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Messages

Vonetta Flowers spent about 20 years persevering and training to win gold in the Olympics, and she is an example of crazy perseverance.

Scripture Texts

Galatians 6:9

Main Points or Ideas

Perseverance: A steady persistence in a course of action, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It is not about the talents. It says, “I will not quit.”

3 Enemies of Perseverance:

1. A Lack of Vision of the Glory of God

   • If your purpose is anything less than the glory of God, you are going to struggle
   • How are you bringing God glory?
   • If you spend all your time asking “why is this happening?” you won’t get an answer. A better question is this: “How can I bring God glory?”
   • James 1 – Count it all joy!
2. A Wrong Belief That Life Should Be Easy
• Galatians 6:9 – Let us not grow weary in doing good
• We deceive ourselves if we believe that life is easy
• People do not realize how close they are to success because they give up in the trials before getting through the other side.
• 1 Peter 4:12-13 – Trials are not strange; keep on rejoicing
3. A Wrong Belief That Success is a Destination

• George W. Truett – “Success is finding the will of God and doing it.”
• What is this success?

1. Faithfulness – 1 Corinthians 4:17

2. Serving – Matthew 20:28

3. Loving – Matthew 22:36-39

4. Praying – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

1. “The pastor who isn’t praying is playing; the congregation who isn’t praying is straying.”

5. Holiness – 1 Peter 1:16

6. Perseverance – Galatians 6:9

Conclusion

Keep serving where the Lord puts you!