"PERSEVERANCE"
3/22/98 SM CHBC Lubbock, Texas
Preached by Dr. Rickey Honea @ College Heights Baptist Church

The Bible is full of stories of people who trusted God and the POWER of GOD was grate upon them. Think of Joshua whose dramatic defeat of Jericho stunned godless people into developing a healthy respect for God's power.

Remember David, who when just a boy awed the entire Philistine nation by his daring and deadly attack on Goliath. These were people who allowed God to exemplify His power through them. As you read the Bible stories you may have wondered how these people did it. How did they have that kind of faith and how did they persevere through it all. Faith isn't an easy thing. God does not necessarily respond to our faith with overnight miracles and by changing tough situations into beds of roses.

I have talked with many fulfilled and mature Christians, I always try to find out what their secret was. When I find a person who is truly mature in the Christian faith, I find a person who had not had an easy go of it in life. On the norm: those who have the strongest faith seem to be those who have gone through the toughest of times and heartaches. I have learned that there are NO SUPERSTARS in this life. There is no such thing, really as a great person.

THERE ARE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO NEVER GIVE UP !!!!

(James 1:12 KJV) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
(James 1:12 NIV) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

That is the Apostle James talking about the quality of PERSEVERANCE in the Christian life.

He also says, (James 1:2 NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,(James 1:3 NIV) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.(James 1:4 NIV) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James is saying that when you develop a sense of PERSEVERANCE in your life, you are on your way to becoming a complete person. You are becoming all that God wants you to be.

But the whole concept of perseverance runs contrary to our culture. There seems to be a mentality rampant today which could be called the PRESTO SYNDROME. It is the attitude which says
"IF IT DOESN'T COME EASILY, FORGET IT."'

In fact, this statement is heard in statements today like these:

1. I have got a little cold. I am gonna stay home from school today
2. I don't like this job. I am going to quit and collect unemployment.
3. Things are getting a little tense in our marriage. Let's separate.
4. Lets find a church where we don't have to do anything, but attend.
Do you see what I am getting at?
This is how many people think today. If things do not come easily, they take the escape route. They bail out! Gone, They say, I am out of here !!!!!

In contrast: let me tell you this:

ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IN THIS LIFE WILL REQUIRE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PERSONAL SACRIFICE.

I have many people who even call me long distance to ask me how I do some of the many tasks that I do, like building a church, running several ministries at the same time. Run several business at the same time. Etc........

Many come to me and say HOW COME EVERYTHING YOU DO YOU ARE A SUCCESS AT IT. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET.

Here is my secret: I EAT, DRINK, SLEEP what ever it is that I am involved in.

I take very limited time off, the rest of the time I knock my self out at doing what it is that I am committed to.That is my secret. I just do not give up!Usually, people are disappointed when I tell them that.
They were wanting some mystery success formula with three points and a punch line.
Added to it a little PRESTO MAGIC RED BUTTON !

Listen: this is wisdom: FOLKS ! THERE IS NO MAGIC RED BUTTON !!!!

James says, (James 1:2 NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (James 1:3 NIV) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:4 NIV) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

What James is saying is this: Happy and rewarded is the man who keeps on keeping on and who never gives up even though things get tough because GOD will reward him who keeps on keeping on and never gives up !!!!!

POINT: If you want a life of good things, full filling things, satisfying things from God, it is going to cost you something.
POINT: There will be HARD WORK AHEAD
POINT: Your chances of success go up tremendously if you do not give up !!!!
It is more than worth all the hard work when God honors your vision and your hard work!

QUESTION: How does perseverance help you?
This quality of perseverance will help you in four key areas of your life.

#1. You'll become the person God wants you to become.

That is what James is talking about when he says you will become complete.
We all have certain qualities that we need to develop in order to be the people God asks us to be.
Many of these qualities: like SELF CONTROL, SENSITIVITY, PATIENCE are really hard to develop. That is why most people progress very slowly in these areas.

Point: When growing becomes too tough or asks too much, they just quit. They lack the spirit of perseverance that would tell them to keep trying no matter how hard or discouraged it is, no matter what.

#2. YOUR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WILL IMPROVE.

Friendships, marriages and work relationships all take effort to make them grow.

Do not just give up on people if they disappoint you. Give them a second chance, a third chance, and you will find yourself with friends you would have lost.

#3. YOUR PRAYER LIFE WILL IMPROVE

Jesus told a parable about a woman who kept asking a crusty old judge for justice until he gave it to her.
(Luke 18:7 NIV) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Jesus was saying, "PERSEVERE IN PRAYER" If you pray for something or someone and you do not get an answer right away, do not give up!

Keep on talking to God, He will not ignore you.

#4. YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS

If God has placed a dream into your heart and life, if He give you a glimpse of what you could become or do, He will surely help you get there, if you don't quit, if you persevere.

Jesus said: (John 14:12 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

This means that we should not be afraid of receiving a great goal or vision from God.

Illustration: Most of the great movements and organizations that have carried the Christian message through 2,000 years of history were started by one of two average people who had a great vision, a lot of faith, and the courage by there society.The Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, John Wesley were willing to sacrifice and work hard and persevere for God -the given dreams within them.

WITHOUT A VISION THE PEOPLE WILL PERISH, the Bible says.

PART II:

HOW TO BUILD PERSEVERANCE:

Let us say you have committed yourself to Jesus Christ, and you feel your faith is strong. Now your whole life stretches out ahead of you and you are wondering,

How can I build up my own ability to preserve?
Where do I start?
What can I do to help me get through to the end?
Here are just a few suggestions to help you get started:

#1. USE JESUS AS YOUR MODEL

Jesus was the model of faith and perseverance to all of us.
He was not given and easy job to do.
His was the toughest assignment ever given to a person in this whole world.
He was to redeem man kind by coming to the earth and living a perfect life and taking all kinds of undressed abuse an eventually allowing Himself to be tortured and killed for crimes He did not commit.

#2. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS

YOUR LIFE SHOULD NOT BE LIKE A RIVER.

Rivers simply follow the path of the least resistance. Human beings should consciously make decisions.When Jesus came near the time for His final journey to Jerusalem and the Cross, the Bible says, " HE RESOLUTELY SET HIS FACE TO GO TO JERUSALEM (LUKE 9:51 NASB)

POINT: Jesus made his choice and followed through.

It certainly was not the path of least resistance but He was willing to go through with it because of the worthiness of His goal

(Heb 12:2 NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author 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.

POINT: Many people today never make a major decision. Consequently they have no sense of urgency about accomplishing their goals.

ANY DECISION THAT IS MADE WITHOUT PAIN OR RISK OR COMMITMENT WILL PROBABLY BE PURSUED WITH OUT PASSION.

But if GOD leads you to make a strong decision about where you life should go, then you will find He also give you a strong sense of perseverance in wanting to accomplish the goal that you have decided on.

#3. YOU WILL NEED PERSEVERANCE TO OVERCOME MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL PRESSURE.

Sometimes a job, a problem or a situation can seem just to big to do or solve or overcome.
An assignment can seem just too tough.
It can put a tremendous amount of mental pressure on you.

How can you fight it?

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:

#1 You only have to work one day at a time.

Do not let a month's worth of work overpower you. The Bible says (Mat 6:34 NASB) "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Keep your mind on your immediate tasks only. It will not help you to worry about tomorrow's problems today.

#2 There are worse jobs.

Try to see the positive aspects of your task, no matter how unpleasant they appear at first. What can you learn from it?
What will the long range benefits be?
Will it somehow bring you closer to your ultimate God given goal?
If all this fails, simply remind yourself that there are worse jobs.
( you could be working in a sewer 12 hours a day)

#3 This job will not last forever

It is amazing how much you can endure if you realize you only have to endure it for a while. No matter how rough the road, you will come to the end of it. if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

#4. Remember that no one ever went through more mental pain and emotional pressure than Jesus Christ

(Luke 22:41 NIV) He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,(42) "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."(43) An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.(44) And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

What got Jesus through this awful time of trial?

He kept close to God and God delivered Him and gave Him the strength to face His destiny.

#4. Remind yourself of your goal.

You not only need to do this when things are hard, but also when circumstances are making things too easy.

The Apostle Peter tells us (1 Pet 1:13 NIV) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Even Jesus remembered His goal and kept it in perspective.

There was a time when a great wave of popular feeling surged up for Him, but (John 6:15 NIV) Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus knew that an earthly kingship was the PRESTO way of doing things. It was not the ultimate goal that God had given Him. There well be times like this for us too.

SO LETS REVIEW:

The key to the kingdom is FAITH.
FAITH is simply a willingness to trust God.
With FAITH, all things are possible and without FAITH we can not even get started.
Living a Christian life takes work and persistence.
It is not easy but the rewards are fantastic.
There are no superstars only ordinary people who do not give up.
With this quality in your life you become the complete person God wants you to be an you can fulfill your God given goals and dreams.
As you build perseverance into your life, look to Jesus as your ultimate MODEL.
By staying close to God, He stuck it out through the toughest assignment anyone ever had.

(Phil 4:13 KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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