Choice 6 E
AC@ We have learned that it takes the courage to be different.
AH@ Holiness is being able to recognize your own salvation and rejoice in it.
AO@ One Purpose - For Christ.
AI@ Integrity to AYour@ Salvation
AC@ Covenant from God the Father
AE@ Endurance to the End! Eternity!!
E NDURANCE TO THE END! ETERNITY!!
READ: Rev. 14:6-13
Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. (NIV)
5281 hupomone {hoop©om©on©ay'}from 5278; TDNT - 4:581,581; n f AV - patience 29, enduring 1, patient continuance 1, patient waiting
1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance
1a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and devotion by even the greatest trials and sufferings
1b) patiently, and steadfastly
2) to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee
2a) to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ
2b) to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments
2c) to remain as one, not to become another or different
In classical Greek hupomone means Aa remaining behind@ or Aunder@ (based on the words hupo Aunder,@ and meno Aremain.@). From this the idea of Aremaining steadfast@ or Aenduring@ developed. The noun was known from the time of Plato. Among the philosophers hupomone was a virtue associated with Amanliness@ (courage, bravery), and Aperseverance.@
The NT usage of Apatience, perseverance, endurance,@ is quite interesting. Surprisingly the Gospels record Aendurance@ only twice - both in Luke (8:15 (persevering) ; 21:19 (standing firm) and they never use it of Jesus. 2 Thess. 3:5 AMay the Lord direct your hearts into God=s love and Christ=s perseverance.@
Of the Synoptic accounts of the interpretation of the Parables of the Sower (Matt 13:18-23; Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15) only Luke 8:15 qualified the Abearing fruit@ of the good seed as being Awith patience@. There is probably a hint of persecution here for his second usage explicitly concerns Aendurance, standing firm@ in the face of persecutions (21:19).
The majority of the occurrences of Aendurance@ are attributed to the apostle Paul. APerseverance@ is not passively waiting out difficult circumstances; rather, it is active, often being depicted in terms of work on behalf of the gospel or of suffering on behalf of it (Rom 2:7; 5:3; 2 Cor. 1:6; 6:4; 2 Thess. 1:4; cf James 1:3; Rev. 1:9; 2:2).
It is closely connected with hope, just as it was in the OT (Rom 8:25; 15:4 (whiuch we will address later); 2 Cor 1:6-7;); furthermore, it comes from God (Rom 15:5; Col 1:11). AEndurance@ (patience) joins the noble company of godliness, faith, and love as one of the many virtues of Christian living (1 Tim 6:11; cf. 2 Tim 3:10; Titus 2:2; Rev. 2:19). In addition, Aendurance@ generates further confidence in God (cf. James 1:3-4; 2 Peter 1:6).
As in the OT, Aendurance@ is closely connected with confidence in God, and it is particularly grounded in the future (Heb. 12:1). It is also equated with Christian faithfulness and obedience in the face of adversity (Rev. 14:12; cf. 13:10). Believers show God and others the quality of their Christian character and benefit themselves spiritually when they Aendure patiently@ the sufferings that come upon them because of the Gospel.
Romans 15:4-5 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,...@ (NIV)
V.4 The Afor@ at the beginning of this verse shows that Paul=s appeal to Psalm 69:9was an example of principles we learn from the OT (1 Cor. 10:6,10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Christian fellowship should not only be stamped by consideration of its members one for another; it should be known for its study of Scripture. The Bible is our great source of comfort and strength. By the Scriptures we learn that it is always better to be right with God and to suffer, than to be wrong to avoid trouble. The promises of God=s Word comfort us in our sorrows and encourage us in our struggles.
V.5 This verse is a prayer of the apostle, the first of several wherein he petitioned for seven divine graces to be poured into the hearts of the Roman believers. He desired that they would find harmony which the disputes recorded in chapter 14 disturbed. The qualities which make for harmony in the local fellowship of believers are to be found in God. If each Christian would get to really know and follow the God of patience and comfort there would be no strife over nonessentials. The spirit of Christ would rule.
Non-essentials:
Color of carpet.
Greeters in-appropriately dressed (no tie).
Smoking!
Different theology.
Speaking in tongues or not speaking in tongues.
Mis-application of the Scripture.
Language un-acceptable.
Drinking a glass of wine at the local steak house.
One wears a suit and another wears bib-overalls.
Driving over the speed limit.
Mature Christian pivoted against the in-mature.
Getting angry.
We get all gussied up over NON-ESSENTIALS. WHY? Because we are carnal.
What=s important? Do you love Jesus Christ? Are you a committed Christian? Are you born again?
MAKE THE CHOICE TO ACCEPT CHRIST TODAY!
ONLY THEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO ENDURE HARDSHIP!
EXAMPLE:
Bring your belongings here tomorrow morning at 9AM we=re leaving Massachusetts and going to Nashua, NH. It is about 40 miles.
-We may not be back....ever!
-We must all walk 90 or 9...all roads are blocked.
-We must live with what we can carry with us.
-Pastor, Elders, deacons, Church Board, usher, secretary, administrator, whatever your title will not carry much weight in making the journey easier.
- No provisions along the way. Hopefully, some other state will send us in food and water. Maybe they won=t and if they do it may be two or three weeks before it reaches us. We must ENDURE!
-WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON...JESUS CHRIST!
-WE NEED TO SERVE EACH OTHER IN SINCERE LOVE.
-WE MUST HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSERVERE, ENDURE!
2 Cor 6:3-6 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;...@
In this passage not only did Paul=s motives and message validate his ministry, but so did his conduct.
He related specifically how he labored to keep from contributing to the backsliding of anyone and to maintain the integrity of the ministry. In all things he sought to demonstrate he was a worth preacher of the gospel.
He did so with much patience (steadfastness, endurance). The way he faced up to ministerial hardship indicated his genuineness. This was true in the affliction or difficulty he encountered because of outward circumstances. The various necessities and dire straits he faced provided further opportunity for God to manifest His grace to Paul.
Through the power and fruit of the Spirit Paul showed longsuffering or forbearance toward weaknesses and wrongs of others, even when at times he could have retaliated. By the Holy Spirit he was full of kindness and generosity to others. He possessed that all-important attribute of love that was unfeigned, genuine and without hypocrisy. He ENDURED.
CALL FOR MUSICIANS.
READ: Rev. 14:6-13
Why did the Lord have John record the message of these three angels? It was not simply for the benefit of the people who will still be alive during the Tribulation. Rather, these messages are intended to give encouragement for the endurance of the saints, saint who continue to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They are saints because they are born-again believers who have dedicated themselves to the worship and service of God. THEY MADE A CHOICE!
They make the will of God as revealed in His Word their life-style.
Altar Call
John 1:12-13 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (NIV)
Enthronement:
Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes (ENDURES), I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame (ENDURED) and sat down with my Father on his throne. (NIV)
There were saints in John=s day who needed to be encouraged by the fact that God will finally bring judgment on the world that rejects Christ and the gospel. All through the Church Age persecuted saints have been encouraged to ENDURE suffering by what they read in the Book of Revelation. Christians in many parts of the world are being persecuted today. They need this message that encourages them not to give up, even in the face of possible martyrdom, for God will judge those who refuse the gospel. His justice will prevail.
We are called to ENDURE!
We must make a CHOICE!
We must make a CHOICE TO ENDURE UNTIL WE REACH ETERNITY!
If you feel the need to be strengthen today so that you may ENDURE UNTIL WE REACH ETERNITY then come forward and meet God for a fresh in filling.
Non-essentials are of no value here today. Only Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. (NIV)
Spiritual Food:
Revelation 2:7 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes (ENDURES), I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (NIV)
A New Name:
Revelation 2:17 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes (ENDURES), I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. (NIV)
Authority:
Revelation 2:26 26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end,(ENDURANCE) I will give authority over the nations -- (NIV)
Robes of Righteousness:
Revelation 3:5 5 He who overcomes (ENDURES) will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (NIV) ETERNITY FOR YOU, ME, US!!
A Memorial Pillar:
Revelation 3:12 12 Him who overcomes (ENDURES) I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. (NIV)