The Power Of Endurance

The Power of Endurance

** Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5xinW0F4wM

Today I’d like to look at something that will help us to gain greater power so that we can be more efficient for God’s greater purpose.

To do so, I’d like to use the Apostle Paul’s admonition of his protégé, Timothy, to whom Paul is also somewhat of a surrogate father. He tells Timothy to use his life, that is, Paul’s, as a living example.

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” (2 Timothy 3:10-11 NKJV)

Earlier to the church in Corinth, Paul describes how he bore in his body the marks of ministry, marks from his patient endurance through times of troubles, hardships, and difficulties (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).

In fact, he later lists them out in how five times he was whipped within an inch of his life, three times he was beaten with rods, and once he was stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked three times, imprisoned on many occasions, and no matter what he did, and where he went, his life was in peril from both the Jews and the Gentiles (2 Corinthians 11:22-27).

And so, I think I am safe in saying that endurance is one quality that God uses. Therefore, it is something that we should hold on to and never give up, even though things are not going our way.

And the reason I say this is because we spend the entirety of our lives trying to avoid adversities. But what the Bible tells us is that it is through such adversities that God develops this quality of endurance.

“We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (endurance); and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV)

Today, however, endurance is an endangered quality because we live in an era of instant gratification. This is seen in that we demand immediately things that it took people, a generation ago, a lifetime to achieve. We demand overnight success, growth, solutions, and spiritual maturity. And if these are not met, we have a strong tendency to quit. We quit our jobs, education, relationship, ministries as well as even giving up on God: all because we lack endurance.

And while we have bursts of energy, it’s not enough. That’s why we need endurance because endurance turns vision into reality.

Before we move on and look at how to develop endurance, I’d like to illustrate our need for endurance with that of a battering ram. A battering ram was a weapon used to break down and weaken the protective gates of a city. It was an effective weapon, and while didn’t work fast, it did work.

It is such a weapon that Satan uses against us to wear us down. In the last day, it says that the Antichrist will “wear out the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:25b KJV).

This battering ram is a continual assault against our faith in God and in His word, not to mention our morals, families, and finances. And over time our defenses begin to wear down, which is why we need to continually put on the Armor of God, renewing our faith and commitment through times of prayer, reading God’s word, fellowship with other believers, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then can we withstand Satan’s continual barrage.

And so, for us to gain the needed endurance, we have to develop it. So, what are some things we can learn in our time together to help us develop endurance?

Embrace God’s Purpose

To endure, there’s got to be a reason why. And the reason I say that is because people can endure great hardships if they know there’s a purpose behind them. And the Bible tells us that God has a purpose beyond our problems.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV)

We all have difficulties and problems, but God’s purpose in them is to test and mature our faith.

In Romans 8:28 it says that God will work all things, including the really bad things, to our good. And what this is saying is that God’s purpose behind our problems is far greater than whatever the problems may be.

The Apostle James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NKJV)