Perseverance is not optional to live a life of faith.-{Col 1:10-12}
Perseverance does not mean perfection or that the believer does not sin, but that the believer will persist, persevere in faith to the end as it is a characteristic of a true believer.
Perseverance {hypomeno}, the verb, “there is the idea of energetic resistance, steadfastness under pressure, and endurance in the face of trials… In the New Testament the main sense of “hypomeno” is perseverance or steadfastness.” -{Bakers Evangelical dictionary of Biblical Theology}.
The word Perseverance is used in Romans 15:4 (hupomone [Word Study] {noun}from hupo = under + meno = abide and is used 6x in Romans-Ro 2:7, 5:3-4, 8:25, 15:4-5) means literally to abide, remain under and describes a bearing up under trials in a God-honoring way rather than trying to get out from under it in order to get out from under the pressure and difficulty. Hupomone speaks of the strength to bear up under plus the persistent application of this strength, it is not a grin and bear it, tolerate it or a defeatist, to “throw in the towel,” but a work of the Holy Spirit to empower the believer to do so.
In the New Testament the main idea of “Hupomone” is perseverance or endurance!
Barclay writes, “The word Paul uses is a magnificent word.{1 Thess 1;2-3} It is “hupomone” (Greek #5281) which is usually translated “endurance” but does not mean the ability passively to bear anything that may descend upon us. It…describes the spirit which not only endures the circumstances in which it finds itself but masters them. It accepts the blows of life but in accepting them transforms them into stepping stones to new achievement.”
Sometimes we do not persevere, endure in situations and this can be due to among other things our attitude.
We don’t persevere, endure, because we Doubt God cares for us
We don’t persevere, endure, because we Do not believe we can
We don’t persevere, endure, because we Do fall back and trust ourselves rather than God -{ Prov 3:5-6}.
But we need to have our mind “renewed” and apply His Word as we have been given everything pertaining to life and Godliness and precious and magnificent promises to avail of and apply, cash in at “the Bank of Heaven” the Name of Jesus, which means what is in accordance with His revealed will, as is recorded in His Word! -{Read Rom 12:2;James 1:21; 2 Peter 1:3-4}. You can do all things through Christ who infuses you with strength -{Read Phil 4:19}. Know you can endure with Hope in your difficulties you can persevere and be the master of your attitude, actions empowered by the Holy Spirit as you yield to Him and His Word {Read Eph 5:18; Col 3:16}. Like a wrestler, overcoming your opponent and pinning them to the mat, so you too can as Barclay says,”the spirit which not only endures the circumstances in which it finds itself but masters them. It accepts the blows of life but in accepting them transforms them into stepping stones to new achievement.” Use your difficulties as stepping stones to spiritual maturity, development. This is God’s desire for you.- {Read James 1:2-5}.
Think of a deep hole in the ground and something that floats, like a cork, laying near the bottom. If you pour water in the hole the cork will rise with the water, and the more water poured in the higher it rises until it comes to the surface. The water doesn’t overcome the ability of the cork to float and rise to the surface. So too with trials they can be used to develop us and display the power of Christ in us as The LORD did for Paul in his time of difficulty with the “thorn” he had. It did not destroy him but was used to spiritually develop him, and depend upon the LORD more and more and see His power at work in his weakness and his response to joy, delight, knowing that when he was weak was the means of God showing His power to and through him!
Sometimes, not always, but sometimes God uses the circumstances to wean us off self reliance and unto reliance upon God. As Paul wrote, “indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;”-{2 Cor 1:9}. Trusting God in our trials, He who has the power to raise even the dead!
True believers do persevere to the end. And we also show forth what the marks of that God given perseverance looks like as we work out our salvation
Let’s consider some reasons to persevere, endure…
1.The motivation and strength to persevere under trial is…His empowering you to by HIS Spirit-{Phil 2:13}.
2. The motivation and strength to Persevere under trial is…LOVE for Him. – {James 1:12}.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who LOVE Him.”
3. We Persevere because He is Believable. -{Heb 12:3}-
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
4. To fail to Persevere is to lose Hope-{Rom 15:4}.
At the point we stop persevering is the point we stop trusting Him, His Word, His promises.
5. Divest Of Those Things That Hinder In Running with Perseverance, The Race Of Faith.-“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”-{Hebrews 12:1}.
6. Perseverance Is Necessary To Do His Will. –
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”-{Hebrews 10:26}. To Do His Will, we need to persevere through difficult times, opposition, to obey His Will as revealed through His Word.
7. Perseverance Develops Christ Like Character-
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;“-{Romans 5:3-4} ” And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.”- (Amplified Bible – Lockman)
8. Persevere In Affliction –
“…persevere in tribulation {affliction}… “-{Romans 12:12}
9. Persevere in Prayer –
“men ought always to pray and not lose heart…”-{Luke 18:1-8}
10. Persevere in Faith.-
“so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” -{Col 1:10-12}
11. LOOK TO JESUS IN ORDER TO PERSEVERE.-
” And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. “- {Heb 12:1-3}.
12. Trust His Promises.–
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”-{Heb 10:23}. To persevere in faith is to take seriously His promises, believe and apply them.- {Read 2 Peter 1:4}.
13. Scripture is our Source For Perseverance.
” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” -{Romans 15:4}.
God bless and richly encourage you.
Aidan