TEN POINTS ABOUT ENDURANCE

Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS

Endurance is not gritting our teeth and bearing up in the flesh, but in God’s strength.

I. THE GROWTH OF ENDURANCE - II Thess. 1:3-4 – “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (proper), because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity (love) 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 persecutions and tribulation that ye endure.”  Note verse 4, “patience increases.” I Thessalonians 1:3 says, “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.”

II. ENDURANCE OF CHASTENING - Hebrews 12:5&7 – “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son despise not now the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.” The word “endurance” speaks of “to stay under, to remain, undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, take patiently, tarry behind.”

III. ENDURANCE OF LOVE - I Corinthians 13:4-7 – These Scriptures tells us, “Love endureth all things.” (Vs.7) It takes the grace of God working in our lives for us to really show love to others as the Scripture tells us to do. The word endurance here means the same as it does in Heb. 12:5-7 where the Scripture says, “If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chastening not.”

IV. ENDURANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER- II TIMOTHY 2:3-4 – “Thou therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

V. THE ENDURANCE OF SOUND DOCTRINE - II TIMOTHY 4:3-4 – “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. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “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 unto all good works.”

VI. EXAMPLES OF ENDURANCE - II TIMOTHY 2:10 – “Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” II Timothy 3:10-11 Apostle Paul speaks of his trials, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The word “endured” means “to bear with, to acknowledge, take patiently, and accept.”

VII. THE COMFORT OF ENDURANCE OF SUFFERING - I CORINTHIANS 1:3-6 – “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings...”

VIII. THE REWARD OF ENDURANCE - James 1:12 – “Blessed is he man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” The word endureth means to stay under, remain, to undergo, bear trials, have fortitude, to take patiently, tarry behind, perseverance. II Timothy 4:6-8 speaks of Paul’s departure from this earth. “For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”

IX. ENDURANCE OF THE SAINTS OF GOD – Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrew saints, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions. Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly, while ye became companions of them that were so used.”

X. MOSES ENDURED –  “By faith Moses, when he was come to years... Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:22-27.

“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3.