Introduction

Good morning! I am glad to see all of your faces here today, gathered together in the unity of our faith, the unity of our love for Christ, and the unity of our desire to grow closer to Him. We are here, not by chance, but by divine appointment, to gather strength for the journey, to find solace in His word, and to discover the depth of His love for us.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He writes, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.

What a promise! What an assurance! The work that God has begun in you, in me, in all of us, He will carry on to completion. We are not abandoned mid-process. We are not left half-done. We are continually being shaped, molded, and perfected by the master craftsman Himself.

Our discussion today will focus on three main points: Perseverance in the Process, Patience in the Promise, and Progress in the Purpose. These are not mere words, but life-altering truths that can change the way we live and the way we perceive our walk with God.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark." And so too shall we reach our desired haven, not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord who is at work within us, perfecting that which concerns us.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for Your love and mercy that are new every morning. We thank You for Your word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we delve into Your word today, open our hearts and minds to receive all that You have for us. Help us to understand Your truths, to apply them in our lives, and to be transformed by them. We ask this in the name of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Perseverance in the Process

In the grand tapestry of life, we often find ourselves in the middle of a process. We are being shaped, molded, and refined, much like a potter shapes clay on the wheel. This process is not always easy, it's not always comfortable, but it is necessary. It is through this process that we are transformed into the image of Christ.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the Philippians. He assures us that the good work that God has begun in us, He will carry on to completion. This is a promise we can hold onto, even when the process gets tough.

Now, let's consider the role of perseverance in this process. Perseverance is the ability to keep going, to keep pushing forward, even when the going gets tough. It's the determination to stay the course, even when the path is steep and the journey is long.

In the context of our spiritual growth, perseverance means continuing to trust in God's promise, even when we can't see the end result. It means continuing to pray, even when we don't see immediate answers. It means continuing to serve, even when we don't see immediate results.

Perseverance is not about speed, it's about endurance. It's not about how quickly we can get to the finish line, but about staying the course, no matter how long it takes.

First, perseverance requires faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. It's trusting in God's promise, even when we can't see the end result. It's believing that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion.

Second, perseverance requires patience. Patience is the ability to wait, to endure without complaint. It's the ability to remain steadfast, even when the process is slow and the progress is hard to see. Patience reminds us that God's timing is perfect, even when it doesn't align with our own.

Third, perseverance requires courage. Courage is the ability to face difficulties, to stand firm in the face of adversity. It's the ability to press on, even when the path is steep and the journey is long. Courage reminds us that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Finally, perseverance requires hope. Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised. It's the belief that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. Hope reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Perseverance in the process is not easy, but it is necessary. It requires faith, patience, courage, and hope. But the reward is worth it. For He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. And that is a promise we can hold onto, even when the process gets tough.

Patience in the Promise

As we move forward, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a promise ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO