Pass the Perseverance Please

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

By definition “PERSEVERANCE” means steadfast in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

The word “steadfast” is ἑδραῖος: (hed-rah’-yos), which means sitting, seated; steadfast, firm.

The word “abounding” is περισσεύω,(per-is-syoo’-o), which means I exceed the ordinary (the necessary), abound, overflow; am left over.

The word “vain” is κενός, (ken-os’), which means empty, (b) met: empty (in moral content), vain, ineffective, foolish, worthless, (c) false, unreal, pretentious, hollow.

Please notice: We are to be firm, fixed, and overflowing in the work of the Lord because our labor directed and empowered by our risen Lord Jesus will never be worthless!

Several observations:
 

1. Being a CHRISTian calls for PERSEVERANCE! (Heb 12:1-3)

“1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The CHRISTian life is not a 50 yard dash…. rather it is a lifetime marathon! How are you doing? Surviving? Or Thriving?
 

2. Being in a CHRISTian marriage calls for PERSEVERANCE! (Col 3:18-19)

“18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”

In order to fulfill our role as a believer in the living God, we must ever be attached to the power source, namely, Jesus. Otherwise, we lack the necessary enablement thru the Holy Spirit of God.

* Forgiveness
* Unconditional Love
* Affirmation
* Affection
* Respect
* Unselfishness
 

3. Being a CHRISTian parent calls for PERSEVERANCE! (Eph 6:4)

“And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Prov 22:6)

“6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Deut 6:4-9)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

Exercising patience consistently, overlooking criticism lovingly, and encouraging loved ones daily becomes an impossibility without having PERSEVERING GRACE!
 

4. Being a CHRISTian leader calls for PERSEVERANCE! (Psalm 1:1-6)

“1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

(Joshua 1:9)

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

(2Tim 2:1-2)

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

CHRISTian Character counts! Our Testimony is extremely important. One leads by example. Jesus was the greatest leader that ever lived!
 

5. Being a CHRISTian witness calls for PERSEVERANCE! (Eph 6:10-12)

“10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Since we are constantly battling evil, then overcoming the enemy requires spiritual warfare. Jesus has won the battle!
 

Conclusion: Do you ever feel like quitting? Giving up? Throwing in the towel? Walking away? Washing your hands clean?

GOOD NEWS: Once Jesus saves us from the penalty of sin then He also makes it possible to be delivered from the power of sin! Outside of Him, and left to ourselves, we will fail miserably. But with His blood cleansing us, His Spirit filling us, and His Word guiding us, we can PERSEVERE no matter what! Hallelujah!!
 
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese