Make Every Effort to Add to Your Faith Perserverance

Make Every Effort to Add to Your Faith Perseverance

By Aaron Birk

Bible Text: 2 Peter 1:6; Job

Preached On: Sunday, June 25, 2023

Faith Church

5526 State Road 26 E

Lafayette, IN 47905

Website: http://www.faithlafayette.org/church

Online Sermons: http://www.sermonaudio.com/faithlafayette

Is there a person in your life that you look to as an example of someone who did not quit, but continued to live with integrity when times were good and challenging and as a result their life was fruitful?

For example, I think of the missionary William Carey, well known Baptist missionary to India was characterized by his perseverance and fruitful service translating and supervising the translation of the Bible into thirty-four languages, founded a college, observing some 1,400 converts baptized. When describing himself, he wrote:

“I can plod and persevere.” – William Carey

He plodded and persevered even when the early years of his ministry seemed like a massive failure because those days “were extremely difficult: he had no converts; he was forced to take a position as the manager of a new indigo factory in Mudnabatti, around 280 miles north of Calcutta; his wife Dorothy experienced a total mental breakdown after the death of one of their sons, Peter, and was soon com­pletely delusional. During the early days of Dorothy’s insanity, Carey wrote in his diary, “This is indeed the valley of the shadow of death to me. . . . O what would I give for a kind sympathetic friend such as I had in England to whom I might open my heart.”” – Michael Haykin

Consider the fruitfulness of how many missionaries and believers that Cary impacted and imagine if he just quit when times were hard, or stopped living for the Lord when things were going well such as after the first Scripture translation was complete.

Carey’s example puts skin on the quality of perseverance. He helps me persevere in faith as I see what perseverance looks like lived out in the details of his life.

And as you study Carey’s life you find there was an example that helped him persevere.

The pastor, Jonathan Edwards, who died three years before Carey was born had wrote a brief biography about the missionary David Brainerd titled: The Life of David Brainerd and missionary’s example was inspirational to Carey.

David Brainerd was a missionary among Native Americans who saw little visible fruit and died in the home of Jonathan Edwards before the age of 30. However, Brainerd’s commitment to the gospel and God’s glory moved William Carey to list David Brainerd, a little-known figure at the time, as an example to be followed and Brainerd inspired many others to persevere, such as well-known ministers like John Wesley, Adoniram Judson, and Jim Elliot.

Put simply, examples of believers who persevere are powerful encouragements to help us persevere and be fruitful in service to God.

Our summer series is Hope for Fruitful Service

We are illustrating examples of the seven qualities mentioned 2 Peter 1:5-7 that we need to be increasing in order to be useful and fruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-7 - “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness ⁷ and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this list we have already covered moral excellence…as exemplified by Daniel. Knowledge as modeled by Solomon, and the Godliness imitated by Paul. This morning we are focusing on the quality of perseverance.

There are many examples of believers that we might turn to in the Scriptures that illustrate the quality of perseverance. The Scriptures testify to one man particularly who displays this quality. The man named, Job.

James 5:11 - We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

God tells us Job is an example of endurance or we could also use the word perseverance. And there is great encouragement from studying Job’s life because God’s says we will see the outcome or the end of the Lord’s dealings through his perseverance.

What is that we will see? That the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

This morning through the example of Job we see three aspects of perseverance from Job’s example that help us be fruitful in service.

[Read Job 1:1-5; 42:7-13]

The bookends of Job reveal he was a man blessed by God, upright, blameless, he feared God and turned away from evil. Job is an example of perseverance not just when he goes through moments of incredible suffering, first he is an example to persevere and…

I. Fear God when times are good (Job 1:1-5; 42:7-13).

Do you tend to think about perseverance primarily in the context of suffering?

Job’s example reminds us that faithful perseverance continues in the wins, the blessings, and times when life seems full.

Sometimes blessings bring unique challenges for persevering to live for the Lord.

You may have more to manage, more to be responsible for in your life that it can cause you to neglect spiritual priorities in your life.

The blessing of a relationship can draw your attention away from your personal pursuit of the Lord.

The blessing of a new job can cause our attention to be focused on our work and neglect the Word.

For example, Proverbs acknowledges the temptation that prosperity can bring and requests…“That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”

Blessings can contribute to pride of life. And we can be tempted to think “I don’t need God.”

Job is a man whose life is prosperous and still we see he perseveres to…

A. Demonstrate commendable character in times of blessing (Job 1:1-3; 42:12–15).

Job 1:1-3 – “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”

Job 42:12–15 – “The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. And Job died, an old man and full of days.”

Instead of believing that he does not need God, Job’s heart is deeply attentive to God’s glory and sacrifices on the behalf of others. We see some specific ways that he uses the blessings that the Lord has given…He perseveres to:

B. Show continual concern about God and others (Job 1:4-5; 42:7-10).

In the beginning God highlights the concern for God’s glory and the spiritual welfare of his children.

Job 1:4-5 – “His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.”

Notice the initiative and leadership that Job exercises as the head of the family. Sending for his children to consecrate them before the Lord. Making sure his children were present as he would offer to the Lord ten whole burnt offerings!!

The whole sacrifice going to the Lord, showing total dedication to the Lord. He is doing this proactively interceding on their behalf before God since he concerned that his children have sinned and cursed God…The text ends emphasizing… “Thus Job did continually”! Perseverance!

There can be a tendency for us to become more spiritually passive in our pursuit of the Lord and pleasing him when things are going well.

As a parent am I continuing to fear the Lord, meditating on the Scriptures, imitating, and teaching the Scriptures when my kids seem to be doing well.

Maybe you were just blessed with a relationship, you are engaged, or recently married…you fearing the Lord in this season that might mean you need greater attention to persevering in purity not less.

You might be entering a season of retirement and think this means you might equate doing less of certain type of work means that you can be not as proactive in your work to pursue God and serve others.

Job’s example encourages us to continue to what’s right not neglecting the Lord and the spiritual wellbeing of others.

Corporately as a church family, in this season of blessing from the Lord, how as a are we seeking to regularly persevere in thanking the Lord, praying, and reminding one another to be vigilant to fear the Lord and proactively dedicating ourselves to loving God and others.

• - Example of VBS

Job’s perseverance and character is also pointed out at the end of the book as well. This time it involves his three friends and their foolish counsel.

Job 42: 7-10 – “It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job. The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

The text highlights that Job perseveres with integrity by praying and interceding for his friends because this is what honors God and serves his friends. At this point there is no indication that God promised Job to increase Job’s wealth twofold before he did what was right. The text says the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends because God accepted Job. The Lord chooses to reward when Job continues to pray and intercede.

[Applications for perseverance in prayer for others in strained relationships]

So to be fruitful for service…we must supply to our faith a perseverance like Job that fears God when times are good.

Job’s perseverance also instructs us to…

II. Trust the Lord in the trials (Job 1:6-22; 2:1-13)

Read portions of Job 1:6-22; 2:1-13.

Suffering comes to all. “There was a day” for Job…There is a day for you and me. We might think that the righteous are only blessed and never suffer, but no one is spared from suffering in this fallen world, including Job.

God gives us a backstage pass to see into reasons behind Job’s suffering and the conflict between God and Satan. These are things Job is not aware about and there is no indication in the rest of Job that God ever tells Job the specific reasons for his afflictions.

Still Job perseveres through the testing that God allows Job to experience. His example encourages us to…

A. Commit to praise God in the affliction (Job 1:20-21)

We see all the blessings that are mentioned at the beginning of the chapter that made Job’s life full are suddenly taken away. God permits Satan to test Job and everything that Job has is in Satan’s power to destroy.

His livelihood is destroyed and looted.

His servants are slaughtered.

His children are killed.

Job perseveres through these adversities, doesn’t curse God, but instead worshipped God and blessed God.

Job 1:20-21 - “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

This is what a man who perseveres sounds like in trials. He is grieving. He is mourning. He takes a humble posture and speaks accurately of God and chooses to praise and bless the Lord.

You can see this response modeled in many Psalms where believers are telling their heart what is true while being honest about how they feel and committing their personal trust in the Lord.

As believers God commands us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

With a particular suffering that you are facing right now, you might supply perseverance like Job by listing out ten specific reasons you can still praise and worship God in the trial and commit to praise him with a specific song when the trial surfaces.

B. Accept adversity comes from your all-wise God (Job 2:10)

I have done a lot of counseling and met lots of folks in suffering. Yet I have never met someone who when they suffer say…you know this is the perfect time for this terrible trial and I was praying to be tested exactly in this way because I knew this was best for me…

Since, we are not all-wise and perfect in all our ways, and merely creatures. Our all-wise Creator God’s ways and actions will often be contrary to our perspective. Which is why God’ word regularly commands us to renew our mind, and be transformed in our thinking, and to conform our thoughts to God’s word. We do not know what is best for us. Don’t lean on your own understanding.

Yet what often hinders us from persevering through trials in a godly way is not believing and accepting that this trial is tailored made for me and is purposefully permitted by God.

When Satan is given permission to now attack Job’s health, Job perseveres.

Job 2:10 “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Job does not sin with his lips, instead he accepts the adversity.

It sure is easy to doubt the Lord’s wisdom and tell ourselves…

“This is the worst time…as if God didn’t know our daily schedule.”

“Why would God make me deal with this person?…as if God didn’t how about a difficult relationship.”

“How can I handle this?...as if God didn’t know about your creaturely limitations.

One way your heart is helped to accept adversity in your life is by meditating on all the ways the wisdom of God is behind the trial and acknowledging all the details that the Lord knows about in your life. Do not deceive yourself to think that you know more and are wiser in your judgments to measure when and how much suffering should be permitted in your life.

A few resources that can help you for further growth in this area is you might pick up the pamphlet You Can Trust God by Jerry Bridges in our Resource Center, read that and memorize the Scriptures that he emphasizes for God’s omniscience and how knowing that God is all-knowing helps us trust him.

Or Paul Tripp’s book on Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense and consider the six traps that he mentions you need to avoid in your suffering to persevere through trials.

In Job, we see God is wiser and knows more than Satan. God knows Job will hold fast to his integrity, Job will persevere and pass the test, and God will show Satan to be the inciter of evil and a liar. Further those who persevere like Job…

C. Trust the Lord controls and permits suffering for a good purpose (Job 1:12, 1:20; 2:6; 2:10; 42:11).

God emphasizes his sovereign power and total control over everything in Job’s life including the permission that he gives to Satan to test and afflict Job.

Job 1:12 – Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.”

After the first afflictions, Job believes the Lord is the ultimate cause.

Job 1:20 - “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.”

In the second-round of afflictions we see again the Lord’s sovereign power, that Satan must request permission and God must grant Satan the ability to test Job and to only a certain extent of suffering.

Job 2:6 – “So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”

Again, Job does not shy away from attributing total control and power to the Lord and his purposes.

Job 2:10 – “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”

The book also ends reminding us that the Lord is the ultimate cause for Job’s adversities.

Job 42:11 – “they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him.

Perseverance is not just about getting through a trial and seeking to absolve God of his sovereign involvement in our lives. Nor should we neglect him as if he is not involved in the details of our struggles.

When we are humbled by sufferings we can want power and control to change and make the outcomes what we want and purpose for our lives.

If God is all-powerful and he is purposing sufferings for evil in our lives…there would not be much hope for perseverance.

The hope for perseverance is the good character and purposes that the Lord has for us. He is full of mercy and compassion, and we see the kindness of the Lord’s dealings with Job.

So far we have seen that perseverance involves fearing God in the good times, and trusting the Lord in the trials, lastly those who persevere like Job must humbly…

III. Acknowledge the struggle over the long term (Job 31:35-37; 38:1–4; 40:1-8; 42:1-9)

Read portions of Job 31:35-37; 38:1–4; 40:1-8; 42:1-9

What makes perseverance hard is the continued diligence not just in a moment but over the long haul.

Job’s initial comments start to change over time after conversations with his friends that seem to wear Job down and not be very comforting nor helpful. The friends essentially incorrectly believe that Job is proud and not willing to admit that he did something wrong, because what other reason could cause such discipline and suffering from the hand of God?

Job’s example shows that we must…

A. Petition the Lord humbly (Job 31:35-37; 38:1-4)

It is not wrong for Job to lament, or bring his sorrows, questions, and concerns honestly to Lord. Where he errors is complaints turn to a condemnation of the way God governs, rules, and administers justice. Job believes he is innocent and he wants to approach and speak to God and tell God to answer him,

Job 31: 35-37 - “Oh that I had one to hear me!

Behold, here is my signature;

Let the Almighty answer me!

And the indictment which my adversary has written,

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,

I would bind it to myself like a crown.

“I would declare to Him the number of my steps;

Like a prince I would approach Him.”

This proud approach that seems to demand God answer him, is met with God approaching Job out of a world wind and God questioning Job and God demanding Job to answer.

Job 38:1-4- “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, “Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
“Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,

[Possible implications for lament/prayer and guarding against a proud posture]

B. Do not blame God for wrongdoing when you think you are not treated justly (Job 40:1–8).

Do not absolve yourself of any personal responsibility by putting blame on God when there is an injustice. This will not help you persevere with integrity.

Notice the lesson that God is trying to teach Job.

Job 40:1- “Then the Lord said to Job,

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
“Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm and said,

“Now gird up your loins like a man;
I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
“Will you really annul My judgment?
Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

[If time allows unpack how this can be a pitfall for persevering]

C. Remember God is not obligated to answer the way you desire, and you still must persevere in faith (Job 42:3)

We can use the why? question when we experience suffering and evil to justify giving up on God and giving in to temptation, instead of persevering through suffering and evil.

There is nothing wrong with asking God why in lament, but Job teaches that you must be prepared that God may not tell you because some things are too wonderful for you to know. In other words, some secret things belong to the Lord.

Job 42: 3 – “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

I find Job’s perseverance so encouraging in that he never seems to get the details and specifics…and yet he still was faithful and persevered. Apparently, the Lord knew Job did not need that information to persevere. A reminder to be encouraged that God grants us everything we need for life and godliness.

Remember the billion things that Lord is doing that you do not understand and the purposes he has for these things that he never consulted you about…and it will help you with not demanding answers from the Lord that he has not revealed in his Word.

The hidden things that are not revealed by the Lord should not be your primary concern if you want to persevere. Instead, focus your attention and thoughts on the answers and purposes that God does reveal to you in his Word. In his wisdom, purposes, and care trust that he knows that those details are more important for you to honor God, serve others, and experience the blessing of the Lord.

Perseverance implies continual trials, which also implies as sinners we are going to struggle and at times fail. Even the upright man Job illustrates we need to be prepared to continue to…

D. Confess and repent when you have a distorted view of God (Job 42:1-6)

Job’s encounter with the Lord changes his perspective of God.

Job 42:1-6 – “Then Job answered the Lord and said,

“I know that You can do all things,

And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

‘Hear, now, and I will speak;

I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

But now my eye sees You;

Therefore I retract,

And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Consider what does confession and repentance in your life look like? Are you acknowledging in what ways your view of God is wrong and distorted? Finally, over the long-term…as you continue to sin and live in a sin-cursed world full of sinners. If you want to increase your perseverance you will need to…

E. Entrust your care to God for him to judge justly (Job 42:7-8)

In the end, God judges the three friends for speaking incorrectly about God to Job and God determines the appropriate terms and method for reconciliation. God does intercede on Job’s behalf and accepts Job.

Job 42:7-8 – “It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

Job’s example of perseverance is a powerful encouragement for us to supply to our faith the same quality of perseverance so that we will not be unfruitful. Job’s perseverance shows we should

1. Fear God when times are good

2. Trust the Lord in the Trials

3. Acknowledge the struggle over the long term.