67 Sermon Illustrations on Endurance

He that buildeth a house, doth not take care that the rain should not descend upon it, or the storm should not beat upon it: there is no fencing against these things, they cannot be prevented by any care of ours; but he takes care that the house may be able to endure all weathers without damage. And he that buildeth a ship, doth not make this his work, that it should never meet with waves and billows; that is impossible; but that it may be tight and staunch, and able to endure all tempests. A man that taketh care for his body, doth not desire that he meet with no change of weather, hot or cold; but he prepareth his dress that his body may bear all inclemencies. Thus should Christians do: they should not so much take care how to avoid afflictions as to be ready to bear them with an even and quiet mind.

Let me then seek steadfastness that I may stand in every storm, strength that I may brave every tempest, and all the graces of the Spirit that I may be happy in every condition. I may not pray to be kept from the flood and the wind, but that my house may be built upon a rock. I may not ask that no tempest may assault my barque, but that Jesus may be always in the vessel. I may not beg the Lord to change the arrangements of his providence, and neither try me with the heat of prosperity nor the cold of adversity, but I must see to it that I buy of him raiment that I may be clothed amid all the changes of my circumstances. Herein is wisdom. Let us learn it, even as the prudent woman of the Proverbs had learned it, of whom we read, "She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet." Better to be prepared for trial than to be flying hither and thither to avoid it. Come, my soul, thou must make a passage across a rough sea, nerve thyself to it by grace divine, and the Lord shall yet be glorified in thee. A battle awaits thee. Do not attempt to run from the fight, but look to thine armour, and unsheathe thy sword.

Augustine has said, "One of the goodliest spectacles, able to attract angels to the gates of heaven to behold it, is neither theatres, amphitheatres, pyramids nor obelisks, but a man who knoweth how to do well and bear ill, and to vindicate himself from ill by doing well." N. Caussin

An Oneida chief, named Skenandon, having yielded to the instructions of a Christian, and lived a reformed man for fifty years, said just before he died, in his hundred and twentieth year, “I am an aged hemlock; the winds of one hundred years have whistled through my branches; I am dead at the top” (he was blind); “why I yet live the great good Spirit only knows. Pray that I may wait with patience my appointed time to die; and when I die, lay me by the side of my minister, that I may go up with Him at the great resurrection.”

The difficulties encountered by the Prussians on their march from Havre, by St. Lambert, to the field of Waterloo would have put the endurance of any troops to the test. The roads were ankle-deep from the heavy rains, and the defiles of St. Lambert turned into a regular swamp, almost impassable for men and horses; still worse for the guns and tumbrels of ammunition. These were very numerous and far from being well horsed, sinking at intervals up to the axle-trees. The horses’ floundering caused a stoppage, and the most robust soldiers in endeavoring to extricate the guns and ammunition wagons would drop down, overcome by the fatigue of their exertions, and declare “they could not get on.” “But we must get on,” replied their veteran commander, who seemed to multiply himself, and might be seen at different points along the line of march, exciting his men to exertion by words of encouragement. “I have promised Wellington to be up,” said Blücher, “and up we must get. Surely you will not make me forfeit my word. Exert yourselves a little more, and victory is certain.”--EDWARD COTTON, “A Voice from Waterloo.”

General Morgan, on one occasion, in discussing the fighting qualities of the soldiers of different nations, came to the conclusion that in many respects they were about the same, with one notable exception. “After all,” he said, “for the possession of the ideal quality of the soldier, for the grand essential, give me the Dutchman--he starves well.”

— DONALD SAGE MACKAY

Charlotte Wilson, in _Scribner’s_, writes a song of the pilgrim who minds not the hardships or fortunes of the road so he but reaches the goal of the journey:

Ah, little Inn of Sorrow, What of thy bitter bread? What of thy ghostly chambers, So I be shelterèd? ’Tis but for a night, the firelight That gasps on thy cold hearthstone; To-morrow my load and the open road And the far light leading on!

Ah, little Inn of Fortune, What of thy blazing cheer, Where glad through the pensive evening Thy bright doors beckon clear? Sweet sleep on thy balsam-pillows, Sweet wine that will thirst assuage-- But send me forth o’er the morning earth Strong for my pilgrimage!

Ah, distant End of the Journey, What if thou fly my feet? What if thou fade before me In splendor wan and sweet? Still the mystical city lureth-- The quest is the good knight’s part; And the pilgrim wends through the end of the ends Toward a shrine and a Grail in his heart.(Text.)

The path of safety in the moral as in the physical realm is not so much the avoidance of risks as the training of the faculties to resist.

It is a question well worth considering what it is that makes the savage so hardy. He lives nearer to nature than does the civilized man, and that is the reason he is hardier, tougher, and more enduring. Civilized men have departed far from the natural order of life, and they are suffering the penalty--a shortened and a feeble life.

Unfortunately, the majority of civilized human beings subject themselves to a hothouse regimen, apparently thinking that the most important thing in winter is to keep away the cold. A cold day is a dangerous thing to one who is not ready for it. January and February are deadly months to those who are not prepared for them. During these months many people are carried off by pneumonia. After people have reached the age of forty or fifty years, they are particularly susceptible to this disease, because of the lowered power of resistance. Toughness is the result of the body’s power of resistance. (Text.)--Dr. J. H. KELLOGG, _Good Health_.

Neil Orchard was talking with a farmer about his soy bean and corn crops. Rain had been abundant, and the results were evident. So his comment surprised him: “My crops are especially vulnerable. Even a short drought could have a devastating effect.”

“Why?” Orchard asked.

He explained that while we see the frequent rains as a benefit, during that time the plants are not required to push roots deeper in search of water. The roots remain near the surface. A drought would find the plants unprepared and quickly kill them.

Some Christians receive abundant “rains” of worship, fellowship, and teaching. Yet when stress enters their lives, many suddenly abandon God or think him unfaithful. Their roots have never pushed much below the surface. Only roots grown deep into God (Col. 2:6-7) help us endure times of drought in our lives.

John Scott was in a 480-foot mine elevator in England when safety engineers began testing its emergency braking system. For two hours the engineers repeatedly raised the elevator to the surface and sent it into a free-fall before realizing John and a fellow miner were inside. They survived the ordeal with some very sore backs. Featured in a Timex ad: “Takes a licking, keeps on ticking.”

A few years ago, our family vacationed in California – the land of the great redwood forest. The author John Steinbeck wrote of them: “The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always.”

There’s something worshipful that happens when you stand in front of a giant tree. I was reading about the mighty California redwoods recently, and came across this note online:

Redwood tree roots are very shallow, often only five or six feet deep. But they make up for it in width, sometimes extending up to 100 feet from the trunk. They thrive in thick groves, where the roots can intertwine and even fuse together. This gives them tremendous strength against the forces of nature.

Notice what keeps these huge trees from falling in the high winds of nature. It is not their depth, but rather, their relationship with surrounding trees. By joining underground arms with neighbors, they gain enormous stability. Conversely, a redwood standing all by itself is a fragile one.

Think about that metaphor in light of where we are as a family of churches. There is a spiritual truth in there, summarized in four simple words: We need each other.

What holds a denomination, or even a single local church together? It is the humility to say: we need others in order to be strong. It is not wise to stand alone.

In Hebrews 10, the author is switching from a doctrinal to a practical posture. Having established the weighty matters of Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest, the author now aims to motivate the believer to do something with it.

21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:21-25

Each of these “let us” statements is connected to a key component of Christian living. Here we see what strong Christians do.

Strong Christians draw near to Christ in prayer (Hebrews 10:22).

As you know, the Old Testament practice in the temple restricted access to the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could enter, and only for a short amount of time. But that era came to a close with the crucifixion of Christ. The final sacrifice was made, and every single Christian can freely enter the inner sanctum. And we do so by prayer.

One of the special people God put in my path this year is Bill Elliff, a pastor and revivalist in Little Rock, Arkansas. He spoke at a denominational meeting about the difference between prayer being in the side room of your house as opposed to the foundation of your house:

If someone gave you money to build a home, you would develop your plans with an architect. But you might discover that the money they provided was not enough. Back to the architect you’d go. You would downsize one room or another, maybe even deciding that some rooms would be nice, but unnecessary. But there is one part of the construction you could not eliminate: the foundation. Even though unseen, everything depends on the foundation.

And from there, Elliff makes the connection to the local church and to individual believers. Prayer has been moved to the periphery of our ministries, to the side rooms of our lives. It is not foundational. It is not our first reaction to conflict. It is not our natural reflex when we feel hurt by other believers.

If Hebrews had been written today, this verse might read: Too much tweeting; not enough praying. I believe that we all should be asking ourselves about the decreasing levels of prayer taking place with increasing levels of screen time.

Strong Christians hold on to hope in Christ (Hebrews 10:23).

One of the worst games ever invented is Tug of War. I always manage to pick the losing team. The game ends with my body being drug along the ground, as if I’m being pulled behind a vehicle. My hands blister from the wear and tear of clinging to that rope. Sometimes it hurts to hold on.

The author of Hebrews is speaking to a highly Jewish audience – a group of people who would not let go of the Old Covenant. They were holding onto the outdated rules which were abolished at the cross. Even worse, they were not holding on to the hope we have in Christ.

Last year, Lifeway Research conducted a study on the well-being of pastors, assessing their overall needs. The findings were fascinating, particularly in the pandemic season, when congregations were split down the middle due to masking and vaccination arguments. This is hard on the heart of the pastor who longs to see his people unified and focused on the mission.

What’s more, 66 percent of pastors confessed that they were wavering – that they did not feel solid in their belief that God would pull them through. In the words of Winston Churchill, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Don’t give up. Take it one day at a time and believe that the Lord will see you through.

Recently, my wife Lynley and I were at a gathering of pastors and one of them was Gregg Matte from Houston’s First. Gregg was sharing what he has learned over the years about endurance, about hanging on in hard times. He shared two insights that stuck with us:

Today’s newspapers line tomorrow’s birdcages. Hard times will come, but remember that the news cycle is short. This too shall pass. The church belongs to the Lord, and He will preserve it.

The clouds are always moving. If you look above and see dark, overcast skies, just wait a few days, or months, or years; the sun will shine again. Don’t lose heart when it feels gloomy in your life. Conversely, when the sun is shining and all is well, be aware that James 1 is true – that trials are the tests we must undergo if we are to be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

There are seasons when the only thing God expects us to do is to hold on, to be faithful with what is in front of us, and to wait upon His rescue. Draw near to God in prayer.

Strong Christians provoke one another in love (Hebrews 10:24).

The Greek word for provoke is used in another place in the New Testament, describing an annoying behavior. It is used to explain how one person can negatively rub off on another, but here the word is used in the opposite way – to be a positive irritant. To disrupt a person’s life in a most inspiring way. This is the ministry of encouragement.

Former Lifeway president Jimmy Draper told me this year: be kind to everybody, because everybody’s having a hard time. It is kindness that truly impacts the people around us, not our condemnation. People need to be told how important they are to you.

This brings us back to the redwood tree. What makes those massive trees strong is their interlocking roots with neighbors. They draw strength from one another.

Now it becomes clear why Hebrews goes on in the next verse to say, “let us not give up the habit of meeting together.” Being in proximity, in the same room, our lives touching one another brings tremendous stability and joy to our lives. When we are rooted in a local church, we are far better people.

Rev. David Holwick S 2 Corinthians sermon series

June 6, 1999 2 Corinthians 11:21-29

IN DANGER FOR GOD

=================

I. Bragging rights.

II. Paul's ordeal.

A. Suffering from people.

B. Suffering from the elements.

C. Inner spiritual struggle.

III. What have you endured for Christ's sake?

A. Only God can provide this motivation.

B. Missionary woman doctor in Africa.

C. Martyred missionary in India.

IV. Words versus actions.

A. We respect those who live what they preach.

B. What does following Jesus cost you?

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Rev. David Holwick T 2 Corinthians sermon series

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

June 6, 1999

2 Corinthians 11:21-29

IN DANGER FOR GOD

=================

SERMON SUMMARY: Christian discipleship can be a dangerous affair. Paul

endured great suffering in his mission. Modern missionaries have had

similar experiences. We must be willing to back up our beliefs with

our lives.

I. Bragging rights.

A. What have you accomplished in life?

1) Creates a tension: we want to have done something

significant, but we want everyone to think we're humble.

2) Whatever we have done (or not done), we look up to

people who have genuine accomplishments.

B. The Apostle Paul had a dramatic career.

1) As his opponents tried to undercut him, he had to defend

his record.

a) He defended his heritage.

b) He defended his mission.

2) In this passage he gives a remarkable list of what he

had been through.

II. Paul's ordeal.

A. Suffering from people.

1) Forty lashes minus one. (Ray Stedman; also below)

This was a purely Jewish form of punishment.

The Law of Moses said that for certain offenses you could

be publicly whipped with forty lashes.

But it also said, according to the Jewish rabbis, that if

more than forty were inflicted the man who did the

whipping had to receive forty lashes of his own.

So to prevent that they were careful not to go quite to

forty; they made it thirty-nine, "forty less one."

Now incredible as it sounds (and we have no record of it

other than this), Paul had endured that terrible beating

five times.

The Law also said that if a man died because of a flogging,

his death would not be blamed upon the man doing the

whipping, so it is clear that this whipping was so

severe it could take your life.

-2-

2) Beaten with rods.

This was Roman punishment.

Paul was a Roman citizen and although the law of Rome

decreed that no citizen should be beaten with rods.

Yet by this time on three different occasions he had been

so beaten.

(In the book of Acts there is another incident of that

nature recorded which comes later than this.)

3) Stoned.

By rocks, not drugs.

On first missionary journey he was stoned so severely they

dumped him outside of city thinking he was dead.

He got up and went to preach in the next city.

B. Suffering from elements.

1) Ocean storms, raging rivers, starvation.

2) To spread the gospel, he would go anywhere.

C. Inner spiritual struggle.

1) He burned for the churches.

2) (He was also burned up by how they treated him!)

D. Much here is not mentioned in book of Acts.

1) Everything happened before Acts 19.

2) Still to come: two riots, an assassination attempt,

and another major shipwreck.

III. What have you endured for Christ's sake?

A. Only God can provide this motivation.

1) The love of Christ compelled him. 2 Cor 5:14

2) His love has also compelled others.

B. Missionary woman doctor in Africa.

Helen Roseveare was born into a well-respected English

family.

-3-

During her freshman year in Cambridge University she had

a conversion experience and joined an evangelical church.

She became a doctor and felt called to serve God in Africa.

In 1953 she set sail for the Congo.

Very soon she realized the typical missionary hospital

wasn't adequate for the human suffering she encountered.

Helen envisioned a training center where nurses would be

taught the Bible and basic medicine.

Then they would be sent back to their villages to handle

routine cases, teach preventive medicine, and evangelize.

Her missionary colleagues blocked her at every turn.

Just when her training center was ready to graduate its

first students, the mission moved her to Nebobongo, a

remote leprosy camp in the jungle.

Helen started from scratch and built up a new training

center.

She also became friends with the Africans and went to an

old African preacher when she needed spiritual help.

Humbling herself in this way was unacceptable to the other

missionaries.

To keep her in her place, the mission board sent a man to

Nebobongo and put him in charge.

It was a bitter pill for Helen.

She submitted to his authority but it tore her up.

Every seven years she was given a furlough back in England.

This time she decided to get a husband so she would have

more pull with the other missionaries.

She met a young Christian doctor, bought new clothes and

got a new hair style, and tried to win him.

She even resigned from the mission.

The young doctor liked her but wouldn't marry her.

Still single, Helen returned to Congo in 1960, just as that

nation became independent.

It was a very uneasy time for whites and many of the

missionaries began to leave for good.

Helen had a great opportunity to build up Nebobongo on her

own.

Meanwhile, the Simba rebels took control of village after

village.

In the summer of 1964 they occupied Nebobongo and put Helen

under house arrest.

Atrocities were being committed daily.

On October 29, Helen was forced to endure a series of

brutal assaults.

One verse came to her mind: "My God, my God, why have you

forsaken me?"

Two months later she was finally liberated.

-4-

A year later Helen Roseveare returned to Nebobongo.

The new spirit of African nationalism continually questioned

her authority.

Finally, after twenty years of hard service, she arranged

to turn over the mission to an African colleague.

She organized a big day to celebrate the handover and

the graduation of a class of students.

At the last moment the students went on strike and the

celebration was cancelled.

Helen returned to England in 1973 to face a very lonely

period in her life.

But as with so many other disappointing experiences, she

turned to God.

Instead of bitterness there was a new spirit of humility

and a new appreciation for what Jesus had done for her

on the cross.

In the years that followed she became an acclaimed

spokeswoman for Christian missions.

#4620

C. Martyred missionary in India.

Just a few months ago an Australian missionary and his two

sons were burned to death in India.

Graham Staines and his wife Gladys had answered the call to

spread the gospel there.

After the murders, Gladys publicly forgave the murderers.

Her forgiveness of such brutality is being seen as "true

spirituality" which is inherently attractive to the Hindu

mind.

More than this, she is staying in India instead of going home.

"The thought of getting up and leaving has just not occurred

to me once.

I just feel that this is where God has called me."

[This month India elected his first Christian prime minister,

which some attribute to sympathy for this event.]

#4687

IV. Words versus actions.

A. We respect those who live what they preach.

1) The harder the life, the more we listen.

2) (Yet Paul's conclusion points to weakness: "basket case")

B. What does following Jesus cost you?

1) Many act ashamed of him.

2) Others view their service as a burden.

3) Commitment and dedication.

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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:

#4620 "From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya," Ruth A. Tucker, Zondervan Publishing

House, 1983, page 254.

#687 "God's Glory Among the Nations: What Is It Worth To Us?" by Rick

Wood, Internet: Brigada-pubs-missionfrontiers@xc.org

(mf99.03-04.07-wood), June 3, 1999.

These and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,

absolutely free, at http://users.nac.net/wdh2000/illust.html

=======================================================================

*

Sir Edmund Hillary, who attempted to scale Mount Everest, lost one of the members of his team in the failed effort. He returned to a hero's welcome in London, England, where a banquet held in his honor was attended by the lords and ladies and powerful people of the British Empire. Behind the speakers' platform were huge blown-up photographs of Mount Everest.

When Hillary arose to receive the acclaim of the distinguished audience, he turned around and faced the mountain and said, "Mount Everest, you have defeated me. But I will return. And I will defeat you. Because you can't get any bigger and I can."

________

(From Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do)

Australian Pursuit

Roger McCown

Of all the races devised, this has to be one of the most arduous. It is characterized by frantic bursts of speed at the beginning, but rather quickly settles into a test of cunning and endurance. The Australian pursuit race is a race of individuals. There is nothing faintly resembling a team sport about it. The objective is not to cross the finish line... there is no finish line. Runners are spaced at equal distances from one another around a circular course which is, ideally, at least a quarter mile in length. The gun sounds. There is but one objective before which every other strategy falls: pass the runner in front of you until there is no one left in front of you. Once someone cuts in front and passes you, your race is over. You're out of it. The final two runners will literally run themselves into the ground before one of them alone remains-- a completely exhausted winner.

The good race to which Paul refers in Galatians 5:1-15 requires this kind of determination. There will be no "quit" in those who endure to the end. This is true for congregations-- as much as it is true for individual believers. Even as individuals, we run as one, helping each other, depending on each other and being dependable for each other. Here is the key to finishing well.

--The Brentwood Oaks Notes, Austin, Texas

For more than 20 years Robert Frost was a failure. He often said that during this time he was one of the very few persons who knew he was a poet. At his death, the world mourned his passing, and today he towers as one of America's greatest verse writers. His poems have been published in 22 languages, with his American edition alone selling over a record million copies. He was a 4-time winner of the coveted Pulitzer Prize for poetry and had more honorary degrees thrust upon him than probably any other man of letters.

Robert Frost was 39 before he ever sold a volume of poetry. He had been writing for 20 years and received endless rejection slips. However, his perseverance paid off and the world is wiser and richer

for it.

The story is told that Andrew Jackson's boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson's friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.”

Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn't they usually say three times and out?”

“Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat -- he would never stay 'throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.”

Picking up on that idea, someone has said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are 'throwed,' but whether you are willing to stay 'throwed'.” We may face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith. Then, through the Holy Spirit's power we can be the eventual victor over sin and the world. The battle is the Lord's, so there is no excuse for us to stay “throwed”!

________

Our Daily Bread, December 11

When I was in college, I ran cross-country. Our competitions were held on area golf courses. Race officials placed flags on the course to mark the way for runners. A certain color indicated “left turn,” another meant “right turn,” a third meant “straight ahead.”

If the runners wanted a medal, they had to follow the proper course. A runner couldn’t decide, “This is a six-mile race, but I’ve only got four miles in me this morning. I’m going to take a shortcut. I hope nobody minds.”

It’s true for Christians, too. We have to run the race God intended us to run, not somebody else’s race or the race of our own choosing. Yet it’s easy to compare ourselves with others. When the race seems tough, it’s easy to look at someone else and say, “If I had his race to run, no problem. If I had his paycheck, if I had a spouse, if I had his good health, I could run with perseverance.”

We’re tempted to quit because our course is harder than someone else’s, but God says, “I want you to run this race. Don’t think about others. Just look at me.”

HITTING THE WALL

At the beginning of a marathon, runners feel strong and energetic. For years, they’ve followed a regimen prescribing what to eat, how much to train, and how much to rest. They’re ready.

Then the gun sounds, and they take off. Sixteen miles into that marathon, though, they no longer feel energetic, do they?

Blisters begin to rub raw; it feels like a knife has lodged in their side. Legs turn to mush, and muscles scream in pain.

It happens in life, too. We get down the road, and there’s pain involved. We say, “This hurts, so it must not be God’s will.”

But pain doesn’t mean it’s no longer God’s will. Sometimes the race God calls us to run is filled with pain. Remember that God didn’t call you just to begin a noble task or relationship. He wants us to keep running and be great finishers.

World-class runners have a “kick.” A “kick” is a runner’s term that means when they get to that last one hundred yards, they can still sprint to the finish line and win the race. God wants us to have a “kick.” No matter what the circumstance, God wants us to finish strong.

NEVER STAY DOWN

The 1981 movie Chariots of Fire portrays the true story of Eric Liddell, a man who competed for Great Britain in the 1924 Olympics before becoming a missionary.

One memorable scene that appeared to be Hollywood fiction, actually happened. A year before the Olympic showdown, Liddell ran in a meet between England, Ireland, and Scotland. In the 440-yard event, moments after the gun sounded, Liddell tangled feet with J.J. Gillies of England and tumbled to the track. Dazed, Liddell sat there, not knowing whether he could get up, when the official screamed, “Get up and run!”

He jumped to his feet and pursued the pack, now a full twenty yards ahead of him.

With forty yards to go, he pulled into third place, then second. Right at the tape he passed Gillies, stuck his chest out, won the race, collapsing in total exhaustion.

The next day The Scotsman newspaper reported, “The circumstances in which Liddell won the race made it a performance bordering on the miraculous.” Some described it as “the greatest track performance they had ever seen.”

Some of you have been knocked down by foolish decisions, by a person, or even Satan himself. When we’re down on the track, we’re ashamed and depressed. The only real shame is to stay down. God’s word compels you, “Get up and run!” Forget what lies behind and run for the prize God has waiting for you.

Philippians 1:6 doesn’t say, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day you fail and flop on the track.” It says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

"It's not the load that breaks you down; it's the way you carry it."

Lena Horne

Entertainer

Cited in BITS & PIECES

Winning, Not Sinning

Read: Hebrews 12:1-11

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. --Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12 is about running the race of faith successfully, yet the word winning isn't mentioned once. Rather, the writer emphasized endurance and discipline. Without these qualities, the race can't be won.

Winning a race is pleasurable, but running is often painful. To be spiritual athletes, we must get rid of every weight and sin that ensnares us. That takes discipline. We must accept the "burn" of endurance for the joy that is set before us--finishing the race.

Our family took in an addict named Derek, who for years had been ensnared by drugs. Derek began his race of faith by accepting Christ and His forgiveness. Formerly he had been ruled by the law of Satan's kingdom: Enjoy an unruly life now and pay the cost later. Now he was learning the law of Christ's kingdom: Pay the cost of God's discipline now and enjoy the fruit of righteousness later (see Heb. 12:11). One day Derek said, "It's amazing what you can endure when you know you're winning!"

The race of faith is unique because we're competing against ourselves, not others. To win over sin and self, we must endure God's loving discipline. But knowing we're winning instead of sinning makes the pain of discipline worthwhile. --JEY

HOW TO RUN THE RACE

Find a trainer: Rely on the Holy Spirit for His help.

Follow a game plan: Read God's Word.

Work out regularly: Put your faith into action.

No pain, no gain. Know pain, great gain.

Train to Finish

By: Suzi "Suzi T"Thibeault

This article originally appeared in "Suzi T's Trail 100's Newsletter" and is reprinted with her permission.

----------

The book "Eat to Win" was probably a success because we would all like to be capable of winning by simply eating certain foods. We are even willing to read about how to train correctly to win, though obviously only a few ultra runners will ever win an ultra during their life, because it also requires talent. However strange it may seem, the titles to this article is not as senseless as it appears. I agree, nobody consciously trains to quit, but my training philosophy is geared towards a finishers reward, not a winners award.

My personal achievements in ultra running, and those of others I have listened to, prove that the one most important ingredient for completion in an ultra is mental attitude. Not just on race day, or race weekend for a hundred, but during training. The Suzi T definition of training may reveal the secret to all my hundred mile finishes, in that I believe LIFE is training for everything. Not that training should be your life, but that your life should count as training. When fifty mile race turns into a fifty mile hike, I consider it a training session of grand proportion.

Setting goals that you believe are attainable helps, no matter what everybody else thinks. You can finish your chosen event if you honestly deep down trust your ability and your preparation. There are stories after each run, about someone doing well who "doesn't" train. Well, what is training?

The components I base my plans on include the facets that every day life revolve around. First and foremost, to finish, your head has to be on straight. Which means emotionally you must be sound. Certainly I act in a less than sane manner at times, but forme that passes as normal. The relationship I have with myself, my husband, my family, my co-workers, my friends, and even strangers is reflected in my success possibilities. If you sacrifice your personal relationships for an all consuming training regimen your success ratio drops as well as the satisfaction of a finish if it occurs.

Everything counts as training and you can reward yourself accordingly. When I walk to the mailbox instead of driving I feel better mentally, and I count it physically as part of my training. At work in the travel agency I often stand at my desk instead of sitting because the time on my feet is training. When I work in Veterinary clinics I consider lifting a big dog an "upper body work out".

Sure, I could train more mileage and run faster during races, but what would I sacrifice to find the time and energy? Why give up rock climbing, when you can just count it as strength training? Take your kids for a bike ride, or your dog for a walk, it's life, it's training, and it counts.

Even resting is part of the plan. When I'm injured, or tired, or both, I try not to begrudge the runs I am missing. Instead I do my planning. The strategy I feel is needed to finish includes wardrobe planning, food preparation, equipment modification, and lots of day dreaming. The anticipation is half the enjoyment, and if things go right, it wont be ALL the enjoyment. Give yourself credit. Count your life as training. Make your life the best you can manage and your ultra experiences will provide the satisfaction that comes with a completion.

This past weekend [January 2002] "Super Bowl"-number-whatever was won by fourteen-point underdogs, the New England Patriots.

Nine years ago, January 3, 1993, another team, the Buffalo Bills, won by a field goal in overtime against the Houston Oilers. At half-time the score was - Oilers 28, Bills - 3; nine minutes into the third quarter the Oilers intercepted a Bills pass and went out 35 - 3. But at the end of the game, 21 minutes later, in overtime, the Bills kicked a field goal to win 38 - 35.

On the Monday following this week's Super Bowl, a high school coach reminded Rush Limbaugh of a truth most coaches have known for ages: it makes no difference who is ahead at the end of the first quarter, who is ahead at half-time, who is ahead at the end of the third quarter, or even who is ahead at the two-minute warning in the fourth and final quarter ... it only matters who is ahead when the game ends. At the end of the first, second or third quarters no one knows who is going to win. Not even at the two minute warning is anyone "certain" of who will win. Athletes ought to be brainwashed with that truth -- those that are win more games and play much better whether ahead or behind.

This truth reminds athletes of what Paul told the Corinthians long ago, it ain't over till it's over, "run in such a way that you may win." [1 Corinthians 9:24b]

In our world today, it may appear the enemy is ahead in points. Perhaps this is the fourth quarter or even beyond the two-minute warning ... but it doesn't matter, because we all know who will be the winner when the game of life ends - the Lord Jesus Christ!

*

In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. — Philippians 1:28.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me around about. — Psalm 3:6.

The world owes much to its men and women of courage. We do not mean physical courage, in which man is at least equalled by the bulldog; nor is the bulldog considered the wisest of species. The courage that displays itself in silent effort and endeavor — that dares to endure all and suffer all for truth and duty — is more truly heroic than the achievements of physical valor, which are rewarded by honors and titles, or by laurels sometimes steeped in blood. — Samuel Smiles.

And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us;

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us. — Martin Luther

It was a grueling 543.7-mile endurance race from Sydney to Melbourne, Australia -- the world’s longest and toughest ultra-marathon. In 1983, 150 world-class runners converged on Sydney for the event.

On the day of the race, a toothless 61-year-old potato farmer and sheepherder named Cliff Young approached the registration table wearing overalls and galoshes over his work boots. At first, people thought he was there to watch the race, but to their surprise, Cliff Young declared his intention to run and requested a number.

Cliff Young had grown up on a farm without the benefit of luxuries like horses and four-wheel-drive vehicles. When the storms rolled in, Cliff headed out to round up 2,000 sheep over a 2,000-acre farm. Sometimes he had to run them two or three days to complete the round up.

The incredulous staff issued Cliff #64. As he mingled with the other runners at the starting line, spectators couldn’t believe their eyes. “This must be a joke!” some mused.

When the gun went off, bystanders snickered at Cliff, left behind in his galoshes and overalls as the other runners with their sculpted bodies and running gear briskly began the race. Snickers gave way to laughter when Cliff began to run, not like the other runners, but with what could only be described as a leisurely, odd shuffle.

All of Australia was riveted to the live telecast as they watched the scene unfold. “Someone should stop that crazy old man before he kills himself!”

Five days, 15 hours and 4 minutes later, Cliff Young came shuffling across the finish line in Melbourne, winning the ultra-marathon! He didn’t win by a few seconds or even a few minutes. The nearest runner was 9 hours and 56 minutes behind.

Australians were stunned at this remarkable yet seemingly impossible victory. How did it happen?

Everyone knew that the only way to win the ultra-marathon was to run for 18 hours, then stop and sleep for six hours. This routine was repeated for five punishing days. But no one told Cliff Young. He just shuffled along, day and night, night and day, without stopping to sleep. Cliff broke the previous race record by nine hours and became a national hero overnight.

Interestingly, professional runners began to study and experiment with the odd shuffle that Cliff used in his running. Many long distance runners have since adopted what has come to be called the “Young shuffle” due to its aerodynamic and energy efficiency.

Likewise, victory in the Christian life comes through endurance. The Christian life is not a 100-yard dash. It is a marathon. In the short distance race, speed is important. In the long distance race, endurance is what leads to success.

As Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us run with endurance the race set before us.” Each of us must run the race in our own special way using the gifts and talents God has given us. Against all odds, we run the race.

“For the joy before Him” Jesus endured, we read in Hebrews 12:2. You and I are His joy!

As Scripture tells us in Hebrews 12:3: “Consider Him, who endured such hostility of sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

When we run the Christian ultra-marathon with endurance, keeping our focus on Jesus, we can be assured of finishing strong and hearing those cherished words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

________

David Allen is dean of the school of preaching and distinguished professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Doubting our salvation and false assurance are both exacerbated by the clichéd ways in which we speak about the gospel.

________

If there were a Guinness Book of World Records record for “amount of times having asked Jesus into your heart,” I’m pretty sure I would hold it.

By the time I reached the age of 18 I had probably “asked Jesus into my heart” 5,000 times. I started somewhere around age 4 when I approached my parents one Saturday morning asking how someone could know that they were going to heaven. They carefully led me down the “Romans Road to Salvation,” and I gave Jesus his first invitation into my heart.

Both my parents and my pastor felt confident of my sincerity and my grasp on the details, and so I was baptized. We wrote the date in my Bible and I lived in peace about the matter for nearly a decade.

One Friday night during my 9th grade year, however, my Sunday school teacher told us that according to Matthew 7:21-23, many people who think they know Jesus will awaken on that final day to the reality that he never really knew them. Though they had prayed a prayer to receive Jesus, they had never really been born again and never taken the lordship of Jesus seriously. They would, my teacher explained, be turned away from heaven into everlasting punishment with the terrifying words, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you.”

I’ll never forget the impact those words had on me. Would I be one of those ones turned away? Had I really been sorry for my sins? And could I really have known what I was doing at age 4?

So I asked Jesus to come into my heart again, this time with a resolve to be much more intentional about my faith. I requested re-baptism, and gave a very moving testimony in front of our congregation about getting serious with God.

Not long after that, however, I found myself asking again: Had I really been sorry enough for my sin this time around? I’d see some people weep rivers of tears when they got saved, but I hadn’t done that. Did that mean I was not really sorry? And there were a few sins I seemed to fall back into over and over again, no matter how many resolutions I made to do better. Was I really sorry for those sins? Was that prayer a moment of total surrender? Would I have died for Jesus at that moment if he’d asked?

So I prayed the sinner’s prayer again. And again. And again. Each time trying to get it right, each time really trying to mean it. I would have a moment when I felt like I got it right and experienced a temporary euphoria. But it would fade quickly and I’d question it all again. And so I’d pray again.

I walked a lot of aisles during those days. I think I’ve been saved at least once in every denomination.

Because I understood baptism to be a post-salvation confession of faith, each time I gained a little assurance, I felt like I should get re-baptized. Four times, total. Honestly, it got pretty embarrassing. I became a staple at our church’s baptism services. I got my own locker in the baptismal changing area.

It was a wretched experience. My spiritual life was characterized by cycles of doubt, aisle-walking, and submersion in water. I could not find the assurance of salvation no matter how often, or how sincerely, I asked Jesus into my heart.

I used to think I was alone in this struggle, but as I’ve shared my story over the years so many have come forward to tell me that my experience was theirs (usually minus the baptisms and the OCD tendencies) that I’ve concluded this problem is epidemic in the church.

The Other Side of the Problem: The Falsely Assured

On the other hand, Scripture indicates that there are a vast number of people who seem assured of a salvation they don’t actually possess. My Sunday school teacher was telling us the truth: according to Matthew 7, Jesus will turn away “many” on that last day who thought they belonged to him. There’s no doubt that many of those will have prayed a sinner’s prayer.

In his parable about the different types of soil, Jesus spoke of a group who heard his word and made an initial, encouraging response of belief, only to fade away over time. These are those, Jesus explained, who hear the gospel and respond positively to it — pray the prayer, walk the aisle, get baptized, or do whatever new converts in your church do. They remain in the church for a period of time. But they do not endure when the sun of persecution comes out and will not in the end be saved (Luke 8:13; Matt. 5:13; John 15:6).

These sobering stories teach us that many are headed into eternal judgment under the delusion of going to heaven. Many believe their eternal destiny has been settled because of a time when they invited Jesus into their life. They were told that if they prayed the prayer, Jesus would save them, seal them, and never leave nor forsake them.

A 2011 Barna study shows that nearly half of all adults in America have prayed such a prayer, and subsequently believe they are going to heaven, though many of them rarely, if ever, attend a church, read the Bible personally, or have lifestyles that differ in any significant way from those outside the church. If the groups described in Matthew 7 and Luke 8 are not referring to them, I don’t know who they could be referring to.

An Unhelpful Gospel Cliché?

I have begun to wonder if both problems, needless doubting and false assurance, are exacerbated by the clichéd ways in which we (as evangelicals) have learned to speak about the gospel. Evangelical shorthand for the gospel is to “ask Jesus into your heart,” or “accept Jesus as Lord and Savior,” or “give your heart to Jesus.” These phrases may not be wrong in themselves, but the Bible never tells us, specifically, to seek salvation in those ways. The biblical summation of a saving response toward Christ is “repentance” and “belief” in the gospel.

“Belief” means acknowledging that God told the truth about Jesus, namely that he is Lord and that he has finished forever the work of our salvation.

“‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ ... (And Paul said) ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).

“To the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Rom. 4:5).

“Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).

Repentance means acting on that belief. Repentance is not subsequent to belief; it is part of saving belief, like two sides of the same coin. Repentance literally means “a change of mind” (in Greek, metanoia: meta — new; noia — mind) about Jesus. Repentance means understanding that Jesus is Lord and that you have lived in cosmic treason to him and reversing your direction based on that. Repentance was the first response Jesus called for in his preaching of the gospel (Mark 1:15); the first command Peter gave to those who wanted to be saved after his first sermon (Acts 2:38); and what Paul said God had commanded all men everywhere to do now that Jesus had been resurrected (Acts 17:30). (See also Acts 3:19 and 26:20.)

Belief and repentance are the only prescribed biblical instruments for laying hold of salvation. They might be expressed in a “sinner’s prayer,” but they are fundamentally postures of the heart toward God. It is possible to pray a sinner’s prayer and not have repented and believed. It is also possible to repent and believe without articulating such a prayer.

Conversion to Christ is like sitting down in a chair. If you are seated right now, there was a point in time in which you transferred the weight of your body from your legs to the chair. You may not even remember making that decision, but the fact you are seated now proves that you did.

Salvation is a posture of repentance and faith toward the finished work of Christ in which you transfer the weight of your hopes of heaven off of your own righteousness and onto Jesus Christ. It does begin in a moment, but it persists for the rest of your life. The way to know you made the decision is by the posture you are currently in. The apostle John almost always talks about “believing” in the present tense because it is something we do continually, not something we did once in the past (e.g., John 3:36; 20:27-28; 9:36-38; 1 John 5:13). The posture begins at a moment, but it persists for a lifetime.

The book of Leviticus provides a wonderful picture of this. Once a year each Jewish father would appear on behalf of the family to offer a sacrifice for sin. When the moment of sacrifice came, the father would lay his hand on the head of the sacrificial lamb and the priest would slit its throat. The resting of the hand of the man on the head of the lamb symbolized the transference of the guilt of the family onto the head of the sacrifice. As the lamb bled out, the guilt of the family was removed.

Faith is placing our hand upon the sacrificial head of Jesus. When we do so, Paul says, “our faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5). There is a moment when we first lay our hand on the head of Jesus. It is to rest there for the rest of our lives. When we want to know if we are saved, we should look at where our “hand,” our hope for heaven, is currently resting.

The Moment It Made Sense to Me

I remember the moment this finally all made sense to me. I had begun to despair that I could ever find assurance, that I could ever experience a moment that would establish once and for all that I was born again. A friend directed me to Martin Luther, whom he said had gone through his own bitter struggle with assurance. I went to the library and checked out Luther’s commentary on the book of Romans. I’ll never forget that night reading his words on Romans 10:9:

Paul says, “If thou ... shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” That is true, for, as we read in 4:25, “Christ was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification.” Whoever believes these two facts will be saved. ... We obtain the true righteousness of God by believing sincerely the promises of God, as we read in 4:3, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

In that moment, at last, it all made sense. Salvation was obtained by simply resting on the two “facts” God had promised about Jesus: he was crucified as the payment for our sins; he was resurrected as proof that God accepted the payment. Just as Abraham was saved by believing God would keep his word, I was saved by believing he had.

Those two facts were true whether I believed them or not, but when I rested my weight upon them — that is, when I placed my hopes for heaven on his finished work — they became mine.

When you first assume that position, you might express it in a prayer. Or you might not. The posture is itself a cry to God for salvation, whether you articulate it or not. But just because you prayed the prayer doesn’t mean you assumed the posture, any more than telling a chair you’re about to sit in it equates actually sitting down.

So, when it comes to assurance, the only real question is: Is your hand resting on Jesus’ head now?

Clarifying Two Things I Am Not Saying

I am not saying that asking Jesus into your heart is heretical. When we are “saved,” Jesus does indeed “come into our hearts,” at least in a manner of speaking (see, for example, Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27-28; Galatians 2:20). But there are lots of other things that happen at the moment of salvation, too: we are washed in Jesus’ blood, sealed by his Spirit, guaranteed a dwelling place in the new heaven, grafted into the vine, have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, Satan’s claims against us are nullified, etc. Asking Jesus to do any one of these for us at the moment of salvation is not heretical, but by focusing on any one of them we run the risk of obscuring the one thing necessary for salvation — a posture of repentance toward and faith in his finished work (Mark 1:15; John 3:36; Rom. 4:5; 10:9-10).

For example, if we go around telling people that if they want to be saved they should ask Jesus to “begin construction on their home in heaven,” or “put my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life,” that would not be wrong, per se (John 14:1-3), but it could be misleading. People with no remorse for their sin might still be excited about Jesus providing them with an eternal vacation home or getting their name onto some heavenly honor-roll list. By highlighting one or two of the things Jesus said he’d do for us at salvation we might obscure the one thing Jesus said we must do to be saved: repent and believe.

Ultimately, my concern is not on what words or actions we might use to express our faith in Christ, but that we don’t substitute those words or actions for repentance and faith. “Praying the sinner’s prayer” has become something like a Protestant “ritual” we have people go through to gain entry into heaven. As “gospel shorthand,” it presents salvation as a transaction one conducts with Jesus and moves on from rather than the beginning of a posture we take toward the finished work of Christ and maintain for the rest of our lives.

I’m also not saying that we should not press for a decision when we preach the gospel. Preachers in the revivalist traditions called for sinners to respond immediately to the gospel. That response often took the form of walking an aisle or asking Jesus into one’s heart. While this may not be my preferred technique, the gospel is indeed an invitation and each time it is preached that invitation ought to be extended in some form (e.g., John 1:12; Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17). In fact, if we do not urge the hearer to respond personally to God’s offer in Christ, I do not believe we have fully preached the gospel.

Calling on sinners to seek salvation on the spot is not something invented by the Finney-revivalist tradition. Throughout history, even some of the most Reformed evangelists have invited hearers to pray a sinner’s prayer. Charles Spurgeon said at the conclusion of one of his sermons:

Before you leave this place, breathe an earnest prayer to God, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner. Lord, I need to be saved. Save me. I call upon your name.” Join with me in prayer at this moment, I entreat you. Join with me while I put words into your mouths, and speak them on your behalf — ”Lord, I am guilty. I deserve your wrath. Lord, I cannot save myself ... I cast myself wholly upon you, O Lord. I trust the blood and righteousness of your dear Son; I trust your mercy, and your love, and your power, as they are revealed in him. I dare to lay hold upon this word of yours, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Lord, save me tonight, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

So did George Whitefield. John Bunyan described one of his characters, “Hopeful,” being led through a sinner’s prayer by another, “Faithful.” The apostle Peter invited 3,000 people to come forward for baptism in response to his first sermon. Ananias led Paul to call on God’s name for forgiveness of sins after their first conversation (Acts 22:16).

So I am not, in any way, trying to discourage calling for a decision when we present the gospel. I am saying that above all else we must emphasize the absolute indispensability of repentance and faith for salvation.

I am also saying to those who, like me, have asked Jesus into their hearts thousands of times, that they can “stop asking Jesus into their heart” and start resting in the finished work of Christ. Salvation is not given because you prayed a prayer correctly, but because you have leaned the hopes of your soul on the finished work of Christ. When and how you began the posture of repentance and faith is less important than that you are in that posture now.

Shorthand phrases for the gospel can serve a good purpose, insofar as everyone knows exactly what they mean. But in light of the fact that so many in our country seem assured of a salvation they give no evidence of having, and so many others are unable to find assurance no matter how often they pray the prayer, I believe it is time to put the shorthand aside and preach simply salvation by repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ. Or, at least, to be careful to explain exactly what we mean when we call for a response to the gospel.

The apostle John described a large group of people who “believed in Jesus” but to whom Jesus would not commit himself because he knew “what was in them” (John 2:23-25). He knew their belief was a temporary fad and not something that would endure the test of time and trial.

Scripture teaches that salvation happens at a moment. We are born again (John 3:1-3); our sins are forgiven (Acts 22:16); Christ’s righteousness is credited to us (Rom. 4:5); and we are filled with God’s Spirit and baptized into his body (Acts 10:44; 1 Cor. 12:13). There was a moment that you made the decision to sit down in the chair. The way that you know made the decision, however, is not by remembering with absolute clarity the moment you made it, but because you are seated there now.

________

J.D. Greear is lead pastor at the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

Our Father knows what's best for us so why should we complain We

always want the sunshine But He knows there must be rain. We love the

sound of laughter And the merriment of cheer But our hears would lose

their tenderness If we never shed a tear... With suffering and with

sorrow He tests us, not to punish us, But to help us meet tomorrow...

For growing trees are strengthened when they withstand the storm And

the sharp cut of the chisel Gives the diamond grace and form... God

never hurts us needlessly, and He never wastes our pain, For every

loss He sends us is followed by rich gain... And when we count the

blessings that God so freely sent, We'll find no cause for murmuring

And no time to lament... For our Father loves His children, And to Him

all things are plain, So He never sends us pleasure When the soul's

deep need is pain... So whenever we are troubled, And when everything

goes wrong, It's just God working in us, To make our Spirit strong...

--Author Unknown

In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. — Philippians 1:28.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me around about. — Psalm 3:6.

The world owes much to its men and women of courage. We do not mean physical courage, in which man is at least equalled by the bulldog; nor is the bulldog considered the wisest of species. The courage that displays itself in silent effort and endeavor — that dares to endure all and suffer all for truth and duty — is more truly heroic than the achievements of physical valor, which are rewarded by honors and titles, or by laurels sometimes steeped in blood. — Samuel Smiles.

And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us;

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us. — Martin Luther