2 July 2023 “You need to persevere” (part 1)

Bethel Baptist Church
Worship Service @ Home

2 July 2023

Welcome

“Honey bees have remarkable God-given qualities, are hard-working and persevere until something beautiful results. As Christians we should be like this, persevering in prayer until we see the power of God at work in His Church.”

Stella

Worship

Word

You need to persevere …

Heb. 10:36

One thing is for sure, God, who is eternal, knows the end from the beginning, and plans and purposes accordingly. We are His workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus to do good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10). And so, it goes without saying, that God, who knows what is to come, prepares His people thoroughly, for that which is to come. And so He requires of His people to persevere, Heb 10:36: “You need to persevere”.

God’s people need to go through everything that God is allowing them to go through in their lives, it is His training, His discipline. If we don’t, we will be lesser people for it and when future trials come we won’t cope as well because we skipped the training. Note the verses later on in Hebrews about the Lord’s discipline – “we are not to make light of it” or “lose heart because of it” (Heb 12:5) but “endure it” (Heb 12:7), because it is an indication of the Lord’s love for us and our sonship (Heb 12:6). Furthermore the discipline which seems unpleasant and painful now (Heb 12:11) later on “produces a harvest”.

Furthermore, we need to persevere in a certain way, with “confidence”:

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence.

Heb 10:35

The inclusion of the word “Therefore” at the beginning of this verse links it back to previous verses  where the writer has referred to their past experience, after they had received the light and endured through great suffering (Heb 10:32); were publicly insulted and persecuted (Heb 10:33); imprisoned and joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property (Heb 10:34); How? Because their focus was on Jesus’ return, their heavenly hope and reward, and not the things of this world. So now, with that in mind, they are called upon to recapture that same passion and fervour in serving the Lord.

Another shade of meaning of this word translated “confidence” is  “boldness”. Interestingly, in the Book of Acts when the early church began to grow and flourish, we frequently read of the apostles, previously timid and fearful, now praying for, and preaching with, boldness, e.g.,

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:29-31

We believers need to persevere and go forward with boldness in these days we live in focussed on this fact that Jesus is coming soon …. To be continued ….

Quote of the week

“Prayer is the acid test of the inner man’s strength. A strong spirit is capable of praying much and praying with all perseverance until the answer comes. A weak one grows weary and fainthearted in the maintenance of praying.”

Watchman Nee

Verse of the week

We count as blessed those who have persevered. You’ve heard of Job’s perseverance and … seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Jas. 5:11

Let’s Pray

Father,  strengthen Your Church by Your Spirit as You did in the early Church. Grant us boldness, wisdom, compassion and the words to speak in Jesus Christ, Amen.