Holly Diya - Perseverance keeps us connected to Jesus

Main Point:

Perseverance keeps us connected to Jesus

Perseverance is a tool that allows us to rely on Gods strength

START

My name is Holly and I am really honoured and excited to be here sharing with everyone today, about what God has been challenging me in and encouraging me with also.

As a church, we have been focusing on standing, waitng and persevering and my main points that I want to cover today is:

Perseverance keeps us connected to Jesus

1. Perseverance is a tool that allows us to rely on Gods strength

2. Perseverance produces character & hope

PRAY

In the bible, we read about Moses.

Moses was someone who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God. He was considered a prophet, teacher, and leader.

Moses demonstrated remarkable perseverance throughout his life, particularly in his dealings with Pharaoh and the Israelites.

Point 1.

Perseverance is a tool that allows us to rely on Gods strength

Exodus 3:10–12 NKJV

10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

God instructed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land

This was the beginning of a moment where Moses could choose to rely on God and place his faith in god instead of himself. He was to decide if he would choose what God was calling him to do or if he was going to go off what he thought he was capable off.

Exodus 4:10–12 NKJV

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

STORY: I have been tongue tied my entire life and it has been one of my biggest insecurities. It is not something I like to talk about … Now the whole church knows hahah .. Being tongue tied can sometimes affect my speech, in a way that I struggle to say some words and they can get very muddled up. This is something the devil tried to used and say “you are not called to tell people about Jesus, you struggle with this” but God says “I have called you”

1. Moses was aware of his limitations but in this, he recognised that he needed God's guidance to accomplish the tasks assigned to him. Instead of looking at it as a “weakness” why not look at it as an opportunity to keep us connected to Jesus, knowing we need him to fulfill our calling?

2. When God calls someone, He also gives them the help they need. God’s power is greater than our weaknesses.

Lets be like David where he saw himself as a sheep Of God. God was his shepherd, which meant God lead, guided and protected David. David humbled himself and was like .. lord you are my shepherd, lead me. I can not do this without you.

Church, our “limitations” do not disqualify us from completing Gods purpose in our lives, in-fact it can be a tool, to rely on Gods strength and complete what He’s called you and I to do

Point 2.

Perseverance produces character & Hope

James 1:4 NKJV

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

This verse emphasises the importance of letting perseverance "finish its work". When we go through the process of actually going through trials and challenges, we can be refined and strengthened in our faith.

Moses built strong character throughout his ministry. While ini ally hesitant and expressing doubts about his ability to lead, his ministry ultimately transformed him into a leader known for humility, patience, empathy, and courage.

- This is not because of who Moses was or what he done, but because of who God is and what God done.

Most of us want to grow in character and have more hope. We often want the results, like strong character and hopeful hearts, without going through struggles. But struggles (or tribulations) are what help us grow. Even Ps Rachel mentioned a couple weeks ago..who actually goes “yay” when you hear about persevering. Exactly....no one. but The bible teaches that these things come from persevering through hard times.

Romans 5:3–4 NKJV

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

So, Would you say we need hope to persevere?

Jesus himself had hope.

Jesus's unwavering determination to obey his Father's will, even amongst suffering, was fuelled by a hope, for the glory that would follow.

Church, Jesus knew he would be crucified and resurrected, and this knowledge was a source of hope for him.

Jesus had hope in the obedience of Gods will and Gods promise. God does not and cannot break the promises that HE makes. Not the promises that we think he makes, but the promises he makes.

Jesus’s hope was not a flee ng emo on, but a deep-seated convic on rooted in the promises of God.

Point 3.

Sometimes we actually know, we need to persevere through something, but we need hope to do so.

When we stand on the word of God, and we know that we know of the promises he made to us.

God doesn’t break the promises that he makes too us, if he made them in the first place.

Hebrews 6:18 NKJV

18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

So church, I want to encourage you that, if you are going through tribulations or seasons that you don’t like, but you know that it’s a time off persevering, hold onto the hope of the promises that God made.

In our walk and journey with the lord, we will at some point..stand, wait and then preserve.

Replace the lies with the truth from scripture AND what God has called you to do.

PRAY