[Scene at Dole Cannery - Oahu, Hawaii]
Today, with its chaotic and troublesome world occurrences, (and that is putting it mildly!) , many people feel like "Why should I even get up and face the day?" Many troubled souls have also committed suicide as a way to exit this evil world and to end their suffering and hopelessness.
A wonderful sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley is full of encouragement and tells of ways to keep on keeping on. Dr. Stanley also tells us, in this sermon that, as a follower of Christ, giving up is NOT who we are. The sermon is 43 minutes, and can be found by going to You Tube and entering "The Courage to Keep Going - Dr. Charles Stanley". Any sermons in the past by Charles Stanley that I have given a link to, have been promptly deleted on this blog. Thus, I urge you to go to You Tube and watch this powerful and hope-building sermon!
Dr. Stanley, in the above mentioned sermon, tells us to be strong in the Lord in order to endure. We do that by reading His Holy Word daily and also by much prayer. That will build a strong relationship with God through His Son Jesus. God wants to fellowship with us, and when we pray and read the Bible, we will draw closer to Him. We will then experience a strong, intimate, loving and personal relationship with Him, and we will grow in strength and trust in Him. In the above mentioned sermon, Charles Stanley tells us "When everything around us is falling apart, then get on your knees in prayer." And, for us to "rejoice in the Lord when times are tough."
One verse that is of great comfort is Hebrews 13:5 which follows:
"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Following is a short daily devotion from Dr. Stanley's In Touch Ministries titled : "When Adversity Hits, Look Up".
Below is a 43 minute video by Pastor Adrian Rogers) titled : "How to pray in the Spirit"
Please, please watch the above video!
Below is another video on prayer you will enjoy.
The 15 minute video directly above stresses how prayer can be an anchor to the soul, but so many Christians struggle with prayer by simply NOT praying. The narrator says that if Jesus needed to pray when He was on earth, certainly who are we to say we don't have time for prayer !
[Haleiwa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]
"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:10-11
One commentary says concerning verse 10 above: "Because the spirit of the Christian has been justified, it is not subject to death as is his body."
Romans 8:26 tells us: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities [weaknesses] : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
One commentator on Romans 8:26 informs us: "As hope sustains the believer in suffering, so the Holy Spirit helps him in prayer."
When it says in verse 26 about "groanings", it is referring to the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:23 it is the believer that groans.
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." - Romans 8:23
If you are not saved (born again - a spiritual birth) by believing on Jesus as the Savior, then you have no hope for the future. You will face the Lake of Fire.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
All of the signs of Jesus' soon return to take his true followers to be with Him in heaven .... all the signs of the "season of His return" are happening now and literally screaming at us to wake up and repent and put our faith in Jesus and His shed blood at Calvary; His redemptive work on our behalf so that we may have eternal life in heaven.
A wonderful video follows explaining Salvation in a sermon by Pastor Adrian Rogers.
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9,10
To keep on keeping on, we need the good Lord's help. If we put our faith and trust in Him, He will mercifully give us help to carry on; He will give us strength to face our obstacles and hardships. Following are some Scriptures which tell us that the Lord will give us strength and hope, and will be with us through thick and thin.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." - Psalm 31:24
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." - Ephesians 6:10
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9,10
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." - Romans 15:13
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - Jesus at John 14:27
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
