Perseverance

Perseverance Against Sin

We live in a world filled with opportunity to sin. Sin is destroying humanity. That is its purpose. Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 7:13 NASB95

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

So how do we persevere against sin when it is so powerful and available to us. Jesus shows us the answer in Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus was taken into the wilderness to be tempted in every way as we are. However, He did not sin. He was tempted at the very foundations that we are tempted: In the flesh, emotion, and spirit.

Flesh

Jesus had fasted forty days and was hungry. Satan challenged Him and tempted him by saying, “ If you are the Son of God command that these stones become bread.” God had not instructed Jesus to break his fast so it would have been sinful to disobey God to fulfill the natural desire of hunger.

We too have natural desires that God gives us. We must cater to these desires within the boundaries that God has set. For example men and women have a desire for intimacy. There is nothing wrong with this desire when it is fulfilled within the boundary of marriage. Any fulfillment of this desire outside marriage is sinful.

Jesus used scripture to thwart Satan’s temptation. He said Deut.8:3

Deuteronomy 8:3 NASB95

“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

This is how we can overcome the temptations of the flesh. For example, using the illustration of intimacy. Eph. 5:3

Ephesians 5:3 NASB95

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

Hebrews 13:4 NASB95

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

1 Corinthians 6:9 NASB95

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,

There are several others in the Word of God. We must know, believe and obey the Word of God. This is how we persevere against fleshly temptations.

Emotions

The second temptation Satan offered was to the emotion of pride. Satan tempted Jesus by saying that if He jumped that the angels would rescue Him from harm if He was the Son of God.

It was like he was saying I dare you to jump. If you are big and mighty prove it!

We too can be tempted in our pride. Have you ever had anyone challenge you or disagree with you? Our natural tendency is to prove them wrong and inferior and show us right and superior. We may think or even say things like, “he’s an idiot”. This is pride.

We must protect ourselves against pride and see people as made in the image of God and treat them accordingly.

Jesus once again quoted scripture Deut. 6:16

Deuteronomy 6:16 NASB95

“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.

We must not put the Lord to the test either. Another way we can be tempted in our emotion is when we want something so bad that we test God. We do this by making our request and saying in our souls or even out loud, “ If you are God, show me by granting my request.” Our prayer should be, “ I know you are all powerful and perfect and can do all things, if you are willing grant my request. Yet not my will be done but yours!”

Spirit

Satan tempted Jesus by promising him the world if He would bow down and worship him. Satan offers us the same deal. Unfortunately many people take his deal and lose their soul because they worship him rather than Christ.

There is an old song that many of you probably know that captures this. It is by Charlie Daniels it goes like this:

The devil went down to Georgia, he was lookin' for a soul to steal He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump And said, "boy, let me tell you what"

"I guess you didn't know it but I'm a fiddle player too And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy But give the devil his due I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul 'Cause I think I'm better than you"

The boy said, "my name's Johnny and it might be a sin But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret 'Cause I'm the best there's ever been"

Many of us are like Johnny and fall into the trap of the devil. The song ends with Johnny defeating the devil, however that is not reality. We will not win if we put the world before God.

Jesus puts it this way in Mark 8:36

Mark 8:36 NASB95

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

We must serve and worship the Lord only!

We must persevere against temptation. We see Jesus did it by knowing, quoting, and obeying scripture. If we are going to persevere against temptation, we must do the same!

Not only do we need to persevere against temptation, but we must persevere for the gospel.

Perseverance For the Gospel

The apostle Paul was called to share the gospel to the Gentiles. This was the majority of the world. It would require an extensive travel, insurmountable dangers, tremendous persecution, and torturous pain. He describes his perseverance in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30

We see that he was imprisoned several times, beaten without number, 5 times had 39 lashes, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked 3 times, 24 hours drifting in the sea, dangers from evil people, sleepless nights, no food or water, exposure to extreme heat and cold. And on top of all of that he had the pressure of planting churches and preserving them.

Needless to say Paul persevered. So how did he do it. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NASB95)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Philippians 3:14–15 (NASB95)

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

Though we may not face the extremes that Paul faced for the gospel, it is very difficult to be a Christian in our world today. Christians are hated in most of the world and even in our own country. America has evolved from a Christian nation to a post christian nation to now an anti-christian nation.

We have banned Christ from our public squares, schools, work places, and marketplaces. Our morality has declined to the point that we have accepted the killing of babies, homosexuality, and now transgender-ism. These are just a few of the moral aspects that indicate where we are as a nation. When you stand opposed to these things you will be attacked. We must stand up for Christ. We must love all people enough to call them into repentance!

The way this country and the world is going to turn around is the church. The government, military, schools, and any other entity cannot do it. It must be the church! The reason is the church has the GOSPEL!

The Gospel is that which changes hearts! We have a heart problem in this country that can and needs to be cured by the gospel! this is why we must persevere for the Gospel!

Christ Persevered For Us

The ultimate display of perseverance is what Christ did on the cross. He was sinless yet He took our sins upon himself. 2 Cor. 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Let us not trivialize what Christ had to endure for us. He knew it and it grieved his soul. Mark 14:34-36

Mark 14:34–36 (NASB95)

And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”

Then he was betrayed by Judas, deserted by his disciples, and denied by Peter.

He was then illegally tried, beaten and mocked, taken before Pilate, was scourged, made to carry his own cross, crucified at Golgotha, Mocked and insulted on the cross, watched His mom witness his death, bore the full wrath of God, faced the forsaking of the Father, and died a sinners death.

Why did He do this? LOVE. Love for the Father! the Father sent Him for this purpose. Is. 53:10

Isaiah 53:10 (NASB95)

But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

Jesus loved the Father so much He wanted to be perfectly obedient to Him.

Secondly, He loved us. He knew that our plight was everlasting death in the lake of fire if He did not take our punishment. Hus love for us is what kept Him on the cross.

He persevered to the end. John 19:30

John 19:30 NASB95

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

He completed what God sent Him to do.

I ask you this morning will you persevere against sin by repenting this morning?

I ask you this morning will you persevere through the persecution of sharing the gospel?

I ask you this morning, will you love Jesus the way He loves you?

If the answer to these are yes then I encourage you to remain strong and persevere!