Perserverance

Perseverance

tell this story….Hey Joshua do you remember when....Caleb asked for the hardest assignment not out of bravado but out of unwavering faith.

tell this story….

Because Caleb was at peace with God Caleb was able to take the land at 85 years of age that he should have had at 40. This was not without trouble nor was it without challenges. But through the challenge Caleb was able to hold on to the promise not because he deserved it but because God promised it.

We all know people that don’t face challenges well. They want the world handed to them on a platter…they see challenge as a sign that whatever they are dealing with is not God’s will. So they give up. They change tactics, they move on.

What if instead of moving on God wanted to strengthen us for a great work? What if instead of blaming circumstance or others for our dreams not coming true we used these times as a way to grow our resolve?

We forget sometimes that God can use all things for His glory…I do not think for a moment that God causes bad things to happen, I want to make that clear.

However I do not think God gives us dreams that we should drop at the first sign of trouble.

is either not in a particular dream so they give up.

Those who commit to the dreams and promises God gives can count on God to bring them through whatever trouble trial or lack of faith that is in front of them to achieve God’s greater mission.

The will of God is often found in the discovery of trouble along our journey

Romans 5:1–5 NLT

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 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.

Romans 5:1-5Peace with God is not the same thing as the Peace of God. Paul is not talking about a sense of calm here…He is talking about the idea that once we are saved we are no longer at war with God. So when we are no longer at war with God we get to enjoy a relationship that will not simply sustain us but propel us in the life. V 1,2)Paul goes on to tell us that with this in mind when we run into challenges or difficulty we can drive into it with the confidence that if we let Him God will use trials to strengthen our spiritual muscles…Paul is reminding us that trials will come and every trial is an opportunity to build spiritual muscle…( Whenever you start lifting weights or exercising after a long lay off there is a time where you muscles hurt and you can’t even walk without a limp…it is often during the times of soreness that most people give up on exercise. What the don’t understand is that you cannot build muscle or burn without feel a bit of discomfort. The pain is actual a result of tearing muscle fibers that will eventually heal even stronger that before. This is the meaning of no pain no gain. There is no other way to build your spiritual muscles than to go through times of trials and trouble. Trial and trouble can be used a way to get stronger or an excuse to quit. V3It is often through trials and pain that God helps us to develop our Christian Character. If we do not have the ability to believe that God is with us in the hardest times of our lives our faith is basically useless…The truth is that it is easy to have hope when things are going well. That is not when we need hope the most. Hope is the result of allowing God to strengthen us when we want to give up. View Trials and Difficult Circumstances as an Opportunity to grow instead of a Sign to give up.This comes by making Peace with God…this means coming to a place where you stop the cosmic tug a war of will between you and God. If you are constantly allowing difficulty to be the guide as to whether or not something is from God or not you are unwittingly fighting against God by trying to dictate the terms of what is or what is not God’s will.Caleb had ample opportunities to give up on God’s Promise for 45 years…But instead he chose to believe God’s plan for his life. This kept him strong and able to achieve what God had in store for himI have run into many people that have missed opportunities because they did not stick with God’s plan. They have seen trials as a sign to quit and in so doing they have missed out on something incredible. We all have moments we can look back on with regret…If I would have only???? Fill in the blank Don’t give up, give in or give out….Instead Give God a Chance to Work. Seeing trials as opportunities requires us to see beyond what is to what could be. Not with a sense of pie in the sky wishful thinking but with awesome hope that comes from time seeking God when it would be easier to seek a human or worldly solution to a probable that is insignificant to God. We are going to look at this next week so make sure to be here. Without valleys there are no peak. Communion is the greatest example of Hope in the face of terrible circumstance.

Peace with God is not the same thing as the Peace of God. Paul is not talking about a sense of calm here…He is talking about the idea that once we are saved we are no longer at war with God.

So when we are no longer at war with God we get to enjoy a relationship that will not simply sustain us but propel us in the life. V 1,2)

Paul goes on to tell us that with this in mind when we run into challenges or difficulty we can drive into it with the confidence that if we let Him God will use trials to strengthen our spiritual muscles…

Paul is reminding us that trials will come and every trial is an opportunity to build spiritual muscle…

Whenever you start lifting weights or exercising after a long lay off there is a time where you muscles hurt and you can’t even walk without a limp…it is often during the times of soreness that most people give up on exercise. What the don’t understand is that you cannot build muscle or burn without feel a bit of discomfort. The pain is actual a result of tearing muscle fibers that will eventually heal even stronger that before. This is the meaning of no pain no gain.

There is no other way to build your spiritual muscles than to go through times of trials and trouble.

Trial and trouble can be used an opprotunity to get stronger or an excuse to quit. V3

If we do not have the ability to believe that God is with us in the hardest times of our lives our faith is basically useless…

The truth is that it is easy to have hope when things are going well. That is not when we need hope the most.

If we do not have the ability to believe that God is with us in the hardest times of our lives our faith is basically useless…The truth is that it is easy to have hope when things are going well. That is not when we need hope the most.

Hope is the result of allowing God to strengthen us when we want to give up.

View Trials and Difficult Circumstances as an Opportunity to grow instead of a Sign to give up.

This comes by making Peace with God…this means coming to a place where you stop the cosmic tug a war of wills between you and God.

When we have truly made peace with God we stop crying out why me…and replace fear, anger, and despair with confidence to use the strength we have gained to continue to remain steadfast and focused on the Mission God has given us.

If you are constantly allowing difficulty to be the guide as to whether or not something is from God or not you are unwittingly fighting against God by trying to dictate the terms of what is or what is not God’s will.

1Cor 15:58

English Standard Version Chapter 15

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

If you are constantly allowing difficulty to be the guide as to whether or not something is from God or not you are unwittingly fighting against God by trying to dictate the terms of what is or what is not God’s will.

Caleb had ample opportunities to give up on God’s Promise for 45 years…But instead he chose to believe God’s plan for his life. This kept him strong and able to achieve what God had in store for him.

I have run into many people that have missed opportunities because they did not stick with God’s plan. They have seen trials as a sign to quit and in so doing they have missed out on something incredible.

Don’t give up, give in or give out….Instead Give God a Chance to Work.

Don’t give up, give in or give out….Instead Give God a Chance to Work.

Tell Story of Caleb’s man of a different Spirit....

Being of different spirit does not mean we are never discouraged or always going to see success. However being of a different spirit does mean that we have what it takes to see things through.

No matter how difficult the challenge, no matter how painful the journey…The Holy Spirit in you and in me can and will carry us to victory even when we have not strength at all to do it.

God want to do the same for you...for us.

Seeing trials as opportunities requires us to see beyond what is...to what could be. Not with a sense of pie in the sky wishful thinking but with awesome hope that comes from time seeking God when it would be easier to seek a human or worldly solution to a problem that is insignificant to God. We are going to look at this next week so make sure to be here. How do you embrace a different future than the one you planed?

Without valleys there are no peaks.

Communion is the greatest example of Hope in the face of terrible circumstance.