Tag: perseverance
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The Holders On
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and…
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Knowing God
Philippians 3:7-11 “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain…
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Joy in the Trials of Life
Isaiah 49:13 “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.” Joy: it’s one of the most wonderful aspects of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). If we are God’s children, we have joy because God…
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An Enduring Faith
James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The Christian life is a journey. It begins for everyone at the moment of the new birth when the…
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A Very Great Race
Hebrews 12:1 “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” In various places in Scripture the Christian life is compared to a race. In other places it’s called a “fight.” These words call to mind a contest, one…
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Tests of True Faith – Part 2
1 Thessalonians 1:6 “You received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” Are you a true Christian? How would you describe yourself? Do the words above describe you, for it’s with these words that Paul was describing the true believers that made up the Thessalonian church? So, what is he…
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Tests of True Faith
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word,…
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Motivated by the Invisible
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Those who call themselves born again believers in Jesus Christ believe in a God that they cannot see. Because…
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Encouraging Encouragers
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” The will of God – it’s often a very simple thing. One of the things God wants us to do is to encourage one another, and build each other up. Isn’t it interesting, however, that the verse above…
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Hearers only?
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The promise above is one of the grandest in all the…