PERSEVERENCE, PERSISTENCE, PATIENCE
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Heb 2:1; 6:11-12; 10:35-39; 12:1-2, 12-13
B. These words were written by the Hebrew writer to encourage
those who were becoming weary in living the Christian life.
1. Some of the Hebrew Christians were in danger of throwing
away their wonderful privileges in Christ; thus, the
writers' warnings.
2. To be saved, one must have patience, persistence,
perseverence, steadfastness, endurance.
I. PERSISTENCE, ENDURANCE PAYS IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.
A. There are many examples of those who were successful because
they were persistent.
1. Ty Cobb, who holds the record in baseball for stealing
bases, was called "out" more times trying to steal a base
than any other person in baseball history.
2. Babe Ruth, who holds the record for home runs in the
number of games which he played, also holds the record for
the number of strike outs. He struck out 1,300 times.
3. Thomas Edison's failed over 14,000 times in his efforts to
make the light bulb.
4. Abraham Lincoln had lost in eight elections before he
became President.
5. Albert Einstein flunked courses in math, but went on to be a
great mathematical genius.
6. British novelist John Creasey published 564 books. But he
didn't make his first sale of a manuscript until after he'd
received 774 rejections.
7. These, and thousands of others like them, were successful
because of one thing: "Perseverence or persistence."
B. Persistence pays in the business world: getting a job, getting
ahead, making a profit.
1. Here's a free, simple lesson on how to escape poverty in
America from Economist Charles Murray, author of the
book "Losing Ground":
a. "The requirements for a male, black or white, are to go
to a free public school and to complete high school, get
into the labor market and get a job, any job, and stick
with the labor market. Do this and it is almost
impossible to stay poor because among adult American
males of all races with just a high school education, 91%
now have family incomes greater than twice the poverty
level."
C. Persistence pays in marriage.
1. Many succeeded in getting a date, and later marrying,
because they were persistent.
2. Maintaining a close relationship throughout the years takes
much perseverence.
D. In training children. Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6
1. Rearing children in the Lord is as challenging a job as
anyone will ever undertake. It takes lots of diligent
effort.
2. It is easy to ignore unacceptable behavior.
3. It is easy to fall short of persistent teaching of the will
of God.
4. Great diligence will produce respectful, pleasant children.
II. PERSISTENCE PAYS IN LIVING FOR CHRIST.
A. The Lord wants us to "grow up." 2 Pet. 3:18
1. We need to put away childish behavior. 2 Cor. 13:11
2. We need persistent study, exercise, and work in the Lord to
obtain maturity. 1 Tim. 4:7-8
a. We need to keep studying the Word of God and
exercising ourselves to godliness, and we will grow into
mature Christians. Heb. 5: 13-6:1a
3. Those high spiritual graces, which are part of the divine
nature, come only through persistence. 2 Pet. 1:5-11
B. Finishing the race will bring great rewards. Heb. 10:35,39
III. SINCE PERSISTENCE PAYS, WHY DO PEOPLE QUIT?
A. They let obstacles overcome them rather than overcoming
obstacles. Luke 8:11-15
1. We must press on toward our goal. Phil. 3:13-14
B. They quit because they are unwilling to pay the price for
victory.
1. Anything worthwhile usually involves some pain. "No pain,
no gain."
2. The Christian life is like a marathon; and, as long distance
runners know, one must run through the pain and exhaustion
to get their second wind. Heb. 12:1
C. They lose sight the of the goal.
1. They lose sight of Jesus and all that He did to make their
salvation possible. Heb.12:2
2. They lose sight of the heavenly reward. Phil. 3:20-21
3. They are too much in love with this world. 1 John 2:15-17
D. They give up too easily. An old poem reads thus:
Two frogs fell into a can of cream
-- or so I've heard it told
The sides of the can were shiny and steep,
The cream was deep and cold,
"Oh, what's the use?" said No. 1,
"tis fate -- no help's around --
Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world!"
And weeping still, he drowned.
But No. 2 of sterner stuff,
dog paddled in surprise,
The while he wiped his creamy face
and dried his creamy eyes.
"I'll swim awhile, at least," he said
-- or so it has been said --
"It wouldn't really help the world
if one more frog was dead."
An hour or two he kicked and swam --
not once he stopped to mutter,
But kicked and swam, and swam and
kicked, then hopped out, via butter.
IV. FAILURE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FATAL OR FINAL.
A. Dropping the ball or making an error doesn't mean we quit the
game.
1. Often a good coach will put his players immediately back
into the game after they have fumbled the ball.
a. He knows that his players will become very discouraged
if he takes them completely out of the game.
2. Spiritual slumps will happen to everyone, but we must keep
plodding along.
3. John Mark made a remarkable comeback. Acts 12:25; 13:13;
15:38-40; 2 Tim. 4:11
a. He gave us the book of Mark.
B. Tribulations and afflictions make us stronger. Rom. 5:3-5;
James 1:1-4
1. Affliction or tribulation is a great teacher of
perseverence. It is called, "The School of Hard Knocks." It
is a great school indeed.
2. Harold Sherman wrote a book entitled, How To Turn Failure
Into Success. In it he gives a code of persistence. He says:
a. I will never give up so long as I know I am right.
b. I will believe that all things will work out for me if I
hang on to the end.
c. I will be courageous and undismayed in the face of
odds.
d. I will not permit anyone to intimidate or deter me from
my goals.
e. I will fight to overcome all physical handicaps and
setbacks.
f. I will try again and again and yet again to accomplish
what I desire.
g. I will take new faith and resolution from the knowledge
that all successful men and women have had to fight
defeat and adversity.
3. Gal. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:58
Concl.
A. England was one of the first countries to make a strong stand
against the Nazis during World War II. Winston Churchill, then
Prime mister of England, made this statement in the beginning
of the War to encourage his people: "Death and sorrow will be
the companions of our journey; hardship our garment; constancy
and valor our only shield. We must be united, we must be
undaunted, we must be inflexible."
B. Winston Churchill took 3 years getting through the eighth grade
because he had a problem with English. Years later Oxford
University asked him to make an address at their commencement
exercises. With some of the usual Churchill fanfare, with his
cane and top hat, he settled in at the podium. Churchill eyed
his adoring crowd and said, "Never give up." After several
seconds of silence, he rose up on his toes and repeated, "Never
give up."
Churchill then reached for his cane and hat. His address was
concluded.
C. In closing, I want to say, "Christians: Never give up! Never
give up! Never give up!"
D. Have you started the race? Are you a qualified runner? Why not
obey the gospel now?
E. Are you running the race with patience?