“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:3-6

 As your pastor, I pray for you often.  Sometimes I go through the directory bringing your names and families before God.  In particular, I deeply feel the need to encourage you.  I know many of you face difficulties with family, at work, health issues, financial challenges, loneliness and so forth.  I want to tell you I prayed for you this morning.  I also want to encourage you to hang on in there, no matter how tough the battle gets.  We will be victorious.

1. Don’t give up. Your victory is Close
   Sometimes we give up too early.  Hang on in there.  You are too close to give up.

Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (NIV)

2. Your victorious testimony will encourage others
   Someone will be encouraged, uplifted and ministered to through your perseverance.

Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)

3. Others Have Done It, so can you.
   Many people have gone through what you are going through, and they have made it. You can make it.

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV)

4. With God, All Things are Possible (Luke 1:37)
   God can. We do not do anything on our own.  God does it through us.
5. You Have More Strength Than You Know (Romans 8:31)
   You can more than you can realize. “Greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
6. If you quit now, quitting tomorrow becomes easier
   You don’t want to be known as someone who gives up easily. Go out there and show the world you can do it. Through Jesus, you CAN and WILL achieve what He has set out for you to do.
7. Believe Your Promise
   What God said will happen, will happen. Don’t sell yourself short. In life there are going to be many people who will try to bring you down and tell you what you want to achieve is not possible. Don’t let anyone destroy your dreams.
8. When you quit, you let yourself down. You let many down. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

When you quit you let God down.  You let yourself down.  You let those cheering you on down. Do not give up on your dream.

Failure is not a death sentence, staying down is

“For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” – Proverbs 24:16. Get up, dust yourself up, and keep on keeping on.

10. Delay is not denial.

Do not lose patience with God.  He will do it in His time.  Hang on in there.  Do not give up.  Sometimes, we learn the most during the times of delay.