Persevere

Acts 2:42 (ESV)

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

John 15:1–5 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

If one is going to remain in the teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer…It begins with a surrender that perseveres.

Tonight I want to share with you three aspects of surrender that are necessary to persevere:

We Must Recognize the Following:

The Position of God

John 15:1 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

The Position of the Saint

John 15:2 ESV

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

The Power to Persevere

John 15:3–5 (ESV)

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

These bring us back to our word:

Persevere

Persevere in our context means to be to be devoted to....To Continue in.

How are we devoted and how do we continue?

Walking Away, But In...

Regardless of the road, take faith...

When times are good, strive...

When times are hard, strive more...