Good morning steadfast ones!

Hebrews 6:11-12 (HCSB) says,

  • Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

I looked up the word, “perseverance” in the Strongs Concordance and it means:

  • Patience
  • Endurance
  • Constancy
  • Steadfastness
  • Persistence

I believe the number one temptation that we face as believers today is the temptation to stop believing that the Word of God is true because we’ve been standing on a promise for a long time.  The above Scripture declares that it’s through FAITH AND PATIENCE (PERSISTENCE) that we inherit the promises.

Listen to these 4 amazing Scriptures:

  1. God’s Word is settled forever in heaven (Psalm 119:89).
  2. My covenant I will not break, nor alter the Word that has gone out of My lips (Psalm 89:34).
  3. You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name (Psalm 138:2).
  4. I am ready to perform My Word (Jeremiah 1:12).

Satan doesn’t want you to fulfill your destiny ~ He wants you to give up on yourself, your marriage, and especially on your commitment to God, through discouragement or worse, deception.

He doesn’t like the fact that you got started in your Christian life ~ Now he can’t do anything about that, but he will do everything he possibly can to keep you from finishing your race.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24,

  • Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.

This is why we’ve got to tap into THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE.  We’ve got to stand strong and be determined.  We’ve got to have a made-up mind that whatever comes against us in life, we are going all out with God and nothing is going to shake our faith and cause us to give up.

Proverbs 24:10 says,

  • If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

We can’t get down and discouraged every time a little opposition comes across our path.  We’ve got to stand strong and PERSEVERE, day in and day out, in the good times and in the tough times.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13-14a,

  • Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore…

The people that experience God’s best are the people that have a PERSISTENT attitude towards the Word of God.  Anyone can quit ~ anyone can give up ~ that’s the easy way out, but God’s looking for people that have a backbone made of steel.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that God is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him.

How family?  DILIGENTLY!!!

God is looking for people that are extremely determined ~ People that have a made-up mind ~ people that have their faces set like flint. 

2 Chronicles 16:9 says,

  • The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

They’re what?  Fully committed to Him!!!

The Message Translation says,

  • God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to Him.

How are they committed?  Totally!!!

One of the Scriptures I’ve always loved since I was a teenager is from 1 Corinthians 15:58, and that’s why I’m still standing strong today.  It says,

  • …Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…

Notice those words, “ALWAYS ABOUNDING“.  It means that PERSEVERENCE should become a habit.  But we must understand that just as standing strong and PERSEVERING can become a habit, so can quitting and giving up.

But family, God has not given us the Holy Spirit so we could become quitters.  No!  Philippians 4:13 says,

  • We can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST Who strengthens us.

I exhort you to latch onto the promises in God’s Word and be determined in your hearts that you’re going to stand fast and firm until you see those promises come to pass.

Let’s have a shameless persistence like the man from Luke 11:5-9.  Let’s have a “bull-dog” tenacity.  Don’t let go until your request is granted.  Believe that all of God’s promises are YES and AMEN (2 Corinthains 1:20).

Let me remind you that Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 that with men this is impossible, but with God ALL THINGS are possible.

Isn’t it good to know that when we come to the limit in our own ability, there’s a supernatural power that is not limited to the laws of nature?  Family, we serve a supernatural God! 

I encourage you to show the enemy that you’re going to outlast him.  Take a new stand today and reposition your feet.  Dig in your heels and let the enemy know you’re not going anywhere.  Continue to PERSEVERE!  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you! (Matthew 6:33).

Put the kingdom FIRST, which is all that God reigns over ~ His mission, His things.  Don’t put yourself first!  Wake up and say, “Father, what do YOU need?  What do YOU want me to do today?  What do YOU want accomplished today?”

Let’s consider our ways!

Being brave and never giving up,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church