We're Not Quitters!
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· 18 viewsThose who do not give up on the LORD are saved during times of distress, affliction, & persecution
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Introduction
Introduction
Illustration:
Psychology Today article Posted Dec 26, 2011
titled: “The Neuroscience of Perseverance”
On a recent trip to Boston, I had the opportunity to talk about personality traits that lead to changing behavioral habits with an Associate Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences at U Mass Boston named Jean Wiecha, who is also the Director of the GoKids program there. Dr. Wiecha has been conducting community-based research on child health for 20 years.
Dr. Wiecha's crystal clear blue eyes sparkled and her face lit up as she told stories of the metamorphases she has witnessed with teens and pre-teens in her program. She has seen hundreds of kids transform their lives through the GoKids program. When I asked her what the biggest predictor of long-term success was she simply said: "Perseverance." She believes that regular physical activity is the most effective way to begin to hardwire the habit of perseverance. Anytime you lace up your sneakers and start moving your body and achieve a goal you are reinforcing a mindset of perseverance that bleeds into all aspects of your life.
“Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
Tupac - 'Me Against The World'. "No matter how hard it gets… stick your chest out, keep your head up and handle it."
– Joni Eareckson Tada- “Adversity, which looks and feels like such a determined enemy, can become a valuable ally. Only you can decide which it will be.”
--Newt Gingrich (1943- ), American politician, historian, and author- Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.
Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.
--William Feather (1889-1981), American author
--Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), American abolitionist and author- When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you … never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
“When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.”– LL Cool J
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Drake - 'HYFR'. "I learned working with the negatives can make for...better pictures."
“Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.”– Thomas Carlyle
Handling difficulty, challenges, and persecution ought to be Par the course for the people of God
Transition To Body- Context of our passage today is Habakkuk 2:4
Transition To Body- Context of our passage today is Habakkuk 2:4
4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
Body
Body
Our Faith Proves Authentic Under Trials
Our Faith Proves Authentic Under Trials
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
The writer is talking about those who have faith
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.85 πιστεύω; πίστις, εως
to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’
MSG Bible identifies faith with trusting all the way
shrink back
the state of being timid, hesitancy, timidity
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 68.53 ὑποστέλλω; ὑποστολή, ῆς
to cease doing something of presumed positive value because of adverse circumstances or fear—‘to cease, to stop, to give up doing.’
lack of steadfastness
unreliable
We do not belong to those who are timid
19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
We Are Not Destroyed Though Endangered
We Are Not Destroyed Though Endangered
endangered = threatened with a danger
Are destroyed
the destruction that one experiences, annihilation both complete and in process, ruin
If you are listening to me today then you have not been completely ruined or destroyed
Our Souls Experience The Security Of Salvation
Our Souls Experience The Security Of Salvation
preserve
Illustration: What’s the Difference Between Jam, Jelly, and Preserves?
Before the invention of the at-home refrigerator in 1913, it was rare to find a strawberry in the winter or a gala apple in the spring—unless it had been preserved. Jams, jellies, and preserves were developed by industrious fruit eaters of days past as methods of keeping fruits fresh out of season. When the option to freeze and refrigerate became available, fresh food that was in season in warmer climates could survive a trip elsewhere for consumption, removing the need for old-time preservation techniques. While no longer a necessity, some older methods of storing foods became traditional delicacies. Fruit jams, jellies, and preserves have lasted beyond becoming outdated and are popular sweet spreads for breads, sandwiches, and many other foods. But what are the differences between these three very similar approaches to preserving fruit?
The biggest difference between jelly, jam, and preserves is how much of the original fruit is used to make them. Jelly has the smoothest consistency and is made by crushing a fruit and discarding the solid chunky leftovers. This leaves only the fruit juice, which is then mixed with a substance called pectin and heated to form the gelatinous spread. Jam is similarly made by crushing a fruit, but this spread leaves in most of the solid pieces of the fruit’s fibers and seeds (if they’re small enough and safe to consume) to give it a spreadable consistency. Of the three, preserves use the most of the fruit and are simply chopped smaller pieces of fruit that are mixed with sugar to keep them fresh and combined with a syrup or jam to contain them.
Looking for the most authentic flavor? Jam or preserves will contain the richest portions of fruitiness, while a jelly’s flavor will be slightly bogged down by the gelatin. This is why preserves are often called for in cooking and baking, as they contain the largest amount of the fruit’s flavor in a mixable form.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
experience of security, keeping safe, preserving, saving
experience or share in
their souls (ESV,NET,NLT,NASB),
NIV & NRSV said are saved, what is saved?
MSG survive, what survives?
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
why is souls so important to mention here?
as the seat and center of life that transcends the earthly
the essence of life in terms of thinking, willing, and feeling—‘inner self, mind, thoughts, feelings, heart, being
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
There is another possible meaning for “preserves”
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 57.62 περιποίησις, εως
that which is acquired, presumably with considerable effort—‘possessions, property.’
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Transition To Close- Do Not Be a Quitter and lose out
Transition To Close- Do Not Be a Quitter and lose out
Illustration: Remember the Titans, a movie based on the true story of a 1971 Alexandria, Virginia, football team, offers a message of racial reconciliation. Early in the movie, Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) takes his race-divided high school team to a two-week football camp. He works the boys hard, both emotionally and physically, trying desperately to build a sense of team. By the last practice, the boys begin to come together.
During this practice, the football team, outfitted in full pads and white practice uniforms, line up row by row. They vigorously run in place, focused on their conditioning.
Coach Boone yells, “What are you?”
The team shouts back, “Mobile! Agile! Hostile!”
Boone shouts, “And what is pain?”
“French bread!” the young men reply.
Boone hollers, “What is fatigue?”
They bellow, “Army clothes!”
With all his might, Coach Boone yells, “Will---you—ever—quit?”
The titans roar, “No, we want some mo’! We want some mo’!
We want some mo’!”
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
I like how the King James translates it!
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
King David said
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Draw Near To God
Draw Near To God
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Close
Close
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
In other words, Jesus’ endured and suffered, even to the point of death on a cross...
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.