This sermon is on some verses in the Bible where we find the phrase “seven times”.  These passages teach us to:

Keep praying if at first you don’t get an answer.  Elijah prayed for rain while his servant went to look toward the sea seven times till the rain came, 1 Ki 18:43.  It’s easy to get discouraged and quit praying when God doesn’t answer you right away.

Keep obeying if at first you don’t see results.  Naaman dipped seven times in the Jordan River before God healed his leprosy, 2 Ki 5:14.  Israel circled Jericho seven days, Jos 6:15, before the walls fell.  I witnessed many times before I saw a soul saved.  Don’t quit.

Keep getting up if at first you keep falling.  A just man falleth seven times and riseth up again, Prov 24:16.  It’s so frustrating to fall when you want to do right.  Don’t give up.  Keep getting up.  If you get up one more time than you fall, you’ll be standing.

Keep enduring chastening if at first you don’t get right.  God will punish Israel for their sins, Lev 26:18, 21, 24, 28 during the Tribulation.  Nebuchadnezzar ate grass till he learned that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, Dan 4:25.  Sometimes God has to keep putting it on you until you learn the lesson.

Keep forgiving if at first a person keeps sinning against you, Lk 17:3-4.  In Matt 18:21-22, Jesus told Peter to keep forgiving them till seventy times seven.  It’s easy to give up on somebody when they keep sinning against you.

Conclusion: this study on seven times teaches us to give “it” time  when at first you might be tempted to quit.  Don’t stop just because it’s taking longer than you thought it should for God to answer your prayer.  Or for you to get right.  Even for God to bless something he gave you to do.  Or for someone else to quit offending you.