Dependence with Persistence

Larry Siegle
07/07/24 - Sun AM

Link to sermon video: Dependence with Persistence - L Siegle

Dependence with Persistence

(Matthew 7:7-11)

Thesis:  God expects His children to continue and look past the circumstance to the end

INTRODUCTION

1.    The title of this message is Dependence with Persistence

2.    At the age of 7, my dad had an old lawn mower in our garage.  It had a crank starter on it and so he gave it to me to

        ‘mess’ with….I spent days cranking that lawn mower, playing with the wires, the throttle, adding gasoline, using

        a hammer (to see if that would make a difference).  

        a.    One day….for no apparent reason, the lawn mower somehow, started running….(for a couple of minutes).

        b.    There was a great feeling that came from the experience of persistence that had resulted in momentary success.

3.    The American Businessman, Whitney Tilson, who wrote:  “In life, an abundance of confidence gives us higher

        motivation, persistence, and optimism and can allow us to accomplish things we otherwise might not have

         undertaken.”

        a.    Whitney Tilson has a net worth of about 50 million dollars, with various investments over the decades, some

               positive other negative.

        b.    He has written several books and conducts seminars of what it takes to be successful--through persistence.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

1.    The text we just read from the Sermon on the Mount, provides those in the Kingdom of God with some principles of

        how are trust and dependence on God is rooted in the necessity of remaining persistent in looking to Him each and

        every day of our lives.

2.    When it comes to Grammer in the NT, most Bible translators fall short in providing consistency, especially as it

        pertains to the rendering of certain verb tenses.

        a.    These verses contain the “present imperative” (continuous sense).  Several translations are quite accurate in their

               rendering:

               1)    "Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the

                       door will open for you” (ERV)

               2)    "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will

                       be opened for you” (ISV)

               3)    “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking,

                       and the door will be opened to you” (New Living Translation).

3.    The Sermon on the Mount was delivered within the context of the central focus of the preaching of John the Baptizer,

        Jesus, and His apostles:  (Matt. 3:1, 2).

        a.    The establishment of this “Kingdom” would come within the context of national judgment (Matt. 3:7-12).

        b.    Israel was “storing up wrath” for the “day of wrath” (Rom. 2:5, 6).

        c.     The national judgment was pictured as a ‘cataclysmic event’ (II Pet. 3:7-12).

        d.    The “last days” time frame for this event, according to Jesus and the apostle was within the span of a single

               “generation” (Matt. 23:36; 24:34).

        e.    Salvation (deliverance) would come for those who were of “this crooked generation” (Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:15).

        f.     This the same “generation” about which Moses had spoken (Deut. 32:1, 5).

4.    The prophet Joel had foretold the events that were to occur during those “last days” of Old Covenant Israel and what

        was to occur with regard to the “nations” (Joel 2:30; 3:1, 2, 12).

        a.    The time of judgment would be the time of the “harvest” (Joel 2:13)

        b.    This is the time of “harvest” about which apostle had a vision in Revelation (14:6, 7, 14-19)

        c.     The time of the “harvest” was the “end of the age” (this generation) (Matt. 13:30, 38-43)--same picture as John

               the Baptizer had foretold (3:7-12), and the apostle John had seen (Rev. 14:14-19), same picture as Joel had seen

               (3:12).

5.    The message of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount was in preparation for what we going to happen in connection with

        the arrival and establishment of the promised Kingdom.

        a.    The “limited commission” was preparation (Matt. 10:1, 7, 8, 15-18, 22, 23).

        b.    The “seventy” were sent (Luke 10:1, 17-20)

        c.     Separation of the “sheep” from the “goats” through the “gospel” (Matt. 25:32, 33).

        d.    Separation of the “wheat” from the tares” (Matt. 13:29. 30).

        e.    The time of “deliverance” (Joel 2:32; Dan. 12:1-3), to “shine forth” (Matt. 13:43; Rev. 14:6)--through the “everlasting gospel”

JUDGMENT ON THE “HEAVENLY HOST” AND THE “EARTHLY NATION”

1.    The comprehensive day of judgment would bring to an “end” the rule and reign of Satan as “god of this age” (II Cor.

        4:4; Luke 10:17-20; Rev. 22:13-15)

2.    The preaching of the “gospel” is that which was to separate ‘sheep’ from ‘goat’ and ‘wheat’ from ‘tare’ -- those inside

        and those outside the New Covenant City of God.

3.    Jesus was telling His disciples to be prepared to learn “steadfastness” to have “endurance” and “persistence” even in

        the face of opposition (Matt 10:22; 24:9-13).

4.    Tribulation before vindication (Rev. 2:10; Dan. 12:1).

CONCLUSION

1.    There is a progression that Jesus places before the disciples (Matt. 7:7-11).

2.    With what was coming in connection with the arrival and establishment of the Kingdom, they needed to know that

         God was present, that God would be there with them.

3.    This message has not expired NOW, God wants us to know and understand that whatever happens, His presence is

        with us to overcome whatever we face in life (John. 16:32, 33).

4.    Believers 2,000 years after the passing of the “generation” about which Jesus spoke, must remain focused on how the

        God’s “purpose the ages” (Eph. 3:11) was fulfilled and what we now have as the present possession today.