Toughening Up of the American Church

3 years ago

We are called to be a gateway church.

Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT) – “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.¹⁴ But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Holding a location.

God calls us to a land – Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV) – Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. ²I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
And then we are to possess the land – Numbers 33:52 (NKJV) – You shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

The need for toughness.

God says He builds a Church – Psalms 127:1 (NKJV) – Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it …
But the house of God needs a strong foundation – Ezra 6:3 (NKJV) – In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: “Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid … “

So what does Biblical toughness look like?

Having Godly character – 1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV) – Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Having great patience – Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) – But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Becoming unoffendable – Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) – Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Knowing circumstances can’t control you – Philippians 4:12 (NLT) – I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
Understanding it’s in our weakness we are tough – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. ”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We need to be tough enough until revelation/understanding comes.

Daniel 10:14 (NKJV) – Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
Daniel 11:32 (NKJV) – Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
We are to overcome evil with good – Romans 12:21