God's will for you belong to Christ. Jesus think this is absolutely fascinating to me is we can be thankful in all circumstances in any circumstance. You can be thankful for something in that circumstance.

In Ephesians 5:18 to 20. It says as a byproduct of you being continually filled with Holy Spirit. One of the byproducts is you can be thankful for all circumstances.

When we can decide we can choose to be thankful in every situation. We need to decide to be filled with Holy Spirit at all times in order to be thankful for all sorts situation. You know it to be true, sometimes it's just time and we see that yeah that was actually best for me. But if that happened that way Other times it's trust. No, okay. I don't see how it benefits me. But God I trust you that you're good and and it's going to you'll make it good.

If you want to be expected and endure to the end, you have to choose to be thankful in all circumstances and as much as it depends on you choose to be continually filled with holy spirit so that you can be thankful for all circumstances.

See you in expecting we're reminded to commit commit everything to God Psalm 37 526 commit everything you do to the Lord trust in him and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn in the Justice of your cause like the Noonday Sun.

We cannot expect good things from God if we don't trust God to be good and in a good mood.

You can let God know that you're upset with him if you're upset with him.

We we think if we spiritualize it too much. She know God is God and I'm the Potter. He's the clay and and pottery can't I play can't say to the Potter. So I'm just going to be offended at god without realizing that my friend to take off.

Anyway, you can be offended at God. And you can choose to live on a fender that him.

Let God know that you know that let God know that you know, you're upset with him and you're giving him credit for the works of the one who comes to steal kill and destroy. He knows we need to when you don't trust him, you know, you're not trusting him when you don't feel his peace. If you don't have the peace of God, you know, you're not trusting him with something. That's a big clue to stop and go before him and say okay God what am I not trusting you in you, how can I trust you in that? Show me how I can trust you again?

The T in expectant means we need to tune in to Purity in 1st John 3223 says dear friends. We are already God's children, but what he is not showing us what we will be like when Christ appears. We don't know what that would be but we know it'll be like him for we will see him as he really is and those who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure just as he is pure. Do you expect to see God Jesus just as he is.

I love the freezer that I can't remember the name of the song but there's a song on the radio that says the only scars and Evan are the ones he has in his hand. You imagine seeing his cars? Tigres card inside

and knowing that he went to the cross for you.

When you keep your eyes on Jesus it is easy. It's easier. 2 get rid of those things that entangle Us in the sin that so readily get this down.

We don't need to be foolish, but we can understand what the Lord's will is were made to be wholly useful to the master prepared to do any good work.

When we eagerly expect we keep ourselves pure just as he is pure. So the question we can ask is do I expect or do I have expectations?

So to be ready we repent of your sins and turn the God expect instead of having expectations in the a remind us to always walk in the light. 1st Thessalonians 5:45, but you brothers and sisters are not in darkness. See this station surprise you like a thief you are all children of the light in Children of the day. How do you walk in the light? I'm just going to give you the versus here we welcome those. God want you to help me awaken to Holiness. We love your neighbor as yourself, and we know why we be together. So very quickly here. Matthew 25 record of Jesus saying the king will reply I will tell you whatever you did for the least of these my brothers and sisters you did for me. We will be judged on how we treat each other. And we want to make sure that when God tells us I'll get it that another part. We we need to be sure that that we are helping those that God wants us to help he is awakened to Holiness Hebrews 12:14 215 work at living in peace with everyone and work at Living a holy life for those who are not wholly will not see the Lord look after each other so that none of you fail to receive God's grace watch out that no poisonous would have been in this grows up to trouble you correcting many The Ellen walk reminds us to love our neighbor as ourselves. That's what Jesus said the second is equally important love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these. What do we say here at Kingdom way? We love God, we love others so they can love God and love others.

K know why you mean together? Hebrews 10:25 for 10:20 for 2:25. Let us think of ways to motivate one another towards acts of love and good works and let us not neglect our meeting together and some people to but encourage one another now as we see the day of his returning is Drawing Near. The question we can ask is do I walk in the light as he is in the light. Do we have Fellowship one with another?

So to be ready. Is to repent of your sins and turn to God expect instead of having expectations always walk in the light and don't forget the stand. Okay, this comes from what we got time.

2nd Chronicles 20 tell the story of Judah is surrounded by three enemies coming to attack them with Jehoshaphat his game and Jehoshaphat calls all the people together to fast and pray and to seek the Lord. and so they do that and they pray out and then a prophecy comes from a prophet in the in the area in with the group same time and he speaks out and he says this battle is not yours. Take up your position and stand and see the Deliverance of the Lord. And if you want a good story go to 2nd Chronicles 20 read the rest of it is awesome. But how I've learned to stand. These are things that are so important to me. Dan S. As I stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to kill steal and destroy I treat all hardship as discipline knowing he is working all things together for good.

I agree to cast my cares on him because he cares for me. I never forget that the God of all hope fills me with peace and joy as I trust in him. So I overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit. And I did don't worry about anything but pray about everything and spank him at all things knowing that this is his will for me. If you want to endure to the end, you need to know how to stand because life. World Has Fallen and hurt people hurt people

So to be ready. I want to repent of your my sins and turned to God. I want to expect instead of having expectations. I want to always walk in the light and D. I don't forget to stand why remind me to yield to Jesus is Lord. Jesus needs to be Lord of my actions my answers and my attitude. That is my will my decision and my emotions right my whole heart. He needs to be Lord of my whole heart. So do you live the Jesus is Lord? Why you look yourself to him he and joy Boeing him to him. Now. I initiate imitate Jesus El learn how to let Holy Spirit help you and Dee declare. He is Lord. So you lock yourself to him first Peter 3:5 to I'm using 1984 in your heart that apart Christ as lord always be prepared to give a reason to anyone who asks you for the hope that you have but through this with gentleness and respect in your heart you to set up heart Christ is Lord. When we joke our selves to him, we remember his yoke is easy and his burden is light if you feel your burden is not light learn to yoke yourself to him pick up. Put you at your burden on him. He cares for you.

E enjoy Boeing now while I'm taking the time I don't care. Philippians 2 starts out by do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider each other better than yourselves each of you must look out not only for your own interests would also be interested feathers. Your attitude should be the same at that as Christ Jesus who considered I though he was equal with God considered equality with God not something to be grasped, but he made himself nothing and appeared as a lowly servant. Being found in the appearance of man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even death on the cross. Therefore God exalted him and gave him a name that is above every name but at the name of Jesus Christ every knee shall bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. All of creation throughout time and history will bother need to Jesus. It is our privilege to do it now. It is our privilege to make him Lord now not that heat we make him Lord. We acknowledge. He is Lord. I'll get that.

Okay. So do you want the God we also need to imitate Jesus look at with Colossians six to six and seven says and now just as you have accepted Christ Jesus as your lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots go down into him and let your lies be built on him and your faith will grow strong and Truth in the truth that you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness when your faith grows strong you overflow with gratitude. Watch this the more faith. You have the more gratitude you show the more gratitude you have the more trust you have the more trust you have the more hope and joy, he gives you and the more hope and joy, you have the more easier it is for you to consider Joy whenever you face Trials of many time it you see how good God. It's It's amazing how he puts it all together. Oh, you will to guide you need to learn to let Holy Spirit help you to 1st Corinthians 3 at 12 3:00. So I want you to know that no one Speaking by the spirit of God will curse Jesus and no one will say Jesus is Lord except by Holy Spirit. He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by your faith. Of course, he's going to empower you to know that Jesus is Lord, right? The D and you'll remind us to declare Jesus is Lord Romans 10 9 to 10. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be Sports by believing in your heart that you were made right with God and His by opening openly declaring your face that you are saved. Jesus isn't Lord because I make him Lord Of My Life Jesus is Lord because he laid down his life and God gave him the name that is above every name Jesus is Lord at my recognition of that fact means I have his present with me now. Can he never leaves me? He never forsakes me. So now he is with me in every situation and he's working all things together for good.

Do I yield the Jesus is Lord is a lord of my action Lord of my attitude when he is Lord. We agree that he's in the driver's seat of Our Lives. We're not we go when he says go. We wait when he says wait, we love how he tells us the love and his love is sacrificial. So that's how he's telling you to wash.

In conclusion, I promise to only say that twice. 8 is a lifelong journey. It's not a one-time event space is only fade when it injures. Will you be ready repent of your sins and turn to God expect instead of having expectations always walk in the light. Don't forget to stand and yield to Jesus is Lord. The challenge today is will you continue to add endurance to your face? Give me to he will help you. He will enable you to do that.

When I started to work on the sermon, I was I was reading up on 77 7070 gratitude Reflections. And what a reflection is is scripture that I've personalized and put in some sort of order that we can read and hopefully get it more deep in here. And I wrote one called I find strength and gratitude to stand firm in the faith. I find gray strength and gratitude to stand firm in the faith and I will conclude with this.

I wake up each morning with a heart full of gratitude for the Lord has blessed me abundantly beyond what I could ask her. Imagine if I Strength when I cultivate a Heart of Thanksgiving so I can be more and more firm in my face. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen faith comes by hearing the good news of Christ Jesus. I choose not to give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal kill and destroy I treat all hardship as discipline knowing he will work all things together for good. I cast all my cares on him because he cares for me. I am never lacking in Zeal, but I keep my spiritual fervor serving the lord. I'm joyful in Hope patient in Affliction and faithful in prayer. I don't worry about anything but I pray about everything and I thank him in all things knowing it is his will for me. I know how to turn my hurt into hope. I trust in the Lord with all my heart. I don't lean on my own understanding in all of my ways. I acknowledge Him and He makes my path straight the God of all hope fills me with peace and joy as I trust in him, so I overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit. I know how to renew my strength as I wait on the Lord. He renews my strength. Sometimes I Rise Up on wings as Eagles. Sometimes I run and do not grow weary. Sometimes I walk and do not faint. I am confident. I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living so I am strong and I take heart and I wait for the Lord I strengthen myself in the Lord. I am still and I know that he is God. I know how to exchange my problems for his peace. I enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise. I tell him what I need and I thank him for what he's done because he cares for me. I cast my cares on him. I don't fear because he is with me. I am not dismayed because he is God. He strengthens me and helps me up enough of a hold to me with his righteous right hand. The day I know the Gratitude is a powerful force that strengthens my faith for the Long Haul of life and allows me to appreciate God's blessing to trust he works all things together for the good and find peace admits that life's challenges with a heart filled with gratitude. I can stand firm in my face and face the reality of my day today of every day with all the grace and hope and joy that he provides. But standing up praying and closing.