Faith To Endure

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Endurance, Endure, faith, Father, God, Jesus, joy, rejoice, Temptations, Trials

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations: knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

In order for us to continue in whatever we have purposed to do this year we’re going to need endurance.   We won’t be able to continue unless we’re able to endure.   

First, we must realize and come to grips with the fact that at some point we are going to come into divers temptations.  It’s a biblical fact, the above scripture tells us so.  But somewhere along the way we believed the lie of the enemy that as Christians we’re not supposed to have any problems or that if we do, they won’t be of long duration.  My Friend, this is the lie the devil wants us to believe so that when trouble and problems come, we’re so focused on the problems and trouble that we’re not using our faith.  And if we’re not using our faith, how can we endure or stand up or hold up under the pressure?  You see endurance is an outflow of our faith.  Jesus is our faith.  We don’t use our own efforts to endure, it’s not our own strength, it’s Christ in us.  We have His endurance to continue pursing the promises of God.   Hebrews 12:2 says, “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.”  Christ endured the cross, despised the shame so that you and I could have victory in the midst of it all.

However, if you continue to believe the lies of the devil and cry and complain when trouble comes as if some strange thing is happening to you, how can you see victory?  You’re too busy looking at the trouble.  Listen to what Peter says,

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” I Peter 4:12-13

In other words, get up from that place of pity and petting and start rejoicing.  Because while the devil is meaning it for evil God is working it for your good.

So, listen when you find yourself in the midst of divers temptations know that your faith is being tried. And if you would focus on your faith who is Christ.  You will find that from your faith there will be an outflow of strength and power so that you are able to endure through it all and not only endure but continue pursing your dreams.  Rejoice my friend and again I say rejoice.

Don’t Shake!

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Be of good cheer, cheer, confidence, don't shake, peace, Trials, tribulations

Have you ever noticed that whenever you’re faced with tribulations, trials, distresses and frustrations, that the last thing you think about is being of good cheer? More than likely, you think of everything but being of good cheer.  However, Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you!]” (Amplified).

It is certain the reason we don’t think of being of good cheer is because it’s at those times that the devil attacks our minds with all sorts of lies.   You see, along with the tribulation, trial, distress and frustration is the thought that you won’t come out of it; that you’re going to die; that God can’t help you; that God doesn’t love you and a whole lot of other lies.  But it’s also at those times that we must esteem the word of God. In other words, we must let the word of God lead our minds not the lies of the enemy.  Notice, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.” It’s the words that Jesus has spoken to us about Himself that gives us peace and confidence in Him as we mediate upon them.  As we do we are able to be of good cheer.

Being of good cheer doesn’t necessarily mean having a warm fuzzy feeling inside, it means taking courage, being confident, certain and undaunted, it means DON’T SHAKE.  Why? Because Jesus has overcome whatever tribulation, trial, distress or frustration you’re facing.  He has overcome the world.  He has deprived it of power to harm us and has conquered it for us!  Therefore, when you know that something can’t hurt you, you can face it with no fear.  You can be of good cheer!

Having The Right Perspective

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afflictions, glory, light, Suffer, Sufferings, Trials, trouble, victory

II Corinthians 4:17
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

A telescope is something that is used to bring an object closer to view. However, in other to see that object you must look through the small end of the telescope. At first glance it might appear that looking through the larger end would give you better results but not true. Looking through the larger end of the telescope makes the object so large that you don’t get the full picture. Likewise, when we focus our attention on the sufferings and afflictions that we must endure for the sake of the gospel, we’re looking through the wrong end of the telescope. Therefore, we’re not getting the full picture we’re not seeing the glory that awaits us.

I Peter 4:12 says “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Listen, he’s not just talking about His glory when Christ returns but His glory right now that awaits us on the other side of every affliction and persecution we face. As a matter of fact that’s why we face them because of the word of God (Matt. 13:21).

When we focus our eyes upon Jesus we see that His glory out weights any affliction that we might endure. Focusing our attention upon Jesus puts things in the right perspective. Therefore, rejoice because if you are a partaker of Christ’s sufferings you are a partaker of His glory.