How Jesus Style Perserverance Can Make You a Winner

In today’s episode, we are revisiting the subject of perseverance and steadfastness. In a previous podcast, we concluded that this word ’steadfastness,’ which is the Greek word ‘hypomonē,’ is in fact a big Bible word for the Jesus follower to understand an incorporate into their everyday life. You need steadfastness, perseverance and endurance. You need it worse than you realize. Edward Gibbon, a Roman historian and author of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, concluded that Christianity in the first century flourished for 5 reasons: (1) uncompromising religious zeal, (2) doctrine of the immortality of the spirit, [the fact that everyone is immortal — you know that’s right. The issue is not whether or not you will live forever but where will you spend your eternal days — heaven or hell? (3) miraculous power, (4) pure morals, (5) unity and discipline. So, here are the five again — zeal, the human spirit, miracles, morals, unity and their discipline. These are the factors that turned the world ‘right side up.’ Another historian, this one an ancient one, named Justin referred to many who have, “changed their violent and tyrannical [ungodly] dispositions….., being overcome either by the constancy [steadfastness, perseverance, and endurance] which they have witnessed in the lives of their Christian neighbors, or by the extraordinary forbearance [now he’s talking about long-suffering they have observed in their Christian fellow travelers when defrauded, and by the honesty of those believers with whom they have transacted business.”¹ Perseverance is something that propelled the Early Church and I’m here to tell you that it will propel you in the church of these last days. You need it. You need to know all about it. How Jesus Style Perseverance Can Make You a Winner, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

We need both steadfastness, that is perseverance, and long-suffering to realize the Word of God coming to pass in our life. Read Luke 8:15 and Hebrews 6:11-12 together and cling to these verses as you stand on God’s Word for His promise to be realized in your life.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: Share an episode from your life where you had to exercise perseverance as you believed God to deliver you. Please share your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching on the subject of Divine Healing. You can click on the links below to listen to more podcasts or read blog posts along this line.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 48 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 44 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Prayer

Well again, welcome.
Let’s pray.

Father God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for His strength and His encouragement to live a life full of perseverance and patience. Open our eyes today by granting us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of your Word. We thank you for that in Jesus Name, Amen.

Perseverance: Let’s Review

So, we are going back into the book of James today.

James 1:2–4 (ESV) — 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

Now, drop to verse 12.

James 1:12 (ESV) —12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

So, perseverance is our focal point today.
Perseverance is a synonym for the word steadfastness just like endurance is.
In fact, any of these synonyms can be substituted in your favorite translation.
And, that’s part of what makes it challenging to study your Bible without using language tools.
You see in a previous podcast, we defined the Greek word ‘steadfastness’ or the word ‘hypomonē’ as endurance, constancy, or perseverance.
We also mentioned that the word means ‘staying power,’ hang-in there power, refusing to quit power.
A steadfast attitude is one that holds out, holds on, outlasts, perseveres, never gives up, and refuses to surrender to obstacles.
Rick Renner in his marvelous RIV translation of the book of James adds quite a bit of flavor to this word and, with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.

The word depicts one under a heavy load, to stay put, abide and not move. The word means to remain in one spot to keep a position to resolve to never surrender, but to steadfastly maintain territory gain. It means to stick it out regardless of the pressure that is mounted against it, turning down every opportunity to quit. It depicts someone bearing a heavy load, but refusing to yield or surrender because they believe the territory, promise, or principle under attack rightfully belongs to them.²

With all of this now in our view, can you see that moving in steadfastness means that you have a certain self-mastery that stays contained?
We are talking a self-contained Jesus follower who is tough as nails.
This believer is a test-hardened soldier of Jesus Christ who exhibits a mastery of thoughts, words, emotions, and actions.
This is the kind of stuff that tends to fly all over the place when you experience pressure from test’s and trials.
In that same ‘previous podcast,’ we also looked at another Greek word, ‘makrothumeo’ a word similar to steadfastness.
We saw that the word means long-suffering.
Both words, ‘hypomonē’ — steadfastness or perseverance and ‘makrothumeo’ — long-suffering may be translated in your favorite Bible translation as ‘patience’ in certain verses.
It depends on the translation.
You see both steadfastness and long-suffering involve patience.
Now, ‘steadfastness and long-suffering are not interchangeable words.
There’s a difference between the two, and the distinction is critical.
Steadfastness or ‘hypomonē’ deals with inanimate things like trying situations, and tests.
It takes patience to make it through a test victoriously.
Long-suffering or ‘makrothumeo’ deals with people.
You must exercise patience to navigate the world of people.
Then, we looked at two more verses, one that had steadfastness/perseverance or ‘hypomonē’ in it.
And the other that had long-suffering or ‘makrothumeo’ in it.

Luke 8:15 (ESV) — 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfastness [with hanging in there power — with staying power, with refusing to quit power.]

Hebrew 6:11–12 (ESV) — And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and long-suffering [with God and His process] inherit the promises.

What we saw is that we need both steadfastness, that is perseverance, and long-suffering to realize the Word of God coming to pass in our life.
Well, that’s super important to know, right?

The Vital Nature of Perseverance for the Child of God

For the child of God, there’s a level of seriousness that we need to have concerning ‘hypomonē’ which is perseverance or steadfastness.
Doing a word search in your Bible will help you immensely to grasp the vital nature of this word.
Take this passage in Luke twenty-one for an example.
Starting in verse five, Jesus prophesies about both the near future as well as the long term future of Israel.
In the short term, the Temple, that they were so proud of, would become burnt toast.
You read that in verses 5–7.

Luke 21:5–7 (ESV) — 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

Jesus was asked two questions here.
First, when will these things be?
Jesus answer this question in verses 8–9.

Luke 21:8–9 (ESV) — 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

“Many will come in my name saying I am he.’
The Greek says ‘I am.’ There is no ‘he’ in the original Greek manuscript.
Who are these people who came as false Messiahs saying they are the ‘I am.’?
Several of them are recorded for us in the book of Acts.

Acts 5:36–37 (ESV) — 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

Theudas, who gathered four hundred followers and “claimed to be somebody” was mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus.
Regarded as a prophetic “impostor,” Theudas persuaded many of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the river Jordan; for he told them he was a prophet, and that he would, by his own command, divide the river, and afford them an easy passage over it.
The Roman ruler of Judea, who was named, Fadus would not allow them to do this wild thing.
Instead, he sent troops against them and wiped out a bunch of them, captured many others and took Theudas alive, and cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem.
This was about 25 years before the Temple was destroyed.³

Acts 21:37–38 (ESV) — 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”

Ten years later, an Egyptian, also called a false prophet by Josephus, mustered a much larger army of 4,000 in an attempt to storm Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.⁴
All of these events took place before 70 AD, before the Temple was destroyed — so Jesus answers the first part of the disciples question: “When shall these things be?”
The second question is what will be the sign of your coming?
So now, they’re asking about Jesus second coming.
He’s standing right in front of His disciples — that’s all the first coming of Jesus.
Jesus answers that question in verses 10–36.
Of course, Jesus fast forwards to the end of the Dispensation of Grace — which is where the Church, the body of Christ is functioning.
I said all of this to set this up.
Look at verse 19.

Luke 21:19 (ESV) — 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus says “by your ‘hypomonē’ — your steadfastness, your perseverance, your endurance, your staying power, your refusing to quit power, you will gain your lives” during the Tribulation.
Count it all you joy when you fall into different tests knowing that the trying of your faith works steadfastness.
And what you have here during the Tribulation is the biggest test ever.

Perseverance in the Last Days

According to Jesus’ brother James, we are supposed to count it joy when we encounter tests so that God’s strengthening power can release into our lives, allowing us to have the endurance, the perseverance, or the staying power to hang in there until victory comes.
That implies a waiting on God that’s grounded in hope.

Psalm 27:14 (ESV) — 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

You need strength to wait — you need to be strong to persevere.
Paul told the Colossians, we prayed for you that you being strengthened with all power, may have all endurance and patience with joy;
Colossians 1:11 is one of two verses that has both ‘hypomonē’ which we know is steadfastness or perseverance and makrothumeo which is long-suffering in the same verse.
The other is 2 Timothy 3:10.
You should be praying for strength.
You should be praying Ephesians 3:14–20 for the people in your world, and for yourself.
We need the strength of God in these last days.
Why?
Because the days are going to get darker and darker as we draw near to the end.
As we, the Church, get closer to the end, we will have more opportunities to ‘count it joy.’

Perseverance In the Book of Revelation

There are 32 occurrences of the word ‘hypomonē’ which we know is steadfastness or perseverance in the New Testament.
Seven of those occurrences are located in the Book of Revelation.
Do you think that’s interesting?

Revelation 1:9 (ESV) — 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Did you hear the words ‘patient endurance?’
It’s one word in the Greek.
It’s the word ‘hypomonē.’
Listen to it — ‘I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the steadfastness and perseverance that are in Jesus.
Look where this perseverance is located.
It’s found in Jesus!
So, in four verses in John 15, Jesus talks about abiding in Him.

John 15:4–7 (ESV) — 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Four times in four verses Jesus says ‘abide in me.’
So if you abide in Him, than whatever is in Jesus you’re bound to run into.
In this case, we’re talking preserving — it’s what’s on John’s mind here in the Book of Revelation.
But why is it on his mind?
Why would John even mention the perseverance that’s in Jesus?
Well, because John is in the middle of the biggest trial of his life.
He has been banished — exiled — cast aside — thrown to the wolves — whatever vernacular you would like to use — to an island called Patmos.
Patmos was no picnic of a place.
And with that thought, here is the Historical Background of the Day.

Patmos was a place of banishment. In general, banishments were of two kinds: one kind included the confiscation of property and removal of your civil rights. A second kind of banishment allowed the person to keep both their property and their civil rights. Patmos was not deserted; it included a gymnasium and temple of Artemis (the island’s patron deity).⁵

You have to remember that when you were banished to an island like Patmos by the authorities, you were there other’s who were banished as well.
And some of those people were not ‘loving Jesus people’ like John was.
Maybe menaces to society and you are thrown together on an island and you have to fend for yourself.
That’s a trial, wouldn’t you say?
Tradition says that John lived in a cave on Patmos.
Believing God, trusting God, maintaining His hope in God, all the while waiting on God for deliverance.
John had staying power.
He had refusing to quit power.
‘Hypomonē’ is a courageous perseverance that challenges, dares, throw down the gauntlet against and absolutely sets itself against evil.
Perseverance will not be grumbling, complaining, weary or despondent.
We’re talking heroic stand up faith in God.
John had it.
How do we know?
Look at the next verse.

Revelation 1:10 (ESV) — 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

John was in the Spirit.
He got over into the Spirit realm and saw the visions that make up the book of Revelation.

Perseverance and the Seven Churches of Revelation

Revelation 2:1–2 (ESV) — 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance,

This is the word ‘hypomonē.’
The Lord Jesus Christ says ‘I know it.’
He said, ‘I know your works’ — of course He knows that — we are going to be judged for that.
Jesus knows your ’toil.’
The Greek word toil is one we want to look at and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.

The Greek word toil means to work hard, grow weary, suffering trouble to the point of fatigue. Derived from a word that means to “smite, strike a hard blow, cut, cut off, chop,” hence figuratively “tire out.”⁶

So, the Greek points to the thought of a person who is just getting hammered blow after blow maybe even to the point of fatigue.
This guy is tempted to be tired because he is being continually hammered but because of the strength of God, because of ‘hypomonē,’ he hangs in there and refuses to quit.
Jesus says “I know about this in you. I know you’re getting hammered but I also know your persevering.

Revelation 2:1–3 (ESV) — 2 …and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

Jesus knows your steadfastness.
He knew the perseverance of those in Ephesus.
But, that’s not the only church Jesus called out for this trait.

Revelation 2:18–19 (ESV) — 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

We’re not done yet — fasten your seat belts.
Look at what Jesus said to the church at Philadelphia!

Revelation 3:7–10 (ESV) — 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

What did Jesus just say here?
Did He say, what I thought He said?
Did Jesus just tell this church that because they have passed this test, the one that they are in right now holding out against those who are of this ‘synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, — who say they are God’s chosen people but lie about it…?
Is this what Jesus said? — ‘because you have passed this test that you are in right now, I will keep you from the Big Gigiantic Test — the Tribulation test — the grand daddy test of them all?
What if they didn’t pass the test?
I don’t know — I think we ought to hold fast to steadfastness — and not allow perseverance to be pried out of our hands.
And with that thought, here is the Question of the Day.

Is there a way to practice yielding to steadfastness without having to wait on a mega test?

Yes!
Do you remember Luke 8:15?
Can you recall Hebrews 6:12–13?
We already read it.
Through faith and patience, through perservance and stedfastness, the good seed of the Word of God comes to pass in our lives.
What about practicing perseverance on a Bible promise and having done all to stand, stand?
How about doing that on purpose?
Practice perservance on a Bible promise.
Practice waiting on the Lord.
Now, there’s a thought!
That’s what David did.

Psalm 40:1–4 (ESV) — 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

You know at one point the Old Testament was translated into Greek.
That translation is called the Septuagint.
If you look at Psalm 40:1 in that translation at the words ‘waited patiently,’ guess what you will find?
The word ‘hypomonē.’
David waited on the Lord with steadfastness, with perseverance, with staying power, with refusing to quit power.
Put it into practice.
David did it.
You can do it as well.

Now Father God, thank you for your goodness and mercy. Thank you for opening our understanding to the importance of hanging in there and waiting on you for all things in our lives. We give you all the glory and honor for this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How Jesus Style Perserverance Can Make You a Winner.
You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Why God’s Love and Direction Are a Match Made in Heaven

__________
References:

Source unknown, Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002). ↩
Rick Renner, RIV pp. 23 ↩
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 531. ↩
(J.W. 2.261).1Ant. Ant. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews ↩
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 729. ↩
Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 322. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

How Jesus Style Perserverance Can Make You a Winner

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Seventeen

by Emery Horvath

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Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching on the subject of Divine Healing. You can click on the links below to listen to more podcasts or read blog posts along this line.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Perseverance: Let’s Review

The Vital Nature of Perseverance for the Child of God

Perseverance in the Last Days

Perseverance In the Book of Revelation

Perseverance and the Seven Churches of Revelation

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Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching on the subject of Divine Healing. You can click on the links below to listen to more podcasts or read blog posts along this line.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Perseverance: Let’s Review

The Vital Nature of Perseverance for the Child of God

Perseverance in the Last Days

Perseverance In the Book of Revelation

Perseverance and the Seven Churches of Revelation

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