TCH MINI-STUDY 16
GOD WILL HELP THE BELIEVER PERSEVERE
At some point in life and in our Christian walk, all of us
have become tired and felt overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. We have become discouraged, tired, and have even considered giving
up. We may have marriage, family, work, friend, financial, drug or alcohol, addiction, school, health or, even, spiritual issues.
It is even possible that we may have been called by God to a work that has, frankly, exhausted us. Or, we may be struggling with doubts
about God, our Christian walk, or our faith. We may even feel like we have lost our faith. We feel physically, emotionally, or spiritually
bankrupt, and find it difficult to continue.
Look what happened to the apostle Paul. Paul suffered greatly at the hands of God,
and men.
Do you doubt that Paul suffered at the hand of God. Referring to Paul, Jesus, Himself, told Ananias, Go thy way: for
he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how
great things he must suffer for my name's sake (Acts 9:15-16). Regarding the exten of his suffering, Paul wrote the believers in Corinth:Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak
as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes [beatings] above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the
Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck,
a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen,in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things
that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:22-28).
Referring to the extent
of his suffering, Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is
effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and
salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above
strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,
but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver
us (2 Corinthians 1:6-10). Hard to imagine, but the great apostle suffered so much that he no longer wanted to live. But Paul also
knew the solution to his suffering; he trusted in God. Paul believed that God not only had the power to help him, since God had the
power to even raise the dead, but that God was in the delivering business. Paul said that God doth deliver. Christ scolded some
Jewish Pharisees when He said, ye will not come to me, that ye might have life (John 5:40). Christ is our help and life. Although
there are times when it seems impossible, we must try to remember that He is our hope, comfort, guide, strength, deliverance, and
source of life. Paul went to God in times of great need [and he certainly had many times and many needs], and so must we all. Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Pertinent
verses are listed below:
Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:8-9).
Now untohim that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy (Jude
1:24).
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:30-31).
Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:13-18).
That your faith
should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Cor 2:5).
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
but he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10:22).
Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command
you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; And that ye may prolong your days
in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey (Deuteronomy
11:8-9).
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy
God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold,
your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you (Isaiah 35:4).
Watch ye, stand fast
in the faith, quit you like men, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might (Ephesians 6:10).
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous
to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half
their days; but I will trust in thee (Psalms 55:22-23).
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they
lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not (Nehemiah 9:21).
But the LORD your God ye shall fear;
and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies (2 Kings 17:39).
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the
remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I
am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you (Isaiah 46:3-4).
So
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting
of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:54-58).
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember
his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth (1 Chron 16:11-12).
The LORD is my rock,
and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high
tower (Psalms 18:2).
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace (Psalms 29:11).
Butthey that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore
will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof
roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof (Psalms 46:1-3).
The name of the LORD is a strong
tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10).
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for
the joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I
will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).
Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
Have
not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect
in [your] weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians
12:9).
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee;
he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and
of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and
thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:6-8).