Enduring to the End

Are there any prayer requests?...Could we stand for prayer? Father, we thank you for this day and for an opportunity to meet together and worship together. Pray for Jason Stoll that he would believe the bible at face value, and for Duane's children that are sick and others that are sick, that they would receive healing. Pray for those in Mexico that you would strengthen them and help them, ô°ô°‚ô°ƒ ô°„ô°...ô°† ô°‡ô°‚ô°†ô°ˆ ô°‰ô°‚ ô°„ô°...ô°† Philippines, wherever they're scattered throughoutthe world.

Pray that we can be edified today and serve you. In Jesus' name, Amen. This morning I would like to talk about enduring to the end. I looked up some passages about that. I guess the first one would be in Matthew 10:22. That's just a single verse. You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the person who endures to the end will be saved. The next one would be Mark 13:13 The disciples were asking about end times and it actually starts in verse 5. They asked when this will happen, and the first thing he said, was, See to it that no one deceives you.

Many will come in my name and say, I am He, and they will deceive many people. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place but the end hasn't come yet. Because nation will rise up in arms against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginnings of the birth pangs. As for yourselves, be on your guard. People will hand you over to local counsels and you will be beaten in their synagogues, you will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me.

But first the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations. When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

And then the next one would be Luke 21: 8-19. It's pretty much the sameô°Š ô°„hat people will hate you, so it's the same account, I guess, in a different gospelô°‹ ô°Œhen verse 19 is: By your endurance you will protect your lives. In Matthew 24 is another account of it and it would be verse 13. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. And another thing I thought about of this account, is that they were asking about end times, and he reminded them to not be deceived.

That's very important. Revelations 2:10. I might just read the whole letter to the church of Smyrna. To the messenger of the church of Smyrna, write: The first and the last who is dead and became alive says, I know your sufferings and you poverty, though you are rich. And the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of satan. Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look, the devil is going to throw some of you in prison so that you may be tested.

For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the victor's crown of life. Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be hurt by the second death. And another one is Revelations 3: 21. To the one who conquers, I will give a place to sit with my throne, just as I have conquered and have sat down with my father on his throne. I was just thinking that it's very important to be faithful to the end, and not give up, keep pressing towards the goal. That's about all I had. If anyone has any comments, questions or corrections.