- To “Endure” – (hupomeno from hupó = under + méno = abide or remain) means literally to remain under but not simply giving up, but to have a vibrant, full of energy, lively hope. Hupomeno was a military term to describe an army holding a vital, key position at all costs. Paul demonstrated this when he wrote, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”-{2 Tim 2:10}. He had purpose in digging in, holding firm, persisting, enduring difficulties, and this he did not with defeat but with Hope, a confident expectation, a Living Hope in a Living God through His Living Word -{Read 1 Peter 1;3, 1;23, 2:4},
4 PROMISES TO THOSE WHO “ENDURE.”
1. THOSE WHO ENDURE WILL BE SAVED
” But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. “-{ Matthew 24:13}. Those who are saved from the power, penalty of sin, satan’s authority and from the wrath of God, persevere, they endure, they keep persisting despite the trials, sufferings, as God has saved them and they manifest it by not turning aside and abandoning Him but continually following Him. Not perfect but a new direction, because of a new relationship with God through the LORD Jesus and the Holy Spirit residing within to empower them. His promise of salvation is in the culmination of their glorification, of being with Him. Saved to Him for eternity!
2. THOSE WHO ENDURE WILL RECEIVE A CROWN OF LIFE.
” Blessed is a man who {ENDURES} perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”-{James 1:12}. James is speaking of those who encountering trials do not quit but patiently, triumphantly enduring. As painful as the trial is, they do not give up their faith in the LORD. They continue trusting Him amidst the pain, suffering, trial. They will on the promise of God receive “the crown of life.”
“The “crown of life” is an appositional genitive in the Greek text, which means it could literally be translated, “a crown which is life.” The crown is eternal life, which God has promised to those who love Him. That is the believer’s ultimate reward. Although we presently experience some of the benefits of eternal life, we possess it on promise; some day we’re going to receive it in its fullness. We are still waiting to enter into our future reward. At the Lord’s coming, He will grant to us the fullness of eternal life. “-{John MacArthur}
The phrase “crown of life ” is mentioned only twice in the New Testament, in James and in Revelation 2;10, “ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Their persevering is evidence “they love GOD.” Have you ever wanted to express love to Him, not for acceptance but because you are accepted by Him? Understand your trials are opportunities to do so. As you endure, you can be assured by HIM who does not lie, that the “crown of life” awaits you. Keep enduring. He calls you “Blessed” and He knows this about you in your trial, that “you love Him.” Those who “love God,” endure, persevere. And those who endure, persevere “love God.” They are two perspectives of the same reality. Like two sides to the one coin! When trials and difficulties come we are told to “endure!” Persevere. When life’s difficulties, hurts, come through circumstances or people we either turn away from the LORD in bitterness, resentment, anger or turn towards Him for help, comfort and strength to endure for Love sake!
3. THOSE WHO ENDURE WILL BE HAPPY.
James 5:11. “Behold, we count them happy {blessed} which endure.”-{James 5:11}. James is not saying happiness comes from being free from trials, troubles of any kind but in overcoming them! We encounter them. James wrote in chapter one, “when you encounter various trials.” Not “if” but “when.” Trials are inevitable, defeat, despair need not be. Sure we are tempted and at times have been overwhelmed by them. But God wants to empower and has supplied His Holy Spirit to do so. “By His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness.”-{2 Peter 1:3}. And His promises! He has given us “precious and magnificent promises,” to encourage, enable us and to be applied by us!
In chapter one it has to do with difficult, adverse circumstances when speaking of “trials, temptations.”{hupomone}. In James 5:7-11 the word “patient,” {makrothumeo,}. The word macro means large. And the word thumos means anger. Makros means in the simplest sense “long.” We use it for large, something that is macro is large, the Greeks used it to speak of something particularly long. It’s speaking of that which is long tempered, as opposed to being…short tempered!
It has the idea of being long suffering with…people! Not losing your temper or having a short fuse. It is is speaking of dealing in a Godly way with difficult, adverse people. You can be long suffering with people. And this is how…through loving them. Denying yourself and preferring them for their highest good, ultimately for Jesus sake.-{Read 2 Cor 4:5}. Paul demonstrated this when he suffered as 12 Cor 11 lists cruel beatings, shipwrecked, etc… and one way to happily endure is through love, For as we obey Him we know based on his Word we are expressing love to Him. -{Read John 14:21}. That can motivate us, knowing we are expressing Love to Him!
As we obey Him He will impart the peace and joy as this is what the Holy Spirit produces when we submit to Him.-{Read Gal 5:22}. Love is manifested and one way is through long suffering, not merely tolerating them and letting them know with such things as the rolling of the eyes, or the “sighing,” many ways to show disdain but to seek their best! And one way is to show them kindness, deeds of kindness. We read that…”Love is long-suffering, love is kind…”-{Read 1 Cor 13;4}. Love does not retaliate or seek vengeance, but mirrors the character of God, Christ-likeness and shows with kindness!
We can be happy as we continue, endure in our trials, difficult people, by the grace of God, knowing what HIS Word says, we can endure, persist, continue on through the trials, not defeated or overcome by them but by choosing to continually look away to Jesus and to the one who endures will be… happy! Not happy about sufferings, or difficult people but happy in Him and His WORD and in verses 8,11 he gives us reasons, namely, “ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near…The Judge is standing at the door…” in verse 11 we see the way, “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”
Some reasons to be happy are
A.-The Return of the LORD Jesus. Looking ahead to Him and what the future holds!
B.- What the LORD brought about with Job.
The fullness of the LORD’S …
C. – Compassion and
The fullness of the LORD’S
D.- Mercy.
We can patiently endure, and happily so as we remember and focus on the LORD Is Coming BACK!
We press on following Him, enduring and happily, based on TRUTH, FACTS, what He has said!
4. THOSE WHO ENDURE WILL REIGN WITH THE LORD.
- “If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us; “-{2 Tim 2:12}
WHY SHOULD WE ENDURE?
” For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory “-{2 Tim 2:10}
The word “For,” gives the explanation why he endured. In this verse the reason is the spiritual benefit of others, their salvation and in doing so God is glorified!
HOW CAN WE ENDURE?
A. -KEEP TRUSTING THE SAVIOR – THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”-{Hebrews 12:2-3}. Think much on Jesus and Trust Him!
“By faith he {Moses} left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. “-{Heb 11:27}
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel “-{2 Timothy 2:8}. Remember His Supremacy. Remember His resurrection. Remember His victory over sin, satan, death. Remember His Word, His Word.Remember the Gospel.
B.- KEEP SUBMITTING TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
“Be filled with the Spirit… “-{Eph 5:18}. It is a command. It is continuous. The word “filled,”means to be dominated, controlled, permeated, this we do as we submit, obey His Word. ” Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. “-{Col 3:16}. It is to fill our mind with His Word so it dominates, influences, permeates our thinking so our thinking influences our choices and are in alignment and submission to His Word.
As His Word fills our mind and influences our choices it is evidence we are under the Spirit’s control, enabling. It is to see and live life s God designed, desires for us as revealed in His Word…
C.- KEEP TRUSTING IN THE SCRIPTURES – SOUND DOCTRINE- HIS WORD.
“ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,”-{2 Tim 4:3}
The word “sound’ is used in John 5:11,15 of the man who had been sick for thirty eight years whom Jesus healed, made well, wholesome, to be in “good health.” As he was made well, whole in the physical, the Scriptures, sound healthy doctrine is in the spiritual realm, that which is “wholesome,” without disease, decay, but in good spiritual health. It is without spiritual deception,disease, but wholesome, healthy.
Some do not endure sound, healthy doctrine, but believers are to endure sound, spiritually healthy doctrine which speaks of teaching, instruction. His Word is perfect, pure, powerful, imperishable, living, enduring, sound, spiritually healthy for our souls to be known, appropriated!-{Read Psalm 19:7-11; Heb 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23. 2 Tim 4;3}.
Enduring is an evidence one is saved and the fact they continue on living for Him amidst difficulties and difficult people prove their salvation is genuine. It does not mean the believer is perfect in performance, for there is growth in grace and learning to trust, but it is a new direction their life is heading, seeking to honor Him amidst difficulties, temptations, trials of all kinds with all kinds of difficult people.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”-{Romans 12;2}
They endure! And to those who endure by the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they have 4 promises, blessings to enjoy and look forward to.
The Promises and blessings of Salvation, receive the crown of life, are happy, reign with Him!