“We can Rejoice {exult}…BECAUSE… WE KNOW that Suffering Produces Perseverance;”-{Rom 5:2-3}.

For the follower of Christ, suffering is not an end in itself, But is a part of the process to produce something… namely in this verses it is Perseverance, “…steadfastness, constancy, endurance, in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings…a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. “-{Thayer’s- Bible Lexicon}.

Perseverance is The ability despite the difficulties, obstacles,… to endure… to continue on choosing in doing good, being spiritually fruitful…looking away to Him. And in this,with His perspective we can choose to… exult, rejoice…BECAUSE “we know” something… “we know”… “Suffering Produces Perseverance….” Have you memorized this verse? A good verse for you to memorize, meditate upon, pray, share, that others may have hope and the Holy Spirit can use to remind you and others…and together rejoice because You know something… “we know” something, “…suffering produces perseverance…”…

Suffering or as one translation translates it as Tribulation…”Tribulation (2347) (thlipsis from thlibo = to crush, press together, squash, hem in, compress, squeeze in turn derived from thláo = to break) originally expressed sheer, physical pressure on a man. Thlipsis is a strong term which does not refer to minor inconveniences, but to real hardships…Thlipsis is used 45 times in the NT (Matt. 13:21; 24:9, 21, 29; Mk. 4:17; 13:19, 24; Jn. 16:21, 33; Acts 7:10f; 11:19; 14:22; 20:23; Rom. 2:9; 5:3; 8:35; 12:12; 1 Co. 7:28; 2 Co. 1:4, 8; 2:4; 4:17; 6:4; 7:4; 8:2, 13; Eph. 3:13; Phil. 1:17; 4:14; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 1:6; 3:3, 7; 2 Thess. 1:4, 6; Heb. 10:33; Jas. 1:27; Rev. 1:9; 2:9, 10, 22; 7:14) and is translated: affliction (inflicting on a person something that is hard to bear), 14; afflictions, 6; anguish, 1; distress (the state of being in great trouble), 2; persecution (harassment in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict), 1; tribulation (distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution), 16; tribulations, 4; trouble, 1…

John MacArthur writes that “Thlipsis (tribulations) has the underlying meaning of being under pressure and was used of squeezing olives in a press in order to extract the oil and of squeezing grapes to extract the juice… In Scripture the word thlipsis is perhaps most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress.” -(MacArthur, J: Romans 1-8. Chicago: Moody Press)

Figuratively thlipsis pictures one being “crushed” by intense pressure, difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from without. Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or tribulation, all press hard on one’s soul. Thlipsis does not refer to mild discomfort but to great difficulty. In Scripture the thlipsis is most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress and sorrows which “weighs down” a man’s spirit like the sorrows and burden his heart. Thlipsis then includes the disappointments which can “crush the life” out of the one who is afflicted.

The English word “tribulation” is derived from the Latin word tribulum (literally a thing with teeth that tears), which was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it, used for threshing the corn or grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain and it separated the wheat from the chaff. As believers experience the “tribulum” of tribulations, and depend on God’s grace, the trials purify us and rid us of the chaff. “-{Preceptaustin commentaries}

“BECAUSE WE KNOW…” has to do with An understanding mind, we know something, we don’t have to guess, we know we can rejoice, exult BECAUSE we have reason BECAUSE of what WE KNOW…

The word “KNOWS” “signifies a clear perception of a fact, and so means “to be fully aware”. The perfect tense indicates that this intuitive knowledge was given at some point in the past (when they were justified by faith) and continues into the present. This knowledge is is intuitive knowledge. The world doesn’t have it, but every believer does. The same note of assurance is sounded in Romans 8:28 (note) (and we know {oida})”-{preceptaustin commenatries}

Perseverance – “In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings”-{Thayer’s}

 

6 WAYS PERSEVERANCE IS DEVELOPED…

Through…
1. Suffering -{Rom 5:3}
2. Scriptures -{Rom 15:4}
3. Doing the Will of God {His Revealed Word} -{Heb 10:35-36
4. Gift of God … To Receive His Reward for you…- {Rom 15:5}
5. Discarding sin and Things that Hinder us from running the race God has placed us in -{Heb 12:1}
6. Look Away from all else to Jesus -{Heb 12:2}

SCRIPTURES PRODUCE….PERSEVERANCE AND HOPE
“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.”- {Rom 15:4}

GOD GIFTS…PERSEVERANCE
“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” -{Rom 15:5}

DOING THE WILL OF GOD…. RECEIVE A REWARD
“..So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. You need to persevere, so that after you have done God’s will, you will receive what He has promised..”-{Heb 10:35-36}

DISCARDING SIN and THINGS THAT DAMPEN, DISTRACT FROM RUNNING YOUR RACE.
“….let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. “-{Heb 12:1}

LOOKING AWAY TO JESUS, BY FAITH FROM ALL ELSE…
“…Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…-{Heb 12:2}

SUFFERING PRODUCES…. PERSEVERANCE
“We can Rejoice {exult}….because WE KNOW that Suffering Produces Perseverance;”-{Rom 5:2-3}

You Do Know something…that your suffering is not in vain in His hand, and you can rejoice, even through the pain, tears, for your suffering is not an end in itself but one means God uses to produce something… namely… PERSEVERANCE…To Keep going, to become more dependent upon Him and in your weakness you are stronger to run the race set before you looking away to Jesus…We can only rejoice, exult, through the supernatural working of God in our lives and as we feed on His promises which strengthen and as Rom 15:4 says… encourage us and Produce Hope! This is one reason the evil one desires to keep us from meditating and hiding His Word in our heart, as we end up being robbed of God’s provision of His Spirit to recall to us truths that transform, inspire and strengthen us. and to enable us to see clearly and to walk by faith in a Person and not by sight.

Our faith is often developed upon the anvil of life.

Will you choose to Hide Romans 5:2-3 in your heart, not only for yourself but so you can be God’s means to encourage others with Hope in their suffering….that God is working… and one thing He is producing is Perseverance!!!

THERE IS A BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO PERSEVERE;
“Blessed is the one who PERSEVERES under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the LORD has promised to those who love Him.”- (James 1:12)

The Rejoicing is not in the sufferings themselves but in the  LORD of our circumstances and the effects they produce!