#4. You Endure By Surrounding Yourself With Men and Women of Faith. — Philippians 2:29 and 3:17
Paul speaks of Timothy and Epaphroditus in chapter two as men to hold in high regard. In chapter three, he writes, "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."
There are people in this world who walk in patterns of selfishness and seek the things of the world. Paul writes with no uncertainty that their end is destruction and that there is no gain in life for them. But, if we are to endure, we must seek out men and women who live lives of selflessness. We must find men and women who are living Christ-centered lives, caring for the things of Christ as Timothy did (2:19), not the things of this world. We must seek out these men and women and follow them. So, who is your mentor in the faith? Is he/she living selflessly and following Christ? Surrounding yourself with strong men and women of faith is key to enduring difficult times.
There are people in this world who walk in patterns of selfishness and seek the things of the world. Paul writes with no uncertainty that their end is destruction and that there is no gain in life for them. But, if we are to endure, we must seek out men and women who live lives of selflessness. We must find men and women who are living Christ-centered lives, caring for the things of Christ as Timothy did (2:19), not the things of this world. We must seek out these men and women and follow them. So, who is your mentor in the faith? Is he/she living selflessly and following Christ? Surrounding yourself with strong men and women of faith is key to enduring difficult times.
#5. You Endure By Using "God Math" For Your Success Markers. — Philippians 3:2-8
Paul had many reasons to have self-assurance and self-confidence. His lineage, heritage, blood-line, career credentials, and scholarly achievements were stout. Boasting would have been (and in his pre-conversion years, likely was) easy. But, in chapter three, Paul teaches us to count all things as loss except for knowing Christ intimately, deeply, and personally. Paul wants to be so connected with Christ ("to know Him," "gain Him," "and be found in Him") that when you see Paul, you will then see Christ. Learning what is truly valuable is one of the greatest ways to endure hard times. Seeing God's value system and imposing it over your own will help you to endure the worst of situations.
#6. You Endure By Pressing On. — Philippians 3:12-14
Even secular "life coaches" teach this principle: In order to endure, you must keep moving forward. One step at a time, one inch at a time if necessary, but press on. Paul brings this concept to our attention as he talks about centering your life, thoughts and goals on pleasing Christ. If you make everything more about Christ than about yourself, you will be well on your way to enduring trials and to building a life that glorifies God. It helps when we simplify our values and passions. In chapter three when Paul allows us to peek into his motives and values, he has a singular drive, a singular focus, and a singular passion.
Philippians 3:12-14 — "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Your ability to endure will grow much stronger if you will set Christ as your goal and move forward, steadily toward knowing Him, loving Him, obeying Him, and following Him.
Philippians 3:12-14 — "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Your ability to endure will grow much stronger if you will set Christ as your goal and move forward, steadily toward knowing Him, loving Him, obeying Him, and following Him.
#7. You Endure By Trusting God With All Your Supplies. — Philippians 4:19
Paul trusted God with all of his needs. As Christ-followers, we often say that we trust God, but more often than not, we seek to manage our own finances and to "control" our financial destinies without even consulting what God would ask us to do. In Philippians 4:19, Paul writes these amazing and encouraging words to the church at Philippi — "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus."
The promise is that God will supply all, yes ALL, of your needs. Not some, not most, but all. And He supplies it from His riches, not from yours. So, from his prison cell, Paul can write in chapter four, "thanks for your gifts" but I'm good, because with or without your help, God will take care of me." (Stan Givens paraphrase) Paul is confident of this very thing that "He [God] who began the good work in him, will complete it." Paul knows that God is the author (writer, pioneer) and "finisher" (perfecter) of our faith.
Do you have such confidence in God's promise to work in your life? Do you know He will provide, comfort and sustain you in all things? Enduring cancer, financial crises, deaths of loved ones, and deeper life pains require us to look for deeper life resources. God is the only supply of such resources. Are you going through hard times now? Trust Him to supply everything. Start by counting your current blessings to see how He is already supplying and then look to Him with patience and trust that He will provide for the rest.
I believe God built us all to endure, not to quit. I believe God instilled within us all the strength to remain in trials and troubles and to see them through. I believe He gets the glory and we get the blessings when we endure with rejoicing as we apply His resources.
The promise is that God will supply all, yes ALL, of your needs. Not some, not most, but all. And He supplies it from His riches, not from yours. So, from his prison cell, Paul can write in chapter four, "thanks for your gifts" but I'm good, because with or without your help, God will take care of me." (Stan Givens paraphrase) Paul is confident of this very thing that "He [God] who began the good work in him, will complete it." Paul knows that God is the author (writer, pioneer) and "finisher" (perfecter) of our faith.
Do you have such confidence in God's promise to work in your life? Do you know He will provide, comfort and sustain you in all things? Enduring cancer, financial crises, deaths of loved ones, and deeper life pains require us to look for deeper life resources. God is the only supply of such resources. Are you going through hard times now? Trust Him to supply everything. Start by counting your current blessings to see how He is already supplying and then look to Him with patience and trust that He will provide for the rest.
I believe God built us all to endure, not to quit. I believe God instilled within us all the strength to remain in trials and troubles and to see them through. I believe He gets the glory and we get the blessings when we endure with rejoicing as we apply His resources.
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