HARDSHIPS ON THE WAY. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE - Acts 14:21-22

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

OBSERVATION
Paul and Barnabas found all kinds of hardships as they traveled preaching the Gospel. They went through disappointments, trials, and life-threatening situations. Paul almost died by stoning. Yet, all these hardships couldn't stop them from doing their mission. Every time they got knocked down, they got up again. They understood that their assignment was crucial and bigger than their own comfort and safety. They persevered in their efforts, and as a result hundreds and thousands of people came to know Christ and history was radically changed for the glory of God.

APPLICATION
Sometimes I forget that hardships are always on the way towards fulfilling our mission. Sharing the Gospel and living the Gospel is not easy. We have a spiritual enemy that spews hate towards the power of the Gospel in people's lives and will oppose in all possible ways the advancement of the Kingdom of God. I shouldn't be surprised when doing the right thing brings trouble.

So if we are going to be effective advancing the kingdom in our own lives and in others, first of all we need to be aware of hardships and expect them. As we prepare for them, we must remember that our conflict is spiritual in nature and we must face off those hardships with spiritual weapons. Secondly, we need to be willing to persevere. Victory may not come immediately, so we need to be prepare to stay firm on our ground until the enemy is defeated. We must encourage one another in our hardships because when our enemy uses them to destroy us, The Holy Spirit is using them to make us more like Jesus. Hardships are not just inevitable. They are also necessary.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, as I move forward to get closer to you and see more of your kingdom in my personal life, I've been forgetting of the hardships I must endure first in order to succeed. Why do I act surprised when trials come? Why do I assume that something is wrong when in actuality hardships are a sign that everything is the way is supposed to be? Please give me the endurance and perseverance to stay firm on the course. And as we proclaim the Gospel and make crucial decisions to be more effective, help us to face our hardships in a way that glorifies your name. Hardships will come. It's not a matter of "if they come," but of "when they come." Whatever comes against us, please prepare us spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. The cause of the Gospel is worthwhile the sacrifices we have to make. Amen.