Perseverance Under Fire

Perseverance:
“Determination is a one-time decision, where perseverance is having determination over time.”

Every year around this time research shows that as many as 50 percent of adults in the United States make New Year’s resolutions, but fewer than 10 percent keep them for more than a few months.
• The word perseverance in the Greek means: To remain, steadfastness, patient waiting for, the ability to endure under the challenges that God allows in life.

Where does perseverance come from?

James 1:2-4 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)

Where do you need to persevere?
• Perseverance is to remain, to be patient, and to endure the challenges that God allows to come your way…
How do we persevere?

1. The Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom…supernatural wisdom. To be able to know what we should do, and how we should respond to challenging situations.

John 14-25-27
• When we accept Jesus into our live as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into our life and begins to change us.
• If we want the Holy Spirit to remind us of what Jesus has said, we first have to put in our mind what Jesus said.

2. The Word of God

2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 10-17
The word of God helps us to fix our eyes on the Son of God…

3. The People of God

• They got together when they had to make decisions
• They prayed when they had to make decisions
• These things helped them persevere.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), Hebrews 3:12-14 (NIV)

Why do we persevere?
*Matthew 24:13* (NIV), 2 Timothy 2:12 (NLT), Galatians 6:9 (NLT), 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

People need us to persevere:
Philippians 1:21-25 (NLT), James 1:5-8 (NIV)

When Daniel and his friends got together and asked for God’s wisdom to help them, God showed up and gave them the wisdom they needed.

13And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 2 Thessalonians 3:13, 16 & 18 (NIV)
Do you need peace? Do you need help persevering through a trial?

Scripture tells us that God has given us everything we need for a life of godliness

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider: Daniel 3 & 6 , James 1, Phil 4

Ice Breaker: What is the hottest temperature you have been in? Share about it. Or Tell about the biggest fire you have experienced. (built, seen, or worked with)
• What was important to you from the sermon? What question did you have?
Questions:
1. Read Daniel 3. (If you are aware of Bible storying, this would be a great passage to story.)What do you see in this passage about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
A) Describe what you think it might have looked like, sounded like at this moment for them.
2. What has helped these men get to this point? (Daniel 1 may be helpful) What do you learn from them? A) Who helps you pursue God’s perspective in the hard times? Who do you help?
3. When you think of persistence and resilience who or what comes to mind? A)Take a look at Romans 5:1-5 & James 1:2-7 what are some of the conditions around developing perseverance? A)What can stop you from being persistent?
4. Read Daniel 3:16-18; Daniel 6:6-10; Luke 9:23 What do these passages show us about persistence and resilience?
5. What small, repeated choices have made a difference in your life? (this can be both positive and negative)
6. Where are you in need of perseverance and resilience this season? What is a small consistent next step for you?