Acts 14:21-22 "And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"

We see Paul and Barnabas going back on their first missionary journey and “strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith.” In the Lord’s church today we need more and more encouragement to “continue in the faith.” We need to understand that Christianity is not just beginning, but completing the course, and finishing the race.

We can’t help but realize that perseverance is the target of the Christian’s enemies. If we can be encouraged to quit, Satan has won our souls. How do our enemies do it?

The world does not object to us being Christians for a little while, as long as it can tempt you to settle down and quit working after a little while. It does want us to be as comfortable as we can be here, so as to make us give up the hope of heaven later.

The flesh will seek to ensnare us by saying, “It is wearisome being a pilgrim. Will you ever indulge me? Am I always to be mortified? Come on, just once won’t hurt!” And many go the way of the flesh, never to come back to the Lord that redeemed them.

Satan tempts us in service. He gets the Christian looking around and thinking that he is the only one doing anything. Like Elijah of old he thinks he is the only one (1 Kings 19). So, we rest a while, thinking we are doing no good, and we quit.

Satan tempts us in suffering. Is the suffering for Jesus worth the pain here and now? For many, it is not, and they quit!

Satan tempts our steadfastness. Rest a while, be quiet, stop fighting all these things yourself. And, we rest, letting our lamp go out.

Satan tempts us in areas of doctrine. Sensible, learned men are giving up the Bible! Why should you hold fast to that old book? Many are going down the road of being more and more progressive, more liberal with the Bible and what it clearly says! The old landmarks are being removed, the old paths are not as clear as they once were, and many are being led astray by these false teachers.

Brethren, if I could talk with each one of you individually I would try to find out where you are weak, and do what I could to encourage you to continue in the faith. May we all thus continue until God finally closes the scenes of this life and we live with Him forevermore.

Playing with sin is like playing with fire, sooner or later you will get burned.
Sin adds to your troubles, subtracts from your energy, multiplies your difficulties, and will divide your interest in His work. And, its wages is death.

The Devil is perfectly willing for a person to profess Christianity as long as he doesn’t practice it!