2 Timothy 4 :1-8

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

No matter what you are going through you don’t give up. You have to do what you keep doing till GOD tells you to do something else. You stay steady and calm in the situation and do what GOD called you to do. We are all going to be tested. People who give up don’t get anywhere in life.

In the life of Apostle Paul;

* Awareness that GOD is with him.

2 Corinthians 11:22-28

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

He did not give up because of GOD’s awareness with Him. LORD stood by Him. LORD says ‘Don’t be afraid I am with you’.

Acts 23:11

11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

If we don’t give up we will be rewarded. The awareness of His presence will take you through things that nothing else will.

* He experienced GOD’s strength within Him. He had strength, the strength of Almighty GOD.

Philippians 4:13

13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The strength GOD released in Him in the awareness of His presence. You have the strength of GOD within you because you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. LORD Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be with you, in you upon you. He will strengthen you to do whatever the Father has called you to do.

Apostle Paul never gave up. LORD said to Him ‘I am with you’.

Ephesians 6:10-17

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We have the strength of GOD to face anything and anybody no matter what the situation is because it is His strength. It’s the divine energy, the power of GOD within us. He will enable us to live through it no matter what. You have the Holy Spirit living within you. You have the GOD living inside of you. He is not going to ask you to do anything without giving you the strength to do it.

* If you got to courage in your life and understand what GOD is working in your life, you need to be in the word. You need to spend time with Him. I know that whatever I am facing My GOD will turn it out to be for my good. LORD says “trust Me” and that is the key.

Romans 8:28

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

* Assurance of His will for us. Whatever GOD will is you don’t give up.

Acts 13:47

47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

He knew where he was in life when he was saved, He knew exactly what GOD was up to in His life. I got to do what GOD says to do it, when GOD says do it, I don’t have to understand why. If you have the strength you don’t give up.

Psalm 32:8

8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

GOD assures us His guidance and direction.

Philippians 1:12-13

12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

Philippians 4:4-5

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

GOD has the best for His children. He is going to turn it to our good if we respond in proper fashion.

* Life changing lessons GOD teaches us. GOD is teaching him, leading him to write down for us to live by, applied where he was, what he knew.

* The churches were growing

* Rewards coming. He will reward us for not giving up. He will reward our faith.

* GOD is getting you ready to equip you. No matter what you are facing at this moment, no matter how tough and difficult it is, GOD will take you through whatever you are facing in life.

* the vision of the cross upon us. The cross the atoning death of LORD Jesus Christ makes our forgiveness reality.

Galatians 6:14

14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Philippians 1:21

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

For me to live is Christ to live. If we love Him we won’t give up when the suffering and pain gets intense, we keep going. Look at the situations courageously,

We make the choice how we live the difficult times. Allow LORD Jesus Christ live through us and demonstrate to the world LORD Jesus Chris is who He says He is and He is more than capable of fulfilling His promise. He never leaves us or forsake us.

Psalm 25:4-5

4Show me your ways, Lord,

teach me your paths.

5Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Saviour,

and my hope is in you all day long.