Sermon title for this week: “Pastor to compete in Ironman Event”
Philippians 3:7-14
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
en·dur·ance –noun
1. the fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships.
2. the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Jesus is the ultimate ironman, having had his hand and feet and side pierced with a metal object (like iron). He endured the opposition of sinful men even to the point of death. Jesus is the only one capable of leading us into the presence of almighty God. He gained that ability by enduring. To be successful in any area of life, to be the best leader you can be, you must be able to endure through all kinds of trials. Name a leader who has not had to endure through struggles. Consider how many people are not leaders because they lack this one Christ-like quality, the ability to endure. People become a victim and everything wrong becomes someone else’s fault. Those who would lead well have learned how to endure based on the fact that God has always seen them through before and know he will do it again. No questions this week. Just thoughts about leadership and endurance. To endure or to give up – the choice is yours. I pray you will endure and lead others to Jesus who will in turn lead them to our Father in Heaven!
From the Heart, Pastor Jeff Cooper
It's funny how this is the topic this week... I am giving myself a goal of endurance.... I am wanting to get up early in the morning before everyone in the house during the week and spend my morning with the Lord in prayer..study time..devotionals...and quietness with a cup of coffee....giving up an hour more of sleep and hoping to endure and keep this new form of God and me time to start my day off all for him.
ReplyDeleteA perfect topic for today. I will be praying for you, Pastor, as well as the message, as together we endure this world's trials that we may be perfected for heaven. Kay Callentine
ReplyDeleteThis Philippians 3 passage is one of my favorites in the Bible. How different would the church in America be if we had that same mentality that Paul had? To consider everything that we have obtained in the world to be rubbish compared to KNOWING the Lord better...wow, talk about being serious. It makes me think of the persecuted Church in other countries. To wake up every morning and not know whether or not your faith is going to get you killed on that particular day and yet still living it out...that is someone I would say is running the race and doing so with some serious endurance. Talk about stress and adverse conditions...good grief.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome Amber - what you are doing will give you the strength. Thanks Kay, may God be with us all through enduring times. Yes Joel, let's pray for brothers and sisters around the world who have to endure great trials just to meet together in worship. All of you who have commented or will comment are a great encouragement to me. Pastor's endure better when they know the things they are studying and bloging and preaching cause people to think and draw closer to our Lord.
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