{"id":2382,"date":"2022-07-30T10:30:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-30T09:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saltshakers.com\/?p=2382"},"modified":"2022-09-08T21:08:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T20:08:51","slug":"perseverance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/saltshakers.church\/?p=2382","title":{"rendered":"Foundations F17 Perseverance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by David Serle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(These are accompanying notes to David’s talk at Foundations 17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are privileged to live in what are probably the dying days of Western Civilisation. Our society has already sacrificed millions innocent lives to satisfy the \u2018gods\u2019 of this age. Will evangelical Christians be the next group to be offered up to those same \u2018gods\u2019?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at the \u2018what\u2019 and the \u2018how\u2019 of perseverance, because the enemy\u2019s strategy is to \u2018wear out the saints\u2019 (Dan.7:25<\/a> \u2013 wear out by mental affliction) and our combative strategy is to persevere \u2013 looking to Jesus, and contemplating Him, the Author and Finisher of faith (Heb. 12:1-3<\/a>) \u2013 the Renewed Mind filled with the Spirit, because we can\u2019t do it on our own!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus said: \u201cWithout Me you can do nothing\u201d (John 15:5<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual victories are no guarantee of perseverance \u2013 think of Elijah running from Jezebel after the great victory on Mt. Carmel\u2013 or perhaps perseverance doesn\u2019t look like what we think? God then recommissions him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Paul\u2019s testimony was: \u201cBut by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1Cor. 15:10<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 Cor. 6:4-10<\/a> But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honour and dishonour, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He goes on to list his trials in 2 Cor. 11:23-28<\/a> but you sense his weariness in 2 Tim. 4:7-18<\/a> \u2013 nevertheless, that section is bracketed by the crown of righteousness and his safe arrival in the heavenly kingdom \u2013 focussing on the eternal, which we will consider later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perseverance \u2013 what is it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Greek words or word groups, often translated by the same English words, but they have slightly different meanings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

hupomen\u014d\/ hupomon\u0113<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

hupomen\u014d To stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: \u2013 abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

hupomon\u0113 Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: \u2013 enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

makrothumia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lit. long passioned, Longanimity, that is, (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude: \u2013 longsuffering, patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This word is used as a characteristic of God Rom. 2:4<\/a>; 1 Tim. 1:16<\/a>; 2 Pet. 3:15<\/a> and comes in the Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To draw out the difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n