Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We are gathered here today, not by chance, but by divine appointment. We are here because God has something to say to us, something to impart to us, something to stir in our hearts. And I believe that today's message is one that is timely, relevant, and necessary for each one of us.

Our sermon for today is titled "Giving up never wins the prize." This is a message that speaks to the heart of every believer, every follower of Christ, every child of God. It is a message that calls us to persevere, to remain steadfast, to hold on to our faith even when the going gets tough. It is a message that encourages us not to give up, but to stay faithful to God and His promises.

Now, I want you to imagine for a moment that you are a runner in a race. You have trained hard for this race, you have prepared yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. You start the race with great enthusiasm, with great energy, with great determination. But as the race progresses, you start to feel tired, you start to feel weary, you start to feel like you can't go on. You look around and you see other runners passing you by. You feel like giving up. But then you remember why you started the race in the first place. You remember the prize that awaits you at the finish line. And so, you keep going. You keep running. You keep pushing forward. And eventually, you cross the finish line. You win the prize.

This, my dear brothers and sisters, is a picture of our Christian journey. We are in a race. We are running towards a prize. And that prize is the promise of God. But along the way, we may feel tired, we may feel weary, we may feel like giving up. But we must remember why we started the race in the first place. We must remember the prize that awaits us at the finish line. And so, we must keep going. We must keep running. We must keep pushing forward.

Our scripture reading for today comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verse 1. It says, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." This verse is a reminder for us to always pray, to always seek God, to always trust in His promises. It is a reminder for us not to give up, but to persevere, to remain steadfast, to hold on to our faith.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for the promise of Your presence. We ask that You would open our hearts and our minds to receive Your Word today. We ask that You would give us the strength to persevere, to remain steadfast, to hold on to our faith. We ask that You would help us not to give up, but to keep running the race, to keep pushing forward, to keep seeking You. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

So, as we embark on this journey today, as we run this race, let us remember the words of Jesus in Luke 18:1. Let us remember to always pray and not give up. Let us remember that giving up never wins the prize. Let us remember to stay faithful to God and His promises. And let us remember that with God, all things are possible.

Perseverance: Always Pray and Not Give Up

Friends, today we're talking about perseverance. We're talking about not giving up. We're talking about staying faithful to God and His promises. Jesus himself emphasized the importance of this in Luke 18:1. He told a parable to his disciples to illustrate the need for constant prayer and unwavering faith.

Now, let's break this down a bit.

Firstly, Jesus is telling us to always pray. Prayer is our lifeline to God. It's our direct line of communication with our Heavenly Father. It's how we express our needs, our desires, our fears, and our joys. But prayer is more than just talking to God. It's also about listening to Him. It's about aligning our will with His. It's about surrendering our plans and embracing His.

Secondly, Jesus is telling us not to give up. Life can be tough. It can throw curveballs that leave us reeling. It can present obstacles that seem insurmountable. But Jesus is saying, "Don't give up." He's saying, "Keep going. Keep fighting. Keep believing."

The Greek word for "not give up" used in this verse is "ekkakeo." It's a compound word, combining "ek," meaning "out of," and "kakos," meaning "evil." So, to "ekkakeo" is to not be evil-ed out. It's to not let the evil of this world, the hardships and trials, push you out of your faith. It's to stand firm, to hold your ground, to keep your faith intact despite the storms of life.

As the renowned Christian theologian, Charles Spurgeon, once said, "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark." It's not about how fast we run the race, but that we finish it. It's not about how quickly we reach our destination, but that we reach it.

Thirdly, Jesus is telling us to stay faithful to God and His promises. God's promises are sure. They are steadfast. They are unchanging. Just as God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His promises are not like the promises of this world that can be broken or forgotten. His promises are eternal. They are trustworthy. They are reliable.

Lastly, Jesus is telling us that our perseverance has a purpose. It's not in vain. It's not without reward. Our perseverance strengthens our character. It builds our faith. It deepens our relationship with God. And most importantly, it brings glory to God. When we persevere, when we don't give up, when we stay faithful to God and His promises, we are a living testimony of God's faithfulness. We are a beacon of hope to a world in need.

So, let's take these words to heart. Let's always pray. Let's not give up. Let's stay faithful to God and His promises. And let's persevere, knowing that our perseverance has a purpose and that it brings glory to God.

The Encouragement of God's Promises

Scripture Reference: Luke 18:1 (NIV)

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

Friends, let's take a moment to reflect on this verse. Jesus, our Savior, is teaching us a valuable lesson here. He's telling us to always pray and never give up. It's a simple message, but it's packed with so much wisdom and truth.

Firstly, Jesus is reminding us of the importance of prayer. Prayer is our direct line to God. It's how we communicate with Him. It's how we express our fears, our hopes, our dreams, and our gratitude. But prayer is not just about talking to God. It's also about listening to Him. It's about opening our hearts and minds to His guidance and wisdom.

Secondly, Jesus is teaching us about perseverance. He's telling us not to give up, no matter how tough things get. Life can be hard, friends. We all know that. We all face challenges and obstacles. But Jesus is telling us to keep going. To keep fighting. To keep believing.

Now, let's look at another scripture that echoes this message. In James 1:12, it says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

Here, James is reinforcing Jesus' message. He's telling us that those who persevere, those who stay strong in the face of trials, will be blessed. They will receive the crown of life. What a wonderful promise that is, friends.

But let's go back to our original verse. Jesus didn't just tell us to pray and not give up. He told us to always pray and not give up. That's a significant detail.

Thirdly, Jesus is teaching us about consistency. He's telling us that prayer and perseverance are not just one-off things. They're not just things we do when we feel like it. They're things we should be doing all the time.

Fourthly, Jesus is teaching us about faith. He's telling us to trust in God's promises. To believe that He will answer our prayers. To believe that He will give us the strength to persevere.

Friends, let's take these lessons to heart. Let's always pray. Let's never give up. Let's be consistent in our faith. And let's trust in God's promises. Because His promises are true. His promises are sure. And His promises are our source of hope and encouragement.

The Example of Biblical Characters

In the grand narrative of the Bible, we find a multitude of individuals who, despite being faced with overwhelming circumstances, chose to persevere in their faith. These individuals, through their unwavering faith, serve as beacons of hope and inspiration for us in our own spiritual journey. They teach us that perseverance, even in the face of adversity, leads to blessings and that God rewards those who stay faithful to Him.

Take, for instance, the story of Job. Here was a man who, despite enduring immense suffering and loss, chose to remain faithful to God. His story is a testament to the power of faith and the rewards that come with perseverance. Job's story is not just a tale of personal endurance but also a testament to God's compassion and mercy.

Now, let's consider the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1. This parable, told by Jesus himself, speaks of a widow who relentlessly pursued justice from an unjust judge. Despite the judge's initial refusal, the widow did not lose heart. She continued to plead her case until finally, the judge relented. This story serves as a powerful reminder for us to never give up, to persist in prayer, and to remain faithful to God and His promises.

In the words of A.W. Tozer, "It is not the praying lips but the believing heart that pleases God." This quote beautifully encapsulates the essence of the parable. It is not just about praying persistently, but about believing persistently. It is about having faith in God's promises and His timing.

Moving on, let's look at another example from the Bible, the story of Joseph. Joseph, despite being sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned, remained faithful to God. He did not let his circumstances dictate his faith. Instead, he chose to trust in God's plan for his life. His story is a powerful reminder that God's promises are true, even when our circumstances seem to suggest otherwise.

Joseph's story teaches us that perseverance is not just about enduring hardships but also about trusting in God's promises. It is about believing that God is working behind the scenes, even when we can't see it. It is about having faith that God's plan for our lives is far greater than any challenges we may face.

So, as we navigate through our own spiritual journey, let us draw inspiration from these biblical characters. Let us remember to persevere in our faith, to trust in God's promises, and to never give up, no matter what. Because as we have seen, God rewards those who stay faithful to Him.

Conclusion

As we draw to a close, let's reflect on the message of Luke 18:1, a message that has been the heartbeat of our sermon today. It's a message about not giving up, about staying faithful to God and His promises. It's a message that calls us to be persistent in our prayers and unwavering in our faith.

In our lives, we face many challenges. We encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable. We experience moments of doubt and despair. But let's remember the words of Jesus in Luke 18:1. He taught us to always pray and not give up. He showed us the power of persistence and the strength of steadfast faith.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be like Him. We are called to be persistent in our prayers, steadfast in our faith, and unwavering in our commitment to God's promises. This week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to be persistent in our prayers, steadfast in our faith, and unwavering in our commitment to God's promises.

As we go into this new week, let's carry this message in our hearts. Let's remember to always pray and not give up. Let's remember to stay faithful to God and His promises. Let's remember to be like Jesus, who was persistent in prayer, steadfast in faith, and unwavering in His commitment to God's promises.

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the message of Luke 18:1. We thank You for teaching us to always pray and not give up. We thank You for reminding us to stay faithful to Your promises. As we go into this new week, help us to be more like Jesus. Help us to be persistent in our prayers, steadfast in our faith, and unwavering in our commitment to Your promises. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, as we close, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Go forth with the message of Luke 18:1 in your hearts. Go forth with the determination to always pray and not give up. Go forth with the commitment to stay faithful to God and His promises. Go forth to be more like Jesus. Amen.

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