OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2021-PERSEVERANCE.

MEMORISE:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18

READ: 2 Corinthians 6:3-7

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

MESSAGE:
The word perseverance can be simply described as being persistent in doing something despite difficulties and delay in achieving success. No one can excel in the Christian journey without perseverance.

2 Timothy 4:2 encourages us to:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

The fruit of the Spirit – longsuffering (Galatians 5:22) is exhibited in the life of a believer who perseveres.

In the Christian race, without perseverance it is very easy to fall away from the faith. No wonder Jesus said in the book of Matthew 24:13:
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Endurance and perseverance are integral to our Christian walk. A believer who cannot endure suffering will be unable to do the wiII of God.

Suffering is one of the ways God purges us of every impurity. Without suffering, the flesh will grow strong and hinder your spiritual growth (Isaiah 48:10).

What kind of hardships should believers endure?

Persecution: Jesus said believers will be persecuted for believing in Him. John 15:20 says”… If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”

Affliction: Sometimes believers would be afflicted but the Bible says it is working for us ” … a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Momentary Lack: Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” So when lack comes along, we must learn to endure in faith knowing that the storm wiII be over soon.

It is however comforting to know that despite all the challenges we will face in our Christian race; the crown of life awaits us if we persevere (Revelation 2:10).

REFLECTION:
Would you endure hardship for the sake of the gospel?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EXODUS 8:1-32, EXODUS 9:1-35, EXODUS 10:1-29

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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