The Purpose
Perseverance means persistence under discouragement and contrary pressure. Take a moment and think back to a time when the odds were stacked against you; the walls were closing in on you; you felt like you were going to break, and yet somehow you made it through. In essence, the Christian life can be characterized by the word perseverance. We were once slaves to sin and children of the devil. Thankfully Christ stood in the gap for us so are sins are now forgiven through his death on the cross. Yet we still have problems. The problem might be getting into a car accident: losing a wallet; getting mugged; facing unfair stereotypes; being slandered; being raped; being neglected; being laughed at, etc. Through these problems God helps us to persevere. Think of Moses being left in a basket and sent down the river. Think of Joseph in jail. Think of David running from Saul. Think of Job's property being burned and the agony he went through. Think of Paul and his beatings and imprisonments. Think of our Savior praying in the garden with blood dripping from his head because of the agonizing stress of bearing the cup of wrath.
It is quite apparent that we live in a fallen world. The Bible says that even the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (Romans 8:22) The earth longs to for the new earth. LOL .Although we are now indwelt with the Holy Spirit we still have this wretched thing called the flesh that we go to war with daily. I fall. I fall again. I fall again and again and again. And get back up, and get back up, and get back up and get back up. This cycle of falling into sin and then looking to the cross for our hope is descriptive of the journey we take as Christians. We get convicted and desire holiness and godliness. Yet we still fall. Praise God for his grace and his compassion that allows us to get back up! Without Him we would NOT persevere! According to J.I. Packer, "The assertion that believers persevere in faith and obedience despite everything is true, but the reason is that Jesus Christ through the Spirit persists in preserving them."
Paul got encouraged by the perseverance of those in Thessalonica and said, "Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. (2 Thess. 1:4) James tells us to look forward to trials and tribulations because he realized they serve a great purpose in molding our character. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Paul ultimately says the same thing in the fifth chapter of Romans, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4) In 1 Timothy he says something similar "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11)
Track List
- Intro
- God is Diesel
- His Love (ft. E-Pistle)
- You Want Jesus (ft. B-doe)
- I Worship You
- This Ain't
- Repeat Rhymes
- Jesus Jesus (ft. Mike Armstrong)
- Ya Kept Me (ft. Young Joshua & Azriel)
- Bottom of My Heart (ft. Harold Hairston)
- Psalm 34
- Brainwashed
- Nurture Your Mind
- Lenny's Story
- Fire Interlude
- Only the Strong Survive (ft. J-Johnson)
- Secular Workplace (ft. Average Joe)
- Persevere
- Perseverance of the Saints