Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon encourages embracing patience, perseverance, and persistence as spiritual disciplines to deepen our faith and align ourselves with God's will.
Welcome, beloved friends, to another day of divine discourse, another opportunity to gather under the banner of the Most High, to share in the nourishment of His Word. Today, we are going to immerse ourselves in a topic that, I believe, is vital for our spiritual growth and maturity. These are not just mere words, but rather, they are spiritual disciplines that have the power to shape our lives and our relationship with God. They are like the potter's hands, constantly molding us into the image of Christ.
Our scriptural foundation today is drawn from Acts 1:4 and Isaiah 40:31. In Acts, we read, "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.'" And in Isaiah, we find these encouraging words, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Transition. So, let us now enter into this divine discourse, with open hearts and receptive spirits. Let us learn together, grow together, and walk this path of faith together. Let us embrace patience, embody perseverance, and exemplify persistence, for in doing so, we align ourselves with the will of our Heavenly Father.
The disciples were waiting for a promise. A promise that was not yet seen, but was sure. A promise that was not yet experienced, but was certain. They were waiting for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Helper. They were waiting for the One who would empower them to be witnesses of Christ to the ends of the earth.
This waiting required patience. They had to trust in the timing of God, to believe in His faithfulness, to rest in His sovereignty. It required them to surrender their own plans, their own desires, their own understanding, and to submit to the will of God.
In our own lives, we too are often called to a season of waiting. We too are often called to exercise patience. We too are often called to trust in the promises of God. And just like the disciples, our waiting is not passive, but active. It is not filled with doubt, but with hope. It is not marked by fear, but by faith.
In the first part of this passage, Paul speaks of suffering as a precursor to perseverance ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO