Perseverance Through Every Season with Christ
Summary
In our ongoing series "Be Prepared," we delve into the understanding that God is the God of every season. Whether we find ourselves in a season of hardship, restriction, or renewed energy, we must acknowledge our season and recognize that life with Christ does not guarantee ease. Instead, it offers us the strength to endure and thrive amidst the challenges.
We are reminded that our strength does not come from within ourselves but from Jesus Christ. It is His glorious might that empowers us to persevere, not with a grim determination but with a joy that overflows even in the face of the unendurable. We are called to move beyond religious rituals and find our rest in Jesus, who invites all who are weary to come to Him for renewal and quiet for our souls.
As we face the various seasons of life, we are encouraged to persevere, knowing that perseverance is not reserved for the heroes of faith but is an essential aspect of the Christian journey for each one of us. We persevere because of the higher purpose and calling on our lives, and even in our disappointments and traumas, we can become overcomers through Christ.
Looking to the example of Jesus, we see the ultimate model of perseverance. He endured the cross, despised its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. We are called to consider Him so that we may not grow weary or faint-hearted. Our perseverance is fueled by the anticipation of future joy and the promise of eternity with Jesus.
We are living in a season of expectation, knowing that our eternal destiny is with Jesus. This season is constant and transcends the temporary seasons of this world. As we wait upon the Lord, we do so with the expectation that He will move in our lives and through our church in extraordinary ways.
In summary, we are to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our current seasons are temporary and that we are ultimately destined for a heavenly country. Our perseverance is not based on our own strength but on the strength that comes from Christ, who is our example, our high priest, and our source of eternal hope.
Key Takeaways:
- God is sovereign over every season of our lives, and it is in Him that we find the strength to endure and flourish. We must recognize that our journey with Christ is not about ease but about being equipped to face all circumstances with divine resilience. [29:56]
- Perseverance is a hallmark of our faith, not just for the spiritual giants but for every believer. It is through perseverance that we demonstrate our trust in God's higher purpose for our lives, even when faced with pain and difficulty. [18:22]
- Jesus is our perfect example of perseverance. By considering His endurance through suffering and His ultimate victory, we find the motivation to continue our own race with endurance, keeping our eyes fixed on Him. [21:17]
- The concept of resilience is valuable, but as Christians, we are called to more than just bouncing back; we are called to move forward, growing stronger through adversity because of the work of God in our lives. [17:16]
- Our ultimate hope lies in the eternal reward that awaits us. As we navigate the seasons of life, we do so with the expectation of eternity, which shapes how we live today and fuels our perseverance. [26:10]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)
> Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
2. Matthew 11:28-30 (Amplified)
> Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest [renewal, blessed quiet] for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.
3. Colossians 1:11 (ESV)
> May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 12:1-3 suggest about the source of our endurance and perseverance?
2. According to Matthew 11:28-30, what does Jesus offer to those who are weary and burdened? [12:54]
3. How does Colossians 1:11 describe the strength that believers receive from God?
4. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the different seasons of life that believers might experience? [01:05]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the example of Jesus' perseverance in Hebrews 12:1-3 inspire believers to endure their own trials? [20:05]
2. What does it mean to take Jesus' yoke upon ourselves, as described in Matthew 11:28-30, and how does this relate to finding rest for our souls? [12:54]
3. In what ways does Colossians 1:11 encourage believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own? [29:13]
4. How does the concept of living with an eternal perspective, as discussed in the sermon, influence the way believers handle their current seasons of life? [26:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a current season in your life. How can you acknowledge and embrace this season while relying on God's strength to persevere? [01:37]
2. Jesus invites the weary to come to Him for rest. What specific burdens are you carrying that you need to lay at Jesus' feet this week? [12:54]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of perseverance. How can you cultivate a mindset of perseverance in your daily walk with Christ, especially during challenging times? [18:22]
4. Consider the example of Jesus' endurance through suffering. How can you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus to find motivation and strength in your own trials? [21:17]
5. The sermon mentioned the danger of comparing our lives to others, especially through social media. How can you guard against this temptation and focus on God's unique plan for your life? [06:37]
6. How can you live with an eternal perspective, knowing that your ultimate hope lies in the eternal reward with Jesus? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of this truth daily? [26:10]
7. The sermon spoke about moving forward and growing stronger through adversity. Can you identify a past trial where you saw God's strength at work in your life? How can this experience encourage you in your current season? [17:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Strength in Divine Seasons
In every season of life, believers are called to recognize that their strength comes not from their own abilities but from the Lord. Whether in times of joy or in the midst of trials, it is essential to understand that the Christian journey is not about a life free from difficulties but about being equipped to face any situation with the resilience that comes from Christ. This divine strength allows one to persevere with joy, even when circumstances seem unbearable. It is not a grim determination that carries one through but a joyous reliance on Jesus, who provides rest and renewal for weary souls. [29:56]
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy," (Colossians 1:11 ESV).
Reflection: How can you actively rely on Christ's strength in your current season, rather than your own?
Day 2: The Universality of Perseverance
Perseverance is not a trait reserved for the spiritual elite but a requirement for every follower of Christ. It is through steadfastness in the face of adversity that one's faith is expressed and God's purpose is trusted, even when it leads through valleys of pain and hardship. This endurance is a testament to the belief in a higher calling and the transformative power of God, which turns trials into triumphs and makes overcomers out of the faithful. [18:22]
"And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith," (Hebrews 12:1b-2a ESV).
Reflection: What current difficulty in your life can you approach with a renewed sense of perseverance, seeing it as an opportunity to trust in God's purpose?
Day 3: Following Christ's Example of Endurance
Jesus Christ is the ultimate exemplar of perseverance. His journey through suffering and His triumph over the cross provide the blueprint for enduring life's challenges. By reflecting on His victory and the joy that was set before Him, believers find the motivation to continue their own paths with endurance. Keeping one's eyes fixed on Jesus helps to prevent weariness and loss of heart, as His example offers a source of inspiration and strength. [21:17]
"Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." (Hebrews 12:3 ESV).
Reflection: How can meditating on Jesus' endurance through suffering inspire you to persevere in your own life's challenges?
Day 4: Growing Through Adversity
Christian resilience is more than the ability to recover from setbacks; it is about moving forward and growing stronger through adversity because of God's work within. This growth is not a mere return to a previous state but an advancement in character, faith, and spiritual maturity. It is through the trials and tribulations that one's faith is refined and the true strength that comes from a life in Christ is revealed. [17:16]
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV).
Reflection: Can you identify a past adversity that has strengthened your faith, and how can you apply that growth to a current challenge?
Day 5: Living with Eternal Expectation
The Christian life is lived in anticipation of an eternal destiny with Jesus. This hope shapes the believer's perspective on the temporary seasons of this world and fuels perseverance through the promise of eternity. The expectation of what is to come influences how one lives in the present, providing a steadfast hope that transcends earthly circumstances and anchors the soul in the promise of a heavenly country. [26:10]
"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14 ESV).
Reflection: How does the expectation of eternity with Jesus shape your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Quotes
- "God is the god of every season... Whatever season you're in right now, you can know God's strength." [00:31](Download | Download)
- "We persevere with the Call of God on our life even when things in life are painful and difficult... in our traumas... we can start to overcome with the Lord because with the Lord we can overcome." [19:30](Download | Download)
- "Perseverance is an essential of the Christian faith... We are given God's strength to persevere... because there is a higher purpose and there is a higher calling on our life." [18:22](Download | Download)
- "We are living in a season of expectation... knowing that our Eternal Destiny is with Jesus... we need to prepare to be in that season... expecting God to do extraordinary things." [09:36](Download | Download)
- "The greatest threat to our perseverance is thinking we can do this... taking our eyes off Jesus... We look to ourselves to carry on and survive, we look to Jesus to overcome and Thrive." [28:00](Download | Download)
- "Jesus... shows us what perseverance, resilience, endurance looks like... He persevered in his calling even when all around him were abandoning him... we also look up to Jesus for his help." [22:33](Download | Download)
- "We look forward with Jesus... we persevere... our reward will make it all worthwhile because Jesus had confidence he was returning to a place filled with joy." [26:10](Download | Download)
- "God strengthens those who persevere... I just don't want to bounce back, I want to go forward... growing stronger through adversity because of the work of God in our lives." [16:12](Download | Download)
- "It's the weary that are invited to come to the Lord... it's the weary, it's the worn out, it's the exhausted that are invited to come to the Lord." [11:13](Download | Download)
- "Seasons will change but the constancy is that God Is With Us in every season... in the pasture he's guiding us, in the shadows he's comforting us, and at the table he's celebrating with us." [04:21](Download | Download)
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