What is perseverance? Why do we need it? How can we do it? Why do we do it? Perseverance: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement Persist: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition or warning “Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts.” - Charles Spurgeon 22 ”You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.-Matthew 10:22 12“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” -Matthew 24:12-13 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. “ - Corinthians 5:17 Why do we need to have perseverance? Because: Faith that fails to persevere is destined for destruction Perseverance proves a true faith in Jesus 1 “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, 2 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” -Hebrews 12:1-3 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. -Luke 14:25-33 can we persevere? Considering those who have gone before us and by faith persevered in the past and those currently walking with us Casting off sin and the weights hindering us from following Jesus Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus So, do we persevere? We persevere because: We love Jesus Jesus already persevered the greatest hardship in human history for us He laid down his life for us, so we lay down our lives for him 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. -Romans 5:1-5 17 “Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.” -Corinthians 4:17