Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Etchie. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:14] Be blessed. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Well, you can tell I want to speak about cast not therefore away your confidence.

[0:24] Hebrews chapter 10 verse 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.

[0:41] For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not hurry.

[0:56] Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draws back, my soul shall not have pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of their soul.

[1:14] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. We believe God that in times like these, this word is necessary. Because sometimes life can come with all kinds of challenges and difficulties.

[1:29] Bible says that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivered him from them all. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, I think Psalm 37, somewhere there.

[1:42] Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord, Psalm 34 verse 19, the Lord delivers him from them all. God will certainly see you through this one too, because guess what?

[1:55] This one too shall pass. And when you walk with God, watch this, I'm about to say something quite important. When you walk with God, he will sometimes allow, he will give you enough victories, he will give you enough testimonies to keep you going.

[2:18] And he will also allow, sometimes allow challenges and difficult times to come to cause you to keep looking up to him.

[2:30] Sometimes we are at our best with our walk with God when our backs are against the wall. When you walk with God and your back is against the wall, it's not an indication that you are done and out.

[2:45] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Because when you walk with God, the end always is good. You always have a good end.

[2:55] He said, I know in Jeremiah 29, 11, I know the thoughts that I think towards you. They are thoughts of good to bring you to an expected end. So the end will be a good end.

[3:08] He says that for the expectation of the right, there's an end. And the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off or shall not be cut short.

[3:19] Right. So your expectation, your hope and your expectation shall not be cut short. That is why it talks about the looking, the blessed hope, the second or the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[3:35] Allowed in Savior Jesus Christ. First Peter chapter one, verse eight. So is our glorious, glorious, glorious, joy. In fact, Paul said that nevertheless, I count not my life dear to me, that I might finish my course with joy.

[3:52] In Acts chapter 20, verse 24. That I might finish with joy. Hallelujah. I might finish with joy. He said unto him who is able to present us faultless before him in joy.

[4:05] Jude 24 and 25. He said unto him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious throne or before him with joy unto him.

[4:22] Joy. We will end in joy, not in shame, in glory. That thing is from glory to glory. I know that momentarily you might be going through a difficult patch.

[4:33] But the good news is this one too shall pass. The good news is he says that for our light affliction. Karabaloshedaya. Second Corinthians chapter four, verse 16.

[4:50] For this cause we faith not. Even though our outward man perishes, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. Look at verse 17. For our light affliction, which is bad for a moment.

[5:04] Our light affliction, which is bad for a moment. He said, but what I'm going through is so heavy. He said, it's light in the light of the glories that are going to follow. In the light of the reward that is coming.

[5:16] So he says that for our light affliction, which is bad for a moment, works for us. Philippians chapter one, verse 12. And he says that the things that I've gone through has rather worked out for the federance of the gospel.

[5:33] I'm going through something, but it's working out for the federance of the gospel. So it's the end of the story is that God wins. And when God wins, you win. We win.

[5:43] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So he says that our light afflictions afflict. This is interesting. Anytime you are going through problems and challenges, if you're working with God, you are going through. If you work with God and you go through difficult times, that's why it says that count it all joy.

[5:59] James chapter two, chapter one, verse two. My brethren, my beloved brothers. It's a term of endearment. My brothers, count it all joy.

[6:09] When you fall into diverse, different types of trials. Verse three. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. I'll come to that.

[6:19] So he says that for our light afflictions, which is bad for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal way of glory.

[6:30] Hallelujah. Second Corinthians chapter four, verse 17. Our light affliction. Let's sometimes want... My sister, encourage yourself in the Lord. Knowing that this affliction is light.

[6:42] My brother, encourage yourself in the Lord. Tell your wife, don't worry, honey. This is a light affliction. Tell your husband, don't worry, dear. This is a light affliction. Why? And this light affliction is necessary because it's actually, it's been employed.

[6:55] It's working for you. It's your employee. Your afflictions, it's your employee. Doing what? Working for you. What is it working for you? A far more, far more exceeding.

[7:08] It breaks limits. Exceeding eternal weight of glory. Glory. I told you you're in the glory. You will not end in shame in Jesus' name.

[7:19] So, so because of that, therefore, cast not away, therefore, because of this fact that things are working for your good. Things will not always remain like this.

[7:31] Can you imagine if Joseph in the house of Potiphar or in the land of slavery, if he had cast away his confidence? And he said that, as of God, I've waited, I've waited and waited and I've kept waiting.

[7:45] Nothing really is happening. So, well, why don't I just go ahead and live my life? Live a simple life. It's actually complex. Life is, life is a very complex thing.

[7:56] And the most complex thing about life is trying to make life simplistic. So, Joseph did not cast away his confidence and see the end of the story.

[8:09] The end of your story will also be a glorious one. Sometimes when you are going through something, you consider the situation. You are wondering, so when shall this end?

[8:19] When shall this end? Keep your eye on the Lord. I'm going to show you what to do to not to cast away your confidence.

[8:31] But in the first place, it says that casting not away the Hebrews chapter 10 verse 35 again. It said, Hebrews chapter 10 verse 35, cast not away therefore your confidence.

[8:50] The Greek word translated confidence is paracia. Paracia, paracia, sorry. Sounds like this, paracia.

[9:01] What is the meaning of paracia? It means that cheerful courage. It means boldness. It means free and fearless confidence.

[9:12] Nothing is restricting it. Nothing is intimidating. Free and fearless confidence. Sometimes when you are putting your confidence in God, it looks like, are you sure? Are you sure?

[9:22] That's why I'm teaching this. You have to be free and fearless. Dare trust. I dare you to dare trust God. Trust God. Psalm 18 verse 30. As for God, his way is perfect.

[9:34] The word of the Lord is tried. And he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Mom. Dad. My brother. My sister.

[9:46] I want you to be strong in the Lord. Because Bible says, these days are evil. The days are evil. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 17. Says the days. Sorry, verse 16.

[9:56] Redeeming the time for the days are evil. In Ephesians chapter 6 verse 13. Said, therefore, having done all things to stand, stand. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God.

[10:07] That you'll be able to stand in the evil days. Evil days. Evil days. So, when evil storm. The evil winds blow. Those that are strong in the Lord.

[10:19] Those who know their God. In the time evil wind is blowing. We shall be strong. And do excellence. Daniel 11.32. Hallelujah. So, therefore, because of this.

[10:31] Don't cast away your free and fearless confidence. Don't cast away your cheerful courage. It's not morose and sad courage.

[10:44] But cheerful courage. Yeah. Hallelujah. It's not like you're putting up a bold face. But this is coming from within. Cheerful courage. You will not cast it off. Don't cast away.

[10:55] Don't cast away, therefore, because of what the future holds for you. Don't cast away, therefore, your cheerful courage. Don't cast away your boldness. In Acts chapter 4 verse 13.

[11:06] The Bible says, and when they saw the boldness of Peter and John. They saw it. These guys are bold. The Bible says, Acts chapter 14 verse, I think, 2 and 3. They were boldly declaring the word of God.

[11:18] In Acts chapter 14 verse 3. Boldly declaring the word of God. And God confirming his word. With signs and more. They were boldly. Long, therefore, long abode. They stayed there long.

[11:29] And boldly. Confidently. Declaring the word of the Lord. So, we, in Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. It said, being confident in this very thing.

[11:40] That he who has begun. Don't let us abort the mission. God has begun it. Look at how far you've come.

[11:51] Look. You've done well so far. You've done well so far. Press on. Philippians 3. He said, I press on towards the mark.

[12:02] Press on. You don't slide into it. You press into it. Since the days of the, of John the Baptist. Matthew chapter 11 verse 12. The days of the, from the days of the, John the Baptist.

[12:15] The kingdom of God suffers violence. And the violence will take it by force. Take it by force. You have to grab it aggressively. Aggressively make sure that you are holding on to faith and good conscience.

[12:28] Which some, having abandoned, have made shipwreck of their faith. First Timothy chapter. First Timothy chapter 1 verse 19. Holding on therefore to faith and good conscience.

[12:39] So you, you are, you are fighting the good fight of faith. First Timothy 6. Fighting the good fight of faith. Is it 11? Fighting the good fight of faith.

[12:51] Holding on to it. He said, fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of eternal life. Fight the good fight of faith. First Timothy 6.

[13:02] Lay hold on eternal life. You are fighting to lay hold on to. You have to make sure that you hold something firm. He said, behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me.

[13:13] No, he said, Revelation 3.11. Hold to your crown. Hold first that no man takes away your crown. There is something you have to hold on to.

[13:24] You've come so far. You've done so well. So you've been confident in this very thing. That he who has begun a good way shall perform it. Pastor, I want you to know that good way God began.

[13:36] He does not stop midway. He doesn't abandon his projects. What God began. And if God began it, he'll perform it. If God began it, fear not. Have this fearless confidence in God.

[13:48] It's about time. Believers, let's rise up and have a fearless confidence with God and say with Job, even if even though he slays me, yet I will trust him. Usually those who say, if I perish, I perish.

[14:03] Never perish. Hallelujah. Esther said, I'll go before the king. This is a kingdom assignment. It's a kingdom project. I'm taking that bold step. And if I perish, I perish.

[14:14] And they don't perish. Those who usually say, if I perish. He said, our God, king, let it be known to you that we will not bow to this, your golden image, and let it be known that our God is able to deliver us from your hands or from the very finest.

[14:29] And even if he doesn't deliver, we want you to know that we ain't bowing. That's the fearless confidence. Fearless confidence.

[14:41] Boldness. Paracia, the Greek word. Paracia. You must have your paracia. Boldness. So it says that, therefore, curse not.

[14:53] You start in confidence in God. In Philippians chapter 3, verse 3, it says that we have no confidence in the flesh. Our confidence is not hinged on physical, material things.

[15:04] So that if you lose your job, then it's like, oh, your whole world is coming down. No, you have Christ. The Bible says we are made complete in him. If you lose your job, you lose money, you lose a house, you lose, you will not lose it.

[15:17] But I'm telling you that even if those things are not there, he said, the Lord is our present help in time of trouble. Therefore, even if the whole earth be moved, Psalm 46, even if the whole earth be moved, we shall not be afraid.

[15:34] Why? Because the Lord is our confident help in time of trouble. Our paracia will not cast our paracia away. Therefore, or cast not away, therefore, your paracia.

[15:49] Cast not away, therefore, your confidence. Why? Listen to this. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.

[16:05] Let me read you from the Amplified. It has great recompense of reward. Cast not away, therefore, Amplified.

[16:15] Let's see how the Amplified puts it. Do not, do, do not, therefore, fling away your fearless, which I said, fearless confidence, that paracia.

[16:26] Paracia. Do not cast away, do not fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and a glorious compensation of reward.

[16:37] My God, I shatter. What does compensation mean? Whatever you have suffered in that season, you will be given, you'll be paid back what you have lost, what you have suffered.

[16:49] So, it's like you are going through a patch as you obey God and walk with God, and it looks like nothing is working for you. They are telling you, why don't all this church, church, why don't you stop and start going to some club? You'll get somebody to marry you, or you'll get a man, and somebody's over.

[17:02] All the men, the men are finishing church. Why do you, you are always going to church, church. Do not cast away your confidence. Do not cast away your confidence, for it has great recompense of reward.

[17:13] This is a joyful expectation. Hallelujah. And it says that, do not cast away, therefore, do not therefore fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and a glorious compensation of reward.

[17:30] For you have need of steadfastness, sorry, steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised.

[17:52] Glory to Jesus. Glory to Jesus. Look at the NIV. I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord.

[18:04] Can you imagine if Jesus had not saved us, how your life would have been by now? Yeah. No hope. Bible says in Ephesians chapter 2, I think verse 11, no, verse 12, there, that we were in this world without hope.

[18:19] Our strangers to the covenants of promise, without God in this world, without hope and without God, we are aliens. But now, the story is different. These are the things we should rejoice in.

[18:31] And because of that, our end is always glorious. The songwriter says that, our strength, thy grace, our rule, thy word, our end, the glory of the Lord.

[18:44] Hallelujah. Our strength, thy grace, our rule, thy word. It's the grace of God that strengthens us. It's the word of God that rules in our hearts and determines what we can do and what we cannot do.

[18:58] And guess what? It is the good. Our end is always the glory of God from glory to glory. He said, as we all with an open veil faces as in a glass, beholding us in the glass, are being transformed into the same image.

[19:16] In 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18, are being transformed into the same image from glory glory to glory. That will be your story in Jesus' name.

[19:28] Amen. So, it says, cast not therefore away your confidence, which has a great recompense of reward. In other words, God will compensate you with a reward that takes care of all the previous losses and then honors you for the days ahead.

[19:45] So, whatever, the point here is, you know, sometimes you work for a company and you use your fuel to do company whatever, your car, and the company will tell you the end of the month or end of the year, there is a certain amount that is given to you towards your fuel cost.

[20:02] So, you give the receipt to them. So, you are spending your own money for the fuel, but you know it will be paid back. You know, when you're a lawyer and you are doing a case, all the hours you are spending on the case for the client, you are not very worried.

[20:15] Why? Because, you know, it's coming with a compensation. Compensate. They'll pay you for your service and pay you for your time. All the time you have spent working on this case, everything, normally, the lawyers will claim it back.

[20:29] So, another way of putting it is, do not cast, therefore, away, do not cast away, therefore, your confidence. Why? Or your paresia. Why?

[20:40] Because you'll make, you'll claim it later. You'll claim all the loss. Anything you have lost is there for grabs and for claims back. Because God will not even wait for you to claim it. He himself will compensate you.

[20:52] And if God is compensating you, can you imagine how good it's going to be? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. So, be strong in the Lord. Well, let's look up quickly how to, what are the things to do in order to not cast away your confidence.

[21:08] All right? So, what does the scripture expect us to do so you don't cast away? Because it's nice to say, okay, I don't want, I won't cast away my confidence. I won't cast away my confidence. But what must you do so you don't cast away your confidence?

[21:20] Let's look into the scriptures. It says that, for we, but cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.

[21:31] Verse 36. For we have need of patience. So, number one, you need patience. The word translated, the Greek word translated patience sounds something like this.

[21:45] Hupo, yeah, hupomone. Hupomone. So, hupomone is hope. Sorry, sorry.

[21:55] It's patience. I'm sorry. Cast not away your patience. Your hupomone. Other times, it is also translated perseverance. For we have need of patience.

[22:06] We have need of perseverance. Okay. We have need of hupomone. Hupomone. We have need of hupomone. We have need of patience. We have need of perseverance. We have need of, the Greek word, it means that steadfast endurance.

[22:20] So, when we read, I think the Amplified, the Amplified says steadfast endurance. For we have need of steadfast patience and endurance. So, it's a steadfast patience.

[22:32] Patience that is steadfast. It is constant. It's consistent. This patience is not flaky. It's not fickle. It's not inconstant.

[22:44] It is constant. It is persistent. It's steadfast. All right. It stays constant the way it should be. So, he says that we have need of this type of patience.

[22:57] A patience that is not today out and tomorrow in, in and out, in and out. But it's patience that is steadfast. How do you have steadfast patience?

[23:08] By being determined. The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 6 verse 12 that, Be ye followers of those who through faith and patience. You have to be careful who you surround yourself with.

[23:21] It so significantly affects your patience towards the things of God or your confidence in the things of God. Or how much you are able to wait, patiently wait for the things of God.

[23:34] So, he said, Be ye not slothful. Don't be lazy. Right? Patently waiting for God is a lot of work. It's hard work. I know you agree with me. And I know if you've been in church, if you've been with God for a while, in Christ for a while, you will know that it takes a while.

[23:51] Sometimes things don't just happen just because you prayed. No, no. No. Things won't happen because you have prayed. Stop trying to hold God to ransom that, why, I pray, you haven't done it.

[24:01] Hey, things don't happen just because you prayed. Things happen in the time of God. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that in his time, he makes all things beautiful in his time.

[24:13] So, things happen in the time. The Bible says there is time for everything. There's time for everything. Ecclesiastes chapter 3. There's time for everything under the sun. It operates with time.

[24:25] Seasons change. All right? But God doesn't change. So, you might be in the winter of your life. But the good news is that summer is coming. Sometimes people feel, I've waited for summer for so long.

[24:39] Oh, no, no, no. It depends on how you define waiting. See, when you are using, someone had to wait for 10 minutes, all right, because waiting for the bus for 10 minutes or sits on the bus, right, before at the station, sits on the train.

[24:56] Let me even use train. Sits on the train and waiting for the train to take off. Usually, when the platform is ready or the trains are open for you to join, you go. Maybe you're going traveling from intercity to travel.

[25:11] Sometimes you go and you have to wait for the train to take off. So, there are times you wait for about 10 minutes. Now, your friend is on the phone with you. He's in the train to Scotland waiting for the train to take off.

[25:27] And where are you? You are also in the plane to Scotland waiting for the plane to take off. And then their train takes off. Now, you say, why? Why haven't we taken off?

[25:37] No, it's too different. Don't compare. He's in a train. You are in a plane. Plane sometimes to take an hour before the plane takes off. You'll be seated. Everybody's boarded or on board.

[25:48] And we are waiting. Checking that and checking that. So, what I'm trying to say, your system of judgment can influence the way you are waiting, even though it won't change the period.

[26:00] So, you should just trust God and be patient. So, work hard. He said, don't be slothful. Hebrews 6, 12 again. Don't be slothful. But be ye follower.

[26:10] It takes hard. It is a lot of work to follow people who have obtained the promise. You have to look at who is your role model. Who is your, who is, whose life you are drawing encouragement from, so long as your walk with God is concerned.

[26:26] Everybody needs someone to draw encouragement from. Jesus is our ultimate. But you need human beings. Efficient, sorry. 1 Corinthians 11, verse 11. Paul said, follow me or imitate me as I imitate Christ.

[26:39] So, you must have people. And he says that, Hebrews 13, verse 7, I think. Whose faith you should consider. Whose faith you should follow, considering their end. The people who teach you. So, follow their faith, considering their end.

[26:51] Look at how their life went. The direction that tells you it's worth following them. And so, number, the point here is that it's important to understand that it takes work to follow.

[27:05] And, but if you, there are people whom when you follow, it will help you to be able to wait patiently. Because they, you obtain the promise through faith and patience.

[27:15] Not faith alone, but patience as well. You have faith. Yeah, I believe in God. So, why are you not willing to wait? And waiting there does not mean sitting down. But waiting there means that, patience there means that, holding firm to God's word.

[27:30] You are holding on to God's word. That you will not let go after any circumstance. Steadfast holding on to the word of God. Right. So, it's necessary.

[27:42] Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23 says that, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.

[27:53] The New King James says the confession of our hope without wavering. Let us hold fast the confession or the profession of our faith without wavering. Let us hold fast. Hold fast without wavering.

[28:05] Hold it fast. Why? For faithful is he. I've read it already. So, faithful is he. For faithful is he who has promised. So, it takes a certain level of confidence in God to obtain the promise.

[28:20] And if you're going to have confidence, then you need patience. In Psalm 40, in the book, Psalm 40, verse 1 to 5. I like that scripture. Let's look at it. In Psalm 40, verse 1.

[28:34] It says, I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit.

[28:44] You are coming out of any horrible pit you are in as you wait on the Lord. Out of the mariclay. You are coming out of any mariclay. A mariclay is something, it's like muddy. When you stand, you are sinking.

[28:55] And you can't walk properly. And when you take any step, you are sinking. You know when sometimes a horse can fall into a mariclay, and you see that the horse is sinking. And they need to bring some, when a car falls into a mariclay.

[29:06] It's not water, but it's waterlogged. And it's clay. It's muddy. And you are sinking. When you stand, you are sinking. It says that God will bring you out of a mariclay. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know what situation your life finds, you find yourself in.

[29:20] Either your marriage, or your career, or your life. I mean, your ministry. He said, God will bring you out of the mariclay in the name of Jesus. He says that, for, I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.

[29:38] He brought me up, also out of a horrible pit, and horrible pit, and out of the mariclay, and set my feet on a rock and established my goings.

[29:50] Hallelujah. That will be your testimony. I told you the story will end beautifully for you. He set my feet on a rock and established my goings, and he has put a new song in my mouth. When God does it, he always, God is interested in putting song in your mouth.

[30:05] One of these, song or laughter. We always put song in your mouth. Bible says that Abraham, Sarah said, for the Lord has made me to laugh. Genesis chapter 21.

[30:17] Yeah. Genesis chapter 21, verse 3 to 5 somewhere. They said, for the Lord has made me to laugh. Other translations said, the Lord has prepared for me laughter.

[30:28] Another translation said, the Lord has put laughter in my mouth. I'm talking about you. God will put laughter in your mouth. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

[30:38] Hallelujah. Joy comes in the morning. Some 30 years, five or so. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. So he says that, and he has put a new song in my mouth.

[30:49] Now, when they came out of Egypt, in Exodus chapter 15, Bible said, and Moses and the children of Israel sang the song. They sang. I see you singing.

[30:59] Get ready. You are about to rejoice and celebrate and sing. Why? Because when you wait on the Lord, he will always bring you out. In Revelation chapter 15, this is Exodus chapter 15, verse 1. Revelation chapter 15, verse 3.

[31:10] Bible said, and they sang the song of Moses and the song of the land. Talking about how marvelous are your works. Wonderful are your works, O Lord. Hallelujah. You are about to sing a new song. And he put a new song in my mouth.

[31:23] And he put a new song in my mouth. Even praise unto our God. Many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust and respects not the proud.

[31:35] Nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord, my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done. And thy thoughts which are to us what.

[31:50] They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee. If I would, if I would declare, I would declare and speak of them. They are more than can be named.

[32:01] Just, just, just walk with God. You'll be surrounded with so much testimonies. That will be your portion. I'm just, God sent me this day to just let somebody know that it is well.

[32:13] It is well with your soul. The songwriter says that, When peace like a river attends my way. When sea below's roll.

[32:24] When sorrows like sea below's roll. Whatever my Lord, thou hast taught me to say. It is well. It is well with my soul.

[32:36] And I want you to know it is well with your soul. In Psalm 27 verse 4. Look at this quickly. Verse 14. Psalm 27 verse 14 says, Wait on the Lord.

[32:47] Be of good courage and he shall strengthen my heart. Wait on the Lord. I said, wait. That's a nice one. Wait on the Lord. Psalm 37 verse 7 verse 9 and verse 34.

[32:59] Psalm 37 verse. Thank you, Jesus. Psalm 37 verse 7 said, Rest in the Lord. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him.

[33:12] Fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way. Because of the man who brings wicked divides to pass. Someone seemed to not be working with God. Doing all kinds of things.

[33:23] And things seemed to be working for them. So don't be worried because of them. Your league is in a different league. Don't be worried about them. Because of them. Verse 9. It says that, For evil doers shall be cut off.

[33:34] But those that wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. I see God doing it for you. Verse 34 says that, Wait on the Lord and keep his way. And he shall exhort thee to inherit the land.

[33:48] When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Don't worry. Just stay faithful. Consistently wait. Wait on the Lord. Wait on the Lord.

[33:59] Hupo mone. Hupo mone. Wait on the Lord. Patient. Confidently wait. In Psalm 39 verse 7.

[34:10] It says that, And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee. What am I waiting for? Is you I'm looking for. That should be your testimony. Or that should be your song. That should be your approach to life.

[34:21] Lord, I'm waiting on you. In Psalm 1, 2, 3, verse 2. Let me look at it. Psalm 1, 2, 3, verse 2. It says that, Behold, as the eyes of the servant look unto, look unto the land, sorry, the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he has mercy.

[34:51] Our eyes are waiting on God. This is the approach of a Christian. I'm looking up to God. I'm happy to hold on to God's way and do it God's way until his glory is manifested in my life.

[35:02] I'm waiting to the end. Jesus says that, You shall be hated by all men for my sake. Matthew chapter 10, verse 22, 23. You shall be hated by all men for my sake, but they that endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

[35:20] So Isaiah chapter 40, verse 30 and 31. He said, The young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.

[35:32] Isaiah chapter 40, verse 30 said, Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

[35:43] They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and shall not faint. Wait on the Lord, and you will not sink. Wait on the Lord. So he said, How do you, how do you, what do you do not to cast away your confidence?

[36:00] Because he didn't say God will do it for you. He will not cast. He said, You therefore cast not away your confidence. So cast not away, therefore, your confidence. Number one, why? Because he has great, number one, sorry, for you have need of patience.

[36:16] Number two, obviously say, I just said it in some, in Hebrews chapter 10, verse. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 35 again.

[36:30] He says that, Don't cast away your confidence, for he has great recompense of reward. So number two, respect the reward. There is a reward coming, right?

[36:42] There is a reward coming. Cast not away, for he has great recompense of reward. There is a reward. Now we talk about reward. It's important to understand that everything you do in Christ shall be rewarded.

[36:53] Every good thing you do in Christ for the Lord shall be rewarded. As you walk with him, as you stand on his word, he will reward your faithfulness and your patience. Now look at this. For, yeah, Hebrews chapter 11, verse 26.

[37:09] Look at this. Hebrews 11, 26. 25 says that, talking about Moses, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the, to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

[37:22] Look at verse 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Why? For he had respect unto the, unto the recompense of the reward.

[37:34] Respect the recompense of the reward. So number, number two is respect the reward. In Jesus himself, Bible says that in Hebrews chapter 12, verse two, looking unto Jesus, the utter and the finisher of our face.

[37:47] So keep your eyes. Now watch this. This is very important. Bear the reward in mind, but keep your eye, not on the reward, but on Jesus. So Hebrews chapter two, it says that looking unto Jesus, people will disappoint you, but no one, you are not looking up to people.

[38:01] Sometimes even a pastor might disappoint you. Sometimes I'm serious. Some, someone you thought is a good Christian, brother, you can count on my discipleship. He said, don't look unto them. It's good to have a role model and take inspirations from people who are ahead of you, are doing well, but you look unto Jesus, not even unto the reward.

[38:19] You, you focus, you look unto Jesus, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. What? He's our supreme example, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.

[38:30] So there's a joy ahead of him. That's what made him endure the cross. So you can, you'll be able to go through whatever you are going through. If you keep the reward in mind and look unto Jesus.

[38:42] So respect the reward, respect the reward, because God is faithful. He said that, um, I can behold, I can quickly. Revelation 22, verse 12, my reward is with me to give each one according to his works.

[38:54] Hebrews chapter 10, verse, Hebrews chapter 10, look at verse 34, said, for he had compensation, sorry, for he had compassion of me. I think I would like to read that from the NIV.

[39:08] Hebrews chapter 10, verse 34, say, you, you, you suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property.

[39:19] Really? Joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property? No problem. You joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property. Why? Because you, you knew, you knew that you, you yourselves had better and a lasting possession because you knew what was coming is better.

[39:37] What you have in Christ is far better than anything earthly, anything temporal. So you knew, you see, let the reward be on your mind because God is a rewarder.

[39:48] He's a rewarder. Bible says in Hebrews chapter 11, verse six, that without faith, it's impossible to please God. And he who comes to God must know that he is, and he's a rewarder. God will reward you.

[39:59] So he rewards your labor. So number one, patient endurance. Number two, so you do it with patience and endurance. You must have patience and endurance. Number two is respect the reward.

[40:10] All right. If you respect the reward and know that there are better days ahead. Okay. Say, say, there are better days ahead. My darling, listen, believe you to believe God's word.

[40:23] There are better days ahead. Your best days are not behind you. There are better days ahead. There are better days. Don't be so discouraged. I feel like, I don't feel like going on again.

[40:33] Look, I've messed up. No, please. I know you messed up. I know you made some mistakes, but that is, this is not the time to give up. You cannot give up. You cannot give up. You cannot give up.

[40:45] For don't cast away your confidence. It has great recompense or reward. You cannot give up. Recompense of reward. You cannot give up. Thank you, Jesus.

[40:57] Glory to Jesus. So number three is, as I said in earlier, look to Christ as our supreme example. Not to people.

[41:08] People will disappoint you. May disappoint you. People may disappoint you because they are human. Look, so just in case you feel disappointed in people, you won't be disappointed in Christ.

[41:19] So keep your eyes on Christ. Keep your eyes. Don't say, all this church thing, I'm tired. All these people, they are hypocrites. No, no, don't say that. No, don't say that. Don't say that. It might, it might, it might feel like that.

[41:32] Yeah. Sometimes it might feel like that. And the facts around you may be so strong that that's how it is. But don't say that. Keep your eyes on Jesus. All right. So look up to Jesus or look unto Jesus as our extreme example.

[41:45] Number one, patience and endurance. Number two, respect the reward. Number three, look to Jesus as our supreme example. Number four, oh, count on God's faithfulness. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23, it says that, I read it earlier on.

[42:02] Hebrews, Hebrews 10, 23, let us hold fast the confession, the profession of our faith without wavering. Why? For faithful is he who that promised.

[42:13] Faithful is he that promised. There is a promise. There's a promise. Now, let me, let me just say, when you look, when you look back at verse 36, for we have need of patience that after we have done the will of God, after you have done the will of God, that ye might receive the promise.

[42:33] What promise are we talking about? When, in Hebrews, it talks about two promises. In Hebrews chapter 9, verse 15, it talks about the promise of, let me read it.

[42:43] Hebrews 9, 15, says that, and for this cause, he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the First Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

[43:04] So, the first promise is the promise of an eternal inheritance. And what does it take to get that promise? Watch this. It takes the work of Christ. Okay? So, he says that, for this cause, he is the mediator of the New Testament by means of death.

[43:18] So, his redemptive work is what brings us into the promised inheritance. His redemptive work. So, this promise of eternal inheritance, you can get it through, how do you get it?

[43:33] Through the redemptive work of Christ. Okay? But this other promise I'm talking about, the Bible is talking about, it's like Hebrews 4, verse 1. Hebrews 4, verse 1, it says that, let us therefore fear, lest a promise be left as of entering his rest.

[43:50] Any of you shall seem to come short of it. See, this is not talking about eternal inheritance, the promise of entering the rest of God. Look at verse 9, yeah, verse 9.

[44:01] Verse 9 says that, there remains therefore a great rest for God's people. There's a rest prepared. I spoke, I think I taught on this subject, how to enter the rest of God.

[44:11] I think you should listen to it again. So, it says that there's a promise. That promise is entering the rest when God glorifies himself in your life, even here on earth. Okay? So, that promise, how do you enter that promise?

[44:23] That's where you need patience. So, you don't have to cast off your confidence, and you need patience, that after you have done the will of God, you obtain the promise, verse 36 of Hebrews chapter 10.

[44:35] You obtain the promise. Are you getting what I'm saying? So, it's, that promise requires the patience, and that's what I'm talking about, that Jesus Christ counts on God's faithfulness, because faithful is he who has promised, and he will also do it.

[44:52] Hebrews chapter 11, verse 11, Bible says that Sarah herself, watch this, by faith, Sarah herself received strength to conceive, by faith, through faith, Sarah also herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful.

[45:12] Did you see that? Why did you get, why, how did it happen? She judged him faithful, who had promised. Yeah. So, you have to judge God, count on his faithfulness. If he has said it, he will do it.

[45:22] Faithful is he who has promised. So, you have to count on God's faithfulness. Things are bad, but you know what? Count on, trust in God's word. Trust that God will make good his word. God will keep his word.

[45:33] If others don't keep their word, trust God. If you don't even keep your word sometimes, because we are human beings, trust God, he will keep his word, because he's faithful. So, count on God's faithfulness. Bible says, Sarah judged God faithful.

[45:46] Abraham in verse 8, verse 17 and 8, verse 18, when Abraham was asked to offer Isaac, Bible says that, of whom it was said that in Isaac thy seed shall be called.

[46:00] What did, Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Why? Verse 19, accounting that God was able to. So, he judged that God, if God said he would do it, he's able to do it. He judged God capable.

[46:13] He didn't look at the condition, but he looked at the character of God. Right? So, do not think that you won't get married, so you have to cut corners. Do not think that you won't get a good job, or you won't have peace, so you have to cut corners.

[46:26] Do not think that things won't work out for you, so you have to cut corners. Just work hard and trust God. Work out. So, count on God's faithfulness. Count. Sarah judged God faithful.

[46:37] Abraham considered, counted, accounted him, he was able to do it. For faithful is he who has promised, who also would do it. He's not predicting promise for you to do it. He promised to do it himself.

[46:48] All right? Faithful is who has promised, who also, I like the way the Bible insers the word also. For, all right, that's the one in Romans talks about, who also will do it.

[47:02] Praise the Lord. So, God will do it if he has promised. So, number, number four is count on God's faithfulness. Right? I have eight points and I'm done.

[47:13] Eight points. So, count on God's faithfulness. Number five, remember, look at verse 37. Verse 37 says that, Hebrews 10, 37, for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.

[47:29] Yet a little while and he that, amplified, let me look at the amplifier. Yet a little while and he that will come will come. Look at amplified. Sorry. The amplifier says that, for still a little while, a very little while and the coming one will come and he will not delay.

[47:48] So, don't think God has abandoned you. It will be long. Things will change very soon. For, our light affliction, which is bad for a moment. First, second Corinthians chapter 4, verse 17 is for a moment.

[48:00] So, just a little while, all the storm will be over and Christ will show up. Trust God. My darling, trust God. About your daughter, about your husband, about your wife, about your family, about your job, about the conditions around you.

[48:17] Pastor, about the ministry. Things look so bad. People are taking advantage of this COVID. They are not coming to church or they are not connecting. They are not coming on the Zoom. But guess what? Look up to God.

[48:28] Keep your, count God faithful. Lock your confidence in the faithfulness of God. Hallelujah. Because God faithfully see who has promised who also will do it. So, remember, it won't be long.

[48:40] Things will change very soon. That's five. Number six. I like number six. Look at number six. Let's look at verse 38. Number six is in verse 38.

[48:52] Now, the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall not have pleasure in him. Heaven will not be happy with you at all if you backslide. If you compromise, heaven will not be happy with you.

[49:05] Heaven will, I'm telling you, heaven will not be happy with you, please. So, don't give up. Don't backslide. God, heaven will say, ah, look at all we have brought you through and done for you. You backslide. Heaven will not be happy with you.

[49:17] But pastor, I've messed up. I've done things I shouldn't have done. It doesn't matter. It's bad. Repent and keep going. I was sharing some people, if you fall, don't lie down. Get up and still walk. That's how we all started walking.

[49:29] We all walked by crawling and trying to, you started walking when your toddler tries to walk, he falls and then get up. Why do you fall and say, okay, I won't walk again? No, don't do that. Pastor, I've tried, I've tried everything.

[49:41] I'm still messing up. Rise up and still keep going. But pastor, people are saying all kinds of things about you. Did they die to save you? Did they die to save you? Is it not Christ who died to save you? Look unto Jesus and keep running.

[49:52] Keep running. Get up and keep, dust yourself off the debt and keep running. Keep running. Keep running. Perseverance. He says that, for you have need of perseverance. That's patience.

[50:02] Perseverance. Keep going. Keep going. Finish hard. Like marathon. Finish hard. Finish hard. Press on. Persevere. Things will change. Quite to me long. Things will change.

[50:13] And if you backslide, if you give up, God said, my soul will not have pleasure in him. God will not be happy with you at all. So remember, if God is not happy with you, then it's not good news.

[50:26] And then, so number six is that, heaven will not be pleased with you if you give up. Number seven, Romans chapter 12, verse one.

[50:39] Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every, no, there's so much cloud of witnesses around you. The witness, the evidence, evidence that God is faithful, God is good.

[50:54] It's mountain all, mountain up all around you. Can't you see? God is faithful. Look at the things he has done in the past. What he has brought you through. How you could have even lost your job a while ago.

[51:07] But look, you prayed, and God has seen you through. And listen to, look at the other people's testimony. Look, you are surrounded with mountain evidence that God is faithful. And people are watching.

[51:20] People's joy is connected to your perseverance and you making it to the end. Bible says that, the arena, I taught a message, the arena is packed. You are in the center. Demons are watching the way you behave.

[51:32] Angels are watching the way you behave. The saints who have died are watching the way you behave. We are also watching the way you behave because we need you to keep going. We don't want you to give up. So the arena is packed. You are our witness that people can persevere without giving up on God.

[51:46] You are our evidence. So please, the arena is packed. You are surrounded with so many cloud of witnesses. Witnesses of the fact that God is faithful and witnesses who are also watching the way you are, your story, how you also, your story will play out.

[52:00] We are also watching because we have a great stake in your life. My brother, we have other Christians, your pastor, and other Christians, we have a great stake in your life.

[52:11] You have to do well. Okay? Do well. Don't cast away. So you must know that there's cloud of witness around you so you can't afford to give up. And then that last point. Thank you, Jesus.

[52:24] So number one, patience, endurance. Number two, respect the reward. How do you keep your confidence to the end or how not to cast away your confidence?

[52:36] All right? Number one, patience, endurance. Number two, respect the reward. Number three, look to Christ as our supreme example. Number four, number four, count on God's faithfulness.

[52:47] Number five, remember it won't be long. Number six, heaven will not be pleased with you if you give up. Number seven, the cloud of witnesses.

[52:59] There are mountain evidence all around you. So cloud, when I say mountain, not mountain, like the witnesses, evidence is mounting up, it's mounting, it's increasing, right?

[53:10] So cloud of witnesses, number, and then number eight, number eight, you are, let me read it, the last verse in Hebrews chapter 10.

[53:25] But we are not of them that draw back onto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of their soul. You are not one of those people who backslide. No, no, no, no, no, you are not a backslider.

[53:37] So why are you, why are you accommodating backsliding thoughts? Listen, terrible things have happened, but you can't still give up. Because guess what?

[53:47] You are part of the winning team. You are part of the winning team. So you can't give up. In fact, there are times, anyone who has worked with God to the end and had testimonies and witness of success, progress, will always tell you, sometimes it gets to a place you feel it's like giving up.

[54:04] Don't use your feeling to judge your actions. No, no, your feelings can be so bad. That's why we walk by faith. No, we don't walk by encouragement. We walk by faith. We walk by faith.

[54:16] Faith is standing on God's word and keep going. So we walk by faith and not by sight. No, if you are waiting for somebody to encourage you over things, it's okay, it's good. Encouragement can come.

[54:26] But in the absence of encouragement and when discouragement grabs you, let your faith keep you going. Even when discouragement grabs you, sir, even if discouragement grabs you, let your faith keep you going because you are not a backslider.

[54:42] You can't compromise. You can't give up. You've come too far to give up. We have come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting his holy word. He's never failed us. No, we can't turn back.

[54:53] We've come this far by faith. You've come very far and keep going because you are not one of them that backslide. You are not one of those people. No, you are not and you are not a backslider. In Jesus' name.

[55:04] Amen. I pray this has been a blessing to somebody just to let somebody know that there's great recompense of reward if you do not cast away your confidence. Don't cast away your confidence.

[55:16] Don't cast away your parisier. Don't cast it away because there's great recompense of reward. In Jesus' name. Amen. We thank God for using this servant, Reverend Dr. David Antri, to share this awesome word.

[55:31] If this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at karis.org. Remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Karis Ministries.

[55:47] Stay blessed. Thank you.