NO MATTER WHAT ODDS may be against you, continue to persevere and trust God completely.
Worship, praise and this message echoed throughout the new sanctuary of Restoration Ministries in Brittons Hill, St Michael, recently as the pastor, Reverend Dr David Durant, preached hope and comfort to those present.
Stressing that “perseverance is not optional” and that one must “not be weary in well doing”, the evangelical minister also told the congregation that “perseverance is a quality of love” which was “needed to win the prize” and to “turn adversity into advancement”.
Quoted several verses of Scripture, Durant, who is also a Government senator, noted that even in the face of economic and social challenges, there was hope for the future once people kept their eyes and focus on God.
“For this New Year, perseverance is not an option, it must be embraced and exemplified,” he said.
He defined perseverance as “moving towards a goal despite obstacles”, adding that a persevering person “will stick with his commitment to its completion, even when it is not easy to do so.
“All kinds of pressures attack us to derail and deter us from achieving our purpose and fulfilling the call of God on our lives – pressures of time, busyness, personal discouragement, setbacks imposed by others and unfavourable circumstances.
“Every believer will encounter various problems and challenges in their life; even Jesus encountered them, yet ‘He set His face to go to Jerusalem’ (Luke 9:51).”
Durant also explained that perseverance could be found in understanding that “love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things”.
He made reference to the story of Jacob and Rachel, pointing out that although Jacob was forced to work 14 years for Laban in order to have Rachel as his wife, “those years seemed but a few days because love persevered”.
“Perseverance also means succeeding because you are determined to, not because you’re entitled to. Individuals who have succeeded didn’t sit back and wait for success because they think the world owes them a living.”
He called on those who would persevere to seek God’s direction, stand firm on the Word God has given them, go forward and refuse to quit.
Drawing an example from the perseverance of entrepreneur Walt Disney, Durant said: “Walt Disney’s request for a loan was rejected by 301 banks before he finally got approved, but because he refused to quit, he built the world’s most famous theme park – the Walt Disney World Resort.”
He told his listeners: “Quitters never win, winners never quit. Let’s persevere.”
Durant also pleaded with them to “remain focused, steadfast and unmovable”, since the just shall live by faith, adding that a “new outpouring of the Holy Spirit” would be poured out in this season.
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