IF WE FAINT NOT

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 11, Rom 9, Jer 48, Luke 16

People join the gym for different reasons. Many join to lose weight. Some join to keep fit. Others join to build muscles and few join to maintain their stature. Everyone joins the gym for a reason or the other. The first day at the gym is always the hardest. It is unusually tough because one is not used to the workouts and exercises. From experience the first day is usually characterized with body pains and muscle strain. As you work out regularly the body gets used to the routines and work out. The pains, strains experienced also reduce. Also from experience, you can’t do much on your first day at gym. As you train, you become stronger and fitter. It takes at least eight weeks depending on your body shape to notice any significant change in your body. Many get discouraged when they can’t see changes within three weeks and quit.

Getting the desired result you want from the gym takes a lot of patience and persistence. Within the first eight weeks you might not notice any significant changes but as you continue to work out, you will begin to notice changes in your body. With time, fellow gym users will begin to notice changes and encourage you. As you continue to work out your friends and family will begin to notice the changes too. At this point many relax or just take it easy but if you continue to work out you could end up as a professional body builder or instructor or something. The key thing in body building is persistence.

The same principle of body building applies to every other part of life. The key to success or breakthrough is persistence – keep on doing the right thing even when you cannot see results. Do you want a particular gift of the spirit, grow spiritually, overcome addiction, memorize the whole bible or build a ministry? Any good and purposeful thing you have set your mind to do requires persistence. The first trial is always the hardest and the least productive but don’t give up. Many a times because there are no results, it may seem like a waste of time, energy and resources but don’t give up. With time you will see results. One terrible thing about quitting is that by the time you return to try again, it becomes ten times harder than the first time. This is what happens when we pray. Every time you pray, you make spiritual progress. As you send spiritual missiles, walls of barriers to your blessings start to crack and fall. If you persist after a day or two or weeks depending on the wall, it will fall and you will get your breakthrough. The moment you stop praying, the enemy rebuilds the wall with harder material which means you require more praying and fasting to break the wall so please brethren persist in prayers. Hence pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

WISDOM: One terrible thing about quitting is that by the time you return again, it becomes ten times harder than the first time.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.a

THE REWARDS OF PERSISTENCE

Romans 2:7 says to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:

In Matthew 15:22-28 is a story we all know. A woman came to Jesus about the condition of her daughter. The daughter was demon possessed and things were going out of hands. Despite all she was subjected to, she stayed and continued to ask for help, Jesus prayed and her daughter was healed. From this story there are one or two things to learn about persistence. Firstly, when you are persistent at something, those who ignore you will begin to notice to you. At first Jesus seem to ignore her to test her faith but because she was persistent Jesus had no option than to notice her. People around blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:42-56 knew him but they never gave him attention. Although Bartimaeus was at the road usually begging he was invisible, but immediately he began to persistently cry for help people began to notice him. Elisha and Gehazi in 2 kings 8:4-17 had been going to the house of the great Shunamite woman to eat but they noticed nothing, but as she persistently fed them and looked after them, one day the man of God noticed that she had everything money can buy but lacked one thing only God can give which was a child. Secondly, when you persistently knock on any door, the door will eventually open. The Great Shunamite woman kept on looking after the prophet and at a point she received her breakthrough. Everyone kept on telling Bartimaeus to shut up but he persisted and he received his sight. The woman in Matthew 15 did not take no for answer and at last her daughter was delivered.

Thirdly, when you are persistent those who have turned you to a laughing stock will later congratulate you on your breakthrough. Because of the woman's persistence, Jesus recognized her and congratulated her on her persistence. After Bartimaeus received his sight, when he shouted praise God those that were telling him to keep quiet were the first to shout Hallelujah. Romans 2:7 says to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life. Persistence in doing good works brings rewards.
It does not matter the number of times you have failed at that endeavor, persist in making efforts and one day you will breakthrough. God may have assigned a task or two to you and whilst you are putting all your efforts into it, no one seems to notice but I can assure that your time has come today in Jesus name, amen!

ADVICE: Persist in that endeavor because a day is coming when the world will notice you, you will breakthrough and those who doubted you will congratulate you.