THE CHAMPION DEVELOPS ENDURANCE TO STAY THE COURSE

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 NLT

1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Endurance develops to make us strong

A. We are not alone. 1 Corinthians 10:13

B. Examples of patience. James 5:10 “10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”

2. Developing Endurance promotes awareness

A. Being alert for troubles.

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

B. Looking for Opportunities in our troubles.

James 1:2-4 “2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

3. Endurance has it rewards.

A. We are blessed in Patience.

James 1:12 “12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

B. We are Taken care of.

Psalm 55:22 “22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Conclusion:

What is your opportunity right now?

How are you going to move forward?

3. Will you trust God to take care of you?