Perseverance

Intro: II Thess. 1:3-5

Key Concepts:

Not the same as stubbornness or willfulness

Not the same as resignation:

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament A. The Greek World.

Ethically ὑπομένειν may be a brave resistance which honours man (cf. Plat. Theaet., 117b) or a cowardly acceptance of what degrades man

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament A. The Greek World.

But the brave man has to summon from within himself the power of resistance. As he must not stand firm just for fear of social ostracism (→ αἰσχύνη, Plat. Ap., 28c; Hb. 12:2), so he must not do so from the hedonistic motive of enticing hope. The brave man must stand fast for love of honour (→ αἰδώς). He must endure hard things

But also different than just will power:

We draw on something more than just “the power within ourselves”

We have great and precious promises and the hope of Christ our savior:

This study will focus on areas in which we are called on to persevere...

The ways in which that is accomplished...

And the reward that comes from it.

To Understand and Grow in the Faith

READ Lk 8:9-15—

The moment you hear the word, there is a battle going on; a wrestling over the seed:

An enemy that is looking to snatch it away

Temptations that advertise as more enjoyable

Simple stress: Ample things over which you could worry.

What is it that helps? In addition to the honesty of the heart...

Perseverance separates the unfruitful soil from that which bears fruit

READ Romans 15:4-5— (Context of working through congregational difficulties)

There is an encouragement in knowing that people can relate

That others have faced same trials as before, and have either passed or failed, but either way we can learn from it:

You are not alone—you are part of a long line of people who persevere:

Are there moments where God’s people misbehave?

Where you struggle to understand?

Where you struggle to follow?

Discouragement and defeat?

To Hold Out Against a Fallen World

READ Romans 5:1-5—

It doesn’t take but a moment to look around and see that the world is a place with problems:

Take your pick:

Government:

Culture:

Worldliness:

Religion

And while it may seem like these things should drives us toward what gives us hope, scripture acknowledges and warns that it often drives us toward discouragement:

READ Romans 8:18-25—

This whole world has got it tough:

It’s not just you—literally the creation itself is having to endure it:

But we are not persevering without a hope--

We know that all of this is going to be made right:

Every force that acts and moves in opposition to God’s will

Everything that is opposed to His people or tries to live against His laws

Everything from the most rebellious person down to the most pernicious disease of the body will addressed as God sets creation free from corruption into freedom.

To Hold Out Against the Assault of Satan

Revelation 14:12 LSB

Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

We’ve got to persevere in our growth through the difficulties of life in Christ

We’ve got to persevere in a world that is not as it should be.

We’ve got to persevere in a world that is under the influence of the evil one.

And the way that we do it is not overly complicated:

Revelation 12:11 LSB

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witness, and they did not love their life even to death.

We have been saved by the blood of Jesus

We have a message to share with others

And we aren’t afraid to lose it all.

Illus. of Napoleon and no retreat:

Conclusion: