We have started a new series on pressing on. We shall be discussing seven things that will help you to finish with stamina.
[2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV] “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
I have taught you that if you have believed and look forward to the coming of the Lord, then you must watch and be sober, build yourself on your most holy faith, learn to work with your hands on something good, and walk wisely as serpents.
Seven things that will help you to develop stamina for life and to survive whatever may come your way are:
- Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
- Know and esteem your pastor highly
- Praying without ceasing
- Reading, listening, watching, and confessing the word
- Giving your time, offerings, seeds, tithes, and giving to charity
- Testifying of what God is doing in your life and who He is using
- Maintaining fellowship with the brethren
1. Look unto Jesus:
Hebrews 12:1-5 teaches that we cannot develop stamina to run our race and to press on without looking unto Jesus. His endurance of the cross is a great inspiration for those who watch. When you feel that it is too much, His endurance will inspire you. The Bible says that until we look to Jesus, we will become weary in our minds
[Hebrews 12:1-4 KJV] “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin”.
You know, sometimes when you feel so overwhelmed, knowing that even the son of God and our Lord Jesus also went through it will help you to endure. Those who focus on Jesus grow stronger.
2. Know and esteem your pastor highly in love:
Remember that you pastor is a helper of your joy, “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by fith ye stand” (2 Corinthians 1:24 KJV),called and gifted by the Lord for your edification.
“(He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
(Ephesians 4:10-12 KJV)
It is important to know and esteem them highly in love because of the work they do. Every one of us must know and esteem their pastor. I have a pastor and I know him; you must also know and esteem your pastor highly.
[1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 KJV] “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves”.
3. Pray without ceasing:
Luke 18 teaches that men ought to pray always and not to faint. Those who pray without ceasing don’t faint.
[Luke 18:1 KJV] “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Philippians 4:6-7 teaches that those who pray about every little thing have peace of mind and heart. Their hearts are protected and garrisoned.
[Philippians 4:6-7 KJV] “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”.
If you really want to build stamina, then you must pray without ceasing. Remember that “he that prays in an unknown tongue edifices himself”.
[1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV] “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church“.
4. Read, listen, watch, and speak the word:
Listen! It is one thing to read but another level altogether to listen and watch. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Scriptures alright but did not understand what he was reading until he heard Philip expounding the scriptures.
We read how the Lord always expounded the scriptures and even had to open the understanding of the disciples to know what they mean. Just reading this does not mean to understand what I meant. You must go the extra mile to watch my videos, listen to the podcast and even watch me living by them. That is how you build stamina.
5. Give your time, offering, seed, tithe:
This is simple! “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Your giving connects you to grace and stirs up your love and loyalty. When Abraham offered Isaac on Moriah, God knew that Abraham indeed loved and feared Him; then He made Abraham the promise.
6. Testify of what God is doing in your life and who He is using:
This helps you to remain humble and grateful for the grace of God. Every week, every one of us must look into our lives and find a testimony to share and to give an offering to encourage others and to open new doors.
Many of us are not experiencing greater miracles because we are not testifying of the little mercies. We must always have testimonies to share. Testimonies of healings, deliverance, protection, provision, goodness, etc. We must learn to testify and more will happen.
Remember that the same sickness that took you to the clinic sent others there and they ended up in the morgue. If you went to the hospital and came back home, then you must give all the glory to the Lord.
Some took the same trip you went on and ended up in the grave, don’t take it for granted that you returned home safe and sound. Return all the glory to the Lord.
Some went to sleep and never woke up, if you woke up, return all the glory to the Lord.
Remember what the Lord said to the leper; “Were there not ten cleansed, where are the other nine?”.
7. Maintain fellowship with the brethren:
The final secret to build stamina is to maintain fellowship with the brethren. Two are better than one they have a hood reward for their labour. Two are stronger but three is strongest; “a threefold cord is not easily broken”. One way to build stamina is to be properly networked.
Stay blessed and I love you!
Pastor Simpe Bediako
