Are you tired of feeling like your faith is a short-lived flame that flickers out as soon as adversity strikes? Do you want to have the kind of unwavering faith that cannot only weather any storm but increase and grow through any storm? We’re looking at strategies to have faith for the long haul. We're talking about endurance – Biblical patience over time - the ability to grow deeper in your faith when everything around you seems to be falling apart.
Trevor H Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Content Creator at https://revtrev.com Check out https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.
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When I studied for this message I was a bit surprised what I found out about endurance and faith.
I expected to find endurance for faith in the tough times of life and yes, that is there. But faith is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event. Faith is only faith when it endures.
Very often, by way of encouraging people to endure through the very present and brutal realities of life, the authors of the Bible (and Holy Spirit) point to our future reality and say things like:
Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
2 Timothy 2:10-12 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
The Bible encourages us to endure the current reality of life, however brutal, but its main focus is that we develop endurance so we can endure to the end. Coming through present suffering helps us to endure to end. Coming through present trails is the only way we can develop endurance so we can endure to the end.
So today we’re going to talk about
How to have faith for the long haul.
Let’s pray.
Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33) and although Christ has promised to always be with us and to take heart because he has overcome the world, He has also promised to return and make everything right. We need to be ready (Matthew 25:1-13) and we need to long for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
Jesus clearly states that no one will know the exact time of his return (Matthew 24:36). We should remain in a state of anticipation and readiness (Matthew 24:44). God, the Father, has given Jesus authority to judge (John 5:25-30) all of the nations of the earth (Daniel 7:13). Jesus will reward each person for what they have done. The godly will inherit eternal life, and will rule with Christ forever (Revelation 3:21). Those who deny Him will be cast into the lake of fire, called the second death (Revelation 20:14-15).
The problem with enduring to the end
We know he said he was coming soon (Revelation 22:20) 2,000 years ago. This has been a problem since the first generation of the church. People we so sure they were going to see Jesus come back again in their lifetime, that it worried them when people started to die. Paul had to tell them to not worry, because the dead in Christ will rise first. Peter wrote to the churches in Asia minor:
2 Peter 3:8-10 NLT But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
So we, like every Christian for 2,000 years, need to know how to endure for the long haul because faith is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event. Faith is only faith when it endures.
Does this really matter?
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Christ is with you and you’ll one day be with him. Literally. In a body like he has. The question you need to answer is Will you endure to the end, will you be READY when he comes?
Now, you knew this was coming. We’ve danced around and poked in and out of Hebrews 11 for a couple of months now. Today I want us to see the context and realize what it was originally meant for. The first readers understood that Hebrews 11 was encouragement for them to have faith for the long haul.
Read Hebrews 11 NLT
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau. It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff. It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned. It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
The first readers understood that Hebrews 11 was encouragement for them to have faith for the long haul. Does this encourage you to have faith for the long haul? What about this part?
They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.
Our Present Condition
The world we live in is a fallen world that has yet to be redeemed. The people around us are fallen and are either being redeemed or have yet to be redeemed. This perishable body must put on the imperishable and our mortal bodies will take on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53) but right now, we wait with all of creation.
With all of creation, we groan as in childbirth, waiting for the children of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19-26). We are the children of God but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is (1 John 3:2).
So whether we die in Christ and be with him today in paradise or we’re here on earth when trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ are raised and we who are alive rise up to meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) - we need to know how to have faith for the long haul.
Not just endure to the bitter end, but to continually build our faith and add goodness and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection phileo ; and to phileo, agapeo love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Faith is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event. Faith is only faith when it endures.
Imagine what it would be like to …
…have trouble come and not being able to stop yourself from laughing at the works of the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy because you know you know your God is good and working all things together for good. That this problem will lead to endurance and endurance will lead to forever being with the Father who loves you.
It’s ridiculously awesome! Everything the enemy means for evil, God will turn around for good.
Solution to have Faith for the Long Haul
How can we be ready for Christ to return? How can we have faith for the long haul?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
This is a tool of tools. There are a lot of verses that you need to check out the context for. I’m going to give you homework today. Look up these verses and meditate on them. Ask Holy Spirit how to make them part of your walk.
Will I be READY Tool?
R- Repent of your sins and turn to God Acts 3:19
E- EXPECT instead of having expectations Matthew 24:42
A - Always WALK in the light 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5
D - Don’t Forget to STAND 2 Chronicles 20:17
Y - YIELD to Jesus as Lord 1 Peter 3:15
This is how you live READY to meet your God. Whether the next breath you take is the last one you take on this earth or you’re here when the trumpet is called and the dead in Christ rise, you need to be READY.
Repent of your sins and turn to God
Acts 3:19 (NLT) - "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away."
God has given us the tools of Confession and Repentance and the grace to supernaturally use them. Confession and Repentance bring you into His Kingdom AND enable you to seek first his kingdom and righteousness once you’re in the Kingdom.
Confession is agreeing with God that what you did or didn’t do is sin. We tell God we agree with him that what we did or withheld from doing is sin. Or we can confess that Jesus is Lord and confess our need for Christ to be in the driver’s seat of our life.
Repentance is not doing what God calls sin or withholding from doing that God calls good. It’s changing our mind and going in the opposite direction.
Do you need to confess that Jesus is Lord? Do you need to confess your sins since salvation?
1 John 1:8-9 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Do I need to confess and repent of anything?
Repent of your sins and turn to God
EXPECT instead of having expectations
Matthew 24:42 - "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
Do you know the difference between being expectant and having expectations?
Expectations have real or imagine deadlines or standards.
Expectancy is focused on God being good and in a good mood.
EXPECT God will be Good Tool
EXPECT
E - Employ testimony - Revelation 12:11
X - X-change your problems for His peace - 1 Peter 5:6-7
P - Patiently wait - Psalm 27:14
E - Enjoy Gratitude - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
C - Commit everything to God - Psalm 37:5-6
T - Tune into Purity - 1 John 3:2-3
Let’s unpack this...
E - Employ Testimony
Revelation 12:11(NLT) “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Testimony reinforces thoughts and behaviours. It can reinforce bad thoughts or good thoughts. When we testify about anything that isn’t true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable or excellent and worthy of praise. We agree with the enemy and invite him to do it again.
But when we testify about what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable and excellent and worthy of praise we invite God to do it again. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10) which might be a reason the more we talk about the good things of God, more good things we have to be thankful for.
If you want to expect God to be good and true to his word you need use employ good testimony. Expectancy comes from positive Testimony.
X-change your problems for His peace
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NLT) "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
You don’t ignore the reality of your situation, you take everything to God in prayer, and don’t leave his presence until you once again have his peace.
P - Patiently wait
Psalm 27:14 (NLT) "Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD."
Patience is not a passive toleration of things we don’t like. Patience defined in James 1:2-4 as “Independent, unyielding, defiant perseverance in the face of aggressive misfortune “
E - Enjoy Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
We can be thankful IN all circumstances, it’s a choice, a decision of our will. We can only we thankful FOR all circumstances (Ephesians 5:18-20) as a byproduct of being continually filled with Holy Spirit. If you want to be expectant and endure to the end, you have to choose to be thankful in all circumstances and choose to be continually filled with Holy Spirit so that you can give thanks for all circumstances.
C - Commit everything to God
Psalm 37:5-6 (NLT) "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun."
We cannot expect good things from God if we do not trust him to be good and in a good mood. Let God know that you know when you are upset with him and giving him credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. He knows when you don’t trust him. You know you don’t trust him if you don’t feel his peace.
T - Tune into Purity
1 John 3:2-3 (NLT) - “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”
When we eagerly expect Christ to come back we naturally throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1). We do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is (Ephesians 5:17). We are made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:21) When we eagerly expect, we keep ourselves pure, just as he is pure.
Do I EXPECT or do I have expectations?
R- Repent of your sins and turn to God
E- EXPECT instead of having expectations
A - Always WALK in The Light
Always WALK in the Light Tool
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 - "But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day."
W -Welcome those God wants you to help - Matthew 25:40
A - Awaken to Holiness - Hebrews 12:14-15
L - Love your neighbour as yourself - Mark 12:31
K - Know why you meet together - Hebrews 10:24-25
Let’s unpack this...
W -Welcome those God wants you to help
Matthew 25:40 - "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
Do I do what I can for who God wants me to bless?
A - Awaken to holiness
Hebrews 12:14-15 - " Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.'"
Do I work at living a holy life?
L - Love your neighbour as yourself
Mark 12:31 NLT - "The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these.
Do I love my neighbour as myself?
K - Know why you meet together
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT - “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Do I WALK in the light as He is in the light?
R- Repent of your sins and turn to God
E- EXPECT instead of having expectations
A - Always WALK in The Light
D - Don’t Forget to STAND
2 Chronicles 20:17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
Take up your position and STAND Tool
S - Stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. - John 10:10
T- Treat all hardship as discipline knowing He is a good Father and will work all things together for good. - Hebrews 12:7-11
A - Agree to cast all your cares upon him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
N- Never forget that the God of all hope fills you with all peace and joy as you trust in him, so that you can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13
D - Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything and thank him in all things, knowing that’s his will for you. - Philippians 4:6-7
Do I STAND to see the deliverance of the Lord?
R- Repent of your sins and turn to God
E- EXPECT instead of having expectations
A - Always WALK in The Light
D - Don’t Forget to STAND
YIELD to Jesus as Lord
Jesus needs to be Lord of my,,, actions, answers, attitude …my will, my decision, my emotions - Jesus needs to be Lord of my whole heart.
YIELD to Jesus as Lord Tool
Y - Yoke yourself to Him - 1 Peter 3:15-16
E - Enjoy bowing now - Philippians 2:9-11
I - Imitate Jesus - Colossians 2:6-7
L - Learn to let Holy Spirit help you - 1 Corinthians 12:3
D - Declare He is Lord - Romans 10:9-10
Let’s unpack this...
Y - Yoke yourself to Him
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV84) - “In your heart, set apart, Christ as Lord .Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
His yoke is easy and his burden is light.
E - Enjoy bowing now
Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT) - "Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…
Every knee will bow. It’s a joy and celebration to bow now.
I - Imitate Jesus
Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) - "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
When your faith grows strong, you overflow with gratitude.
The more faith you have, the more gratitude you have. The more gratitude you have, the more trust you have. The more trust you have the more hope and joy you have. The more joy you have the more you consider it all joy whenever you face trouble of any kind because you have faith to trust he is good and working all things together for the good.
L - Learn to let Holy Spirit help you
1 Corinthians 12:3 (NLT) - "So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit."
He empowers you to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. Of course he’s going to empower you to say “Jesus is Lord” to the glory of God the Father.
Gentleman, sometimes Holy Spirit sounds a lot like your mom or your wife giving constructive criticism. We are to honour one another so when we honour those closest to us, we honour God.
D - Declare He is Lord
Romans 10:9-10 (NLT) - "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."
He is not Lord because you declare he is Lord. He’s Lord and you agree with what that means for your life. He’s in the driver seat of your life. You are not. You go when he says go. You wait when he says wait. You love how he tells you to love. (It’s sacrificial, it will cost you everything).
Do I yield to Jesus as Lord? Is he Lord of my actions, my answers and my attitude?
Conclusion
Faith is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event. Faith is only faith when it endures.
Will you be READY?
R- Repent of your sins and turn to God Acts 3:19
E- EXPECT instead of having expectations Matthew 24:42
A - Always WALK in The Light 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5
D - Don’t Forget to STAND 2 Chronicles 20:17
Y - YIELD to Jesus as Lord 1 Peter 3:15
Challenge
Will you continue to add endurance to your faith?
I Find Strength in Gratitude to Stand Firm in Faith
I wake up each morning with a heart full of gratitude, for the Lord has blessed me abundantly beyond what I deserve. I find strength when I cultivate a heart of thanksgiving so that I can be more and more firm in my faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Faith comes by hearing the good news of Christ Jesus.
I choose to not give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. I treat all hardship as discipline knowing he will work all things together for good. I cast all my cares on him because he cares for me. I am never lacking in zeal, but keep I keep my spiritual fervour serving the Lord. I am joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. I don’t worry about anything, but I pray about everything and thank him in all things, knowing that’s his will for me.
I know how to turn my hurt into hope. I trust in the Lord with all my heart and don’t lean on my own understanding, in all my ways I acknowledge him and he makes my path straight. The God of all hope fills me with peace and joy as I trust in him, so that I overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit.
I know how to renew my strength. As I wait on the Lord, he renews my strength. Sometimes I rise up on wings as eagles, sometimes I run and do not grow weary, sometimes I walk and do not faint. I am confident I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, so I am strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. I am still and know he is God.
I know how to exchange my problems for his peace. I enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. I tell him what I need, I thank him for what he’s done. Because he cares for me, I cast my cares on him. I don’t fear because he is with me. I am not dismayed because he is God. He strengthens me and helps me and upholds me with his righteous right hand.
Today, I know gratitude is a powerful force that strengthens my faith for the long haul of life. It allows me to appreciate God's blessings, to trust he works all things together for the good, and find peace amidst life's challenges. With a heart filled with gratitude, I can stand firm in my faith and face the reality of my day-to-day of everyday with all the grace, hope and joy he provides.
Can I pray?
