Tenacity

II Corinthians 11:22-27

Paul had Tenacity!

Synonyms: Tenacity: Perseverance; consistency; diligence; dedication; determination; drive; endurance; doggedness; grit; moxie; persistence; spunk; stamina; steadfastness; and stick-to-itiveness.

Jesus Christ is the “author and finisher of our faith.”

Antonyms: Tenacity: Apathy; idleness; lethargy, and laziness.

Simple definition: Tenacity: Is not talent. It is not an issue of time…

For talent provides hope for accomplishments…

But Tenacity guarantees it!

Tenacity is finishing.

Remember: “No great thing is created suddenly.” ~Epictetus

“Fee things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.” ~Samuel Johnson

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~Maya Angelou

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~Thomas Edison

Well Paul, you have suffered and gone through so much… You even said, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me…” –II Timothy 1:15.

So Paul, how do you feel about all this?

“7-I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: 8-Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” II Timothy 4:7-8.

Any last words of advice for us tonight Paul?

“35-Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36-As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37-Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39- Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39.

Amen!... Now that is TENACITY!