PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE

January 16. Exodus ch 11-14

PRODUCTIVE PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE (1)

“And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭KJVAE‬‬

GOOD DAY. A single man was dating two ladies who did not know each other. They both assumed the friendship would lead to marriage. He did not discuss marriage with either of them nor did they ask him if marriage was part of the deal. When he was ready to get married, he took on a new lady whom he married. For the two earlier ladies, their patience was not productive. They had no expectation based on anything the man promised. To talk of patience, we need to have what we are expecting from a promise. This is the same with our walk with God.

WHAT DOES GOD PROMISE?

In the time of Abraham, He promised him that his children will be like the stars in heaven that cannot be counted even when Abraham was old and still childless. Isaac came and through Isaac, came Jesus through whom as many as believe in Him are saved to become children of Abraham. Promise fulfilled though Abraham is no longer in the flesh, he sees us from heaven.

When Jesus came, God through Jesus promised us ETERNAL LIFE with Him. For man to be with God, He gave His only begotten Son to pay for the sin that separates us from Him. ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”‭ ‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

God through Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”‭ ‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

God promised us PEACE.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”‭ ‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

No matter your condition or the condition of the world, the believer will have peace of God.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””‭

‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Jesus also promised us His joy. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”‭ ‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

All these are spiritual but what about the tangible things I need here? What has God promised about that? His promise is that He will supply our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. He also promised to take care of our needs as He does those of the birds of the air. He says we should not worry but ask Him.

WHERE DOES PATIENCE COME IN

Times and seasons are in His hands. He gives His promise especially regarding material things in His own time and way. We ask and want things in our own time but He says in His time; we want it our own way but He says in His way. This is where patience and perseverance come in.