Embracing Persistence in Our Spiritual Journey

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about the practice of persistence in our spiritual lives. We often hear the phrase "practice makes perfect," but I propose a more honest approach: "informed and equipped practice makes consistent proficiency." This idea is crucial as we learn to follow Jesus and adopt various spiritual practices.

We began by looking at the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel. Hannah's persistent worship, despite her deep anguish and the taunting she faced, teaches us the importance of continuing to worship God even in difficult circumstances. Her yearly pilgrimage to the tabernacle and her heartfelt prayers exemplify persistent worship.

Next, we examined the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. This widow, who repeatedly petitioned an unjust judge for justice, shows us the power of persistent petitioning. Despite facing constant rejection, she continued to seek justice, demonstrating courage and determination. If an unjust judge can be moved by persistence, how much more will our just and loving God respond to our persistent prayers?

We also looked at the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho in Joshua 6. The Israelites' persistent obedience to God's seemingly illogical instructions led to their victory. Their actions remind us that persistent obedience, even when it seems irrational, is crucial because God has promised us victory.

In all these stories, persistence is not just about waiting but involves active courage and action. Whether it's persistent worship, petitioning, or obedience, we are called to keep going, trusting that God is with us and has already secured our victory through Jesus Christ.

### Key Takeaways

1. Persistent Worship: Hannah's story in 1 Samuel teaches us the value of persistent worship. Despite her deep anguish and the taunting she faced, she continued to make her yearly pilgrimage to the tabernacle and pray fervently. Her example shows us that worshiping God consistently, even in the midst of pain, is a powerful act of faith. [42:20]

2. Persistent Petitioning: The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 highlights the importance of persistent petitioning. The widow's relentless pursuit of justice from an unjust judge teaches us that we should never tire of bringing our requests to God. If an unjust judge can be moved by persistence, how much more will our just and loving God respond to our prayers? [47:01]

3. Persistent Obedience: The story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho in Joshua 6 illustrates the power of persistent obedience. The Israelites followed God's seemingly illogical instructions to march around Jericho, leading to their victory. This teaches us that persistent obedience, even when it doesn't make sense, is crucial because God has promised us victory. [53:13]

4. Courage in Persistence: Persistence requires courage, as seen in the stories of Hannah, the persistent widow, and the Israelites. Whether it's facing taunting, rejection, or seemingly irrational instructions, persistence involves taking courageous actions. This courage is fueled by our trust in God's promises and His presence with us. [49:29]

5. Victory Through Persistence: Our persistence in worship, petitioning, and obedience is not in vain. God has promised us victory, not just in earthly matters but in eternal ones. This victory has already been secured through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, giving us the strength and motivation to persist in our spiritual practices. [55:40]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[38:52] - Introduction to Persistence
[41:08] - Hannah's Persistent Worship
[47:01] - The Persistent Widow
[53:13] - Joshua's Persistent Obedience
[57:02] - Courage in Persistence
[58:07] - Victory Through Persistence
[01:02:42] - Closing Prayer and Announcements

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Practice of Persistence

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 1:9-20 - The story of Hannah's persistent worship.
2. Luke 18:1-8 - The parable of the persistent widow.
3. Joshua 6:2-5 - The story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho.

#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did Hannah take to demonstrate her persistent worship despite her anguish? ([42:20])
2. How did the persistent widow in Luke 18 eventually get justice from the unjust judge? ([47:01])
3. What specific instructions did God give Joshua and the Israelites for the battle of Jericho, and how did they follow them? ([53:13])
4. What common theme of persistence can be seen in the stories of Hannah, the persistent widow, and Joshua? ([49:29])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Hannah's story in 1 Samuel illustrate the concept of worshiping God consistently, even in the midst of personal pain and societal pressure? ([42:20])
2. In what ways does the parable of the persistent widow challenge our understanding of how we should approach God with our requests? ([47:01])
3. Why might God have given Joshua and the Israelites such seemingly illogical instructions for the battle of Jericho, and what does this teach us about obedience? ([53:13])
4. How does the courage required for persistence, as seen in the sermon, relate to our daily spiritual practices and challenges? ([49:29])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up on worshiping God due to personal struggles. How can Hannah's example inspire you to persist in worship? ([42:20])
2. Have you ever felt like your prayers were not being heard or answered? How does the story of the persistent widow encourage you to keep petitioning God? ([47:01])
3. Think of a situation where you had to follow instructions that seemed irrational or difficult. How can Joshua's obedience to God's commands at Jericho help you trust and obey God in similar situations? ([53:13])
4. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate courage in your persistence, whether in worship, petitioning, or obedience, in your current life circumstances? ([49:29])
5. How can you remind yourself of the victory already secured through Jesus Christ when you face challenges that test your persistence? ([55:40])
6. Identify an area in your spiritual life where you struggle with persistence. What steps can you take this week to be more consistent and courageous in that area?
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group or community to persist in their spiritual practices, especially when they feel like giving up? ([49:29])

This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the practice of persistence in their spiritual lives, drawing from the examples of Hannah, the persistent widow, and Joshua. May your discussions be fruitful and encouraging as you seek to grow in consistent proficiency in following Jesus.

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Persistent Worship
Hannah's story in 1 Samuel teaches us the value of persistent worship. Despite her deep anguish and the taunting she faced, she continued to make her yearly pilgrimage to the tabernacle and pray fervently. Her example shows us that worshiping God consistently, even in the midst of pain, is a powerful act of faith. Hannah's unwavering commitment to worship, even when her heart was breaking, demonstrates that true worship is not dependent on our circumstances but on our devotion to God. Her story encourages us to keep worshiping, trusting that God hears our prayers and sees our struggles. [42:20]

1 Samuel 1:10-11 (ESV): "She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, 'O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.'"

Reflection: Think about a time when you found it difficult to worship due to personal struggles. How can you commit to worshiping God consistently, regardless of your circumstances, starting today?

Day 2: The Importance of Persistent Petitioning
The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 highlights the importance of persistent petitioning. The widow's relentless pursuit of justice from an unjust judge teaches us that we should never tire of bringing our requests to God. If an unjust judge can be moved by persistence, how much more will our just and loving God respond to our prayers? This parable encourages us to be bold and persistent in our prayers, trusting that God is attentive and responsive to our needs. It reminds us that persistence in prayer is an expression of our faith in God's goodness and justice. [47:01]

Luke 18:3-5 (ESV): "And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"

Reflection: Identify a specific prayer request that you have been hesitant to bring before God repeatedly. How can you start persistently petitioning God for this need, trusting in His justice and love?

Day 3: The Power of Persistent Obedience
The story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho in Joshua 6 illustrates the power of persistent obedience. The Israelites followed God's seemingly illogical instructions to march around Jericho, leading to their victory. This teaches us that persistent obedience, even when it doesn't make sense, is crucial because God has promised us victory. Their actions remind us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and our obedience to His commands, no matter how irrational they may seem, is a testament to our faith in His promises. [53:13]

Joshua 6:2-5 (ESV): "And the Lord said to Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.'"

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where God's instructions seem illogical or difficult to follow. How can you commit to persistent obedience in this area, trusting in God's promise of victory?

Day 4: Courage in Persistence
Persistence requires courage, as seen in the stories of Hannah, the persistent widow, and the Israelites. Whether it's facing taunting, rejection, or seemingly irrational instructions, persistence involves taking courageous actions. This courage is fueled by our trust in God's promises and His presence with us. The courage to persist in worship, petitioning, and obedience comes from knowing that God is with us and that He has already secured our victory through Jesus Christ. [49:29]

Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV): "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you need to show courage in your persistence. How can you draw strength from God's promises and presence to take courageous actions today?

Day 5: Victory Through Persistence
Our persistence in worship, petitioning, and obedience is not in vain. God has promised us victory, not just in earthly matters but in eternal ones. This victory has already been secured through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, giving us the strength and motivation to persist in our spiritual practices. Knowing that our efforts are backed by God's promise of victory encourages us to keep going, even when the journey is tough. [55:40]

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (ESV): "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Reflection: Consider an area of your spiritual life where you feel discouraged. How can the promise of victory through Jesus Christ motivate you to persist in your spiritual practices today?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "To persist is to continue to do something or to try to do something. Even though it's difficult or other people around you want you to stop." [41:08] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When we are persistent in our petitioning for justice. We go to the just one. We go to the one who loves and cares for us. Even before time began. We are petitioning a God who is faithful to answer and act on our behalf." [49:29] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If the judge who did not care about people or care about God could answer this widow. Our just and loving God will answer us in our petitioning. So I've heard people say, you know what, I'm not going to bother God with this one. It's just so trivial. People have told me it's a trivial thing to go pray for. I'm just not going to. He don't need to hear me out on this. He absolutely does." [51:04] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You see, when we persist in the midst of difficulties and when everyone around us is telling us to quit, our obedience is no longer an act of obligation but our obedience is joyful because we have the victory." [57:02] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Our worship becomes radical and sacrificial because the God we worship sees us and hears us and empowers us with the Holy Spirit." [57:36] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Hannah in this story is teaching us, giving us an example of persistent worship. Persistent worship. See, going to the tabernacle was a yearly pilgrimage. This in and of itself was an act of worship. And she kept doing it year after year. She kept she kept doing it in the midst of her pain. She chooses to pray and worship. And her decision to dedicate her son, who isn't inexistent yet, is as an act of worship." [42:20] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "What we learn from this widow is how to be courageous and be persistent in our petitioning. Persistent in our petitioning. She is persistent. Persistent in her petitioning. Because her life literally depended on it. And she is persistent with someone who is unjust. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for her to get up every time and go to that judge." [49:29] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "But Joshua was persistent in his obedience because, let's look back at what the text says. God promises them the victory. And the victory is abundant. He gives them the city, he gives them the king, and all the strong warriors. And on top of that, when the people of God marched with the ark, it was a symbol that God was with them. It was a symbol that reminded them that God was with them. And it was a reminder to their enemies as well." [55:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Now just like the people of God in the book of Joshua, we too can be persistent in our obedience because God has promised to never leave us, nor forsake us. We may not be overtaking cities, but God has promised us the victory. Not a victory in the polls or with weapons, but a victory that is eternal. A victory that has already been won for us on the cross and in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus." [56:27] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Consider the little girl in the video who was scared but kept trying. She kept going. And persisted with great courage. Trusting that her father had her and didn't leave her." [57:02] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?