Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (AMP)
9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
God is Faithful!!!
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· Sometimes we become weary because ~ because
a) No obvious results
b) Lack of success where we think our faith should be accomplishing.
c) Outside persecution.
d) Criticism
e) Tests of our faith.
f) Distractions come from both external sources, and internal sources.
I want to share practical things on …. not becoming weary
And how to be strong in the Lord.
Let's remember
Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV)
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, (for He who promised is faithful.)
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Q: Why do people become weary?
1. People problems,
2. Financial situations,
3. Any attack from the enemy.
4. Negative people
5. Outside pressures
QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION
There is a difference....BETWEEN
the temptation to quit
AND
quitting its self!!!
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NIV - Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV)
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
(NKJV)1 Cor 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
STEADFAST = to firmly fix in one place,
Or firm in what you believe. ……….Or determination.
Summed up as ~ LOYALTY
Loyalty ~ Steadfastness ~ being fixed immovably.
Q: Why do people failed to remain STEADFAST?
1 REASON IS TROUBLES
Mark 4:16-17 (NIV)
16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
1. It didn’t say if……. It said when.
2. Jesus said there will be problems!
3. John 16:33 ~ In the world you shall have tribulation:
4. Psalms 34:17&19 (ESV)
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Peter tells us to stand firm too
1 Peter 5:10
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
· Jesus said the same thing in Mark 4 ~ there will be problems!
The nature of problems….. Are one thing
1. To distract you
2. To pull your attention off the word of God
3. To pull your attention off what God has called you to do
4. To give you the chance to become weary
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You remember Paul’s
thorn in the flesh? 2 Corinthians 12:7
2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
1) Paul’s thorn was never there until he received abundance of revelation.
2) Thorn was given to distract him off the revelations.
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People think once they reach a spiritual level there will be no problems.
BUT ~ we are three part man…….. spirit ~ soul ~ body
Scripture tells us
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
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We fail to understand we live in a natural world.
And Satan is the God of this world. > Second Corinthians 4:4
And the god of this world is going to do everything in his power to,
Distract the Christian.
Deceive the Christian
Destroy the Christian.
1. He will use every avenue / tool possible.
2. He is the master of deception.
3. He has everything at his disposal in this natural world.
He understands what moves us.
1. …………………where our weakness are.
2. ………………….the body is not redeemed yet.
3. ………………….we are working on our soul. mind will emotions
He uses these areas against us.
SOMETIMES FEELINGS ARE REAL!!!!!
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Paul mentioned something like this in……
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
· Everyone experiences these things.
WE NEED TO LEARN…. to not yield to our ~ soul ~ body
We must keep focused to what God has called us to do.
2 Cor 4:9
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Knocked down But not knocked out.
If you get knocked down ~ do not become weary
THINGS WILL COME TO DISTRACT US!!!!!!!
I like the way Paul called problems!
17 For our light affliction, , 17 For our light and momentary troubles
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Pauls “light afflictions” listed in 2 Cor. 11:23-27) ASV
NOTE: Galatians 6:17 (NKJV)
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
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LET ME READ WHAT Paul said - 2 Cor. 11:23-27)
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NIV)
23 ……I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
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2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NKJV)
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We must constantly reevaluate.
What I’m going through is not the end of the world.
I will get up tomorrow
the sun will shine
and God is still on the throne!!!!!!!!!
Sometimes people can’t see the forest for the trees.
trees
sickness
your bills
· Let’s take a look at the forest!!!!
· Let’s get the big picture
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Practical thoughts on …. not becoming weary
· UNDERSTAND QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION
How to be strong in the Lord.
· We must focus on our attention to the Lord
· and ignore the ones around us
· who are hindering us with words by of criticism.
· We must focus on the example of Jesus who endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him.”
· Remember that we serve a big God!
Notes ….Bro Hagin taught us on ElShddi
Genesis 17
God renews the covenant with Abram
Genesis 17:1-2 (NIV)
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said,
