Christ's life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that was ever lived: tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest, the waves breaking over it all the time. But the inner life was a sea of glass. The great calm was always there.
Henry Drummond

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Grace & Peace An e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,Issue No.015 April 06, 2006

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#1 · April 5, 2006, 10:11 pm

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      Sermon Out line: -<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">           The Believer’s offering

<div class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; mso-border-between: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-between: 1.0pt; mso-padding-bottom-alt: 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:
.5pt solid windowtext">Anecdote: -                        Deaf to the Gospel
<SPAN style="mso-tab-count:
1">            Points to Ponder: -                      Heb.12:3

 
 
Perspective:-<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes">                                 Perseverance to Perform

<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal">Taking a step is no doubt better than doing nothing. Notice God’s promise to Joshua, ‘Every place where you set your foot.’  Josh. 1:3.   So set your foot-take a step by faith.
 

<div class=MsoNormal style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none;
PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt">After taking that step, however we need to stay in the course. Repeatedly the Lord says to Joshua to be strong and courageous.  Josh. 1:6-9.  To keep on going steadfastly and act uprightly one needs courage.  Cowards and the wavering ones can never reach the victory point.

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The moment a Christian take a step forward all the hell will break out against him.  Satanic forces will make sure he stops in between.  The Almighty too might allow trials to try and polish him. 

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In all these situations we need to be courageous and firm in our faith knowing well that the fiery trials that we face are not strange (1 Pet.4:12), and it will result in praise, glory and honor. (1Pet.1:7).  Our affliction is for a moment, and then He will restore us, make us strong and steadfast.
(1Pet.5:10).
 
Examine the life of any successful person. Whether in the realm of games/sports or business, all of them without any exception stayed along against all odds.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes">  No going back was their firm resolve.
Consider the Lord who endured the cross.  Heb 12:3.  Yes, it will be painful and tempting indeed.   But as the children sing let us always sing in our heart, ‘no turning back’, and ‘no turning back’.  Look ahead.  Heb.11:15.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">  “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.”
The Lord will honour such determination.  When we mean business--stand for His glory--He will also help us with much grace. Jam.4:8

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So beloved, take heart, never give up.  What ever be your circumstances, trust in the Lord, be steadfast, unmovable and keep going. Till we find the result—victory--say loudly –‘No going back’!

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Worthy quote:-<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes">                                  Perseverance 

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“All things are possible to him who believes, yet more to him who hopes, more still to him who loves, and most of all to him who practices and perseveres in these three
virtues.”
Brother Lawrence