“Perseverance for Christ”
(Elijah Stepp, Jr.)
Choice of opening Illustration……………….
Introduction
Perseverance is a term which may be over-utilized.
Explaining what it takes for a team to win a game, a coach may say perseverance is required.
A boss may tell employees perseverance is required for a deadline to be achieved.
We may tell ourselves perseverance is required on our part to reach our goals.
While these are all true, perseverance is harder to actually maintain than it is to talk about.
Our ability to persevere in our Christian walk with God is sometimes sidelined.
God’s word is our personal guide book of perseverance.
Statements made by those who missed the mark related to perseverance
- I will not sit in my living room all day watching TV, Instead I will move my TV into the bedroom.
- The first step is to say nice things about myself. The second, to do nice things for myself, The third, to find someone to buy me nice things.
Perseverance is the strive to persevere
Webster’s Dictionary defines the term Persevere this way:
To persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement
Point 1:
Blessed is the man who perseveres
(James 1:12)
James 1:12
12Blessed 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.
Why to Persevere for Christ
Let us start out with the good news….
We gain God’s blessings from perseverance.
This passage may lead us to understand that we must persevere to receive God’s blessing. However if we look at the James 1:12 more closely it says blessed is the man who perseveres – he will receive the crown of life. The crown of life is the reward for our perseverance.
But the blessing comes during the struggle of persevering.
Example: Butterfly
If the butterfly does not persevere to emerge from the cocoon, it likely will die.
If someone came along and helped open the cocoon – The butterfly would never be able to fly.
Like the butterfly…
We are being blessed by persevering for Christ.
1) The blessing of spiritual strength through our relationship with Him.
2) The blessing of spiritual confidence through our relationship with others who believe in Him.
3) The blessing of spiritual muscle through our work for Him.
4) The blessing of spiritual Power through our worship to Him
Like the butterfly…
If we stop persevering for Christ – we may die spiritually.
If someone else were able to persevere for Christ on our behalf – we would never spiritually fly.
James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
An unknown Confederate soldier penned these words:
I asked God for strength - that I might achieve.
I was made weak - that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health - that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity - that I might do better things.
I asked for riches - that I might be happy.
I was given poverty - that I might be wise.
I asked for power - that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness - that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things - that I might enjoy life.
I was given life - that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for - but received everything I had hoped for...
Almost despite myself - my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am - among all men - most richly blessed.
Romans 5:3,4
3…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Point 2:
You need to persevere
(Hebrews 10:35,36)
Hebrews 10:35,36
35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
God created us, loves us, and wants to help us realize our potential - so that we can be useful to others.
For this reason -
I believe we as Christians have a God given basic need to persevere. To survive and finish many given tasks and goals to grow as followers of Christ
Life has a way of keeping us from Persevering for Christ
And we sometimes get sidelined in our walk with Christ
1 Our prayer life becomes limited
2 Our attendance in the Lord’s house becomes less
3 Devotion and meditation time with Jesus happens less often
4 We begin to take God’s blessings for granted and fail to thank Him for those blessings
5 We spend less time with other believers
Remember the Parable of the Sower?
Matthew 13:7,22
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
Our lives are busier than they have ever been. With all the new computer programs, technologies, TV, and information available from the internet – you think we would all have figured out a way to have a steady stream of income while having the ability to do what ever we want. However this is not the case
We must:
Prioritize where we will persevere
We could have a complete sermon on several specific areas where we should persevere – but this evening we are concentrating Persevering for Christ. That should be our main priority. We should make it our goal to persevere in our Christian walk for him.
Hebrews 12:1,2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2Let 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.
With our busy lives it is easy to become distracted.
What should we do when we become sidelined in our Christian walk? Just a few suggestions:
1) We should pray to our Father in Heaven on a daily basis – Thank Him for His Blessings and tell Him we love Him – Psalm 66:19 - But God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer
2) We should spend individual prayer and devotion time with Christ - and meditate on what He has done for us – Ephesians 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away- have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
3) We should gather with other believers in corporate worship on a regular basis – Jeremiah 7:2 - …Hear the word of the Lord
4) We should develop deep relationships with 2 or 3 other believers – and encourage each other in our walk with Christ – Ecclesiastes 4:12b says…..A cord of three strands is not easily broken
If we make it a goal to do these four suggestions:
Our walk with Christ will be more fulfilling and complete
The will of God for our lives will be more clear
Personal peace in our lives will be more evident
How will we know if we are walking closer to Christ?
Let the fruits of the spirit be our litmus test
1) Love
2) Joy
3) Peace
4) Patience
5) Kindness
6) Goodness
7) Faithfulness
8) Gentleness
9) Self-control
If we are not doing well in these areas revisit the four suggestions mentioned earlier
Hebrews 10:23-25
23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…
Hebrews 11:1
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
No doubt you have heard this example of perseverance but it is worth repeating for obvious reasons.
The value of courage, persistence, and perseverance has rarely been illustrated more convincingly than in the life story of this man (his age appears on the right):
Failed in business 22
Ran for Legislature--defeated 23
Again failed in business 24
Elected to Legislature 25
sweetheart died 26
Had a nervous breakdown 27
Defeated for Speaker 29
Defeated for Elector 31
Defeated for Congress 34
Elected to Congress 37
Defeated for Congress 39
Defeated for Senate 46
Defeated for Vice President 47
Defeated for Senate 49
Elected President of the United States 51
That’s the record of Abraham Lincoln.
Point 3:
Love perseveres
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Persevering is being Christ-Like
Good reasons we should persevere in our Christian walk:
1) Christians newer in the faith are seeing our example – Philippians 1:27 whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
2) Others considering the Christian faith are seeing our example – Philippians 2:15 - so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God ….in which you shine like stars in the universe
3) We are saved and have the gift of eternal life – John 3:16 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
4) But the main reason to drive home tonight is that we should Persevere for Christ is because of our love for Him, and our love for others he wants to save:
Phillipians 2:5-11
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Christ himself persevered until physical death that we might be saved.
Conclusion
Perseverance in our walk for Christ is our goal as Christians. God’s word makes it clear our perseverance is dependant on our relationship with Christ, and our relationship with other believers.
Choice of closing Illustration………………
Do you know the good news of the Gospel?
1) That God came to earth in Human form?
2) That Jesus Christ, His Son was that man?
3) That He took the sins of the world on Himself?
4) That He was separated from God and died on a cross?
5) That God raised Christ from the dead on the third day?
6) That Christ appeared to many followers after His resurrection?
7) That even until this day - if you accept him as Lord and Savior you will be saved and have eternal life in Heaven?
It is all in God’s word - and it is true
Is God calling you to accept his Son as Lord and Savior?
Is God calling you as a Christian to walk closer to Him through His Son Jesus Christ?
We are going to sing a Hymn of Decision this evening
If God is calling you this evening – Whether publicly or privately in your heart - This is your opportunity to do so while we sing
