Excellence #7 - Determination Series

Commitment To Excellence - Part 7

Determination

Phil 3:13-14; Heb 12:1-2; 2 Tim 4:7

Introduction: Understanding Our Terms

A. Vision - The ability to see beyond the majority; Viewing life’s circumstances from God’s perspective.

B. Dreams - God given ideas, plans or goals that lead to God-honoring results.

C. Determination - Faith for the “long haul”; disciplining ourselves to remain consistent regardless of the obstacles.

I. . Examples of Faithful Determination

A. 2 Spies - (Numbers 13:1 - 14:10)

1. Caleb - (Joshua 14:6-14)

2. Joshua - (Joshua 23:6-8; 24:14-15)

B. Nehemiah - (Nehemiah 4:6,17, 21, 23; 6:3,15)

C. Paul - (2 Cor 4:7-10)

II. Enemies of Faithful Determination

A. Fearful giants - (Num 13:28, 33)

B. Faithless men - (Num 13:31-32)

C. Fierce Foes - (Neh 2:19-20; 4:1-6)

D. Furtive “friends” - (Neh 6:1-9)

E. Failures of the past - (1 Tim 1:13; 1 Cor 15:9-10)

3. Encouragement to Faithful Determination

A. Get up when you fall down! (Micah 7:7-9)

* "I will fall” - Fall = … down; … into sin; … into a mistake; … into a heartache; … into discouragement; … failure; … quit; … bereavement; … knocked down.

* “I will look” - To God and no one else!

* “I will wait” - For vindication!

* “I will bear” - You can make it, if you’ll take it!

* “I will arise” - From whatever brings you down!

* “I will behold” -God will make things right!

B. Go on when people say “Stop”! (Acts 21:13-14)

C. Give when it seems there is nothing more to give! (Luke 6:38; 1 Kings 17:8-16; Prov 3:9-10)