To Endure!

[tsth]

Dear jc49,

I don't know about you, but I know that for me, to endure is VITAL!!! Especially in these days and the days ahead. I am personally enduring some pretty tough persecution currently, and to be able to continue, I MUST, I repeat, I MUST, keep my eyes on the Lord, and keep His Word in my heart and mind. I know that right now, the hardships I endure, are NOTHING in comparison to what some others may be undergoing. I also know that if the Lord wills for me to go further, I will. I will listen to Him, because I love Him. It may not be a hard journey for you at this time, but for me..............I have to remember, Who He Is that I serve. I must count it all gain. BUT, if I grow weary, during these current days, which, if you are a Christian, it SHOULD be causing you some persecution, but when I grow tired, I must remember to keep my trust in the Lord, and my eyes on Him. This is to endure jc49. If you have not encountered these current-day hardships, then if you are a Christian, you will. If you do not find it hard in these days, I would have to question, why not? If you are not having to continually keep being re-filled by the eternal living water, then I would ask what is different between us? I know, because just as the Lord spoke to the disciples and foretold them that they must not lose hope, the same holds true today. We must endure, even when things seem hopeless, we must not give up in obeying our Lord, and believing in His mercies and compassions and love. We HAVE TO CONTINUE to have faith in HIM, that no matter how tough it gets, we cannot shrink back and give up our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, to the point of obeying Him. That is what faith is, and if we do not endure, then we did not continue in belief and trust. The warning is there for a reason for us as well.

Hebrews 10

35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

If you do not struggle during these days, you might want to ponder it.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[other one]

Suzanne,

    I agree with you. Ive seen what you suggest work for some. I believe I followed the same instructions but it for some reason really didn't work. I'm not some dark deprived figure. I don't steal, cheat on my wife or do crime. I just know my thought life and it is awful as it has been my whole 42 years. See, I don't even lie that much! I have a dark side. I don't act on it but its there and I think about it. Jesus said your guilty even if you think about it. If prayed and read scriptures over and over but I tell you, It just dosen't stop my mind. Its like my mind is different from my soul if that makes any sence. I would never actually do what my mind fantacises about and I can say that truthfully but its still there which makes me one evil sinner. It scares me. I think Pink Floyd wrote songs about people like me. I do think about Jesus all of the time. I wish that all of the bad stuff in me could be washed away at the cross but as you say, "Endure". I have failed miserably. I have a very serious condition health wise so maybe God will still have grace for me. You really have to fight hard and be in top shape to gain the free gift of salvation as the scriptures were layed out on this post. I do believe the Bible it true. All of it!

God Bless

Dan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you realise that you sound a lot like Paul?????

Take heart that you are not alone.

[Gerioke]

Suzanne,

[tsth]

The thought life is where the power of the Word is SO VERY NECESSARY.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

That is why it is necessary to have the WORD implanted in us, each and every day. It is able to save us from our sinful thoughts/actions. The Power of the Word is mighty! The implanted Word transforms our thoughts into those of Christ.

1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

In His Love,

Suzanne

[jc49]

Dear jc49,

I don't know about you, but I know that for me, to endure is VITAL!!!  Especially in these days and the days ahead.  I am personally enduring some pretty tough persecution currently, and to be able to continue, I MUST, I repeat, I MUST, keep my eyes on the Lord, and keep His Word in my heart and mind.  I know that right now, the hardships I endure, are NOTHING in comparison to what some others may be undergoing.  I also know that if the Lord wills for me to go further, I will.  I will listen to Him, because I love Him.  It may not be a hard journey for you at this time, but for me..............I have to remember, Who He Is that I serve.  I must count it all gain.  BUT, if I grow weary, during these current days, which, if you are a Christian, it SHOULD be causing you some persecution, but when I grow tired, I must remember to keep my trust in the Lord, and my eyes on Him.  This is to endure jc49.  If you have not encountered these current-day hardships, then if you are a Christian, you will.  If you do not find it hard in these days, I would have to question, why not?  If you are not having to continually keep being re-filled by the eternal living water, then I would ask what is different between us?  I know, because just as the Lord spoke to the disciples and foretold them that they must not lose hope, the same holds true today.  We must endure, even when things seem hopeless, we must not give up in obeying our Lord, and believing in His mercies and compassions and love.  We HAVE TO CONTINUE to have faith in HIM, that no matter how tough it gets, we cannot shrink back and give up our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, to the point of obeying Him.  That is what faith is, and if we do not endure, then we did not continue in belief and trust.  The warning is there for a reason for us as well.

Hebrews 10

35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

If you do not struggle during these days, you might want to ponder it.

In His Love,

Suzanne

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi,struggle about what?

Paul says that if even our body goes down ,even if we are tested to the extreme,He renews us by the power of His Holy Spirit in the inner man...so why worry?

Why do we always see the christian life a struggle?Our God is INVINCIBLE...that's why Paul wrote in Romans 8 that he was PERSUADED that NOTHING can separate us from the love of GOD...but you see, we must read and study prayerfully the book of Romans asking the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the greatness of HIS WORK on our behalf...Paul went through the same testing that every believer will experience,actually has been given to him to go trough so much testing and sufference that may be you and I will not go trhough,but I cannot tell until the Piligrimage is over...we can't tell ..only when we leave the body by death( separation of the body and the spirit ) we will be perfected instantenously...but at the time,while we journey towards the Holy City of NEW JERUSALEM we ,as pilgrims should keep our eyes on Jesus,the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our FAITH..

We have 3 main enemies,THE WORLD, THE FLESH and THE DEVIL,don't we?but we have A GREAT FRIEND in 3 persons,THE FATHER( against the world)THE SPIRIT( against the flesh) and JESUS ( against the devil) and GREATER IS HE WHO LIVES in us than the one( satan) who is in the world...so WE CAN REST ASSURED that HE WILL MAKE US TRIUMPH in HIM because of HIMSELF leading the way,cause HE IS THE WAY....

I have been persecuted from the beginning of my conversion to Christ and I still get persecuted...but I don't want to play the hero.there is ONLY ONE HERO for me,OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,THE LION of the tribe of JUDAH WHO roars at the enemy and put him to flee,and I rejoice that this great LION JESUS IS ALSO THE LAMB slain from the foundation of the world...for me and you and every blood bought child of God....

So,yes of course we are called and exhorted to ENDURE and PERSEVERE but we are also called TO KEEP THE FAITH and to CONTEND in the power of THE SPIRIT and THE WORD for the FAITH ,our most holy FAITH ( see Jude)..

I know that my salvation doesn't rest on my works...my best works are still so marred by pride and the imperfection of my nature that they count nothing..but I leave to HIM to weigh the matter and I just don't worry...

Lets walk in love and faith,lets keep our eyes on Jesus ..HE IS COMING BACK to take HIS OWN first and then He'll take care of this lost planet and its inhabitants/...we are going to see GREAT THINGS from THE LORD SOON,

MARANATHA!!!

LOVE in HIM

Roberto

[tsth]

Hi,struggle about what?

Paul says that if even our body goes down ,even if we are tested to the extreme,He renews us by the power of His Holy Spirit in the inner man...so why worry?

Dear Roberto,

I think you're missing the point of my thread.

You're confusing my statement of "struggle" to mean "worry". It does not. I'm just speaking about the Christian walk. It is a different walk Roberto. It does call for endurance, faith and trust, no matter what.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[None]

Have we considered the cost? Do we realize how vital enduring is/will be? We've got to consider the cost NOW! As I studied the following passages, one REALLY stood out:

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mr 4:17 - Show Context

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

Mr 13:13 - Show Context

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.

2Th 1:4 - Show Context

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

2Ti 2:3 - Show Context

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 2:10 - Show Context

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2Ti 4:3 - Show Context

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:5 - Show Context

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Heb 12:7 - Show Context

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Heb 12:20 - Show Context

(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

Jas 5:11 - Show Context

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

1Pe 2:19 - Show Context

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

I want to be sure that I do not endure, just for "a time". I want to continually consider the cost and endure for "eternity". This can only be done, if we abide in Christ Jesus, Whose Name is The Word.

Have you considered enduring, and how far it will take you? I am reminded continually of what the Father says to His child..............about enduring.

When we think that our opposition has become great, we are reminded that we have not had to endure the shedding of "our" blood.

Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

This is my word of encouragement to you.

In His Love,

Suzanne

Wonderful message. I needed this today.

[Guest TheLordSaves]

Dan, I understand what you're going through. Jesus your Savior understands!

You've been wallowing in the mud, but you are the child of a King! Come on and get out of the mud that the devil has placed you in. Only you know your heart, and if you are truly saved. After, what you have testified, I truly believe that you are. You believe in Christ, the Bible, and the Words of God. Do you seek Him? You said that you don't want to sin right? Then that is where you should be. The cross of Christ has brought you low, you have been humbled by the exceeding weight of sin. Now rise up through the Grace of God! He has brought you low so that He can lift you up. Those who endure will see the Glory of the Lord, it says so in the Bible. But to endure does not mean to be perfect. Indeed Jesus said to be "perfect as your hevenly father is perfect." (heavenly father or Jesus, I think it's the former). But who can be perfect, no single person alive except Jesus Christ. Those people that you lifted up in your mind as the only ones able to make it to heaven, if you were to lift the veil of the heart, you will find that it is exceedingly sinful, even as we all are. Nothing short of the Grace of God can change us and save us. The most righteous man in the world is evil in God's eyes apart from Christ. It seems though that you have confessed you sins, but have not overcome them. These are struggles, and not defiant areas in your life that will hinder access to God. Seek the Lord while He may be yet found. If indeed you are seeking, you will find Him! If you truly abhore your sin, then you are forgiven. Repentance is the key, it is also a process. You seek the Lord, and turn from your sin. Does that mean, that if you have struggles in your life, then you can't be forgiven because you haven't had victory in that area. No, it's far from that. If you seek the Lord, then your struggles will disappear. I'm not saying be lazy and inactive, no but consciously seek to follow the Lord's will, give your struggles to Christ. You'll faill many times, and you'll wonder "how can I go praising the Lord if I'm knowingly sinning?" You may be, but to seek the Lord is to be prayerful, and to not want to sin. I'm not perfect at it, I'm afraid that I don't have enough will to do what I pray victory (especially when it comes to sharing the gospel), but I see the Lord's work in me, and I don't want to go to the other side and do it out of self-will, and not being led by the Spirit, trying to gain victory through repitition and law.

Brother in Christ, you've been trying to do it yourself, and you've found that you've can't. Focus on Jesus, enter into the Holy of Holies. Jesus' blood will cover you sins as you stand before God. Talk to Him, sing, praise! I don't fully understand, but as we come to the Throne of God and focus what Jesus had did for us on the cross, then the Lord will change you and give you a new heart.

As well, if all you have been getting was thoughts, cast them aside, because that is where the Devil attacks. If you've been faithful, but have struggled in your thoughts. Find out why and destroy it. If there is nothing you know that you have done wrong, then the Devil hs lied to you! He's put thoughts into your mind, and then accuses you for thinking about it! He's so evil, and such a liar. Don't give Him ground to your mind anymore, resist the devil and He will flee.

Only you know if you are saved or not, but seek the Lord whil he may be found, and His grace will come, because, in ourselves, no one could stand holy, no one. Praise God for the Blood of Jesus which is the only way to Heaven.

Curt

Edited August 2, 2007 by TheLordSaves

[Eddie B]

Gods work in us through Christ by the Holy Spirit is a life of endurance, as it was for Christ it is for us.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Phi 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phi 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

[Guest tHe_MoRe_I_sEeK_yOu]

I'm really thankful that you put what you did up there. It really encouraged me through all the things that I am going through....God bless you!