Persevere

Something about family and harmony, isn't there? Very beautiful. I sure appreciate that, Ray and Sabrina. Very nice. I think it is kind of interesting as we think about things, how no matter the struggles we go through, no matter the challenges, no matter the difficulties, the disappointments, the distress that comes, the worry that we may face, or the upset, God has an answer for that, doesn't He? God has an answer when we're challenged with discouragement and disappointment. And He gives us instruction in His Word on how we can rely on Him and face those kinds of challenges when we are worried and distressed and upset. Where do we turn for hope? Where can we look? Now, there's an interesting passage in Hebrews 10. Because when we face situations, and we see some of this even on television as we watch the recovery efforts out in the Northeast, I don't think any of us in this room faced four-hour waiting lines for gas yesterday as we were trying to fill up our cars for the weekend, did we? Can you imagine the frustration, the distress, and the worry? Just in that alone? We haven't faced those things here, and we have been very blessed in that regard.

But certainly there are times we face much more difficult things than just having a gas can empty, don't we? Where do we look when it comes to that regard, when we are faced with those kinds of challenges? In Matthew 10, verse 32, the apostle Paul, as he writes, he says, Or in other words, after God opened our minds to His truth, after we received God's Holy Spirit, sometimes bad things happen.

Bad things happen. We struggle. We suffer. We face difficulties.

And he said, Because we are the body of Christ. We suffer when the body suffers, when any part of the body suffers.

But he says about himself in verse 34, Paul says, And so he says in verse 35, New century says, Now that is a very interesting Greek word there for endurance or patience. That's the Greek word, hupomonae. And it means a constancy or being steadfast. And yet not just hanging on, but holding on and having patience in a very positive way. So it's not in a desperation, but in a way that is a positive, a cheerful way.

In Thayer's Greek English lexicon, it puts it this way. This characteristic of hupomonae is one who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to the faith, even by the greatest trials and sufferings.

You see, and they could write that because where's the focus? Focus isn't on the trial, isn't on the suffering, but it's on God the Father and Jesus Christ. And so in a way, the apostle Paul is telling us this is a Christ-like attitude and approach that we all need to develop.

We need to develop that trait of determination, that trait of endurance, that trait of perseverance and persistence, and add it to our faith by the one that can supply that. You might just write down 2 Peter 1 and verse 5. That's that passage where it talks about adding these different things to our faith. And you know, one of those things we're supposed to add to our faith, New King James says, perseverance. And that is that word, hupomone, add endurance, add confidence, add persistence, add that perseverance and patience to the faith that God has given us. How do we do that? How can we do that? I think there's a number of ways that we can add this trait of perseverance to our faith. In fact, I think God wants us to do that. And you know, it's an amazing thing. If you didn't lose your life in the challenges that the storm Sandy brought, what happened the next morning?

People woke up wherever they were and had to face the new day. And I think there's an important lesson in that. That today's an important day. Every new day, each new day, is an important opportunity. You know, why are you alive? Why are you here today?

I believe you're alive for a purpose. And there's something important about this day. Every new day that we have an opportunity to live. There's an amazing section of Scripture in Hebrews 12, right at the very beginning of that chapter. This section of Scripture was found in a song that we sang at the feast in Pensacola Beach. And in this particular song, it's taken from the words here. The song is called, Find Us Faithful. It's a beautiful song that echoes the concepts throughout the beginning of Hebrews 12. If you're familiar with the song, here's where it's taken from. And in verse 1, it says this, In other words, there are many that have gone before us and shined the light of God's way. We need to follow their example. So when we're faced with challenges, when we're faced with difficulties, Paul says, Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that's set before us. You guessed it. That word endurance? That's hypo-monet. That's that perseverance. That's that determination. That's that godly perseverance that can come through God's Holy Spirit. Let us run with endurance the race that's set before us. We woke up this morning. We're still in the race. It's time to get running once again. Let's run with endurance. How can we do it? Have the proper goal. Have the proper frame of mind. Have the proper focus. And he says that focus is looking 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. You see, each new day we have that opportunity once again to put our faith and confidence in God. We have that opportunity to get down on our knees every single morning and ask God to give us the strength to fulfill the responsibilities that he's given us. To compete in this race of life. Ask Him for the strength. Ask Him for the guidance. Ask Him for that renewal of our mind so that we can face the day and meet Him head-on, that we can successfully shine His light. And we can be part of that cloud of witnesses so that when anyone looks to us, they find us faithful, just as they look back at those that are mentioned throughout Hebrews 11. That we can be faithful as they were faithful. In fact, just a couple of verses before this, you go back to chapter 4. Look at verse 14 in chapter 4 of Hebrews.

Chapter 4 reminds us, you know, things aren't always perfect. Just because we're God's people, it doesn't mean that things are a bed of roses. It doesn't mean that everything's going to go our way. It doesn't mean that things are going to be perfect. It doesn't mean that at all. And so Hebrews 4 reminds us. Verse 14, it says, He says, What day do we face that isn't a time of need? Maybe that's where we have to step back. And even if it is a fantastic day and everything's going our way, don't take the blessings that God's given us for granted. And when it's not going so well, don't think that's where it's going to stay. Can our God do some great, amazing things? I think He can. Can we look to those that have gone before us and see their amazing example, that great cloud of witnesses that Paul talks about, that we want to be like? Because you know, when life has a strike against us, we've got to remember, it's not how we start. It's how we finish, isn't it? Isn't it about how we finish? Someone sent me an email a while ago and reminded me of these things. There were some amazing people that had a pretty rough go of it at certain times throughout their life. There was a music teacher that told a young man, as a composer, you're hopeless. You know who that was spoken to? Beethoven. Beethoven. There was a man who was fired from a newspaper by his editor. He told him, you have no talent and you don't have any good ideas. Walt Disney. Walt Disney. There was a man who had a smaller brain than average. His brain was probably smaller than even mine. Imagine that. Smaller than average brain. Couldn't even speak a word till he was past four years old. Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein. So, you see, from even these examples, it's not how you start. It's how you finish. And whatever we face, it's a new day. It's a new opportunity. It's a fresh start. It's an opportunity that we can draw that much closer to God. Psalm 61 verse 8 is part of a song that we sing oftentimes in the Psalms. You don't have to turn there. Psalm 61 verse 8, it says, And so we have this daily opportunity to perform the vows that we've given God. We've committed our lives to Him. We've dedicated ourselves to serving Him and representing Jesus Christ in our lives. And no matter what happened the day before, when we're repentant before Him, when we are rededicated to Him, it is a new day. And so let's make the most of this new day and make it a good finish. Make it a good finish. By doing that, we can begin to have the kind of perseverance, the kind of determination that God wants us to add to our faith.

I think we also have to ask ourselves when we're faced with challenges, or when others are faced with challenges, do I help or do I hinder?

Where do I fall in the range of things? Because no doubt there is much suffering around us, there's much suffering in the body of Christ, there's much suffering in the Church. And yet can we say suffering is God's fault? Is it God's fault? I don't think so. I don't think God causes suffering. Certainly He allows it to happen. Sometimes it's a natural consequence of things, of actions. But we know that God doesn't want any to perish. Is that what Scripture reminds us? 2 Peter 3.9 tells us that He's not willing that any should perish, but all. That's a big word, isn't it? All come to repentance. So God's will is always to transform anything that's bad into good in our lives. We have to ask Him to do that. But sometimes that's a challenge. It's a challenge when we see that. Sometimes in ourselves, and maybe even more challenging, when we see it in others. Are there ever times that we've been guilty of shooting the wounded? Do we knock somebody down? That's not good enough that we've got to kick them as well. Do we kick them when they're down? Or do we help restore? Do we help the healing? Do we realize how much the Church, how much the body of Christ is supposed to be our refuge? It's supposed to be our safe haven. It's supposed to be a place that we can restore others, a place of restoration. We can't ever let it become a place of torment. It can't be a place of ridicule. We always have to remember that we all can be of the wrong frame of mind. Galatians reminds us to consider ourselves, lest we too are tempted. So we always have to step back and be sure that we are persevering. In Romans 2, right near the beginning of that chapter, Romans 2, verse 1, as Paul writes to God's church in Rome, he gives us some insight into the kind of patience, this kind of persistence we need in order to be a help, in order to be the kind of individual that can serve and not hinder. Notice the very beginning of the chapter here. He begins by addressing our physical frame of mind at times. He says, therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you who are to judge, for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same thing, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you're treasuring up for yourselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. But then he goes on, and he says, verse 8, Those who are self-seeking don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also the Greek.

But on the other hand, help or hinder? Verse 10, he says, But glory, honor and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. You see, God is patient. God perseveres with us. And there is a strong, sure, certain God that backs us up when we strive to help and not hinder. Because this is an amazing battle that we're fighting, isn't it? It's in some physical battle. We are fighting wicked forces. In high places, he just reminds us of that.

These are spiritual, powerful forces that we battle. And some of us have certainly been through the wringer when it comes to our battles with sin. We're battle. We're bloodied. We're near-lethal blows that Satan has dealt us. And yet, we need help. We don't need to be hindered any further.

We need the attention, the medical help, the spiritual help that Jesus Christ can give. Because we were washed. We were washed in the refreshing waters of baptism. And yet, we need to be cleaned up. We need our feet washed again. We need to be made clean.

And as we strive to look to God and be humble before Him and realize He's given us the spirit of power, that we can overcome sin. We can persevere as we continue to look to Him. As we continue to confess our sins to Him, He promises us some amazing things. Our God is a God of promise. And He promises us to totally forgive us, to totally wipe the slate clean. He promises, as we trust Him, to guide us and to heal us. He promises that a relationship with Him can be restored. And as we do our part, the body of Christ, fellowship, can be restored as well. Hope is renewed. And so, as we look at ourselves, we ask ourselves, do I hinder? Or do I help that amazing, persevering power of God?

However, in Colossians chapter 1, verse 9, He talks about this sure, strong, and certain determination we're to have.

Notice the way that Paul writes to the Colossians. Verse 9, Colossians 1, He says, Now, as we read over that really quickly, we can almost miss the depth of meaning that Paul has written into these words. Did you notice how many times the word, all, appears in just those couple of passages? These three verses, all wisdom and understanding. Where it says in the New King James, fully pleasing Him, that's the same word. All pleasure through Him, given to Him. Verse 11, all might, all patience. You see, that's a sure patience. In other words, He's talking about not just that He's giving it all to us, but that He's strengthening in us. He's giving us might. And we're to have the patience, which is that same word, hippo, mone, that same perseverance in all. In other words, in every way, in every circumstance, in every opportunity. When we are close to God and we are repentant before Him, forgiven, He says, our ways can be fully pleasing to Him. All of our way, in every way, in every way, so that we can be strengthened in every way, with all might. That through this amazing, fantastic power, He says, we can have all perseverance. In every way, whatever the circumstances, we can find that determination, not from our bootstraps, but we find it through our awesome God. He grants it to us. And so He says, giving thanks to the Father, because that's the source. That's where our help comes from. That's how we can be assured we're not a hindrance, but that we certainly are a help. So sometimes it's difficult to face our circumstances and realize that. Realize where that help comes from. That it doesn't come just from us. And it's got to be given to us from God. We've got to be aligned with Him and trusting in Him. So that if we want to develop the kind of perseverance and determination that it takes to live a righteous life, we've got to trust Him.

We've got to trust Him. Do we humbly submit ourselves to His guidance in our life? Does God know better? He does know better. He knows better than I do. He knows better than every one of us. Does He know what's best for us in every situation? That's what God's telling us. I believe He's telling us that. That whatever the situation we face, is He going to give us the strength to face that situation? He says yes, strength and with all might in every way. He says He'll do that. The walk worthy that we can be a powerful witness of His way so that it's fully pleasing to Him. He says that's possible. It's a guarantee. It's a promise. That's what the Apostle Paul was saying here. We can be filled with His knowledge. He says in just a little bit of wisdom, well just in certain circumstances, just in this scenario in your life, in just this instance that you face.

No, that's not what he's saying. He says in all wisdom, in every situation, in every way, we can have the kind of determination, kind of endurance that it's going to take to overcome, to endure to the end. He promises it to us and I think it's inseparably linked to trust. To trusting God, to trusting His wisdom, to trusting His plan. We turn back to the book of Romans, Romans chapter 5.

There's this odd section of Scripture that Paul penned to the church in Rome.

And as we just casually read it, it may seem to make no sense whatsoever.

But I think as we compare what God's gift to us is and His help to those times of discouragement and disappointment, we gain a deeper understanding of what He's saying here at the beginning of Romans chapter 5.

Verse 1, he says, That's the big picture.

And he says, verse 3, But we also glory in tribulations.

When was the last time I gloried in tribulations?

Seems kind of a paradox, doesn't it? Doesn't seem to make much sense to me. Especially on a casual read, it doesn't seem to make any sense.

But when we put it in the context of what God is striving for us to understand, He says, We glory in tribulations. Not that boy I'm thrilled this terrible circumstances happened. That's not the kind of glory He's talking about here. But what's He talking about?

He says, we can have a totally different perspective on challenges and trials and difficulties. Why? Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.

The King James says, patience. It produces upomone. It produces determination. It produces endurance. It produces persistence.

If we allow it to. And so He says that perseverance also produces character and character hope. So why can we have a different perspective on difficulties?

Because it's a new day tomorrow. Because we can take this opportunity to grow, to develop that much more of the mind of Christ. That I can have the kind of perseverance that Jesus Christ Himself had. Did He have to persevere? Did He have a determination to do the will of God? Absolutely! And when we see the potential for growth, to develop Christ-like character, it should change our perspective on trials, challenges, and difficulties. So He says, verse 5, hope doesn't disappoint because God's love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that was given to us.

You see, it changes our perspective. It helps us to realize that God is the ultimate potter, isn't He? He's the sculptor. He's the one that allows life's circumstances to come about. And it can chisel us so that those pieces of the stone of our lives that really don't look like God, and He can chisel those pieces off so that what's left looks like Christ. Sounds like Christ. Absolutely Christ. Isn't that what God has in mind for us?

There's an interesting poem that was written about an oyster. Now, you may have heard it. It's kind of an interesting one. It was in the book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. Maybe today it ought to be Turkey Soup. I don't know. It was by Canfield, Hanson, and Kerberger. This particular poem is an interesting one. If you've heard it, we'll remind you of what its content is. But it is an interesting one. And it goes like this. It says, There was once an oyster whose story I tell, And found that some sand has got into its shell. It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain. For oysters have feelings, although they're so plain. Now did he berate the harsh workings of fate That had brought him to such a deplorable state? Did he curse at the government, cry for election, And claim that the sea should have given him protection? No, he said to himself, as he lay on the shell, Since I cannot remove it, I'll try to improve it. Now the years have rolled by as the years always do, And he came to his ultimate destiny, stew. The small grain of sand that had bothered him so Was a beautiful pearl, all richly a glow. Now the tale has a moral, for isn't it grand What an oyster can do with a small grain of sand. What couldn't we do if we'd only begin with some of the things that get under our skin? Sometimes that's the way it is, isn't it? Sometimes we allow the difficulties, we allow the challenges, We allow the trials, the sufferings that we face to get under our skin. And it sits there and it doesn't produce a pearl. You see, I think with this oyster, and hopefully with us, We can remember what it says in Romans 8, 28. We know all things work together for good to those who love God, who've been called according to His purpose. You know, it's amazing because sometimes it takes a while. Sometimes we have to pray, God, this is an overwhelming situation. And I can't wait to see how you're going to turn this out for good. Have you ever prayed that prayer? God, I can't wait for you to show how this is going to turn out for good. Because sometimes it's kind of like that pearl. Sometimes it's a life-long process. And we've got to cultivate our life. We've got to cultivate that desire in our life to really be an honor to God.

To develop, not just a pearl, but a pearl of godly character. To become more Christ-like in our life. To see these challenges for what they are, the challenges, the difficulties. But it's not the end of the story. Because I think as we consider this, we have to remember, if we're going to have the kind of determination, perseverance God wants us to have, we've got to remember, we're not defeated.

We are not defeated, even though life circumstances change. Even though difficulties may be right at our doorstep. The story's not over. We're not defeated. God said an amazing thing back in Malachi. He said, I am the Lord. I do not change. So what's God's purpose? What does He have in mind for us?

All He wants are good. He wants us in His family forever. He's not changing that. Nothing's going to change that purpose. I'm reminded of that in a silly video game. When I used to play a lot with my kids, it was called Mario Kart. Anybody ever play Mario Kart? It's still around today. Oh, come on, raise your hand. Yeah, you played it. All right, I knew you did. If you have never played it, it's one of these games that you can either try to do the best and go against the time, or you can race each other in this game.

They have funny courses and there's like three million different race tracks and things like that that you can tool around on. But there's always the challenge. Either it's a hairpin turn, or you're right next to the ocean, or there's no guard rail. And you're cruising along, and of course, I never really wanted to beat my kids. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I wanted to whip them bad. And in that desperation to trying to win the game, you can imagine what happens. You go flying off this cliff, and you roll down the hill and end up in the ocean.

And then you lose, right? No, you don't! At least not immediately. The amazing part, the part I love about Mario Kart is it seems there's this giant hand from somewhere that comes out in the game, at least in the old version, that used to do this. This hand would come out, reach down into the depths of this cliff that you had gone up, picks up your car, sets you right back on the road.

You step on the gas, and you get going again. And I love that part! Especially when it happened to my kids. It wasn't me! That was the best part! But I think there's an amazing reminder in that, and why I love that game so much. It doesn't matter what happens. It doesn't matter if you crash and burn. It doesn't matter if you spin out. It doesn't matter if you fly over into the ocean.

The game always puts you back on track. I love that part. It puts you back on the road so you can start heading in the right direction again. You see, we're not defeated. The story's not over. That's the way it is with God. When we fall down and we're faced with challenges and difficulties, isn't He absolutely faithful? Well, we ask Him to forgive us, to restore us when we mess up, to kind of pick us up from the bushes and put us back on track once again. And hopefully we're a little wiser. We have a little bit different perspective. We see our failings.

We see the difficulties differently. And realize, I'm not going to miss that turn again. I am not going to go that direction again. I'm not going to step on the gas quite that hard next time. And I think if we remember that, with God, are we ever really out of the game? Not if we return to Him with our whole heart. Not at all. He puts us back on track. And so it's a good reminder. We can make the right choices in how we drive through the game of life, can we?

We can make those right choices. And so our energy, our attention, our focus should be based on our calling. Have we studied that track? Have we studied the game of life? We've gotten out the Word of God so we know the challenges and how to face those challenges. What our mind should be directed at? Have we allowed God's Word to transform us? To change the way that we think? Hopefully we're allowing that to happen. Now in James 1 and 2, it talks about Mario Kart. Well, no, it doesn't really.

I'll bet if James would have had it back there, maybe he would have thought about it in this regard.

James 1, right at the very beginning, verse 2. Verse 2, you know this passage. It's a familiar one.

But, boy, it's sure a reminder that James didn't think about defeat when he was faced with difficulties and faced with challenges of life.

He says, my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Boy, there's that same thing. Tribulations are supposed to be joyful. Well, why is that? Because of the product. What can be produced from those challenges? And he says, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. We can have godly perseverance and determination when we face the challenges of life relying on God.

Follow along that same verse again with the New Living. Here's what New Living says. It says, dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

He says in verse 3, for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. Endurance can grow. He says in verse 4 then, so let it grow. Let it grow. For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete.

Needing nothing.

You see, and I think back to Jesus Christ, did He have perfect determination? Did He walk the earth? Absolutely. Did He have perfect perseverance? Did He endure to the end? And we can do the same. No wonder He says, so let it grow. Develop this wonderful, godly trait.

Ask for it. Verse 5, He says, if you need wisdom, ask our generous God. He'll give it to you. He won't rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Don't waver. For a person with divided loyalty is unsettled as a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

So Paul didn't see defeat. James didn't see defeat. You see, he saw the opportunity for growth. So when we're faced with these kinds of challenges, God can turn it around, can't He? God can do some awesome things.

I was reading a little bit about the Civil War a while back, and I ran across the amazing story of the Battle of Shiloh. Now, at the Battle of Shiloh, the Union forces and the Confederates were fighting each other. And at the end of the very first day, the Union forces were in disarray. They were struggling terribly. General Grant was totally discouraged at what had happened that very first day. In fact, the story goes that one of the chief engineers, a man named James McPherson, came to the General, came to Grant, and basically said, General, things look really bad. He said, we've lost half of the artillery. We've lost a third of the infantry. Our line is broken. We've been pushed back almost all the way to the river.

Supposedly, Grant said nothing. McPherson was waiting. He anxiously wanted to know what they were going to do. He asked him finally, he said, General, what are we going to do? Grant said, do reform the lines and attack at daybreak.

Won't they be surprised?

Well, guess what they did? They did just that. They did just that. The Confederate troops were routed. Before nine o'clock in the morning, it was over. And so sometimes, we're not defeated unless we give up.

The story's not done, especially when we rely on God. Maybe a final scripture over in 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 6. 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 6. Won't our enemies be surprised as we regroup, reform, rely on God, and charge ahead? I think that's what Peter had in mind here in verse 6 of 1 Peter 1.

He says, in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you've been grieved by various trials.

He says that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it's tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen you, love, though now you don't see Him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

You see, God looks at the end of the story. The story's not done yet. We're still fighting the battles of this life.

And with God on our side, who can be against us? Who can be against us? So let's remember the potential and importance of every new day. Let's not blame God for the bad things that happened, but let's trust Him. Let's look to Him for wisdom and guidance and forgiveness, because we've got an awesome God on our side that does not change, never gives up on us, wants us to fight and to win. So let's pursue it. Let's pursue that victory. Let's pursue persistence. Let's be determined to take action and take hold of eternal life. If we do, no doubt, we will persevere.