| End Time–The Solutions: Perseverance |
| Definition: 1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2. Theology. continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. From a Bible Dictionary: Thayer Definition: 1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance 2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs Quotes: "Plodding wins the race." "Persevere and get it done." "One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive. No matter who you are or what your position is you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve." "People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to." "Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th." Fall seven times, stand up eight. "You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all." The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves. Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain. When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. He conquers who endures. The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running. ~Author unknown, in reference to Ecclesiastes 9:11, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. ~Albert Einstein Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. Saints are sinners who kept on going. Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down. Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer. Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting. Scriptures: An evidence of reconciliation with God Colossians 1:21-23 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; An evidence of belonging to Christ John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; A characteristic of saints Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. TO BE MANIFESTED IN Seeking God 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Waiting upon God Hosea 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. Prayer Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Well-doing Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 2 Thessalonians 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. Continuing in the faith Acts 14:22 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. Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Holding fast hope Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. MAINTAINED THROUGH The power of God Psalm 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. The power of Christ John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. The intercession of Christ Luke 22:31-32 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. The fear of God Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Faith 1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Promised to saints Job 17:9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Leads to increase of knowledge John 8:31-32 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. IN WELL-DOING Leads to assurance of hope Hebrews 6:10-11 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: Is not in vain 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Ministers should exhort to Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 14:22 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. Encouragement to Hebrews 12:2-3 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Promises to Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Revelation 2:26-28 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 1 Corinthians 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessedness of James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. WANT OF Excludes from the benefits of the gospel Hebrews 6:4-6 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Punished John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Illustrated Mark 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Unto the end: Matthew 24:13 [see also Mark 13:13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Hebrews 6:10-11 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: |
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