presented to Central Park Fellowship by Ted Robertson on Feb. 11, 2011
Jonah's prayer in the belly of the fish demonstrates perseverance both by Jonah and by God Jonah 2
Jacob perseveres by wrestling through the night with an angel Genesis 32: 22-32
Perseverance comes from depending wholly on the Lord
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Job 13:15
Perseverance means that nothing separates us from God. For we are more than conquerors in Him
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 31-39
The Lord will quicken us
My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. Psalms 119:25
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. Psalms 119:40
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Psalms 119:37
It is through much tribulation that we enter the Kingdom of God
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Ico'ni-um, and An'ti-och, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:21-22
Interestingly, the word "perseverance" appears only once in the Bible Ephesians 6:10-20
Ellen White's first vision reveals to us that perseverance comes from keeping our eyes on Christ
Her first vision is described in Early Writings. pages 14 - 20.
Will man take hold of divine power, and with determination and perseverance resist Satan, as Christ has given him example in His conflict with the foe in the wilderness of temptation? God cannot save man against his will from the power of Satan’s artifices. Man must work with his human power, aided by the divine power of Christ, to resist and to conquer at any cost to himself. In short, man must overcome as Christ overcame. And then, through the victory that it is his privilege to gain by the all-powerful name of Jesus, he may become an heir of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ. This could not be the case if Christ alone did all the overcoming. Man must do his part; he must be victor on his own account, through the strength and grace that Christ gives him. Man must be a co-worker with Christ in the labor of overcoming, and then he will be partaker with Christ of His glory. { 4T 32.3} also { OFC 28.3} and { SD 156.3} |
| To every worker for God this thought should be a stimulus and an encouragement. In this life our work for God often seems to be almost fruitless. Our efforts to do good may be earnest and persevering, yet we may not be permitted to witness their results. To us the effort may seem to be lost. But the Saviour assures us that our work is noted in heaven, and that the recompense cannot fail. The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says: “Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” And in the words of the psalmist we read: “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Galatians 6:9; Psalm 126:6. { 6T 305.3}
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Could I arouse our people to Christian effort, could I lead them to engage in medical missionary work with holy zeal and divine perseverance, not in a few places, but in every place, putting forth personal effort for those out of the fold, how grateful I should be! This is true missionary work. In some places it is attended with little success, apparently; but again, the Lord opens the way, and signal success attends the effort. Words are spoken which are as nails fastened in a sure place. Angels from heaven co-operate with human instrumentalities, and sinners are won to the Saviour.—Medical Ministry, 256. { CME 11.4 }
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