Perseverance

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.

The definition of perseverance means that they have a determined continuation in something with a steady and continued action of belief that occurs over a long period of time amongst and despite especially difficult circumstances. 

Perseverance is vital to growing in our faith, and God wants his people to persevere no matter what happens, so we have to learn how to overcome obstacles, difficulties, trials, and tribulation to experience victory in Christ.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer Rom 12: 12

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1: 12

What should be my posture while I am persevering?

Ephesians 6:18

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

I should be praying , asking God for wisdom and strength. Reading his word, asking for His guidance. It’s not only about waiting but it’s about projecting faith. Foresight of what can happen. Perseverance requires a lot of patience and presence of mind. We cannot give up in the state of patience. Take it to the Lord in prayer, when it becomes unbearable. God’ll work it out in different ways, beyond our imagination. Anger or frustration is only an act of distrust and impatience.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

John 15:7

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Take a stand, or take steps of faith. When we take a step towards God, he takes thousand for us. Perseverance is a way of telling God that I love you more than my situations, people or afflictions. I trust you will do it for me. Many times I simply tell God, that this is your will and I know that it is good for me and you will do it for me.

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2 Corinthians 1:21

21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

John 14:15

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

Ephesians 6:11

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

2 Peter 3:15

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Hebrews 6:11

11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.

1 Timothy 4:1

1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

John 6:40

40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Luke 21:19

19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

Matthew 22:37-39

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

What produces Perseverance?

Steadfastness (means firm and unwavering) Produces Perseverance

James 1:2-4, 12 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast (or perseveres) under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.” Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?” “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat — he would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.” Picking up on that idea, someone has said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are ‘throwed,’ but whether you are willing to stay ‘throwed’.” We may face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith. Then, through the Holy Spirit’s power we can be the eventual victor over sin and the world. The battle is the Lord’s, so there is no excuse for us to stay “throwed”!

We need to focus on the goal that we are going to achieve by the end of it. This will help us to be steadfast. When we are aimless, we will only wander, about our situation. We need to make it into our lifestyle. It should come from within eventually.

Suffering Produces Perseverance

Romans 5:3-4 “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 “Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.”

George Mallory was the famed mountain climber who may have been the first person ever to reach the top of Mount Everest. In the early 1920’s he led a number of attempts to scale the mountain, eventually being killed in the third attempt in 1924. Before that last and fatal attempt he had said “I can’t see myself coming down defeated.”

Mallory was an extraordinary climber, and nothing would force him to give up. His body was found in 1999, well preserved by the snow and ice, 27,000 feet up the mountain, just 2000 feet from the peak. Give up he did not. His body was found face down on a rocky slope, head toward the summit. His arms were extended high over his head. His toes were pointed into the mountain; his fingers dug into the loose rock, refusing to let go even as he drew his last breath. A short length of cotton rope – broken – was looped around his waist.

When those who had set up camp for Mallory further down the mountain returned to England a banquet was held for them. A huge picture of Mt Everest stood behind the banquet table. It is said that the leader of the group stood to be applauded, and with tears streaming down his face, turned and looked at the picture. “I speak to you, Mt Everest, in the name of all brave men living and those yet unborn” he said. “Mt Everest, you defeated us once; you defeated us twice; you defeated us three times. But Mt Everest, we shall someday defeat you, because you can’t get any bigger but we can.”

In 1953 two climbers, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzig Norgay, reached the top.

Source: Information reported in Seattle Times (Jan 16, 2000) and Illustrations Unlimited

After reading this story, I understand that suffering not only produces perseverance but it also produces disciples. We are able to influence people through our nature, and our character. We motivate others for achievement. When they look at how we have persevered, they feel encouraged to take steps of faith and endurance.

Endurance Produces Perseverance

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13

13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

One day George Muller began praying for five of his friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Muller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Muller’s funeral the last one was saved.

While enduring, we pray. We acknowledge that it is beyond my capacity to change anything and give God the space to make his will come through. When we nag God, we may end up in what we desire but it will not allow God’s will. We will push God for something which is not the best for us. However, that does not stop God from doing his will. He is sovereign. He will get someone else to do it for Him.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord, whose confidence is in him. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. – Galatians 6:9

2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Why Persevere?

It builds up my character. It enables me to be patient, sensitive, kind, forgiving, trusting, keep faith, and so on. It gives us a renewed strength. We are able to encourage others. We have a testimony in the end.

Example of an Oyester: It makes a pearl out of a sand particle, that irritates it. The oyster perseveres and finally what actually was a hindrance becomes so precious.

Romans 5:1-5
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

James 5:11
As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

But those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Rejoice in hope, endure in troubles and continue steadfastly in prayer. – Romans 12:12

It was the summer Olympics of 1992. It was the quarter finals of the 400 metre sprint. British athlete Derek Redmond was one of the favourites for the gold medal. A lifetime of training had brought him to this moment. The starters gun fired and the athletes burst out of the blocks.

Halfway through the race Derek Redmond was leading. Then disaster struck. His hamstring went and he collapsed on the track. The agony on his tear streaked face was both physical and mental. It was a crushing blow.

Medical attendants ran to assist him. Derek waved them away. He came to race and he was going to finish. He got to his feet and started hobbling down the track.

The crowd was mesmerised. Officials didn’t know what to do. And then an older man ran onto the track. He brushed off officials who tried to stop him. He ran up beside Derek and placed his arms around him.

The man was Derek Redmond’s father, Jim.

“You don’t have to do this son” Jim said.

“Yes I do” Derek replied.

“Then we’ll finish this race together” came the response from Derek’s father.

Arm in arm, with agony on Derek’s face, tears on his father’s, Derek and Jim continued down the track. Derek buried his face in his father’s shoulder. His father’s strong shoulders carried his son physically and emotionally. Jim waved away officials who tried to stop them.

Finally, accompanied by a now roaring crowd, standing on their feet and applauding, Derek Redmond crossed the line. It became the defining moment of the Barcelona Olympics.

Sandra wife of Virjil .The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.