I welcome you to a new week. As you come to the end of August 2016, I pray that you will receive the fullness of all that God has for you. This week our theme is “Endurance”. The economic climate in many nations warrants that we endure.
There are many of us faced with one challenge or the other and at times we simply do not know what to do or where to turn. It is my prayer for you this week that you will overcome every obstacle that comes your way. You will be an OVERCOMER despite any form of adversity.
What is endurance? Endurance is the act, quality or power of withstanding hardship or stress. It is continuance in the faith. The words “endurance” and “patience” are interchangeable. Patience is actually persevering endurance or cheerful endurance. Both words originate from the same Greek word.
In the bible there are many key figures who had to endure in order to obtain the promises of God. Let’s look at a few of them.
JESUS
Hebrews 12 v 2 & 3 say “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds”.
Our Lord Jesus endured; we are expected to fix our eyes upon Him who has gone ahead of us as a great example. He is the object of our faith. In life no matter what comes our way, we must remain joyful. Joy is a weapon of warfare; if the devil can steal your joy then he is on his way to defeating you. Do not ever let the devil steal your joy.
Jesus had to endure the sufferings of one who did not commit the crime. Our various sins were nailed to the cross. Sometimes in your secular work or elsewhere, you may be accused of something you did not commit. Endure, knowing that the Alpha and Omega will fight for you.
Jesus despised the shame; please know that there is no fame without shame. There is always a story behind every glory. You may not like people mocking you but the people who mock you today will celebrate you tomorrow.
We are encouraged not to grow faint but to remain steadfast in the faith with the knowledge that our eternal reward will not elude us.
- JOSEPH
Joseph endured being victimized by his brothers; he endured false accusations and he endured slavery but all these were necessary experiences for him to learn forgiveness. Genesis 50 v 20 & 21 say “But as for you, ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spake kindly unto them”. No Christian leader can rule effectively without a heart of forgiveness. One of the greatest hindrances in the body of Christ today is unforgiveness.
Leaders minister yet they find it difficult to forgive their fellow labourers. If Joseph had a heart of unforgiveness he would have denied his brethren the right to survival. Perhaps the LORD has allowed you to pass through that particular situation so that you can be a blessing to a multitude tomorrow.
Another lesson we can learn from the life of Joseph is that no matter where he found himself, he always looked for opportunities to serve the LORD diligently. You serve God by serving others; the question is – who are you serving?
Who are you ministering to? Is there anyone that will feel your absence? Therefore endure like Joseph and God’s promises will surely come to pass in your life.
JOB
Job is an example of someone who endured. He is not a fictitious person as some suppose. He had seven thousand sheep. He had seven sons and three daughters both before and after his trial. James 5 v 11 says ” Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy” .
At times we should examine ourselves and ask ourselves whether there is improvement in our character. Job did not understand why he had to face the trial but he trusted God and did not grumble or curse God as his wife advised him to do.
How do you behave in your trial? Do you blame God? Do you blaspheme? Do you curse? I believe you wait patiently for God’s timing, remembering that He makes everything beautiful in His time,
Job was steadfast despite spiritual, physical and material afflictions. He lost all but at the end of his trial he experienced restoration.
Whatever the devourer has taken from you over the years; it is my prayer that you will recover all in Jesus name.
Please hold on to the promises of God.
Matthew 24 v 13 says “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”.
2 Timothy 2 v 3 says “Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ “. Some promises will not just come easily; there is a price you have to pay.
2 Thessalonians 1 v 4 says “so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure”. In every trial do remember that there is a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on.
Hebrews 12 v 1 says “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us “.
You will not be a disappointment to God or your generation. You will achieve purpose. You will be successful and you will end strong in Jesus name. Have a blessed week by His grace.
