Perseverance Series

Perseverance isn’t found simply through some kind of relief, but it is found when others walk with us through real stress, anxiety, hurt, and emotional trouble. Perseverance is found in community… in others who also believe in Jesus and can encourage us in our faith. They can encourage us to keep putting one faithful step in front of another.

Church is important.

Sunday School is important.

Fellowship times and Bible studies are important.

Developing deep relationships with other Christians is important.

All of these are important for perseverance.

READ James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

VIDEO ILLUSTRATION… Perseverance 3, Downloaded from

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=344765462853548

VERSE 4

James talks about trials coming to us in verse 2. He speaks about testing of our faith and perseverance being developed in verse 3. It is in verse 4 that James tells us about the end result of perseverance in our lives. The end result of perseverance in our lives is a mature and complete faith that lacks nothing.

The sad truth is that trials of many kinds make us a better person in Christ when we allow God to mold us and shape us through the trials. We come to understand God more fully. We internalize who Jesus Christ is to us when our world is collapsing. We draw comfort from the Holy Spirit when our heart is in 100 pieces. We come to understand the role of faith more after it has been tested. A person of faith who has been through trials is a person of faith with maturity to trust God more and more. Each experience grants us endurance in faith where we have a deeper level of trust in God… this is important in the Christian walk. I believe James says that a person who can trust God without stopping, no matter the trial or test of any kind, will be perfectly complete in faith.

CONCLUDING ILLUSTRATION

On May 29, 2013 I registered for an event called the “Tough Mudder.” I had decided that “slow and steady” wins the race. I had three goals for my first of two Tough Mudder races I would run in 2013 and 2014: First, have fun. Second, I would jog the entire distance. Third, I would only skip 1 obstacle if any. I made my goals in 2013 all the way until the last obstacle.

The last obstacle was a huge ramp that you had to run up and grab the top. I persevered for 12 miles. I jogged for 12 miles. I overcame every obstacle or at least tried to overcome every single obstacle. I tried to run up the ramp. I tried to run up the ramp. I tried to run up the ramp. 5 times I exhaustedly tried to run up the ramp and grab hold of the top. I could not do it by myself. It wasn’t until I had the cheering of the fellas who ran with me and a helping hand at the top that I was able to reach the top of the ramp. To be honest, I still didn’t get all the way up the ramp, but I touched the top and that was good enough for my tired body.