Sermons from Good News: patience brings the fulfillment of God's promises

Church 7/31/2021

Offertory scripture:

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%203:9-10&version=NKJV

Honor God. He wants to bring increase in your life.

Sermon message:

Wednesday healing services begin this Wednesday, August 4. Seated prayer, not prayer lines.

Thesis: Patience brings the fulfillment of God’s promises.

God will meet my needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. But sometimes there’s a rough patch and we have to wait.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%206:9&version=NKJV

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:58&version=NKJV

Satan of course tries to dissuade us and tries to say the work is in vain. But God says it’s not in vain. Working for the Lord will bring blessings, even if it may take some time.

There’s a time for planting, and it takes time for the seed to become what it’s supposed to become.

Patience will help you to receive God’s promises.

The Old Testament believers knew about a messiah coming. They still believed even though Jesus hadn’t come yet. We too have promises. Jesus will return. Maybe not before we go into heaven. But the promises still stand and we need to hold on to His promises.

We also have promises for the here and now. We may have to be patient as it might take a little while. But let’s hold on. Keep trusting God. No matter what. Don’t give up.

In Hebrews chapter 11 are listed the greatest heroes in the Old Testament who held on to their faith. In chapter 12 it talks about a cloud of witnesses cheering us in to run our race of faith with patience like they did before us.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2012:1&version=NKJV

Patience is important.

But the context for what God is talking about in His word begins in chapter 10. We have a better covenant than the old covenant because we have Jesus Christ. He is the new covenant. His blood shed for us on the cross is the new covenant. We still need to stand in faith like the Old Testament believers, but we have a better covenant.

Patience brings fulfillment of God’s promises.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Hebrews 10:36 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:36&version=NKJV

for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Hebrews 10:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:34&version=NKJV

We have treasure in heaven that is greater than treasure here on earth.

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Hebrews 10:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:35&version=NKJV

Do not throw away your confidence. There is reward in hanging on. Even if you have tough times, even if someone takes advantage of you. Hang on to your faith and trust in God.

Don’t give up just because you’ve been doing the right thing and things haven’t happened yet.

“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Hebrews 10:37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:37&version=NKJV

Why Christ hasn’t come back yet. According to His word, it’s because God is long suffering. He wants all to come to saving faith, as many people as possible. Jesus will still come back. But we are glad He didn’t come back before we got the opportunity to be saved.

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
Hebrews 10:38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:38&version=NKJV

Don’t give up. Don’t draw back.

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:39 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:39&version=NKJV

The whole point of Hebrews 10, 11, and 12 is God motivating us to not give up and stay patient and trust Him.

So, how do we stay patient?

Point #1: Let us draw near

and having a High Priest over the house of God,
Hebrews 10:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:21&version=NKJV

Jesus is our High Priest. It is He who allows us to be able to draw near to God in heaven. Jesus tore the veil that separated us from God like in the Old Testament. He opened the kingdom of heaven to all.

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:22&version=NKJV

When we draw near we will have assurance of faith. Spend time with God. In His word. In prayer

Point #2: Let us hold fast.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:23&version=NKJV

Speak your faith. Repeat the word of God. Don’t give in to speaking anything contrary to God’s promises. Hold fast to your confession and profession of faith.

Point #3: Let us consider others.

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:24-25&version=NKJV

Let us consider others and encourage others. Encourage others to stay in the faith and to love others. Let us gather and spend time together. Spend time with God. Spend time in His word. But also spend time with other believers.

Don’t cast away your confidence.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Hebrews 10:36 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:36&version=NKJV

Caution: Don’t cancel it out by saying the wrong thing. Don’t cancel out your blessing. Don’t even spend time watching or reading someone who used to walk with God but then drew back. Their fruit stinks. Their words stink.

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38-39 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2010:38-39&version=NKJV

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%206:9-10&version=NKJV

How to help each other from drawing back—encourage one another to have patience. To not give up. To continue to believe and trust God no matter what. To not harden their hearts.

Gathering together and encouraging one another helps us stay in the faith. Helps us stay patient no matter what.