Endurance - Do you have what it takes?

Good Morning World!
This morning while cleaning one of the college classrooms I noticed a textbook opened to a story about Sir Ernest Shackleton a heroic explorer of the Antarctic.  What caught my attention wasn't his heroic feats as much as some interesting seemingly unimportant details.

On one of the expeditions he used a ship called the Polaris of great craftsmanship,  however, he changed the name to Endurance which was based on the family motto: Through endurance we will Conquer. This to me was the most important element of the whole heroic event!  Why?  Because it shows what was in the man.  Through endurance he was able to keep ALL of his crew alive in the Antarctic after a terrible shipwreck in the ice.  Not many people can say that they have what it takes to endure through such hardship and turmoil!

The scripture tells us that Jesus said these words: "He that endures to the end, the same shall be saved!" Do you have what it takes?  This can be a hard life, and believing in Jesus Christ and living by His principles can be difficult at the best of times.  Not because it is difficult to follow Jesus and His ways, but because people in this world don't understand why we do what we do.  It is a lack of understanding in the unknown and fear that causes people to treat those of us who try to live a righteous, God filled life in a not so pleasant manner.

It takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude and endurance to keep your tack, and not turn back.  We must not let the negativity of this world beat our convictions down.  Don't let the majority tell you that you are wrong, just because they don't understand your point of view.  Endure the cross as Jesus did, and one day you will find that it leads to a glorious salvation! Keep the faith and don't look back!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

Standing for Truth

I've just been reading an interesting article online, about a bold young lady who has become a politician in the United States, all because she took a stand for what she felt was right.

Rep. Michele Bachmann

In the article the writer describes the `persecution` that Mrs. Bachmann is receiving because of her strong stand against the wrongs of the Federal Government.

This reminds me of the Stand that each Christian must take each and every day!

It is imperative that we stand for truth, no matter what this world things. People are becoming so liberal and socially minded that truth doesn`t seem to matter anymore!

Truth is truth no matter if anyone believes!
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! This will be the truth supposing the whole world turns their back, and God has to burn this whole planet with fire and brimstone!

I encourage you to stand! When you`ve done everything else for God, continue to STAND, and take up the whole armor of God!

Yours for the Stand,

Pastor Fred

What to do when you're against the odds....

No Matter What Stay In The Fire!

2 Timothy 3:12

2Ti 3:12-14 And indeed, all the ones desiring to be living in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (13) But evil people and impostors will advance to the worse [fig., will go from bad to worse], leading astray [fig., deceiving] and being led astray [fig., being deceived]. But _you_ be remaining in the [things] you learned and were entrusted with, knowing from whom you learned [them],

A. There is no escape from persecution!
Anyone with a new or different idea will always be persecuted. Besides that we are also believers of and in the Name of Jesus, which puts a second mark on us. Not only are we marked for having religious beliefs and ideas that go against the flow, but we also, follow a faith, which has a name and leader with all power. And, the enemy of our soul will always rise up against that name. Mark One - Humanity is afraid of those things they don't understand. Mark Two - Satan is in constant battle against those who are of the Name of Jesus!

B. Stay in the fire!
Just because persecution is inevitable, doesn't give us the right to give up. Paul instructed Timothy in our text: "Stay in the Fire!" (Remain in the things you have learned.) Just because someone isn't going to like you doesn't mean you should stop doing the right thing! If your boss askes you to lie about something on the phone are you going to do it? NO! You do the right thing even if it costs you your job! Stay in the fire! We can't afford to let the wet blankets of this world get us down. Instead of caving in to the conformity of this world, burn hotter and brighter and make the wet blankets burst into flames!

Romans 8:35

Rom 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? [Will] affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? (36) Just as it has been written, "For Your sake we are being put to death the whole day; we were accounted as sheep for slaughter." [Psalm 44:22] (37) _But_ in all these [things] we are completely victorious through the One having loved us. (38) For I have been persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor powers nor [things] present nor things about to be (39) nor height nor depth nor any other created [thing] will be able to separate us from the love of God, the [one] in Christ Jesus our Lord!

C. If we stay in the fire can anyone take you out?
NO! Nothing can separate us from the Love of God! Mankind and Satan himself can through all kinds of terrible things our way, but if we stay in the Light as He is in the Light, nothing can separate us from Jesus! His Spirit, Blood, Word and Name are our Salvation, Sheild, Sword and Armor!

Joh 10:25-30 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. (26) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one.

We are one with Jesus if we will be willing to stay in the fire!

Acts 11:19

Act 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

D. When persecution comes what will be your response!?
Too often we are like people in the parable of the sower:
Matthew 13:21 & Mark 4:17

Mat 13:20-22 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Why must we be so shallow? Why must we be so inconsistant? When you love someone do you leave them at the first sign of trouble? Though the thought may cross your mind you stick with them even in the rough times, because love is more important and powerful and trouble, money, pain, discord or distress!

What can separate us from the Love of Jesus? "Nothing!"
What can separate us from the Love of Jesus? "Nothing!"
What can separate us from the Love of Jesus? "Nothing!"

Conclusion & Summary
We are part of something greater than any one of us individually! We are part of a body that spans the gap between earth and eternity! We are apart of the Body of Jesus Christ! A spiritual body of Believers that stretches through all of time, and that is knit together by a common faith in Jesus Christ.

Let us not be weary in what we are doing for Jesus. Let us not fear what man will try to do to us. Let us not be shallow, but be firmly grounded in Jesus Christ. Let us stay in the fire, and through the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit of Jesus weather every storm that comes our way!

(This is my Sunday Morning Message for December 1, 2007. It will be included in my Bible Studies section above for future reference.)

Yours for truth and commitment,
Pastor Fred