ENDURANCE
Anita Clark – PastorGrace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (proper), because that your faith groweth exceedingly; and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecution and tribulations that ye endure.” II Thess. 1:3-4 This text shows us specifically how God has worked in us through the many tests and trials in different things and ways.
For instance, “Vs.3 “because your faith groweth exceedingly, and ... we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecution and tribulations that ye endure.” The word “endurance” means “put up with, bear with, forebear, suffer.” A wonderful verse in I Thessalonians 1:3, tells us “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”
In Hebrews 12:5-7 speaks of “Endurance of chastening.” The Scripture states “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scougeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye ENDURE chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” The word “endure” in verse 7 means “to stay under, remain, undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, abide, take, patiently, tarry behind.”
In I Corinthians 13:4-7 we read of the “endurance of love.” Vs.4 & 7 says, Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind... Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” This word “endureth” has the same meaning as where it is in Hebrews 12:5-7
In this I Corinthian passage, we see our relationship with other people.
In II Timothy 2:3-4, Apostle Paul spoke of the endurance of the Christian soldier. He wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affair of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” We have a great enemy, Satan, but as we rest on the Lord Jesus Christ, and draw from His strength, we are triumphant in our trials.
The next thing we want to speak of concerning the word “endurance,” is the “meekness of endurance.” In I Peter 2:18-19, Peter says, “Servants be subject to your masters with all fear (respect)....For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” Paul in I Corinthians 6:7 wrote, “Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded.”
In II Timothy 4:3 Apostle Paul wrote concerning “SOUND DOCTRINE,” “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Paul speaks of “sound doctrine” in II Timothy 3:16-17 -
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. For instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished with all good works.” Apostle Paul says in II Timothy 2:10, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Also, in II Timothy 3:11, Paul spoke of his persecution, and afflictions... which he said “...what persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
Paul also wrote in Hebrews 10:32- 35 concerning the Believers enduring trials. Vs.32 says, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great flight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.”
The greatest example of “endurance” is the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ during his trial and crucifixion. In Hebrews 12:2-3 we find our Lord Jesus and his suffering. Verse.2 tells us, “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.”
THREE OTHER EXAMPLES OF “ENDURANCE” ARE -.
No.1 - The Comfort of Endurance - in II Corinthians 1:3-7. Whenever we suffer in trials and tests, we love the Scripture here.. (Vs.6) And whether we be afflicted, it is your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.’ I Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trials which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
No. 2 - Blessedness of Endurance - James 5:7 - “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord, behold that Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” “Take, my brethren; the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 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.’
No. 3 - Reward of Endurance - James 1:12 - “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love Him.” The word “endureth” here in this place means “to stay under, remain, to undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, to take patiently, suffer, tarry behind.” II Timothy 4:4 -5 “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth...But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions....” The coming of our Lord Jesus is at hand.. Be watchful and ready!
