Devine Nature Access-Perseverance

2 Peter 1:4–8 NKJV

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Persevere - Upomené fortitude

Fortitude-courage in fear or adversity

One of the most iconic movie scenes aired on November 21, 1976

On this particular date the American TV viewers saw the endearing underdog train for an upcoming conflict. This character trained with passion and resilience until the iconic moment arrived and the unsung hero reached the pinnace of fitness and reached the top of 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of art. Rocky Balboa became a household name for leaving the viewer with the motivation that anything is possible if you can endure.

Paul had the same idea in mind when he told Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:3–4 NKJV

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Hebrews 10:35–36 NKJV

35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

The Bamboo tree parable.

It must be watered daily but will not break ground for 4 years.

Then on the fifth year it will break ground and can grow 48” in 24 hours.

In fact, it can grow 90’ in 6 weeks.

But, it is not stagnant for the first 4 years. You see under the surface the tree is developing an amazing root system that can sustain the tree and deliver the nutrients needed for the explosive growth.

To persevere does not mean to simply hang on, rather it means to slowly prepare for the coming growth.

I. PERSEVERE PATIENTLY

Romans 5:3–4 NKJV

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 8:25 NKJV

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

II. ENDURE IN ADVERSITY

As a child, Jack’s father was a horse trainer who frequently had to move from ranch to ranch training horses. Because of this, the boy‘s school career was constantly interrupted.

During his senior year, a teacher asked him to write about what he wanted to be when he grew up. Without hesitating, Jack wrote a paper about his goal to own a horse ranch. He was very meticulous in his writing and included drawings of buildings, stables, and even a detailed house plan.

Two days later his teacher returned his paper with an “F” written on the top page.

Jack asked his teacher why he received an F, to which the teacher responded: “This is an unrealistic dream for a boy like you, who has no money, no resources, and who comes from a traveling family. There is no chance you will reach this goal.”

The teacher then offered Jack a chance to rewrite the paper with a more realistic attitude.

After several days, Jack brought the paper back to his teacher without any changes. He said, “Keep the F and I will keep my dream.”

Now Jack owns a 200-acre horse ranch and a 4,000-square-foot house, where he displays his school paper framed over the fireplace.

2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Corinthians 4:8–11 NKJV

8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

III. WAIT EXPECTANTLY

Titus 2:13 NKJV

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Matthew 24:30 NKJV

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Some of you have been watering that same plant in your life for years. You are trying to hang on but you feel like giving up. Keep watering, keep growing, keep digging in your roots and wait for the growth that is coming.