Perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief or a purpose. Until he ascended from this world, Jesus continued to preach and teach what the Father had sent him to do. He never backed down even when his authority was questioned several times.
Jesus was here to fulfill God’s purpose for us. He faithfully served God until the end. He could not stop doing his mission until he finished what God sent him to do, i.e. save the world from sin. There was a time when Jesus felt like the journey was tough for him. When he was in Gethsemane he began to be sorrowful and trouble. He told Peter, John and James, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me,” (Matthew 26:38).
When he was praying Jesus asked God to take the “cup” away from him. Being in human body, Jesus was feeling and seeing the sorrow that was about to befell him. It was a painful experience for him that he wished it could be reversed. This was his purpose and for a moment he felt like it could be reversed. Now here comes perseverance… he immediately said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Even during this painful moment he persistently adhered to his purpose. Remember he said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and FINISH HIS WORK,” (John 4:34). If Jesus was not steadfast in allowing the will of God to be done even when it hurt the most, would he finish his work?
Even thought the spirit was willing to take the pain, the body was weak. However he allowed the will of God to be done. That is why when he prayed for the second time he said “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done,” (Matthew 26:42).
Here we learn how Jesus persevered to do the will of God despite the pain he was feeling. He was steadfast in prayer. The only way he could defeat the temptation of giving up doing God’s work was prayer. When you pray, God will fulfill his purpose for you. Remain steadfast (firmly loyal, constant, unswerved). When you persevere, in addition to your ability to practice self-control, your knowledge of Jesus Christ will be effective and productive. You will realize how much he loves you through the wonderful works he will do for you.
See also http://stanleylistens.blogspot.com/2010/05/effective-and-fruitful-knowledge-of.html
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Supplementing Knowledge with Self-Control
Challenges and temptations will always be there and you need to overcome them. Discipline and self-control are essential when dealing with temptations. Your knowledge is tested when dealing with temptations and you have to use your knowledge. However, your knowledge will be worthless if you do not use it to exercise self-control.
Jesus himself faced temptation at some point and the devil used the knowledge of heavenly secrets to tempt him. Jesus resisted and the devil fled. If you resist the devil he will flee from you and Jesus is a perfect example of self-control practice in this incidence.
The devil knew that Jesus had the power to turn the stones into bread but Jesus drew from his well of knowledge and said, “It is written ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,’” (Matthew 4:4). He controlled himself from not yielding to the temptation of performing a miracle thus obeying the commands of Satan. You see, when the devil tempts you he uses your strength and power. You have to resist.
The devil realized that Jesus was using his knowledge of God and decided to use the same strategy to tempt him. When you defeat the devil on one level, he raises his standard as well. The devil used what is written in Psalm 91:11-12 to tempt Jesus. But the Lord used the word of God again and said, “It is written that you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” The truth is that God would keep the promise and send angels to catch Jesus if he threw himself from the highest point of the temple because he is as faithful God. However, Jesus controlled himself not to listen to the devil and test God’s promise.
The devil was even willing to risk everything he had if Jesus bowed down to worship him. Mind you, Jesus would have accomplished his mission to take the world away from the hands of the enemy, but he refused to worship anyone else other than God. The devil presents everything wonderful to you, and he presents the easiest options to achieve your goals but without self-control you can fall into that temptation.
You need to supplement your knowledge of the heavenly secrets with self control. In that way, your knowledge of Christ will be effective and fruitful. God will reward you with great things as you grow in knowing him.
Jesus himself faced temptation at some point and the devil used the knowledge of heavenly secrets to tempt him. Jesus resisted and the devil fled. If you resist the devil he will flee from you and Jesus is a perfect example of self-control practice in this incidence.
The devil knew that Jesus had the power to turn the stones into bread but Jesus drew from his well of knowledge and said, “It is written ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,’” (Matthew 4:4). He controlled himself from not yielding to the temptation of performing a miracle thus obeying the commands of Satan. You see, when the devil tempts you he uses your strength and power. You have to resist.
The devil realized that Jesus was using his knowledge of God and decided to use the same strategy to tempt him. When you defeat the devil on one level, he raises his standard as well. The devil used what is written in Psalm 91:11-12 to tempt Jesus. But the Lord used the word of God again and said, “It is written that you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” The truth is that God would keep the promise and send angels to catch Jesus if he threw himself from the highest point of the temple because he is as faithful God. However, Jesus controlled himself not to listen to the devil and test God’s promise.
The devil was even willing to risk everything he had if Jesus bowed down to worship him. Mind you, Jesus would have accomplished his mission to take the world away from the hands of the enemy, but he refused to worship anyone else other than God. The devil presents everything wonderful to you, and he presents the easiest options to achieve your goals but without self-control you can fall into that temptation.
You need to supplement your knowledge of the heavenly secrets with self control. In that way, your knowledge of Christ will be effective and fruitful. God will reward you with great things as you grow in knowing him.
Supplementing Virtue with knowledge
Because of our faith in Jesus, we live a righteous life. In order to reap more rewards of our virtue, we need to add knowledge to eat. We need to develop the earnest desire to know him and we shall receive the fruits of his knowledge in abundance.
Jesus asked his disciples who do people say he is and he then asked them, “But what about you, who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter replied by saying that he is the Christ, the son of the living God.
Because Peter illustrated that he has had the earnest desire to know Jesus, he was blessed and his knowledge was effective and productive. He received all the powers from Jesus and his work after the ascension is well documented in the book of Acts.
Another lesson we learn here is that the more you seek the knowledge of God, He reveals to you the mysteries that are hidden from men. For his knowledge of who Christ is, Peter received this blessing from Jesus;
“Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” (Matthew 16: 17-19).
This is it! Because Peter supplemented his virtue with knowledge, he received a powerful blessing that gave him authority to control everything on earth. More than anything he received the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He received the anointing to lead people to the kingdom of heaven.
The knowledge of the heavenly secrets is a blessing given to those who seek the kingdom of God and are walking with Jesus all the time - those who develop a close relationship with him. The disciples asked Jesus why he was speaking in parables to the crowd and he responded by saying that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has not been given to them.
“But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear but did not hear it.” (Matthew 13: 16-17).
The revelation of the secrets of God was not given to many righteous people because they did not have the privilege of knowing Christ. If you seek to know more about the secrets in heaven, you receive your fruits in abundance. “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have in abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him,” (Matthew 13:12).
You can have faith, live a righteous life but if you do not seek the knowledge of the secrets of heaven, you even risk losing what you already have.
Jesus asked his disciples who do people say he is and he then asked them, “But what about you, who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter replied by saying that he is the Christ, the son of the living God.
Because Peter illustrated that he has had the earnest desire to know Jesus, he was blessed and his knowledge was effective and productive. He received all the powers from Jesus and his work after the ascension is well documented in the book of Acts.
Another lesson we learn here is that the more you seek the knowledge of God, He reveals to you the mysteries that are hidden from men. For his knowledge of who Christ is, Peter received this blessing from Jesus;
“Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” (Matthew 16: 17-19).
This is it! Because Peter supplemented his virtue with knowledge, he received a powerful blessing that gave him authority to control everything on earth. More than anything he received the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He received the anointing to lead people to the kingdom of heaven.
The knowledge of the heavenly secrets is a blessing given to those who seek the kingdom of God and are walking with Jesus all the time - those who develop a close relationship with him. The disciples asked Jesus why he was speaking in parables to the crowd and he responded by saying that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has not been given to them.
“But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear but did not hear it.” (Matthew 13: 16-17).
The revelation of the secrets of God was not given to many righteous people because they did not have the privilege of knowing Christ. If you seek to know more about the secrets in heaven, you receive your fruits in abundance. “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have in abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him,” (Matthew 13:12).
You can have faith, live a righteous life but if you do not seek the knowledge of the secrets of heaven, you even risk losing what you already have.
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