Jesus Our Model for Perseverance Hebrews 12:1-13

Perseverance All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.

Christian life depicted as a race We are surrounded by those who have completed the course We can look at them as examples of faithfulness 1. God Has Marked off a Course for Us

This course has been “marked out for us” It is thus intentional The course has purpose God designs for us to go through certain things

1. God Has Marked off a Course for Us Mark 6:45 ff He sent them out into a storm John 21:18-20 God has a regimen for us

2. Everyone’s Course Is Unique There is much that is common in the human experience Yet in a disciple’s journey there are unique turns and twists planned for each of us John 21:20-22

2. Everyone’s Course Is Unique We share common truths with each other as believers We can encourage each other in those great truths and promises of God Yet at one level we can never walk in each other’s shoes

2. Everyone’s Course Is Unique There will be points where you seem to stand alone There will be points where really no one else can understand 2 Timothy 4:16-17

3. The Course Is Designed with Hurdles and Obstacles There is “redemption and lift” The Lord does become our Father to help us The Lord is in the process, however, of remaking us (Hebrews 12:5-7, 11)

3. The Course Is Designed with Hurdles and Obstacles God’s plan is to grow us partially through hardships He desires for us to learn to trust and obey Even Jesus had to learn through suffering (Hebrews 5:8)

3. The Course Is Designed with Hurdles and Obstacles In this world these obstacles often involve people who God let’s come across our paths Hebrews 12:3; John 15:18-21; 2 Tim. 3:12

4. Jesus Is Our Model for Persevering on the Course We are told to look to Jesus as our model He endured the difficulties What do we see?

Two Key Things a.He knew there was a greater purpose b.He had a heart of redemption We see this in early disciples (Acts 7:59-60; Romans 9:1-3)