Friday Night Message: Spiritual Pioneers - Part IV

Mar. 8, 2024

Good evening brethren,
We continue our analysis of pioneering this evening …Below are some bullet points listing
the concepts we have already considered:
  

   • The Pioneering Spirit and the Promise of a Better Future
      • Leaving It All Behind … for a New Life

→ 1. The frontier began when you found yourself separated from the “old world”.

→ 2. Americans began to exhibit very distinctive characteristics, after initially trying to
transplant European culture

There could be great rewards awaiting those adventuresome folks. But there were also
some serious trials along the way … hardships, setbacks, and even death. Not everyone
made it out on the frontier.

What were some of the hardships and dangers and challenges of the frontier?

The Hardships of the Frontier

• Living in tents, caves, or very primitive structures
• Going without creature comforts
• Facing dangerous, wild animals… carnivores, venomous snakes
• Contending with hostile Indians
• Falling victim to various diseases and epidemics
• Having to deal with harsh weather … blizzards, floods, tornadoes
• Suffering deprivation … either malnutrition/starvation or extreme thirst and
dehydration
• Enduring loneliness and isolation
• Facing the unknown – often lacking the knowledge of what they were getting
into and how to deal with it
• Getting lost – neither knowing where they were, nor where they were going
• Having to travel long and far to reach their destination

Heb. 11:33-34 – …who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became
valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Heb. 11:37-38 – They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted,
they were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and
goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented…of whom the world was not
worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the
earth.

The American pioneers faced physical difficulties. And sometimes the spiritual pioneers
have to deal with some physical circumstances as well. Furthermore, the spiritual pioneer
is always facing a spiritual battle… fighting against spiritual enemies. Paul’s epistles
confirm this challenge that faces all Christians.

Eph. 6:13 – Therefore take up the whole armor or God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

II Tim. 2:3 – You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Have a restful Sabbath,
Fred