Persevering Faith

“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. Arnold Glasgow "God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain." C.S Lewis 1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. 2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. 3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. 4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. 5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. 8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

Here the Israelites are praising God for all he has done in the past. He has made them strong to their enemies. The Israelites give credit where it is due. They hear about how God helped them in the past. God was strong against the heathen in their land. The people trust not in their bow or sword, but in the power of God. They boast all day long. These are a people who appreciate God. They will praise his name for ever, BUT.

9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. 10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves. 11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. 12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. 13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. 14 Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. 15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, 16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

Where did God go? Why is God not helping us anymore? Our armies are not accompanied by God. We are a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. Have you ever had someone shake their head at you because you were a Christian? The word byword means that the Israelites seem to be inferior mentally to the heathen. There is much embarrassment here because it seems that God has forsaken his people. Instead of continuing to praise God they start to complain and worry about the situation.

17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. 18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way; 19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. 20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. 22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. 26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake. Psalms 44:1-26 (KJV)

We have done nothing wrong. We still love you and do what you want us to, so where are you? This sounds like a plea for help, but it also sounds like the people want what they think they deserve. Notice how they say, because of you we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. It is because of you that we need help, Oh God. Does this sound familiar? Do we as Christians expect God to help us because we worship him? Does he need to return the favor to us? The Israelites had no patience. They did not know how to wait on God. We can see this from the Exodus on. Are we like this also? So why do I say they had no patience? Let’s look at the definition of patience.

PATIENCE, n. pa'shens. [L. patientia, from patior, to suffer.] 1. The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from christian submission to the divine will. 2. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent. 3. The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent.

Here we see that patience is when we have problems and we go through these problems without murmuring, fretfulness, or discontent. So when we say God is in control we should believe it. If we say we believe God is in control and we cannot sit in the storm with the wind, rain, lightning, and tornados barreling down on us then we do not believe God is in control. Our actions in times of affliction are worth much more than mere words. In psalms 37 David tells us what to do when we are waiting on the Lord.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psalms 37:7-9 (KJV)

We should rest in the Lord and wait patiently. This passage sure sounds differently from Psalms 44. What is the difference? Hard times. I was reading a story yesterday about a man who lost his job in California. Supposedly he and his wife had both lost there jobs at the hospital. They did not have God so they did not have patience. The guy went home and shot his five girls all 8 and under and his wife. He killed his entire family because of hard times. He lost his job. He might have lost his house and his car. The story also said that this was the fifth time something like this has happened within the last year. Do you believe in God? Do you truly believe he is in complete control or are you double minded and lukewarm when it comes to true faith the works patience? Do you crumble at the thought of loosing all of your false securities this world has to offer? If you knew tomorrow you would not have a place to live or you would not have a car. What would you do? Time and time again I have seen Christians fall hard because they have to be in control. They say God is in control but when bad things happen they fall hard. I am going to let everyone in on something, bad things are going to happen. Real bad things are going to happen. The devils are going to attack you along with the rest of the world. Have patience, you have eternity.

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke 21:15-19 (KJV)

Jesus is telling us that by going through all of these things we will keep our lives, not lose them. Those poor souls in California lost there lives, but we will keep ours in our patience.

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:1-5 (KJV)

This is the message throughout the New Testament. We will be attacked and when we are we will grow stronger, if we truly believe. Tribulation worketh patience. It’s like when you plant your first garden. When you first plant the seeds you are excited about the garden. It seems like it takes forever for the seeds to sprout. Then the plant is on its way. Here come the weeds. Wow I had no idea it was this much work. I won’t do this again its to hard. Finally you get fruit on the plant and you pick it and its not ripe yet. This is impossible, I must be doing something wrong. Eventually you will get what you planted and the following years you will learn to just wait without discontent and murmuring. This is why most people do not get patience until they get some age behind them. However, you do not need to wait. If I had one gift from God I could name it would be the gift of patience. Since I have been saved I have been blessed with patience. I know sometimes things seem hopeless, but with God we do not have to be worried. I cannot count the times when I felt like I was losing everything, but I knew God was in control. Imagine being one of those martyrs in revelation that gets to here your name read out of the book of life and then you receive a white robe from God and serve with Christ for a thousand years. They will not get this reward from living a secure life with all of the comforts that people are afraid to lose. They are going to be tortured and killed for the faith. Praise God for the martyrs.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 (KJV)

Here it is again. We cannot know if we have patience unless we stand in trouble. Trouble strengthens our patience. You can say you have patience all you want to. If you are worried about the economy then you do not have patience. If you are worried about our new president then you do not have patience. I say this because if you worry then you do not have patience. If you worry you will have discontent and you will murmur.

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Rev 14:11-12 (KJV)

Here patience is associated with keeping the commandments and faith. The truth is that unless you have faith you cannot have patience and without patience you cannot have faith. They go together. Many people claim to have patience and they seem to have it. It is easy to say you have patience if everything is going your way. We can truly tell if we are patient when our brothers and sisters do wrong. The Christian has no excuse for responding to fellow believers in a spirit of arrogance, haughtiness, or superiority. Instead, we are to be instructed by the example of Christ, and respond in true humility both to God and to fellow Christians. I have only used a few scriptures concerning patience. In the bible I have found there were about 52 references concerning patience. That is not longsuffering but patience. Of the 52 all but 6 are in the New Testament. Remember we must faint not. We must continue daily on the path to righteousness and holiness. We must be willing and ready to suffer for Christ. It is coming and I believe it is coming soon. Let’s rejoice in tribulation and all of the attacks of the devils. Let’s learn to praise God even if we do not have food on the table. This also goes for not having the money to eat out, buy that new CD, get that new dress, get those new shoes and so on and so on. Praise God when you don’t get what you want. Praise God when you come down with some irreversible terminal disease. He is in control not you. Let him be in control and quit trying to be God. If the world is interfering with you worship life, turn from the world. If you think that you can do anything to make a difference in God’s plan that was ordained thousands of years ago then you must not believe the bible. There are people every day that work on making peace in the Middle East. Will this ever happen until the end? Sometimes we can get all caught up in trying to do the right thing. We can try to elect the right people. Does anyone really think that God did not know thousands of years ago who would be the president of the most powerful country in the world. Remember God already knows what we will do before we do it. Let’s let God do what he does and focus on what he wants us to really do. Let’s do our job. Let’s bring the gospel of peace to the unreached. Let’s show the love of Christ to ALL men. Let’s put all of our trust in our God and let’s wait on him and be patient. Jesus is coming soon.