Hang In There

Hang in There

November 23, 2014 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: It’s hard to live the Christian life, but it’s worth it.

Focus Passage: 2 Timothy 1:8-12

Supplemental Passage: Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:9-10 NASB)

Introduction: 10 years ago, last March, the European Space Agency launched a space probe with the intention of landing on a moving comet. This past week, on November 12, 2014, the Rosetta orbiter actually did what it was supposed to do. It landed on a comet. For 10 years, scientists went to work simply to monitor the progress of the probe. For 10 years, they only looked at data. For 10 years, they truly had nothing to show for their hard work. But last Wednesday, it all paid off. Yet, with all of the hard work, with all of the expense, with all of the man hours, it is still a space probe on a space rock. Our lives are much more important in the big picture of eternity than scientific exploration of a comet. Patiently endure what is set before you; it’ll be worth it in the end!

I. Life is hard

a. A call to Jesus is a call to suffer. There is NO WAY around this.

b. Everything doesn’t get automatically peachy when you get saved

c. You still have the earthly consequences of sin and sin habits

d. Following Jesus isn’t a piece of cake. Anyone who tells you that it is, is lying

e. Satan is out to get you and WANTS to destroy you and your family

i. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

II. Don’t Give Up

a. Don’t become distracted by the things of this world

b. Don’t be discouraged by trials and hardship

i. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 NASB)

c. Keep your eyes on Jesus

i. fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NASB)

d. Keep your heart protected from the evil one

e. Don’t be ashamed when you are persecuted; but rejoice

III. It’s Worth It

a. His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master.' (Matthew 25:21 ESV)

b. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:4 NASB)

c. and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (John 10:28-29 NASB)

Application/Invitation:

[The audio of this sermon being preached can be found at: http://rboyne.sermon.net/20246251]