Series: The Pay-off of Perseverance
Message #7: The Good Things Perseverance Produces In My Life – October 14, 2007
Big Idea: Perseverance will produce outstanding outcomes in my life, if I allow perseverance to finish its work in my life.
Eleven Outstanding Outcomes Perseverance Will Produce In My Life
Outcome #1: Maturity
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature… James 1:2-4
Maturity is the process of change, resulting from our relationship with God, that requires perseverance as we grow by leaving behind old and childish ways of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others.
Tough times mature us by giving us opportunities to think biblically
and grow emotionally, morally, financially, and relationally.
Humble people allow hard times to reveal how they need to grow and where they need to change.
Outcome #2: Wholeness
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be… complete, not lacking in anything. James 1:2-4
The Greek phrase, complete, not lacking in anything,
means to become whole by growing into a healthy and productive person in all areas of life.
Hard times reveal unhealthy attitudes and unhealthy patterns of thinking, behaving, relating, spending, parenting, leading, and following that God wants to grow us in.
The process of becoming a healthy and productive person requires perseverance in applying God’s word.
Outcome #3: Growth
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15
People who do not stay the same, but change, are those who humbly accept their need to grow, listen to God’s word, learn it, and live it out over the course of their lives, no matter how many times they fail. They persevere by getting up every time they fall down.
People who do not give up on listening to God’s word, learning God’s word, and living out God’s word, grow up.
Outcome #4: Productivity
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness…knowledge…self-control… perseverance… godliness… kindness…and love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8
An effective and productive life, flowing from our relationship with Jesus, is a life that consists of doing good to others, learning and living out God’s word, controlling our attitudes and emotions, not quitting no matter how many times we fail, reflecting God’s character, being kind and not rude, and showing love.
Growing in each of these areas requires perseverance.
Outcome #5: Dependency
If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt. James 1:5-6
When we go through hard times, we are forced to seek God’s wisdom. Getting God’s wisdom helps us grow up.
Outcome #6: Reward
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
When we stand up under trials bringing external pressure and internal pain, by not giving up and getting out because of our love for God, it will result in an eternal reward.
By faith Moses…chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27
The right perspective on life, priorities in life, and perseverance in life will lead to a productive life.
The most important thing in life is what our eyes see spiritually, not what our eyes see physically. It takes perseverance to live according to what we see spiritually.
Having the right outlook on life will result in the right outcome for life.
Outcome #7: Joy
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-4
A happy time of celebration will come for those who stay in it during the hard times.
Outcome #8: Peace
Endure hardship as discipline. God is treating you as sons…God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it…God led you all the way in the desert for these forty years to humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord…Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son so the Lord your God disciplines you…so that in the end it might go well with you.
Hebrews 12: 7-11; Deut. 8:2-16
What we allow God to teach us in the painful times will lead to a peaceful and productive life in his time.
Outcome #9: Lasting Relationships
Love is patient…kind…does not envy…does not boast…not proud…not rude…not self seeking…not easily angered…keeps no records of wrongs…does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth…always protects…always hopes…always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 4-8
Relationships that last require persevering love.
Outcome #10: Character
...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character… Romans 5:3-5
Our character is changed by how we respond to the challenges we face.
Outcome #11: Pay-off
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36
There will be a large payoff in the lives of those who do not give up, no matter what they go through. They are confident their perseverance in painful times will have a pay-off, not only for this life, but for the life to come.
