Endurance

We’ve been looking at the topic of faith the last two weeks. We know that the just live by their faith and that we cannot explain faith through our natural senses. It’s in the unseen realm. One thing that is a byproduct of living a life a faith is endurance. The definition of the word endurance is: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity

especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity. The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. You need endurance to keep going.

2 Timothy 2:1–7 NLT

1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

Endurance Takes Focus!

You and I must keep focused on the things of God and not get involved in the petty things of the world. A soldier, an athlete, and a farmer all have one thing in common, they endure hardships. We have to be like them in the things of God. Many times we are tempted to let everyone no how we have endured hardship but when we do that we have not endured. My uncle is a decorated veteran. He served two tours in the Korean War and many tours during the Vietnam War. He has the bronze and silver stars and has many service stripes. The reason I know that is because my mom told me about it. However, my uncle doesn’t say anything about his military career. That’s because he doesn’t get entangled with the affairs of the civilian life which wants recognition. He served and that’s that! We thank him for that but he was a good soldier. We are to be that too. Enduring hardships is when we don’t draw attention to it.

Mark 13:3–13 NLT

3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. 9 “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. 13 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Endurance is Needed to Make it to the End!

Stuff is happening all the time nut we must endure to the end. Jesus could come back at any time but He says here that there is going to be a lot of stuff going on. Wars and rumors of wars which is happening, earthquakes and famines and volcanos and riots and hatred and all the stuff we see happening to day on the news. What do we do. Endure!! We withstand hardship and adversity by keeping focus on the One who enlisted us, Jesus!

James 1:12–18 NLT

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

We Endure to Receive the Crown of Life!

We endure all the temptation in the world because we know this one thing, the devil is bad and God is good! We must endure the temptations because they don’t come from God. God gives us everything that is good and perfect and you don’t have to “endure” good stuff. We need to endure the tough stuff. And get this, we must endure patiently. Patiently: with calmness or without complaint or hurry in spite of delays and difficulties. We are calm in spite of those things because we have the Holy Spirit in us and He givehs us the power to be calm all the time!

1 Peter 1:23–25 AMP

23 You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. 24 For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and all its glory (honor) like [the] flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower drops off, 25 But the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you.

We Endure Because God and His Word Endures Forever!

Once we have been born again, that means we have accepted the gift of eternal life that Jesus paid the price for by receiving Him as our Lord and Savior, we will not perish but have become immortal because of His Word! It endures forever and so do we. So don’t get entangled with the things of the world, trying to prove your goodness or getting involved in things that are not eternal. Endure the hardships and keep focused on the One who enlisted you, Jesus!