I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14

Perseverance (n) : Doing something despite difficulty opposition and or delay. 

Perseverance is a matter of pressing on. It’s about deciding we are not going to give up. It comes with an “I’m going to finish or die trying kind of attitude.” Do you have it? It’s easy to think we do when things are going well, when we are operating in our strengths, or when challenges are held at bay. Perseverance is one of those attributes that are measured in the moment, much like a stress test. A stress test in a structural sense measures how much weight a structure can bear. Think about a bridge. Engineers work hard to calculate a weight limit, but at some point it fulfills its purpose and must be tested by the weight of vehicles passing over it.

When it comes to life, do you know your weight limit? Do you know the extent of what you can bear before you stop persevering? Come on, if we are honest, we all have a limit. We all have physical, emotional, and spiritual limits that are beyond our ability to persevere. Despite popular memes and encouragement cards, God will give you more than you can bear. And when he does, our only hope is to rely on Him. I’m sure we’ve all been there. There are days when we have to look to the Lord and admit we want to quit, confess we’ve considered bowing out, and own the fact that we simply can’t do it without His help. Friends, this is the heart of the gospel.  We can’t, but Jesus can. Our ability to persevere in life is found in Jesus. He strengthens us to overcome sin. He focuses us despite worldly distractions. He encourages us in moments of anxiousness and despair. We are able to press on because Jesus Christ has called us His own.  And what He calls us to, indeed, He will strengthen us through.

And so this week, we will see that perseverance is a needed trait in building walls of faith. With all that Nehemiah has been through, he’s about to face even more difficulty and direct opposition.The story this week gets wild. Check it out for yourself. Consider just how brash and crafty his enemies become. As you read Chapter 6 vs. 1-14, please take some time to consider the example of perseverance that Nehemiah is. Note what he’s facing and how he’s able to persevere through it. I’m blown away and fired up about this week’s text, and I cannot wait to walk through it with you!

Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship this Sunday.

Love you, Church.

Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM  – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service Online & On Campus (Lancaster Campus)

SUNDAY PM PLAN
6:00 PM  – Mission Night of Worship (Lancaster Campus)

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SUNDAY RESOURCES
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