Luke 11:8 “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him any thing because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.”

The above verse is the end of a parable, a story about a man who wakes his friend up at night to get some food for another friend of his who has come on a journey to visit him. The story is from Luke 11:5-8 and the teaching on it continues in verses 9-13. The teaching is also in the book of Matthew. Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. (9) Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will he give him a stone? (10) Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? (11) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (See also Luke 11:9-13) Luke 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

You may say, “I’ve done that”. Well, keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. In Mark 2:1-13, friends brought a paralytic to Jesus to be healed. They couldn’t get in the door of the house so they let him down through a hole they made in the roof. They had persistence. They were not giving up until they got what they came for. The result: vs (5) “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven. VS (11) I say to you, rise and take up your pallet and go home’ (12) And he rose and immediately took up his pallet and went out in the sight of all;….” Thank God for friends that will help and persevere with you in prayer and help you out, friends who won’t give up, but will join their faith and persistence with yours.

And look at Bartimeus, a blind man who received his sight when he came to Jesus. Mark 10:46-52 VS (47) “And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ (48) And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!'” Maybe you have been crying out to God for a long time. People around you have told you be quiet about it, stop asking God, quit all that believing, all of that confession, all of that praising and praying. Well look at Bartimeus. He had persistence. He cried out all the more. The result; VS (49) “Jesus stopped and said ‘Call him here’. VS (51) And answering him, Jesus said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And the blind man said to Him, ‘Rabboni, (my Master), I want to regain my sight!’ VS (52) And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he regained his sight and began following him on the road.” He got his healing quickly but it was his persistence that got Jesus’ attention. So He asked the man, “What do you want?” He wants for us to tell Him what we want, what we need, even though He already knows before we ask. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to pray about our situations but we still need to ask, then believe and thank God for the supply or answer and receive it.

Many of you have trained barrel racing horses to become winners through sheer persistence; horses that could run but wouldn’t turn. You went around those barrels enough times, over and over, until finally you had a winner on your hands. Your persistence paid off. It’s the same with good calf roping horses. Many of the best ones were the hardest to train but through persistence they became winners. Some Rodeo cowboys have less natural athletic ability than others but because of persistence to reach their goal they are winning the money and buckles and saddles.

Sometime you may feel like quitting. Your biggest blessing may be right around the corner, coming soon. Hebrews 10:35 “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. VS (36) For you have need of endurance (or patience) so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. VS (39) But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Also see James 1:2-4.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yes and forever.” He will do for you as He did for the paralytic and the blind man and the many, many that came to Him and are still coming to Him. “Be persistent.” Get to Jesus. Cry out all the more. Keep asking, seeking and knocking. God will move on your behalf as He sees your faith.

And don’t forget Jesus is also knocking; knocking at your hearts door. Won’t you let Him come in.

PERSISTENCE TO HEAVEN: Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Be persistent enough to finish what you know God wants you to do. He wants you to have eternal life with Him in Heaven. Accept Jesus as Savior and Lord; open the door of your heart and life right now. Confess that you are a sinner and ask God to forgive you of all your sins and thank Him for doing it right now. Get baptized, pray every day, read the Bible every day, fellowship (meet with) other believers regularly. (If you have any questions about this and your soul’s destiny, read Romans 3:10; 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-10 and John3:3-8, John3:16 and Mark16:15-16 and lJohn5:11-13). If you are a Christian already but have not turned everything over to the Lord, open all the doors to your heart and life and let Jesus take charge and be Lord of all. Pray and do it right now.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE: II Timothy 4:5 “But you be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” We are to be persistent to fulfill the ministry, the job God has given us. Would you like to be a Cowboy Partner and persist with us as we get out the good news of Jesus to the people? It so, give your time, prayers, talents and money. We send out free Cowboy Bibles and other literature every month, besides our weekly meetings, Rodeo School and Bible Camps and Cowboy Church Services at rodeos. Join in and help. God will bless you and those you help.

SERVICE: What about you or your group? Is there something I can do for you? Let me know.
Isaiah 6:8 “Also, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I, send me.”
I’ll G0.

God’s Blessing and peace be upon you.
Persisting In Christ
Your Cowboy Partner and Friend in Christ,

Ronnie Christian

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