Promises for the Battle
Perseverance
I Was Just Thinking … About Strength Through Adversity
Sometimes evangelists, in our desire to see people turn to Christ, lay such emphasis on the blessings believers will experience that converts may enter the Christian life without being fully aware of the suffering it necessarily involves. One significant emphasis in the apostles’ message to new Christians, however, was that they will indeed suffer. As … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About Holding Fast to the Resurrection
The Apostle Paul writes: You are saved by the gospel if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I received: (1) Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; (2) he was buried; (3) he was … Continue reading
Comfort #5—Comforting Words
Remember the promise to your servant, in which you made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your word has preserved me. … I have remembered your rules of old, O Eternal, and they comfort me. Psalm 119:49–52 No matter what anyone says, or how painful the accusation, or untrue the charge, … Continue reading
Comfort #4—Historical Comfort
Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 Scripture comforts because it presents evidence that God is patient with us during our lapses of faith. He does not ask or expect perfect success in our efforts to … Continue reading
Prayer #8—Calming Answers
Be anxious for nothing, but by thankful prayer and supplication in everything, let God know your requests. Then the peace of God, which exceeds what human cunning can create, will keep your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 The prospect of answered prayer provides more peace to our anxious, apprehensive hearts than relying … Continue reading
Prayer #6—Just Answers
At all times you ought to pray and not act out of frustration. … God will bring about justice for his elect, who cry to him day and night. He will not delay long over them. He will bring about justice for them quickly. Luke 18:1 & 7–8 Few things are more irritating than delayed … Continue reading
Contentment #6—Challenged Contentment
He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32 While we need to be content when we are in the presence too much, we also need to be content when we encounter situations which threaten … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About Jesus’ Perseverance
Jesus taught that the those who wanted to follow him would need to persevere to the end (Matthew 24:3). So we began our series about persevering in faith by acknowledging that sometimes we feel like giving up. When the pressure seems so unbearable that we’re ready to cave in, we need to fine tune our … Continue reading
Perseverance #8— Praised By Perseverance
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again … and who protects us by his power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3–5 How precious is the hope you have … Continue reading
Perseverance #7— Persevering Sowers
The one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. So let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not give up. Galatians 6:8–9 Ranger training … Continue reading
Promises for the Battle 