Perseverance

Demonstrating Perseverance for Christ (Acts 20:18-32) What is perseverance? Persistence, constancy, continuing to strive, in spite of difficulties. We are called to demonstrate perseverance Dag Hammarskjold, former U.N. Secretary General once wrote: "When the morning’s freshness has been replaced by the weariness of midday, when the leg muscles quiver under the strain, the climb seems endless, and suddenly nothing will go quite as you wish--it is then that you must not hesitate." Following the Apostle Paul’s example: Paul strove to “finish the race” and “complete the task” of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24, see also Heb. 12:1) Paul did not hold back/shrink back (Acts 20:27, see also Heb. 10:38-39) Paul kept back nothing “profitable” (Acts 20:20) What is profitable? What is not profitable (i.e. that we should keep back)? Scriptural exhortations to persevere (See Job 17:9a, the righteous one holds fast to his way; Hos. 12:6b, hope in God constantly; Matt. 10:22b, endure to the end, John 8:31-32, remain in my word, Mark 4:3–8, parable of the sower; John 15:4–10, Christ is the vine; Acts 11:23b, continue in the Lord with a hearty purpose; Acts 13:43b, continue in the undeserved kindness of God; Acts 14:21–22, remain in the faith; 1 Cor. 10:12–13, you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear; 1 Cor. 16:13, stay awake, stand firm in the faith, carry on as men, grow mightily, 2 Cor. 13:5, keep proving yourself; Gal. 5:1–4, stand fast; Gal. 6:9, do not give up in doing what is fine; Eph. 6:13, stand firm in the complete armor of God; Phil. 1:27, stand firm, striving side by side; Phil. 4:1, stand firm; Col. 1:22–23, continue in the faith, steadfast; Col. 2:5– 6, firm in the faith, rooted and built up; 1 Thes. 5:21, hold fast to what is fine; 2 Thes. 2:15–17, stand firm, maintain your hold; 1 Tim. 6:11–12, pursue endurance; 2 Tim. 2:12, go on enduring; 2 Tim. 3:14, continue in the things you have learned; 2 Tim. 4:7–8, fight the fine fight, finish the course, serve the faith; Heb. 2:1, pay attention to what you have heard that you not drift away; Heb. 3:14, make fast your hold to the end; Heb. 4:14, hold on to confessing Jesus; Heb. 6:4–6, to fall away is to impale the Son afresh; Heb. 10:23, 35–36, hold fast to the declaration of our hope, you have need of endurance; Heb. 11:27, follow the example of Moses; Heb. 12:1–13, the examples of the great cloud of witnesses; James 1:2-4, perseverance must finish its work, James 5:10–11, follow the examples of the prophets; 2 Pet. 3:17, do not fall from steadfastness; Jude 21, keep yourselves in God’s love)

Where can we find the strength/hope/courage to persevere? Maintaining a focus on our eternal salvation

Calvin called perseverance “continuance in grace” based on the “certainty of salvation” as one of God’s elect. “And He will render an accounting to each on according to his works: everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptableness by enduring in the work that is good; … (Rom. 2:6-7) (see also Eph. 6:17, the helmet of salvation, Phil. 3:12–15, keep your eyes on the prize, James 1:12, happy is the man that keeps enduring, he will receive the crown of life God promised, 2 Pe. 1:10-11, keep on, you will not fail and you will gain entrance to the kingdom, Rev. 2:10, prove yourself faithful even to death and I will give you a crown of life, Rev. 3:11-12, keep on holding fast that no one may take your crown) With constant prayer “Search after Jehovah and His strength, seek his face constantly.” (1 Chron. 16:11) Jesus to Peter, “But I have made this supplication for you that your faith will not give out; …” (Luke 22:32a, see also Eph. 6:18) Trusting in the love of God "You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11). “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8::35-39) "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills" (Hab. 3:1719). "Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" (Heb. 12:3).

Other points from this lesson Serve God with humility and “tears” (concern) (Acts 20:19) “ … be modest in walking with your God.” (Micah 6:8b)

I heard of a certain church which had dismissed their pastor and gotten a new one. Someone asked why they had gotten rid of the old one. A spokesman said, "Because he kept telling the people they were going to hell." The questioner asked, "What does the new man say?" "Oh, he keeps telling them they're going to hell, too." "Well, what is the difference?" he was asked. He said, "The difference is that when the first one said it, he sounded as if he were glad of it. But when the second one says it, he lets you know that is breaking his heart." The 2 or 3 word gospel, “repent” and “believe” (or “have faith”) (Acts 20:21) Repentance: Means “turning”. What should we turn from? What should we turn to? Why should we turn? (Out of pain? guilt? fear?) (See Acts 3:19, Acts: 2:38, Acts 5:31, Acts 8:22, Acts 11:18, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:17-20) Faith Note the bridge to faith from repentance in Acts 26:18 (see also Acts 14:27 and Acts 15:9) The responsibility of elders/overseers (Acts 20:28-31, see also 1 Tim. 4:16 and Col. 4:17) Feed - teach from the Word Protect - from deceivers (Titus 1:9-11, see also John 10:11-15) Minister to/Serving Selflessly