Persevere…One More Day

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Use every kind of effortand make every kind of request for all of God's people.

and in the same watching with all instanceand supplication for all the saints:

with unwearied persistence and entreatyon behalf of all God's people,

per·se·ver·ance

steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Persistence, tenacity, determination, staying power, steadfastness, purposefulness

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

Hebrews 6:11 “We want each of you to shoe this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Luke 21:19 “By standing firm you will gain life.”

Isaiah 40:29-31  “Even youths grow tiered and weary and young men stumble and fall; 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 and they will walk and not be faint.

And that is the problem with American or Western Christianity. 

We are always looking for the next big thing, the conference, the worship experience.   We are moved by a moment, we say vows in haste and emotion and God is looking for a people that will stay just one more day.

I’m gonna suit up one more day.

I’m gonna walk with the belt of truthone more day. Popular opinion is not gonna sway me.

I’m gonna put on the breast plate of righteousnessone more day. I’m gonna be faithful to my husband/wife one more day, honest on the job one more day, not controlled by anger one more day.

I’m gonna be ready to share the gospel of peaceone more day, I’m gonna tell one more person today.  I’m gonna make that conversation happen when I’m checking out at the Wal Mart one more day.

I’m gonna take up the shield of faithone more day.  I can’t see it but I’m gonna believe and act on it.

And the helmet of salvationand the word of Godand praying.

I’m not gonna stop, be moved by a circumstance or situation, allow the enemy to cancel my purpose.

Because we can’t see what is on the other side.

Daniel 10 1:1-11

1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. 2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.

3I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. 10And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first daythat you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come."

We are to persevere because God has heard us from the first day.

Because your battle is not against flesh and blood it against territorial spirits.

Ephesians says but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

The enemy hates when you start coming.

But he hates even more when you keep on coming.

When you move from follower into disciple.

When you persevere.

Since the New Testament tells us that this prince of demons “darkens the minds of unbelievers”in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and that he “deceives the world”in Revelation 12:9, and that he plants his weeds (unbelievers) throughout the world in Matthew 13:39 and that he takes people captive to do his willin 2 Timothy 2:25 and that he plucks up the seed of the Wordwhen it is preaches Matthew 13:4, and that he thwarts missionaryactivity in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, and he throws ministers in prisonRevelation 2:10 we must persevere!!

Because we see day to day. 

We can’t see three weeks from now. 

Three months from now. 

Three years from now.

Three decades from now.

My great grandfather who was a preacher can’t see the answer to his prayer BUT HERE I AM!!

And Daniel didn’t know what was happening for three weeks…

But he persevered.

For the sake of the kingdom that he was a prophet over.

He continued to SUIT UP.  Praying.  Fasting. Righteousness.  Faith.  Salvation.

For you it might be your family. 

Your legacy.

Your mission.

Your calling.

Your assignment.

Your healing.

Your anything just fill in the blank _____________________.

Persevere just one more day.  Just one more day to persevere.