How do we continue to advance and not quit in difficult times?
Phil. 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
1. Know God and learn His ways. This requires moving from a religious acquaintance to really knowing Him! (Israel knew the acts of God but Moses knew the ways of God.) Psa. 103:7
This involves intimacy. The cost of every relationship is the time invested in the relationship.
2. Gain and maintain a heavenly perspective. Our earthly lives fit into His heavenly mission!” Don't get bogged down in the cares of this life and miss the real mission of God.
3. Trust Him- Faith and Trust are partners . We must come to believe He is “redemptively involved” in our circumstances. “He has my back!” He has your back!
4. Understand spiritual warfare. Eph. 6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
A big part of this is to know who the enemy is and who he is not.
John 10:10- The thief comes to destroy!
5. Surround yourself with a faith filled support group. An accountability group is important for everyone. We don't mature to the point we don't need others. It requires ongoing humility to participate and not isolate. By the way, the Church is that place of accountability.
6. Learn how to Encourage yourself in the Lord. 1 Sam. 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." This is a learned art of worship. Practice true worship in the Spirit in the good times and it will strengthen you even in hard times. It is learning to open the door to God's Presence.
7. Finish the mission! *It has been said that the greatest way to answer your enemy is to finish the mission the Lord has given you!”
Phil. 13-14 “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
“I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CHRISTIAN LOSE WHO DIDN’T QUIT!”
