“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:” (II Thessalonians 1:4).

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know” (I Thessalonians 3:3, 4).

"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22)

  “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12).

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12, 13).

The Lord uses many things in the lives of His children for great purposes. These are always for His glory, and for our benefit, to help us grow spiritually, or to increase our faith in the Lord, or to be an example for others, or for other purposes (cf. Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4).

Persecutions, afflictions, tribulations, fiery trials, sufferings, are all things that we can expect in our lives as we strive to faithfully serve the Lord and to live the way He directs His children, and especially His true New Testament churches. These can be very hard and difficult conditions.

Jesus tells us what we are to do, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This is to be done regardless of circumstances in our lives. This also indicates that this will not be easy nor comfortable. A cross is painful, heavy and very burdensome. He tells His children in other passages of scripture other ways we are to deal with these things that come in our lives as we serve Him. In this booklet we are considering only one: Endure.

Since we know these conditions will come, we must be anticipating them and we must be prepared to endure them, along with obeying the other commands the Lord gives us. His commands are not grievous (cf. I John 5:3). Each one must purpose in his heart that he will endure these for the Lord’s sake. Sometimes this may be all that we are able to do, but with the Lord’s help we can endure.

We are to endure: the hardness of life, temptations, criticism, mockery, persecution, trials, afflictions (including those of growing older in the flesh), sufferings for Christ’s sake, any and all problems and whatever else comes into our lives. We are to endure these for the glory of our heavenly Father, and in a scriptural manner (cf. II Timothy 2:5). “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We are to live in such a way as to be showing “..forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (I Peter 2:9). This world of darkness needs to see this in God’s children.

What does it mean to ‘endure’? Some of the meanings of the word include: to bear up patiently; to persevere; to abide patiently; to abide under; to bear up courageously and calmly (during trials, temptations, etc.); to hold up; to be stedfast; continue; remain; stand; to take patiently; to be long time bearing up under (trials, temptations, afflictions, persecutions, etc.); and taking these patiently while continuing in submissive obedience to the Lord and His Word.

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:27). We should not waste our time on things that do not really matter. There is always much to be doing including: praying, meditating on God’s Word, studying His Word, witnessing, speaking words of comfort or encouragement to help someone, submitting to the master in the flesh, assembling together to worship Him, and other good works that glorify our heavenly Father.

ENDURE AFFLICTIONS:
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (II Timothy 4:5). “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;” (Hebrews 10:32). The word ‘afflictions’ can mean troubles, tribulations, persecution, sufferings, etc.

ENDURE ALL THINGS:
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (I Corinthians 13:7). This is what the love that is shed abroad of the heart of every child of God should cause us to do. We should endure all things that come to us in this life. This ‘love’ is the agape love, the highest kind of love, charity.

ENDURE CHASTENING: Because God greatly loves His children He chastens all of them, and His chastening is grievous (Hebrews 12:6, 11). “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrew 12:7).

ENDURE GRIEF:
“For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully” (I Peter 2:19).

ENDURE HARDNESS:
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 2:3). When situations or circumstances make it difficult and hard to serve the Lord faithfully, endure and continue in that faithful service. We should not allow anything to hinder us in serving our Saviour.

ENDURE PATIENTLY:
“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” (James 5:11). This is real, genuine happiness, serving the Lord faithfully through all circumstances of life, and bearing up under the problems.

ENDURE SUFFERINGS:
“And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation” (II Corinthians 1:6). Sometimes circumstances that bring suffering into our lives are for the benefit of others. So that they can witness for themselves how God’s children endure these circumstances with joy in the Lord, trusting Him and remaining faithful in His service.
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.    For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:17, 18) 

ENDURE TEMPTATION:
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). We endure because we love the Lord. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). [For those that will endure temptation in a scriptural manner and will continue to be faithful to the Lord, even to the point of laying down their lives, the Lord will reward them with this special reward, a crown of life]. Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35).

CONTINUE:
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31, 32). 

".. to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,.." (Colossians 1:22, 23). 

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;" (II Timothy 3:14).

BE STEDFAST:
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.    For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;"(Hebrews 3:13, 14).

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession"(Hebrews 4:14).

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23). 

A FEW EXAMPLES OF ENDURING:

Abraham endured: “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15).

Moses needed to allow other men to help him in judgment of issues that arose among the children of Israel so that he could endure: “If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace” (Exodus 18:23). This is a good reason to be in active fellowship with a scriptural New Testament church. Members need, help and encourage each other in serving the Lord. These truths will be preached and taught to remind us all. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24, 25).

Moses: “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). His faith was in the one, true and living God. Moses lived as if he continually was seeing the invisible God. The LORD was real to him in his life.

Moses endured those forty years as the LORD used him to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. He endured much murmuring of the people and their threats. He endured and continued faithfully doing what the LORD had called him to do. Moses was faithful in all of God’s house (cf. Hebrews 3:2, 5; Numbers 12:7).

The prophets of God, and other faithful servants of His, endured many difficult and harsh things as they served Him. They suffered much, but they endured. “..and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:35-38).

Paul: “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me” (II Timothy 3:11).

Paul: “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” (II Timothy 2:10). We also should be willing to endure for the benefit of others.]

Paul: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers,in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:24-28). [Paul endured these and continued on faithfully serving the Lord. The Lord gave him the strength that he needed.]

The Thessalonica church: “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:” (II Thessalonians 1:4).

The One Perfect and Greatest Example for us: The Lord Jesus Christ. He endured tremendous sufferings and trials for us, including His suffering death on the cross: “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, 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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:1-3). [Christ endured, and He is our example for our lives: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” (I Peter 2:21).]

We are to endure. We are to start the Christian race, run the Christian race and finish the Christian race given to us to run in this life. Also, the Word of God tells us that, in addition to run, we are to fight for scriptural truth, we should “..earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). The child of God is in a war, a battle. We have enemies, the devil and his angels, this wicked world, and our own sin nature. “I have fought a good fight [fight], I have finished my course [run], I have kept the faith [contend]:” (II Timothy 4:7). “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul [war];” (I Peter 2:11).

A PROBLEM: The sin nature, that we all have, will seek the way of life with the least resistance, the easy way, the comfortable and convenient way and the selfish way. When things get to a certain level of difficulty and hardness the sin nature will desire and seek to lead us to quit. Some will endure only for a time. “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” (Mark 4:17). Some will lose their zeal for the Lord. Some will reduce their service to the Lord and some will even quit. Some will attempt to run from their responsibilities to the Lord. Living for the Lord is a much different way of living. We are to live by following the indwelling Holy Spirit which leads us as we read and study God’s Word. We are to live by faith and we to walk by faith in the Lord and in His Word. We are not to follow the sin nature, which is contrary to the leadership of the Spirit. We must understand the reality of the fact that our sin nature seeks to disobey the Lord. All of us must remember that we are not immune to this happening to us, we must take heed and be on guard. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).

We are always to endure whatever afflictions, trials and persecutions come in our lives for the word’s sake.

Our Attitude While We are Enduring: We are to be continually joyful, content and faithful to the Lord. (cf. Nehemiah 8:10; Colossians 1:11; I Timothy 6:8; I Corinthians 4:2). “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6).

  We are not to complain or murmur. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Philippians 2:14, 15).

We are to endure these in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord and that is consistent with and fitting as being a child of His, and a citizen of heaven. “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: ..” (Philippians 1:27). “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him” (II Corinthians 5:9).

We are to endure with patience: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12).

A Physical Benefit of Enduring:

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). (See also Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13). [This salvation is speaking of physical deliverance. Perhaps from death during severe tribulation, persecutions, or from the sorrows or shame that would come if they did not endure. The salvation of the soul never depends upon our enduring anything. In all times God’s children are to persevere in faithfully serving and following Him.]

CONCLUSION:

Hopefully, these scriptures have been an encouragement for all of us to endure the things that come to us in this life. We are not to quit in faithfully serving the Lord. We are not to yield to temptation from the world, the devil or our own sin nature. We are not to allow these things to overcome us, we are to overcome them by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then by enduring. Endure even if others do not stand with you. The Lord will never forsake His child. We do this for the honor and glory of the Lord.
To the child of God, Jesus is precious! (cf. I Peter 1:16, 17).

Here are a few other references regarding being patient (‘patiently enduring’, which is closely related to enduring) Ecclesiastes 7:8
Romans 2:6, 7
Romans 5:3-5
I Thessalonians 5:14
II Thessalonians 3:5
II Timothy 2:24
James 1:3, 4
James 5:7, 8


“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (II Corinthians 4:6-11).

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:57, 58). 

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.    For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:35, 36).

SOME OF THE THINGS OF THE LORD THAT ENDURE FOR EVER: (Here the word ‘endures’ means to ‘last; exist’)

THE LORD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS: “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (Psalm 119:160).

THE LORD’S DOMINION:“Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations” (Psalm 145:13).

THE LORD’S TRUTH: "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). “For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 117:2).

THE GLORY OF THE LORD: “The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works” (Psalm 104:31).

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LORD: “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever”(Psalm 111:3). We are to hunger and thirst after righteousness in our lives. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

THE LORD’S PRAISE: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (Psalm 111:10).

THE LORD’S NAME: “Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations” (Psalm 135:13).

THE GOODNESS OF GOD: “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1).

THE FEAR OF THE LORD: “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9).

THE LORD HIMSELF: “But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment” (Psalm 9:7). “But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations” (Psalm 102:12).
“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed” (Psalm 102:25, 26).

THE LORD’S MERCY: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever” (I Chronicles 16:34). (See also I Chronicles 16:41; II Chronicles 5:13 7:3, 6 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 106:1; Psalm 107:1; Psalm 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 29; Psalm 136:1-26 (every verse); Psalm 138:8; Jeremiah 33:11). We are to be merciful toward others: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

Other Enduring Things:

Heavenly Rewards: “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Hebrews 10:34).

The Word of God: “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (I Peter 1:25).

God's salvation:God's salvation is everlasting, eternal. John 3:15,16; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:12 ('eternal redemption') 9:15 ('eternal inheritance').