Is there any application of the word ENDURE, without there being adversity?
…but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation works endurance; and endurance, experience; and experience, hope; –
Romans 5:3-4
Our view of adversity can be subjective if we don’t read the word. We can think that we’re exposed to more adversity than we should be, or more than others are, or more than we deserve… These thoughts of the flesh are answered in… Hebrews 12 1-13
…You have not yet resisted unto blood, wrestling against sin.
Scripture tells of many occasions of God causing adversity to man.
- The story of Joseph from Genesis 37, is one of the most easily recognised, and…
- Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 “Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God has also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.”
- Job 42:11 “And all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house, and they condoled with him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him”
- Acts 4:27-28 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
The world’s view of adversity isn’t one of appreciation of God, but more often, it’s a view of blame and criticism, although many in the world either deny the existence of God or deny that they have any responsibility to Him, they blame Him for adversity in many forms, the weather, catastrophic earthly events and death…
Our hearts and voices shouldn’t match any expression of the world’s view of God. The expression of a Christian in adversity should be one of fear of God, reverence, appreciation, hope, and faith filled prayer and praise.
In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul said…
I’ve learned in those circumstances in which I am, to be satisfied in myself. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am initiated both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I have strength for all things in him that gives me power.
God sends and allows adversity to His Children for the purpose of His Glory, and it’s through adversity that those that have ears to hear, will grow in their faith, their determination to honour God and their production of Godly fruit. In Philippians 1:12-20 we read:
But I would have you know, brethren, that the circumstances in which I am have turned out rather to the furtherance of the glad tidings, so that my bonds have become manifest [as being] in Christ in all the praetorium and to all others; and that the most of the brethren, trusting in [the] Lord through my bonds, dare more abundantly to speak the word of God fearlessly. Some indeed also for envy and strife, but some also for good will, preach the Christ. These indeed out of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the glad tidings; but those out of contention, announce the Christ, not purely, supposing to arouse tribulation for my bonds. What is it then? at any rate, in every way, whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is announced; and in this I rejoice, yes, also I will rejoice; for I know that this shall turn out for me to salvation, through your supplication and [the] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ; according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but in all boldness, as always, now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or by death.
Adversity can bring us to a paralysed state of mind and action if we don’t view it from a position of righteousness…; That is, if we’re not talking with God, feeding on His word day and night, gathering with the saints and looking for His coming. The early church grew regardless of adversity, they weren’t “paralysed”…
And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.
Acts 14:5-7
and in Acts16:23-34 Paul & Silas were in jail where through God’s work, the jailer & his family were saved (providence)!
So endure & persevere in the adversity … When our eyes are fixed on Christ, He strengthens us to be able to continue in faith through every adversity; and we don’t do it with groaning, but rather with joy! Because we know that it will be fruitful for both His kingdom and our lives, both now, and after the death of the body.
In Luke 22:28-29 ,Christ said:
But you are they who have persevered with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you, as my Father has appointed unto me, a kingdom,
Matthew 10:22 “and you shall be hated of all on account of my name. But he that has endured to [the] end, *he* shall be saved.”
In adversity, we have the greatest opportunity to express the greatest attribute given to the saints by God… Love
Love has long patience, is kind;
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
love is not emulous [of others];
love is not insolent and rash,
is not puffed up,
doesn’t behave in an unseemly manner,
doesn’t seek what is its own,
isn’t quickly provoked,
doesn’t impute evil,
doesn’t rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth,
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails;
All men encounter adversity, but there’s a difference between what the natural/old man calls adversity which is “suffering” due to a denial of his will, and the adversity experienced by the new man, which is of a spiritual source which comes from spiritual power of wickedness as spoken of in Ephesians 6:12.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We’re exhorted to endure the latter adversity as we’re encouraged in James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the proving of your faith works endurance. But let endurance have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
And to do this, we’re reminded in Hebrews 12:1-14
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 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. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
-The Discipline of God-
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we’ve had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
-Renew Your Spiritual Vitality-
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Taking up your cross daily
I met a brother in The Lord, an American veteran, who worked with ex-servicemen who were suffering from Poverty, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Alcoholism and Social Reintegration issues; we were discussing perspectives of adversity, and he told me of an allegory as follows:
A man went before The Lord, and asked for a lighter cross to bear, as he believed his was too much. The Lord showed him a great store of crosses and said “Lay yours down and select a more suitable one from these”. The man began picking them up one at a time and considering the weight of each, until he came to the one he thought was most suitable for him, then he said to The Lord “This is the one!” The Lord replied “That’s the one you came here with”.
We may be so focused on our own perspective of our suffering, that we have no idea or empathy for the weight others are carrying. Humility thinks and acts in the favour of others for the glory of God; and God acts in favour of His children for our peace and His glory through Christ Jesus.
He never breaks His promises, He will never leave you or forsake you!
Study like a Berean! 