Don't Give Up When Things Are Tough

Don’t Give Up When Things Are Tough

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Rom 12:9-13)

1. What Is Meant By “Patient In Affliction”?

- Patience = steadfastness, consistency, endurance; to stay under the load willingly and not as a victim of circumstances

·(James 1:3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

·(James 5:11) Ye have heard of the patience of Job,

·(Heb 10:36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

- Affliction = tribulation, distress, trouble, oppression, pressure, being pressed, experiencing hardships

·(Mat 24:9) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

(2 Cor 8:13) Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

·(John 16:21) A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come;

·(Acts 7:11) "Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers could not find food.

·(Acts 11:19) Now those who had been scattered by the persecution

2. What Are The Benefits Of Patience For The Christian?

- Patience produces spiritual maturity.

·(James 1:4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Patience strengthens the Christian’s testimony.

·(Heb 12:1) let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

- Patience demonstrates loyalty to God.

·(2 Tim 2:22) Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

- Patience brings God’s reward.

·(Gal 6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

·(James 5:7) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

3. How Can You Persist In Times Of Trials?

- Pray for strength & help

·(Psa 25:18) Look upon mine affliction and my pain;

·(Lam 1:9) O LORD, behold my affliction:

·(James 5:13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.

- Comfort others.

·(Phil 4:14) Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

·(James 1:27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

- Trust God’s :

·Presence = (Isa 41:10) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

·Deliverance = (2 Tim 4:17-18) Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; .. and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom:

·Provision = (Phil 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

·Comfort = (2 Cor 1:3-4) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.