Message: “The Power Of Persistence” from Dr. Rick Mandl

Hey church family, I’ve been thinking about the importance of PERSISTENCE. When you think you’ve experienced more challenges than you can handle and your failures are crying for you to quit, consider this man.

 

1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.

1818 His mother died.

1831 Failed in business.

1832 Ran for state legislature – lost.

1832 Lost his job – wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.

1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.

1834 Ran for state legislature again – won.

1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.

1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.

1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.

1840 Sought to become elector – defeated.

1843 Ran for Congress – lost.

1846 Ran for Congress again – this time he won

1848 Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.

1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state – rejected.

1854 Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.

1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – got less than 100 votes.

1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again – again he lost.

1860 Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the Republican National Convention as his party’s candidate for President of the United States.

 

He won. And the rest is history. Lincoln, who was born into poverty and suffered more defeats than victories in his life, is one of the greatest secular examples of persistence, perseverance and dogged determination.

 

Another example is the Apostle Paul. If you know Paul’s story, then you know that when he first came to Christ as Saul of Tarsus and was converted and became the Apostle Paul, he was not initially well received by the brethren, whom he had persecuted.

Paul was beaten.

He was Stoned.

He was Imprisoned for preaching Christ.

Four times he encountered ship wreck.

False teachers unfairly brought unfounded accusations against him.

He endured a physical malady that he called “a thorn in the flesh.

And he bore the sting of rejection by some who left him.

 

Yet, in the one of the great and encouraging verses of the Bible, Paul writes, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9). God’s grace was sufficient for Paul. He provided the apostle strength to meet any challenge, endure each assault, and overcome every affliction.

 

What problem are you facing right now? What pain are you suffering? What hurt are your feeling? Have defeats become more common that victories? And have you felt like quitting?

 

Don’t despair. Both secular and sacred history is filled with encouraging stories of triumph over trial. Of strength overcoming weakness. Of conquest instead of surrender. Of accomplishment over obstacles.

 

In good times and bad, in prosperity and adversity, success and failure, we can learn some valuable life lessons from great Statesmen like Lincoln. However, as Christians let us “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). And take to heart the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote. . . “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58 NIV).