2 Thessalonians 3
Perseverance!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, December 18.
Do you have perseverance?
Paul prayed this for the followers of Jesus in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” The NIV says it this way, “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
What is perseverance?
Biblically, perseverance is endurance in spite of opposition. It’s both the condition of and the action of steadfastness. That is why Paul not only prays for this condition to be in the saints of God, but also then commands them in verse 13, “brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”
Remember how Paul started his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians with these words from 1:3-4, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”
So, here is the key: perseverance is both a condition given to you by the faithfulness of God and it is also an action empowered unto you by the faithfulness of God.
Allow me to pray for over you Paul’s benediction in verse 16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” Amen.
Seize the moment and be thou at peace: The Lord will persevere in and through you. Rest in His easy yoke.
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