Scripture
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:4-6
Prayer
Introduction
Losers Never Win and Winners Never Lose!
What a great quote!
When you meditate on that meaning, so much comes to light.
To be a winner, you must have habits of hard work, endurance and persistence.
To be a loser, you don’t have to do anything.
I want to share with you this morning some principles with Godly Purpose that will become the very core of your faith.
1) Serve God with endurance and faithfulness; Verse 4
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4
Serving God is not a walk in the park.
It requires faithfulness to Him and Him alone.
It is our Godly Purpose.
Let patience have her perfect work—That is, Continue faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward;
When you attempt to do anything less your service will fall short.
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 16:13
This faithfulness may bring with it difficulties, which will require perseverance.
Unfortunately many, if not most people interpret difficulties as “God has changed His mind” and so they quit when things get tough and move on to the next failure.
To accomplish great things for God you must remember: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” II Timothy 4:2
2) Endurance is a life choice. Endurance requires discipline and patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:4-6
The Apostle Paul said that we are in a race, not a sprint, but a marathon. A marathon requires discipline and patience.
A marathon is an endurance race.
Being a Christian requires endurance and endurance requires discipline and patience. It is our Godly Purpose.
3) Endurance produces rewards, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
And “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ” I Corinthians 15:58
Why is God so concerned with our persistence and endurance?
Could it be that action perfects our faith?
Could it be that our timing is not God’s?
And for Him to “work all things together” we must wait, but when we quit, we loose the reward because of our own impatience.
Whatever the reason, take God’s advice!
It is our Godly Purpose.
Persist, Endure and “Be a Winner.”
Conclusion
Two Familiar quotations:
"The difference between history’s boldest accomplishments and its most staggering defeats is often simply the diligent will to persevere." Abraham Lincoln
Paul states in II Timothy 4:7; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
This is our Godly Purpose!
Losers Never Win, Winners Never Lose!
