For us to be strong in these last days, we need to understand more clearly and deeply the treasure that we have on the inside of us. Second Corinthians 4:7 says that “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
This invaluable part of that treasure is what I want to talk to you about today — and this is the treasure of endurance. Endurance is part of the “treasure-package” that is inside of you, and it can be unwrapped and discovered when you are enduring.
So how important is it for us to know about endurance? Enduring power comes from the Holy Spirit on the inside. The Holy Spirit is a supernatural Friend who shows up to push you over into victory when it looks and feels like winning is nowhere in sight. Throughout the centuries, this supernatural Helper has enabled believers not to give up even in the midst of horrible circumstances.
Maybe you’re tempted right now to throw in the towel and say, “I can’t do this anymore — it’s not worth it!” But endurance is standing right there to carry you through. So don’t quit! You can’t quit! God is inside you to carry you through your situation to the end. Nothing — absolutely nothing — can separate you from His love for you. And His love will see you through!
Romans 8:38,39 says, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God is for you and He will never leave you. He is right there with you. The enduring power of the Holy Spirit will grasp hands with you and pull you over the finish line victoriously.
So how do you discover this secret weapon called endurance? Let’s begin with James 1:2,3: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
This is not to say that we are simply to embrace or glorify hardship. The truths I’m sharing are to help you embrace God’s power to bring you through the hardship. God wants to lead you into victory so that you will be better and not bitter. On the other side of your trial, you will be more convinced of His love for you than wanting to quit. You will be more in love with Him and His great love and power than resentful of your circumstances. And you will be more confident of the fact that the Greater One in you is truly greater than he who is in the world (see 1 John 4:4).
Let’s look at this first word “count” in James 1:2. It means to consider it or to think about it. This is so powerful! It’s important to look at what is trying to bring you down and then consider it all joy. This joy is supernatural, but it is available to us.
The next word I want to focus on is “fall.” That verse says, “…Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (NKJV). In other words, you didn’t plan to fall into that trial. You didn’t want to fall. You just fell. But remember that endurance is “stay-in-there, never-give-up” power — and it is available to you and can work in you even when you fall.
Verse 3 gives us the next word — “knowing.” In other words, you can count it all joy, knowing that this test is working for you instead of against you. The problem came to crush you, and the devil is testing you, trying to steal from you. But the Holy Spirit is there with you with His enduring power. Through this test, where the devil wanted to break you, the Holy Spirit wants to show you that, with Him, you’re unbreakable!
From this teaching so far, what have we learned?
1. We learned that our problems are not from God.
2. We know that we can resist them.
3. We know that God’s presence is in us to work endurance through us as we’re resisting and defeating the enemy.
4. We know we are going to come out on the other side having experienced this supernatural power of endurance. This is the “I-will-not-quit” attitude that says, “I’m not stopping until I get what is mine.”
My husband explains it like this: “Endurance pictures one who is under a heavy burden, but refuses to bend, break, or surrender because he is convinced that the territory promised or the principle under assault rightfully belongs to him.”
That’s a “never-give-up” attitude!
We know that this mindset and experience called endurance is a supernatural power that is especially needed for these last days. Some situations may come to press on us to give up, but we have a Non-Quitter on the inside! He is the Holy Spirit and He shares with us His enduring power.
Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
I want you to recognize in this verse who is working in you. It’s God! He comes with His energy and power, and He has committed Himself to work in you and bring you to the finish line.
Here is one more promise: Philippians 1:6 (TPT) says, “I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put His finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Friend, God is committed to the end to see that we remain faithful and victorious. His presence and the power of endurance are working in you right now. This is not a time for us to give up, but a time for us to press in.
Thank you for taking this time with me.
I love you,
Pastor Denise