But they Just Kept on Going

Joseph

Genesis 37:23-27 –  And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;24  And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.25  And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.26  And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?27  Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

1. He was sold by his brothers but he just kept on going.

Genesis 39:16-20 –  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.17  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:18  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.19   And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.20  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

• He was sold again to Potiphar and was lied about, but he just kept on going.
• He was Put in prison, but he just kept on going – (Head up the prison)

Genesis 39:21-23 –   But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Job

1. He lost all His kids, his servants, and his cattle but he kept on going.

Job 1: 21-22 – And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

B He lost his health but he kept on going –

Job 2:6-10 –  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8  And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

C Even his wife told Him to curse God and die but he kept on going.

1. His friends blamed Him but He kept on going.
2. God rebuked Him to keep him going Job 38-41

F Jobs response – He decided to keep on going in spite of it all –

Job 39:1-6 – Then Job answered the LORD, and said,2  I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.3  Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.4  Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.5  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.6  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

• The result – Blessed of God more than before,

Job 42:12-13 – So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.13  He had also seven sons and three daughters.

Paul

1. He was stoned and left for dead but he kept on going.

Acts 14:19-20 –   And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

• He was imprisoned but he kept on going.

Acts 16:20-25 –   And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.25   And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

• He was shipwrecked but kept on going.

Acts 27:41-44 – And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.42  And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.43  But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:44  And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

• He knew he was going to be killed but he kept on going.

II Timothy 4:3-8 –   For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord

Stephen

Acts 7:51-60 –  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54   When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

1. He was being stoned but he kept on going.
2. He was facing death but he did not change the message.
3. He looked toward heaven and preached a message of forgiveness to those who were angry with him.
4. He kept his eyes on Jesus, and just kept on going.

What about us?

1. We are to endure and keep on going – II Timothy 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2. This is a marathon and we must be patient and keep on going. – Hebrews 12:1-3 –  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
3. Forgiveness, not bitterness will keep us going – Matthew 6:14-15 – For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
4. Isn’t it time to press on in spite of the hardships along the way? Colossians 1:3-11 –   We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9   For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;