LAWS OF THE KINGDOM

THE LAW OF PERSEVERANCE

Perseverance; 1. Persistent (continuing steadfastly) endeavor. 2. Persitent in any plan or undertaking.

We need to understand that success in this life comes through industry. By industry we mean those traits
of character such as dedication, commitment, patience, self-discipline, and hard work that brings positive
results - in short perseverance.

We need clearly that the ways of the universe yield to perseverance. God does not give the goodbthings
of this world to those who will not work. God never rewards sloth and indolence.

Lk 11:5 - Lk 11:10 (NLT),

"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house
at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just
arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ He would call out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother
me. The door is locked for the night, and we are all in bed. I can’t help you this time.’ But I tell you this—
though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you what
you want so his reputation won’t be damaged. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given
what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For
everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who
knocks."
When Jesus told his disciples to "keep on asking," he meant that they are to be persistent in their endeavors. If we are persistent,
if we keep on asking, and we keep on knocking, the doors will eventually be opened. But we must keep on until they do.

WE HATE STRUGGLING EXPERIENCES. Struggle, 1. To make violent movements in trying to break free from restraint, etc. 2. To
make great efforts, esp. against difficulties or opposition. We just want easy things in life. We don't want to endure and suffer
hardships. But put this in your mind that there is no free meals in this world! Gen 3:17 - Gen 3:19 (NLT),
"And to Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit I told you not to eat, I have
placed a curse on the ground. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns
and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. All your life you will sweat to produce food, until
your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust,
and to the dust you will return." You maybe enjoying "free meals," but somebody has paid the price of those meals for you;
and the inevitable will come upon you that you as parents will pay the price for your kids "free meals!" Do you think you're making
yourself ready for that?

Let's face it; struggling is part of life and a vital part of growth and success. As parents we hate seeing our kids suffer the day to
day schedules of school and assignments. But do we a choice? No! We don't have. Helping our kids evade them is like helping
little chicks speed the process of cracking the shell and opening it for them. But if try to shorten God's process, we will kill the
chicks. Shortcuts, for the most part, are not God's chosen avenues...

Consider Abraham Lincoln. He became one of the greatest governmental and moral leaders in American history. But the
achievements didn't come until he had passed through many personal failures, including bankruptcies and endless humiliating
labors to make ends meet. The struggles, the battles, the wounds - they equipped him for the environment in which he would
make his greatest contribution.

Consider Thomas Edison. This greatest of inventors went through hundreds of experiments that were failures befo he achieved
success with the electric light. He attributed his incredible accomplishments to "2 percent inspiration and 98 percent perspiration" -
a formula for struggle and perseverance.

Consider the Wright Brothers. On the lonely sands of North Carolina's outer banks, they battled the elements, the ri icule of men,
the lack of resources. They built; they failed; they rebuilt and failed again. Finally, they flew, and the world was forever changed.

As the great Bible teacher Donald Gray Barnhouse put it, "God uses oak trees, not mushrooms." Are not perseverance and strength
the great virtues of oak trees?

USE TIME TO YOUR ADVATAGE. Don't waste it. Ps 2:1 (NLT),

"Why do the people waste their time with futile plans?"

Jn 9:4 (KJV),
The Lord Jesus has this to say about the importance of using time wisely,
"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. "