John 10:27–30 NKJV

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”

How does God get the victory in my life?

God gets the victory in our lives through His unfailing love.

God never forsakes us, no matter the circumstances .

Our sin breaks fellowship with God. (My sin breaks fellowship with God from my end. in sinning I am saying, “God I want to do what I want to do with no concern for your will! After such a statement it is hard to feel close to God.)

As I repent I move close to God.

James 4:7–10 NKJV

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Repent

1re•pent \ri-ˈpent\ verb

[Middle English, from Anglo-French repentir, from Medieval Latin repoenitēre, from Latin re- + Late Latin poenitēre to feel regret, alteration of Latin paenitēre—more at PENITENT] verb intransitive 14th century

1: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life

2 a: to feel regret or contrition

b: to change one’s mind verb transitive

1: to cause to feel regret or contrition

2: to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for—re•pent•er noun

Lets turn our attention to the first definition.

read definition again.

to turn from my sin means to make a radical change in what I allow my mind to think, what I allow my mouth to say, and where I allow my hands and feet to go.

How many of us would say that just on the above statement we have plenty to think and pray about?

what things do our minds think that we should not?

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

what does my mouth say?

Matthew 12:34 NKJV

34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

what things am I doing that I should no longer do?

Romans 6:13 NKJV

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

2. Trails and tribulations are opportunities to gain perseverance.

(without the test there is no testimony) I determine whether this is going to yield a testimony or I just have a case of the moaning.

Perseverance is simply not giving up! a quitter will never persevere.

one of the fruits of being here tonight is simply learning not to quit on yourself.

Psalm 37:23–26 NKJV

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

when we fall we need to get up again!

3. Perseverance is trusting God when you cant see Him working in your life.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

when things are going my way its easy to trust.

what are you struggling to trust God with?