A Call for Patient Endurance and Faithfulness

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2 Timothy 3 NIV

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Revelation 13:9-10 NIV

9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

If you can't trust God through difficult relationships, bad finances or job losses, how will you ever trust Him in captivity or facing a swinging axe?

Matthew 25:1-5 NKJV

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

It's getting dark as we have been waiting for Jesus to come back...

2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

What if "the oil" is not the Holy Spirit as popular teachers say, but rather faith?

Matthew 25:6 NKJV

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!

At Midnight...the last hour, the last minute.

Matthew 25:7-9 NKJV

7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

Sorry, when the difficulty and darkness increases, as our bridegroom delays, the faithful cannot help those who expected Him to come sooner. Trust that God will provide manna from heaven or water from a rock isn't transferable.

Matthew 25:10-13 NKJV

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Faith that God's will is the best, even if we remain hungry, tired, cold or captive, will be needed to make it through what's coming.

Revelation 13:10b NIV

...This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”