STAYING POWER

MATTHEW 10:2

A. "HE THAT ENDURETH TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED"
  1. The Bible gives strong emphasis to the virtue of endurance:
    1. Our Lord, speaking of prevailing conditions in the last days, says, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" - Matt. 24:12-13
    2. James says, "Count them happy which endure" - James 5:11
    3. Paul emphasizes endurance in his Epistles to the Hebrews - Heb. 12:7; in his letter to Timothy - 2 Tim. 2:3; 4:5; and in his writing to the Thessalonians - 2 Thes. 1:4
  2. Endurance defined:
    1. To endure is to last - I Pet. 1:25; Ps. 72:12
    2. To suffer patiently - Heb. 6:15
    3. To bear under - Gen. 33:14
    4. To tolerate - Esther 8:6 B. STAYING POWER
  3. We marvel at the staying power of some of the Bible characters:
    1. The stamina of Job - said he, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" - Job 13:15; to his wife he said, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" - Job 2:9-10
    2. We think of Joseph - Gen. 39:9; of the cloud of witnesses who endured - Heb. 11:35-40
  4. Incentives to endure:
    1. Endurance is always associated with certain central integrity of conscience; a man of integrity will never break faith with himself - Examples: Joseph in Potiphar's house Gen. 39:1-22; Daniel and his hour of prayer - Dan. 6:10
    2. Staying power is also associated with being captured by a cause; something greater and more worthy than ourself - Examples: Paul and the name of Jesus - Acts 20:13; the three Hebrews and the God of Israel - Dan. 3:17; then we think of the science of medicine and those who sacrificed their lives to demonstrate its healing power
  5. Finally, staying power is associated with the realization of values involved:
    1. David was intrigued to battle Goliath because the honor and glory of the God of Israel and that of his nation was involved - I Sam. 17:45-48
    2. Joshua and Caleb were steadfast in the face of bitter opposition because the very existence of Israel was at stake - Num 13:26-30 C. SOME OF THE SECRETS OF STAYING POWER
  6. Staying power is associated with profound resources of inner strength, replenished by an abiding faith in God's promises:
    1. Says Paul, "Faithful is He that called you" - I Thess.. 5:24; "The Lord is faithful" - 2 Thess.. 3:3; Peter testifies, "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" - I Pet. 4:19
  7. Prayer, secret prayer, is still another great secret of staying power:
    1. We think of Luther's stand at Worms
    2. The special prayer of the church for Peter and John - Acts 4:1-31
    3. David Livingstone in the wilds of Africa and his prayer life.
  8. Had the disciples watched with their Lord in prayer--and not slept, they would not have forsaken Him:
    1. Think of the implications of the words - staying power
    2. The story of Job would have ended differently had he been as shifty as his wife
    3. The life of Joseph would have been different had he yielded to lust of Potiphar's wife
    4. The story of the army of Israel would have ended in utter shame and disgrace, had David yielded to the advice of his brother
    5. It takes stamina, conviction and attachment to truth to endure to the end even at the risk of life itself
    6. Are we possessed of that staying power


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