September 25 2016 Winning Through Persistence

WINNING THROUGH PERSISTENCE

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

One of the most essential qualities for success is persistence.  Paul was a man of incredible endurance.  In this passage, Paul shares his …….

Seven Secrets For Persistence

1. Remember that God loves you.

Verse 1 – Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

1 Corinthians 15:10 – Talks about God’s grace.

Grace says:

• I don’t have to prove my worth.
• Gives energy to start over when we fail.

2. Maintain a clear conscience.

Verse 2 – Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience.

1 Timothy 1:19 – Holding on to faith and a good conscience, some have rejected those and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Proverbs 10:9 – The man of integrity walks securely.

3. Have the right motivation.

Verse 5 – For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Verse 11 – For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.

Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.

4. I must accept my limitations.

Verse 7 – But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Exodus 23:29-30 – Drove enemy out little by little.

Hebrews 12:1 – Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

5. Love other people.

Verse 15 – All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

6. Take time to recharge.

Verse 16 – Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

List The Things That Can Renew You:

• A place to dump your worries.
• A time to play with family.
• Physical exercise.
• Bible reading and prayer.
• A strategy for daily renewal.

Psalm 119:50 – Your promise renews my life.

7. Keep your eye on the goal.

Verses 17-18 – For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

January 20 2013 How To Avoid Burnout

HOW TO PREVENT BURN-OUT
Exodus 20:8-9

Verses 8-9 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

I. The Sabbath is God’s solution for burn-out.

• What is it? It means rest.

• Why did God create it? For man’s benefit.

Mark 2:27 - Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

• The problem: Ignore or corrupt.

• When is it? We Worship on Sunday, but the principle is what is important.

Romans 14:5-6 - One man considers one day more sacred than another, each man should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special does so to the Lord.

II. What to do on your Sabbath.

Three Purposes

1. Use the day to rest your body.
Psalm 127:2 - God wants His loved ones to get their proper rest.

Psalm 23:2 - He makes me lie down in green pastures.

2. Use the day to recharge your emotions.

• Have a time of quietness.
Psalm 23:3 - He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

• Spend time with your family.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.

• Fellowship with believers.
Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another.

3. Use the day to refocus your spirit.
Psalm 122:1 - I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord.

Psalm 95:6 - Come let us bow down in worship before the Lord our maker.

Colossians 2:16-17 - Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come, the reality however, is found in Christ.