“The Christian Grace of PERSEVERANCE!” 2 Peter 1:6

Years ago in Summerville, MA, a man by the name of Leonard Mallette, age 65, collapsed on a city sidewalk…

Officers Joe Faty and John Conway persisted in the administration of CPR even though they had only learned this a month prior to this happening…

to see what the Christian grace of perseverance involves Purpose: to see what the Christian grace of perseverance involves

The Greek word upomonhn (upomonan) means “to remain behind when others have departed.” Police officers Faty and Conway in contrast to the doctor certainly illustrates this very idea.

I The NEGATIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Not Indifference

I The NEGATIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Not Indifference B. It is Not Borrowing Trouble

It’s one thing to endure troubles and another thing to look for troubles…

I The NEGATIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Not Indifference B. It is Not Borrowing Trouble C. It Is Not Suffering for Wrongdoing

1 Peter 2:20 “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”

II The POSTIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Submitting to God’s Will

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness… Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

II The POSTIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Submitting to God’s Will B. It is Rejoicing in Tribulation

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”

II The POSTIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Submitting to God’s Will B. It is Rejoicing in Tribulation C. It is Patience in Action

Revelation 14:12 “Here is the steadfastness of the saints that they keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

II The POSTIVE Side of Perseverance A. It is Submitting to God’s Will B. It is Rejoicing in Tribulation C. It is Patience in Action D. It is Knowing All Trials are Temporary

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are seen are eternal.”

Conclusion and Summary …Well did Isaiah prophesy of Christ in Isaiah 53:3 “He would be a man of sorrow acquainted with grief.” Our Lord’s earthly life was one of endless sorrow, trouble and pain climaxed by the torment and torture of the Cross. But, never once did He abandon His mission. His entire earthly life was one continual exercise of patient endurance in all tribulation. His was a life of perseverance!...