Enduring Afflicition

“Enduring Affliction”

By

Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.

Subtopic :- Wait - don’t be so quick to run-a-way

2nd Timothy 4:5 “But watch thou in all things, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry”.

Exodus 14:13 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, STAND STILL, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you t day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever”.

Psalm 46:10 “BE STILL, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”.

Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

OPENING:- From these scriptures it is clear that patience plays an important role in our salvation and every day walk with the Lord. The Bible is full of scriptures that deal with patience and probably the most famous is the story of Job. Job is unique and is a great inspiration to all of us as to being able to endure affliction; however, I am not going to be talking about Job in this lesson on patience.

There is an old saying that says “Patience is a virtue”. Virtue is according to dictionary.com 1. Moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. 2. Conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude. 3. Chastity. To put it another way patience is a good quality to have in your life.

Patience is not apathy, it is not a lack of interest or concern, and it is not emotional laziness. Too many confuse patience with apathy, but the two could not be any more opposite in meaning. Some mistake patience with indifference, or not caring one way or another, or deeming something as insignificant – but none of these describe patience. Neither is patience a bearing up under punishment for some wrong doing. 1st Peter 2:20 says “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God”

Patience comes from the Greek word hupomone. This Greek word is made up of two parts, hupo meaning “under,” and mone meaning to “abide.” So literally, patience means to “abide under.” patience implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of will and simply of necessity. Patience is the concept of faithful endurance which overcomes evil. It includes resistance to hostile powers James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. Patience is that which enables a person to continually resist the pressures of external circumstances and stand vigilantly holding on to their integrity, virtue, and faith.

Patience will strengthen the spirit, calm the temper, overpower anger, extinguish envy, defeat pride, bridle the tongue, restrain the hand, and crush temptation.

James tells us how to acquire patience, “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. Paul says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” Romans 5:1-3.

Patience is a much needed attribute for a Child of God to possess. Hebrew 12:1 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”.

Every child of God, by the nature of their humanity, has afflictions. Some need jobs; some have children problems; some are having marital problems; some have health problems; some financial problems; some have problems with drugs and alcohol, some are afflicted with loneliness anxiety, stress, and depression, and there are other problems known and unknown among the members of this church for we all must go through things in this life. Some of the things we go through are orchestrated by God, Paul said of these that we are to “glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” Romans 5:3-5.

The Bible says in Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord

delivereth him out of them all”. So we know that these things must come to pass.