“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him,”   James 1:2-5 (KJV).

Not long ago, the Lord said to me, “LEARN TO ENDURE, NOW.”

What the Lord was saying to me, and ultimately to YOU is… There are attributes to this relationship and walk YOU have with the Lord, that need to be fine tuned and practiced.  For many Christians, the word of God is just that, words written on paper that when you read you say, ‘Yea, that’s a good thing, I believe it true, I guess I need to work on that…..’

Well, THE TIME IS NOW! You cannot afford to wait!

“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,”   2 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV).

What does it mean to ENDURE?  It means to STAND, TO ABIDE, TO ARISE, TO CEASE (from your labors and rest in the Lord), TO CONTINUE, TO DWELL, REMAIN, REPAIR, STAND-BY, STAND-FAST, STAND-FIRM, STAND-STILL, STAND-UP, TARRY, TO PERSEVERE……

According to James, COUNT IT ALL JOY…  WHEN YOU FALL INTO ALL KINDS OF TEMPTATIONS……

Allowing your faith to be tried produces patience (endurance) and when you allow it (patience) have her perfect work in you, YOU IN TURN ARE PERFECTED…. the Lord says,  “We should go on to perfection… put the things I AM teaching you into practice, you will be fulfilled entirely……. WANTING NOTHING….”

Not sure how to proceed?  The Holy Spirit is standing by to assist and guide, He says, “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask……. and it will be given to him liberally and without scorn or rebuke.  The door is OPEN…”

We need to endure hardness (hardship, affliction, suffering trouble), not try to find a way of escape so we don’t have to go through it.  Rejoice that you have the privilege to suffer like Jesus……  Hebrews 5:8-11 says,

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”

Did you catch that, its LEARNED, everything the Lord asks of us must be learned, and there’s no better time than now.  Difficulty, suffering, hardship, if we have the correct outlook, is a GOOD THING!

WE CAN REJOICE……… AND WHEN YOU DO BELOVED, YOU WILL FIND A SWEET RELEASE OF PEACE IN COMMUNION WITH YOUR SAVIOR.

Why am I talking about this now?  Because I believe in the near future we will be entering into the most difficult times we have ever encountered here, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENDURE TO THE END, however long it takes. DON’T BE DULL OF HEARING!

“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved,”  Mark 13:10-13 (KJV).

Beloved, these verses are end time verses, and our surety in Jesus and His love for us must be in place…. don’t wait until they come get you…. you need to learn to stand now.

Do it at home, as a trouble arises……

Do it at work,

Do it at play…..

BUT DO IT…

LEARN TO ENDURE, NOW!

~ Celeste Dewey

Celeste Dewey