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1. Educational problems or difficulty - they quit, drop out, stop challenging themselves
2. Quick divorces because of small problems, fail to even try to work things out
3. Hard economic times makes most quit looking or stop looking or settle (working just hard enough not too get fired)
4. Spiritual Difficulties cause people to lose heart and give up - church split, disagreement over direction, personal animosity
5. Health difficulties - give up hope, you die, remove joy before it has too be
6. Business difficulties - close up, quit, give up,
7. Money difficulties - give up hope, file bankruptcy without trying to try to change first, even suicide
8. Does not mean that we should not quit sometimes, or change path, but we do it too easily - no commitment, first sign of the storm we run. Shows our human nature to resist pain and take the route of least resistance

1. Definition Per·sis·tent - Dictionary

1 : existing for a long or longer than usual time or continuously: as a : retained beyond the usual period <a persistent leaf> b : continuing without change in function or structure <persistent gills> c : effective in the open for an appreciable time usually through slow volatilizing <mustard gas is persistent> d : degraded only slowly by the environment <persistent pesticides> e : remaining infective for a relatively long time in a vector after an initial period of incubation <persistent viruses>

2 a : continuing or inclined to persist in a course b : continuing to exist in spite of interference or treatment <a persistent cough>
- per·?sis·?tent·?ly adverb

2. Persistant - Theasurarus

Entry Word: persistent
Function: adjective
Text: 1 continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition, or previous failure <a persistent suitor>
Synonyms dogged, insistent, perseverant, perseverative, persevering, persisting, persistive
Related Word determined, steadfast, tenacious, unshakable; relentless, unremitting
Contrasted Words malleable, pliant, tractable, yielding; infirm, invertebrate, spineless; vacillating, wavery, wobbling

1. Thomas Edison - (90% sweat / 10% inspiration = genius)
2. Soichiro Honda - My success represents the 1% of work that resulted from 99% that was called failure. - only eight years of formal education.
3. Hemingway edited novels 5 times, The Old Man and The Sea more then 200X’s
4. Degrees / School
5. Athletics / Science - TDF - avg pro cyclist - 18 - 25,000 miles annually
6. Marriages / Dating examples
7. Oil companies that drill the most find the most oil, not the ones with the best equipment, etc.
8. Farmers put aside crops for dry seasons, smaller herds
9. Multiple Failures lead to success - via consistent work....consistent and persistent

1. Noah -

1. Continued to build the ark when everyone was mocking and laughing
2. Also built BEFORE the rain came, not during the rain

2. Moses -

1. Persisted against Pharaoh
2. Persisted when the people complained and rebelled
3. Persisted even until death, even though he did not claim the promised land
4. - Note - one bad decision not to persist and follow God resulted in him never seeing the promised land

3. Joshua - name means - “the Lord is salvation”-
1. Slave to military commander - right hand man to Moses - was on the mountain when Moses “meet” God so obviously he experience some of the effects
2. Young military leader but took years and lots of experience to become a spiritual leader
3. Believed God’s promises to Isreal - Resisted crowd to say that they (Israel) could take the land, even when all but one other spy said it was impossible. This persistence to God’s truth allowed him to see the promise land and to become the leader of God’s people.
4. Years of prep to replace Moses

4. Jesus -
1. Persisted after He was born - birth alone was not sufficient to meet the requirements of His life...He had to persist too the point of death

5. Paul -
1. Persisted through “a personal affliction / thorn in his side”
2. Physical threats and attacks / Stoning / Beatings
3. - Note - He moved on when he was rejected to here people were willing to hear the gospel

6. The Disciples -
1. They were stoned, others crucified, personally threatened but they persisted
2. All continued until death.

1. It takes time to become a leader (length of time may vary from a few years to almost a lifetime but the preparation is key - all of the experience work together to build the person)

1. Joshua 40+ years beside Moses before He lead

2. 1 Tim 5:22 - character ex - list of characteristics are not usually obtained without time to learn and become wise that is why Paul warning about not allowing new Christians high power jobs in 1 Tim 3:1-7 = pride

2. Christians have to balance dependence on God and belief in themselves

1. God knows the traits and skills you have and He has a ministry / job or duty that is specially designed for your skill set to accomplish

1. Our faithfulness, our commitment, our human capacities and capabilities

2. Maybe Encourager instead of Leader, maybe you need to build someone else up before you build yourself and your own ministry.

3. Persistence is often preached as a virtue, but in reality it is a benefit to a walk with God. It allows us to grow, mature and prosper in Him.

Gift mix scriptures -

1. Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

2. Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all

EPH 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."

EPH 4:9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

EPH 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

3. Must serve Him Now to be ready for future responsibilities -

1. Pushin Broom Lyrics from Tourniquet - select

4. God Honors Faith - He does not expect His people to live on blind faith

1. Joshua at the Jordan - great faith, based on facts and history

5. God honors Christians that Honor Him

1. Every person in the Bible that God blessed and honored had a relationship with Him where they were honoring and blessing Him

6. God is still reaching out to lost humanity

1. Needs are still there, people are lost, work is not done - fields are ripe, harvesters are few (Luke 10) - your field may be in Honduras, maybe in New York, maybe in your community

1. Scriptures Example

1. Acts 26:14 (NIV) - We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

2. Definition - Goads

1. Goads - noun -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gode, from Old English gAd spear, goad; akin to Langobardic gaida spear, and perhaps to Sanskrit hinoti he urges on
Date: before 12th century
1 a : something that pricks like a goad :THORN
b : something that urges or stimulates into action : SPUR
2 : a pointed rod used to urge on an animal

synonym see MOTIVE

1. Goads - adjective-
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1579
1 : to incite or rouse as if with a goad
2 : to drive (as cattle) with a goad
3. Checklist
1. Is it Biblical?
2. Are you getting any blessings?
3. Is God really leading you this way?
4. Impact of the non compliant / non believing followers impacts the ability for the persistent leader/s to accomplish their goals.

1. Persistence is a vital quality and it is equally essential in a person’s prayer life.

1. Too many people just give up too soon in prayer, everyone has tough times - but a persistent prayer life can handle those times.

2. Spurgeon - God does not hear us because of the length of our prayer, but because of the sincerity.

2. Old Testament - “Waiting before for the Lord”

1. Psalm 37:1-6 - Not to worry about evil, and their accomplishments, God will bless and provide for His people.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

(37:8 - 33 - Conscience’s for evil, rewards of righteousness, the ways of evil, the ways of right, God’s unwavering nature and His protection of His people.)

PS 37:34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
PS 37:35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
PS 37:36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
PS 37:37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.
PS 37:38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
PS 37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

PS 37:40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

2. PS 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
PS 130:2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
PS 130:3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
PS 130:4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
PS 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
PS 130:6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

3. Wait for God’s Action Full of Anticipation, hopefully and with a spirit that is willing to endure anything until God answers prayer. Those that wait will honor, answer and provide spiritual strength. The result of waiting for God in prayer is that we are sustained by spiritual strength. -

1. Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

4. Jesus speaking - Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

5. Ellijah was a man like us (James 5:17-18) but Ellijah was righteous and the prayers of a rightous man are powerful, effective and heard and his prayers brought rain after three year drought.

6. Jesus - Luke 22:41-44 - Garden of Gethsemane - disciples / friends fall asleep but he prays on, asking cup to be removed, but if it is not He will continue. even to the point his sweat was like drops of blood, but he went a stone’s throw farther.

1. Vertical Time is today

2. Horizontal Time is infinite forward, many small steps, incremental, slow and steady, books that take years, degrees in nights, instruments, foreign languages learned, anything is possible

1. Have a plan - with targets, but not deadlines

2. Know why your ministry is special

3. Have a positive self image and self esteem - not ego but confidence

4. Know that your education and personal growth will be required to constantly grow while your are leading or participating in the ministries that you are called too.

5. Work at it - work at it hard - promote, think and work at it constantly

6. Once you start right continue to do the right things in the future.

1. Pray for the music minister, or any other leader, and the worship team but that does not mean playing a instrument, maybe coming and helping set up, being sure everyone has the music for practice, etc.

2. Be someone’s Barnabas - Paul’s Encourager

1. Example - Manolo Saiz - Once Team Manger - was never a serious cyclist but he is a successful manager of the team (ranked in top three or four consistently) - VINGA, VINGA, VINGA - go faster, faster, faster or go, go, go - Vayo, van, van

3. Maybe your call is to administer or run something that others are gifted to do. You organize, plan, schedule, maintain. - sending things to people or supporting front line workers.