We are the Evidence of God by Our Endurance

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 ,
“3 We are always obligated to thank God for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love that each and every one of you has for one another is increasing. 4 So we ourselves boast about you in God’s churches in regard to your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and in the trials that you are enduring.

5 This is evidence of God’s righteous verdict that resulted in your being counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also suffer. 6 Certainly, it is right for God to repay trouble to those who trouble you, 7 and to give relief to you, who are troubled along with us. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 he will exercise vengeance in flaming fire on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 Such people will receive a just penalty: eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from his glorious strength, 10 on that day when he comes to be glorified among his saints, and to be marveled at among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

11 For this reason, we are always praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of your calling and use his power to fulfill every good desire and work of your faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him, in keeping with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.”

Endure.

One of Webster Dictionary’s definitions for endure is:
“To bear with patience; to suffer without opposition or without sinking under the pressure or affliction; to bear up under; to put up with; to tolerate.”

I love how it says “to suffer without sinking under the pressure or affliction.” We don’t sink under pressure. At least we are not supposed to.

Yes, we go through trials, but we endure. We don’t sink. We bear with patience for we know the end result.
If you know the end result, why worry? Why do we allow the unsaved to disturb us? Why do we allow them to move us into unrighteousness?

Why? Because of a lack of self-control. You know, that “fruit of the spirit” that I’m always talking about. We must have self-control. If you know the truth, and you truly believe that Jesus is Lord, you should have assurance enough to maintain control of your emotions. To not allow anyone to move you to a place of ungodliness.

Instead, we need compassion because we know the end result for those who do not believe. For those who follow another light verse nine says that’s such people will receive a just penalty. We know what hell looks like. We know the torture that will be presented there For eternity.

For this reason alone, we should feel sorrow and compassion for those not standing in the promise. And we should realize that what they say is only a reflection of the state of their spirit.

Endure. Do not sink into what they are serving. Remain a light bearer for Christ. Don’t give in to foolishness, but endure.

This is mandatory to righteousness and godliness.

Endure.

***
Father God, may we be strong evidence of who you are by what our endurance looks like. We do not sink into depression. We do not pity ourselves and we do not give in. We endure.

Our endurance does not make us weak, it makes us stronger. It strengthens our inner being. It helps others to see you as it is a reflection of our core beliefs.

We don’t allow others to make us angry or depressed. Nor do we allow them to move us into a place of ungodliness by the words they speak and their actions, for we know that they move out of lack of knowledge of the truth and that truth is, you are the one true God.

But Abba, we want you to be able to use us by our endurance, to be a reflection of your Light and your Spirit. This is why we must remain teachable.

Help us to continue to learn and grow in you and may your glory remain with us always as we proceed to mature to higher levels in you.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

[If you are seeking to learn more on your authority, defeating demonic forces, strongholds and strongmen, you can join us on our Tuesday nights Zoom Bible Study where we dwell deeply into God’s plan for his people in this day. Direct message me for more information and as always there is no fee for the word of God. We do deliverances at our office and on Zoom by appointment. God wants you free. Christians helping Christians.]
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