The Priceless Power of Perseverance - Joe Sweet

Foreign. [Music] You're going to love the name of this message. We're calling it, "The Priceless Power of Persevering Faith." The Priceless Power of Persevering Faith.

Now, we want to look at this word. It's the same Greek word in the New Testament, or slight variations of it, but it's translated three different ways. The same word can be translated patience, it can be translated perseverance, and it can be translated endurance. So, we want to look at these words: patience, perseverance, endurance. They all overlap, they all kind of mean almost the same thing, but there's a distinction between them all.

Here's what the word patience means. Patience is derived from a word that means passive. It means do nothing. It means waiting, but you're not making anything happen. You're waiting. You're patient. For example, when God told Saul, I mean, when Samuel told Saul, "Wait till I come to make offer the sacrifice," and then Samuel didn't come at the time that Saul expected. So, he got into impatience. And impatience always reveals the idol in our heart. Impatience always reveals the idol in our heart. Oftentimes, its ministry is an idol, or even the promise of God becomes an idol. The promise becomes more than Him. So, he violated. He was not a priest. He became impatient. He used human reasonings. He exalted his human reasonings against obedience to God and he started, and he went to make a sacrifice. And the prophets showed up. And because of his impatience, he lost the anointing. God took his anointing off Saul. And yet, he stayed in office unanointed until David was raised up.

And so, Abraham did it. Impatience means that you're believing God that we inherit the promises through faith and patience. And when God said to Abram, "Out of your loins, you know, it's going to come the promise, Isaac, he's going to come." It seemed like it's a long time. So, human reasonings and impatience got involved. So, Sarah, his wife, said, "Uh, go into Hagar because it's been a long time." And so, but God's not what God said. That's right. It's going to come from he and Sarah. But they used human reasoning because it got impatient. Impatience means I want the promise. It's God giving me more than I want Him. See, "Oh, we can't let this promise go by. We're going to be made a great nation. We have to help God. We got to make it happen. It might pass." Oh, so we are putting that now above God. So, impatience always reveals the thing that's in our heart that's above God.

So, it's through faith in patience that we inherit the promise. So, this word patience means to not try to make it come to pass on the arm of the flesh. Patience means when we have a promise, we believe God. We're not trying to promote ourselves or, you know, even. See Joseph in the dungeon, betrayed. God was working in him, preparing him for the throne. And that's how God prepares people for thrones. Look at the life of David. How did David get prepared for the throne? Rejected. Had to live like a fugitive in the caves. What's going on in your life? God's getting me ready for the throne. See, "How I'll live it like a dog in the cave." That's how God works. He takes us down before honor is humility. See, the reason why David had to go through all that is God had to get the Saul out of David's heart. Because Saul is in everybody. The self-will, pride, self-exaltation, self-reliance, human. It's in all of us. So, God lets us go through stuff to make the Saul in us manifest so He can get it out. And when God got David purified. So, so David, he, you know, he had to go through that. Joseph went through trials. Then he's in the dungeon now. But he's anointed. He's got a gifting. He's got a prophetic gifting. He had it on before he was sold. He had prophecy. So, he prophesied to the butler and the baker. And he said, "Now, go tell Pharaoh about, you know, tell him about my gift." And see, that's impatience. That shows you the idolatry that's in our heart. I can't wait to get out and have what God has for me. So, we try to promote ourselves. Every time, everything we do to promote ourselves will only set us back farther. The quicker we die, the quicker we go forward. The quicker we go down, the quicker we go up. Let it die.

So, patience has to do with putting this the powers of the flesh, the arm of the flesh, to try to make God's will come to pass. That's the opposite of patience. So, that's one aspect of the word. This word is, I can't pronounce it. It's like, "hooponeo," but it's the same word. Whatever. I'm not going to say it. "Hooponeo." But it's translated patience. So, patience means to just stay steadfast, keep believing, keep waiting, but not use our own reasoning, soul power, flesh power to try to make it happen. That's patience. "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined His ear to me and heard me. He lifted me out of the murky clay, set my feet upon a rock, and put a new song in my mouth. Many shall see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." So, I wait patiently. So, that's one word.

Now, it's also translated perseverance. Now, perseverance means doing something and persistently doing it without wavering or without stopping. It's the same Greek word translated patience, perseverance, and it's also doing something persistently and doing it without wavering and without stopping. It's like, if if you have a, a line in the dirt, it's 50 miles long, a straight line, a shovel, and you're told, "Dig two feet down along this line." I mean, that's a big job. How long did I say it was? 50 miles. Let's go take a. How it's, you're going to have to be patient, and you're going to have to be persevering. You just got to persevere, right? It's not going to stop. Go over here, do something else. You just stay on it. That's what perseverance is. You just stay. "Hey, come over here, we're having fun." "Nope, I've got an assignment." "We're going to the beach." "I've got an assignment." "Hey, hear about what's happening over there?" "I have an assignment right here." See, that's perseverance. It's like Lou said, I played that video clip of Lou Engel. He said, "I was in Pasadena, but it's like, seemed like God was in Toronto or He's in Kansas City." And he said, "Well, my friends were, so I know the story part of it. I know some of they were leaving and went to Kansas City. Some of them, some went there." And Lou's like, "Well, I think I want to go too." And they got the prophetic word. He said, "No, you're all, you're standing on a well. Dig." Instead of doing this, we want to run here, run there, run here, run there, run. Why? Because we're impatient. We want the quick microwave version. God, we want the glory. No, dig your well. Dig the well. So, that's what we're, so that's. So, one is patience. Next one is perseverance. That means stay on it. Do it without stopping.

And then the next word, these are three English words that the one Greek word is translated into, is endurance. Now, this word means to remain under. And by the way, these definitions also come from the Greek, not just the English. It means to remain under, to persevere under and against harsh conditions, afflictions, or negative circumstances. To persevere unwavering, stay faithful, stay patient, stay on it under difficulty, under stress, and under strain. Stay on it. Now, all of that that I just described is one Greek word, "hopa-moné" or "hoop-amino." There's slight variations, but it's translated patience, perseverance, and endurance. Same Greek word.

Now, we're going to look at that because the Bible uses that word over and over and over. And I want us to see the value in it. The Priceless Power of Persevering Faith. Okay, are you ready? Yes. That was the introduction.

Matthew chapter 24. This is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking. Verse 4. Jesus answered and said to them, "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you're not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places." How we know, we've been seeing pestilences, earthquakes. These are the beginning of sorrows. In the Greek, it's birth pangs. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you." Oh, wait. I thought we were going to be raptured before that. Oh, I guess not. Uh, "they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you. You will be hated by all nations for My name's sake." How many have that verse on your refrigerator? "You will be hated by all nations for the sake of Jesus." We know, do we? And then watch. "Then many will be offended, they'll betray one another, they'll hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Are you ready? Here it comes. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." The word is, he that stays patient, unwavering, keeps faithful, not moved off of it under pressure, under stress, keeps going and does it until the end, he'll be saved. Now, in the Greek, a better way of saying it in the Greek is, "the person that has remained, the person that has remained steadfast and unwavering will be the one that will be saved." That's what the Greek tends to say. "The one that has done this is the one that will be saved." In other words, the person that stays faithful to the very end is the one that's saved. Well, it's not one saved, always saved. Well, the Bible says Jesus said, "The one that's faithful to the end will be saved."

"And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, then the end will come." Now, we're just starting. We're just barely starting.

Luke 21, again, verse 10. Then Jesus said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore, settle in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death." Wait. I thought we're gonna be raptured. "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head will be lost." Now, he's talking about the resurrection. There, in the resurrection, you'll get every hair back. He's talking about the, you, you may lose some now. I've lost a few. It's thinner now, here. You know, it takes me longer to comb my hair because you have to cover the thin spots. Uh, now I know why old people do their hair just a certain way because if you don't do it right, it shows all the. So, I have. But I'll just thank God for what I do have. But in the resurrection, they're all coming back. We'll get them all back. That's what he said. We're going to see Russ with a full head of hair. Come on. [Applause] I agree. But he still looks good like he does, doesn't he? Somebody said, "God only made so many beautiful heads, and the rest He covered with hair." Right, Russ? And so, uh, then he says, "Not a hair of your head will be lost. By your patience, possess your soul." Now, that word is perseverance, endurance, patience.

Now, the word "possess" is also translated by. Now, if you read Isaiah 55, God said, "Come to Me, and buy without money, living water." That's the type of the Holy Spirit. You can't pay money for the Holy Spirit. But you buy how? We buy time. Time to read, read the Bible, spend time in His presence, believe His word, worship Him. You'll be more full of the Holy Spirit. If someone doesn't do those things, they won't be as full as you are. One bought it. So, I said, "Go buy oil for yourself, not with money." That's what Jesus said to the church that was lukewarm in Revelation chapter 3. He said, "I counsel you, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked. But I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, white garments." So, it means time. We all have 168 hours a week. So, every day, every one of us should spend time with God in the word alone, prayer, worship, repentance, thanksgiving, all of that. And so, um, he said, "By your patience, you're going to buy your soul." That's the word. We're not buy it with money. In other words, it takes perseverance, unwavering, steadfast, stay under, stay on it, don't be distracted. And by your patience, your soul, you'll get to the end, and your soul will be looking like Jesus. That's what it means. So, it takes. So, that's a requirement. That's. Now, I'm, I'm telling you what Jesus said. All right. All right.

Here's another one. Romans chapter 5, verse 1. I know you're enjoying this, even though it's about endurance, right? Romans chapter 5, verse 1. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand." How many are standing in the grace of God? We all. How do we access that grace? By faith. We believe in Jesus, and because of that, we're standing in grace. Now, watch. "And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Now, a few weeks ago, we talked about this. The glory of God is the love of God. When God pours His love into our heart, the glory of God fills us. That's the glory of God. We know that because He said, "We are rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." How many want more of the love of God to fill you until the glory is coming out your eyes? All right. And we're rejoicing because we have hope for that.

Second Peter chapter 1. Uh, he says, "God has called us to glory and to virtue, whereby have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these promises we can be partakers of the divine nature." The divine nature's love. First John 4:16. "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." So, when God said, "I've called you to glory, so I've given you promises so you can be a partaker of divine nature." The love of God is the glory of God. Now, all of us that were born again, the love of God is in us. But all of us have a certain capacity for the love of God. Have you ever met some people? They have more capacity than others. How do we increase our capacity? See, if God pours a spirit on you, you know, I can only contain so much. Same with you. All the rest will just flow out. It's like trying to pour the Pacific Ocean into an eight-ounce cup, into a coffee cup. It can only contain so much. Agreed? But if that vessel becomes enlarged, and it becomes the size of a, an Olympic swimming pool, it can carry more. Agreed? That's what patience does to our soul. When, when patience, long-suffering, perseverance, steadfast, unwavering, stay on it, faith is developed in us. It increases vastly the capacity for us to walk in love. It is patient. It is so. Because God wants us, He wants you and I to carry as much of Him as possible. Agreed? Because that's His goal. He's putting us through a process to make our soul stretched into the image of Jesus. And the more our soul becomes conformed to His image, the more of Him we carry. Amen. Amen. And if I, if my, if I don't cooperate with God, or I run from the cross, I keep trying to avoid the cross, all I do is keep my soul small. I keep my soul at minimum capacity. I'll probably get into the kingdom, but see, in the, in the next age, we're all going to be assigned our places based on the capacity we have to carry and manifest Christ. See?

Now, watch. "We are rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." So, now watch. "Not only that, we rejoice, we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces." There's that word again. That going to tribulation produces the character that we need to have. The glory of God. It's too quiet in here. That going through difficulties, having to persevere, having to be patient, having to overcome difficulties and stay, not unwavering, steady, focused, stay on it, stay under, stay there. That quality developed in us, patience, perseverance, endurance, is the quality that expands our soul. Watch. "Tribulation produces perseverance. Perseverance, character. Character means Christ-likeness." And that fills us with hope. When our character is growing, because our hope is not ashamed. "God pours the love of God into our heart." There's the glory of God. All right.

Let's keep going. Look at some more. Second Corinthians chapter 1. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." So, what's He saying? Apostles say, "In us, us apostles, He said, 'We're going through tribulations, but when we go through these painful, difficult times, God comforts us, and He does it so that we can comfort you, because you're about to go through it next.'" That's what He's saying. He said, "We go through the fiery trials, and God comforts us so we can comfort you." Now, Peter writes, "Don't think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you." All your brethren around the world are going through similar things. So, he said, "Stay patient in tribulation, rejoicing in hope, steadfast in prayer." Romans 12:12. "Stay patient in tribulation, rejoicing in hope, steadfast in prayer." Yes. Said, "We know how to get through it. We've had to get through it. She said, 'We're going to get help you get through it.'" Now, nobody could rejoice in a tribulation unless they knew that that tribulation was making them, uh, expanding their capacity to walk in the glory of God. Jesus. It's what it is. He said, "For all as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." And now, "If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we suffer." So, he said, "What we go through, we now encourage you, and it helps you endure." Where was I? Here. Paige. Okay. All right.

Second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 4. "But in all things we commend ourselves." Oh, here's how they, here's how ministers in Paul's day recommended themselves. They didn't give you a four-color card, business card, say, "My name's Apostle Doodad, and, uh, this is my armor bearer, he carries my briefcase everywhere I go, and that's my limo outside." That's not how they did it. He said, "I'm going to give you my qualifications as an apostle." Are you ready? "But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God." The first qualification: "in much patience." In much. That patient, persevering endurance. The number one qualification for a true minister of God is patient, persevering endurance. Do you know why? Because the devil will fight you, and you can't be moved off. You can't be swerved. You can't doubt it. You stay faithful, focused, fervent, persevere. The number one qualification. He said, "We commend ourselves as ministers with much pain." So, when people are called, I see many people that are called, they're gifted, and they're anointed. Let me see some perseverance. Let me see some track record. Let me see some history. That's why we're not to lay hands on a novice, lest they fall into the same condemnation as Satan did. Very, very people are very anointed, very gifted, they're truly called. But you got to get some perseverance under your belt. That proves godly character. And, um, so he said, "Much patience." Then patience, what? "In tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults" (that means riots), "in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasting; by purity, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. By honor, by dishonor, by evil report and good report. As deceivers, yet true; as unknown, yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, but we're not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet make many rich; as having nothing, but we possess all things." Those are qualifications for a New Testament minister. And the number one thing it says is, "We commend ourselves to you as having much patient, persevering endurance." It's a sign.

Here's the Apostle. Second Corinthians 12, verse 11. Paul said, "I have become a fool in boasting. He said, 'You have compelled me.'" Paul was lamenting because they were impressed by carnal preachers that didn't have the character of God. And he said, "You don't, there's not many fathers." Paul said, "I've been a father to you." And he said, "They're promoting themselves, and you're all impressed with it." He said, "He said, 'I'm going to be a fool now, but I'm going to get on their level.'" "If your guys are impressed by that, here goes." He said, "I ought to have been commended by you. For in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, although I am nothing. But truly, the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all." Here it is. "Hoop-a-moné." "With all perseverance, patience, long-suffering." The signs of an apostle were accomplished with all. That's what it is.

All right, let's go down to Colossians chapter 1, verse 9. You guys should all know this. You're still good, right? This is Paul's prayer for the church. We've been praying this a lot. "For this reason also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Now, that's a revival prayer. To have the knowledge of His will, not just know His will, but you also have wisdom and understanding. You have timing, you have know-how, you understand what's going on. Part of understanding God's will for our lives is understanding this: that who we become is more important than what we do. We all have assignments. We'll, I'm going to be held accountable for what I'm doing. I've been assigned to serve the body. God, I'm going to have to stand before God and give an account for Shekinah Worship Center. But greater than what we do is who we become. Because what we do has to come out of who we are, otherwise it's a show, otherwise we're hypocrites. And people can do things with even an anointing on their life, but they're not that thing. They're doing things even with gifting, even with anointing, but they're not that thing. And on Judgment Day, everything comes out to the light. So, understanding God's purposes, having the knowledge of His will with wisdom and understanding. When you go back and look at the Book of Daniel, look at the, during the tribulation period, what's the purpose for tribulation on the world? It says right in the Book of Daniel, "Many shall be purified, refined, and made white." And the wise will understand, but the wicked won't. The wise, and the wise will instruct many. During the tribulation period, many of the church are going to be freaking out. "We thought we were going to be gone. Why are we going through all this?" And people will fall away. But the wise will understand. "Fear not, the Lord is with us. He said, 'He'll never leave us or forsake us.' He's the glory, lift of our head. May be inconvenient, may be difficult, but God will never leave us." What's going on? We're being purified, refined, and made white. Read it. John saw a number that no man could number standing in heaven. Who are these? "They came out of the Great Tribulation. Their robes were washed." Well, I probably made somebody upset now, but I just, listen, I want to say this again. I know there's been so many people that have been indoctrinated about a pre-tribulation rapture. Don't get mad at me, and don't turn me off. Open, please, open your heart, please. People say, "Well, it doesn't matter pre-mid or post, or probably at all." It does matter because you'll be totally unprepared. And if, if we'll walk the way God wants us, we can walk as a Philadelphia church. Here's what the Lord said to the Philadelphia church: "Because you kept My word," listen, "to persevere, because you kept that word, I'll keep you from the hour of testing that's coming on the whole world." And just like in the days of Moses, when the plagues and judgments came on Egypt, in Goshen, they didn't come. Yes, they didn't leave the earth. They were on the earth and kept from it. And Jesus prayed in John 17, verse 15, "Father, I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but keep them from the evil one." So, what is it? What do you have to do? You have to have faithful, steadfast, unwavering perseverance and endurance. And He said to the Philadelphia church, "Because you did that, I'm going to keep you from the hour." Why? Why would He keep you from the hour? Because you don't need it. Because if we learn how to persevere now, we'll be conformed into His image. Yeah. And the purpose of that is to, to take the people that didn't go through it, to get them purified, to get them ready for the glory. Read Acts 14:22. "The apostles went back and strengthened the disciples, saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom.'" So, that at the end of the age, the tribulation period is just getting people all washed up and clean to go into the kingdom. Well, wow.

Colossians 1. Now, watch. "God wants you to know the knowledge of His will with all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so you can walk worthy of Him, be fully pleasing, fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might according to His glorious power." For what? "For perseverance, long-suffering, and patience with joy." So, when, now everyone look at me for a second. I know that patience is our favorite subject to study. I know that having endurance and long-suffering is the most thrilling topic to teach. [Applause] Good news. Colossians 1 says, "God will give us His supernatural power according to His glorious power. He'll strengthen us to have it." [Music] That's what He said. He gives us joy. He gives us faith. We have to be willing, and He'll strengthen us. Amen. Amen. This is too quiet in here. It's, uh, we, we have to get the understanding. The goal at the end of this life, at the end of this life, the goal is Christ-likeness. The goal. God wants to look at you. When you step on the scale, it's going to be all about love. Did I love God with all my heart? Love my neighbor as myself? And did I do the will of God? If I don't have love, I'm nothing. And if I do great things, and with the motive of love, it profits me nothing. Every good work I do, or you do, that's not motivated by love for God is useless and has no eternal value. The only thing that remains is love. That's Christ-likeness. It's Christ-likeness to love God with all our heart, love our neighbor as ourselves. So, the reason God said, "I'll strengthen you." I love this. "With might according to My glorious power, so that you can have patience and long-suffering for full of joy." So, when you, when you hear the word endurance, patience, um, perseverance, don't think, "Oh dear, this is horrible." No, take the glorious power of God. "Will fill me with joy to do this." Yes. Come. Yes. Come up by faith. Mr. Yes. Amen. All the truth. I'm only on page 5 of 12.

I'd go to First, Second Thessalonians chapter 1. Second Thessalonians chapter 1. This is better to know it now. If you, if someone doesn't want to believe the word of God that I'm preaching today, and someone wants to stick their head in the sand and say, "Well, I don't believe that. You know, I believe it's a cakewalk and a blog." Okay, you can do it, but it's not going to change what's coming on the earth. It's not going to change what happens, and you're going to be totally unprepared. And we can either go through it with joy, strengthened with My Spirit, come out the other side looking like Jesus. That's it. [Music] Or we can deny it, stick our head in the sand, and be a total failure when it comes.

Second Thessalonians chapter 1. "We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other." Now, I love that. That's Second Thessalonians chapter 1. I love that because in First Thessalonians, he said, "We're praying night and day exceedingly to see your face and add to you whatever's lacking in your faith." And we pray that your love would increase and abound. In First Thessalonians, they're praying for the saints. These apostolic prayers that we're praying. We're praying, "God, knit us together in love. Make us increase in love." That's what the apostles did. In First Thessalonians, they prayed, "Lord, add to them whatever's lacking in their faith." Now, in Second Thessalonians, he said, "We're so thankful to God. Your faith is growing exceedingly, and your love is abounding." So, that's why we pray the apostolic prayers. Prayer is going to the throne of grace and getting what God already wants to give us. He said, "Now, we ourselves boast of you." I'm Second Thessalonians 1:4. "Among the churches of God for your patience." "Hoop-a-moné." Okay. Here's the Apostle. The apostles are looking at the church. Everybody look at me for a second. What is the most precious thing that could happen to us? God can stretch my capacity for love, and He does it by making me pay. You know, every time I sin, or you sin, I would venture to say 99% of the time, it's connected with impatience. We gripe, irritated, frustrated, point the finger, murmur. You're impatient. Love is patient. So, if God can get us to be patient, He can pour His love into us. Honestly, many of us could not bear the love of God. Let me explain why this, why we have to grow. If we said, "Lord, let me love," the way we couldn't bear it. Many of us, because the love of God, the love of God will lay down our life. The love of God, the love of God, we would lay our lives down completely. And many of us aren't there yet. So, we can only carry a certain degree of the love of God. But if God can expand our patience, He can pour more of His love into us. It's every, every virtue has somehow connected with patience.

Now, watch. "We are boasting about you because of your patience and faith in all your persecutions and truth." You know, I keep noticing this word, tribulation and afflictions. Did it anyway. Watch this. "The you endure these things." When someone has patience, perseverance, endurance, he said, "This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer." So, having patience developed in us is what makes us worthy. That's what he said. "No, since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us." Now, everybody look up here. I got my finger on it. He said, "You guys are going through tribulation, but we're boasting about you to the other churches because we see how patient you are. You're not moved away from faith. You're persevering. You're steadfast. You're enduring. You're holding on to your faith." We're boasting to the churches. He said, "Your patience is evidence of the righteous judgment of God. He's going to come in that day. He's going to judge all those who've been persecuting you." That's what he said. "He's going to give you rest who are troubled when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from His glory, when He comes in that day to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among, or in, all who believe."

Okay, so here's what He's saying. When did the saints get rest from their tribulation? When the Lord comes in flaming fire to judge the wicked. That's called the Second Coming. That's not a pre-tribulation rapture. Now, people say, "Well, He's coming like a thief in the night. It's got to be." Okay, read what Peter said. "For the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat." He just said He's coming in flaming fire. It's not a secret rapture. He said, "You're going to get rest from all your trouble when the Lord comes in flaming fire to judge the wicked and to be glorified in you." That's called the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. It's one day. That's anyway.

There's more. For those that are having a hard time, and I understand that. If you've been indoctrinated, indoctrinated, and you're saying, "Oh, you're tilting right now. You're saying, 'Well, I used to like Pastor Sweet, but now I don't know.'" And well, I know that because I get those emails. "We used to think you were a good preacher, you know, but..." And I understand that. I understand if you feel that way. I would encourage you, there's a book by Dr. Michael Brown called "I'm Not Afraid of the Antichrist," and I recommend you read it. Scott, it just shreds biblically. Biblically, if you read it with an open mind, you'll have no doubts. You'll see what's in there.

All right, let me read a couple more. Titus 2:13. Well, it says, "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God." The blessed hope is not secret. It's a glorious appearing. Everyone look at me. The blessed hope and glorious appearing. Read Matthew 24. When Jesus said, "I'll come in the glory of My Father and His holy angels." That's the glorious appearing. That's the blessed hope.

First Peter 3:10. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; the earth and its works will be burned up." That's the thief in the night. That's the second, open, visible coming of Jesus.

Second Thessalonians 3:5. Are you ready? "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ Jesus." Paul said to Timothy, II Timothy 3:10. "Timothy, you followed carefully my doctrine, my manner of life, my purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, my love, and my perseverance." Gave you more.

Now, we're going to, now we just laid a foundation for understanding this patience, perseverance, endurance. How precious it is. How valuable it is. If we understand how valuable it is, "Lord, I need this worked in me." If we can learn to hold our breath, if we can learn to bite our tongue, we can learn to cool your jets. [Music] When I was a kid, we said, "Hold your horses." Did you guys say that? "Cool your jets." "Drop off the key." [Laughter] "Get on the bus, Gus." That's on. "Don't need to be Corey." "Roy, set yourself free." We gotta do that. We gotta take a deep breath. Hey, it's not the end of the world if I don't get what I want right now. It's not about us. I am His purchased possession. He's making us into something for Him. It's not about me getting what I want. I've been bought by the blood of Jesus. I'm His. Lord, do what You want with me. That's what it's about. God moves us off of self-centered. Even our ministry goals can be self-centered. It's like, "Lord, have Your way." And the more I can be, how do you become patient? Dead. Die. That's it. You know, I saw a bumper sticker once. It said, "I feel so much better once I gave up hope." Now, that could be good and bad. Do you know what I mean? I don't mean give up hope in God. Been our selfish, dumb agendas. "I feel so much better once I gave up." You know what? You'll have peace. Quit chomping at the bit. Thank You, Lord. And just remember this: everything we're impatient for is an idol. That's even the outpouring of this, even the glory, even the promise. It's the Lord. Who we want to please. It's the Lord. Who we want to preach.

Now, watch this. Here's how much endurance and patience is needed. Is patience the endurance that made David a king? It's patient endurance that made Joseph a king. And it's the same thing. It's going to make everyone that I'm talking to today a king and a queen in the next life. In this life, all of us aren't called to be kings, but we're all called to be kings in the kingdom. How many know that Jesus is called King of Kings? See, that's what this life is. How many know that His kingdom will have no end, and the increase of His government will have no end? How many know the galaxies are infinite? God's preparing in this life multitudes of kings and queens to rule and reign with Him. And in order to do that, we have to be like Him. And to be like Him, you got to go through something. And to be like them, we've all felt it. Our hearts are broken, our dreams are dashed, our world caves in. Be patient. Be patient. God watches over His word to perform it. None of His words will fall to the ground. Be patient. Put all your hope in God. If God said it, and it's the will of God, it'll come to pass. Let God do what He wants in us before we're so concerned about what He does through us. And so, patience is required. Hebrews 10:36. "You have need of endurance." There's that word. Patient, persevering endurance. "So that after you've done the will of God, you may receive the promise." Without this quality, we're not qualified. If David rushed things, the character that God needed for him to be king, he wouldn't have it, and he would not get the promise. You, he said, "You have to have this endurance built in you to get the promise." If we're patient, the devil can't get us at odds with each other. If we can walk in unity, when God pours a spirit out, we can carry the glory. If the devil can get us to get into strife because of our impatience, Jesus. See, so he said, "You have need of patience after you've done the will of God, that you might receive the promise." So, we inherit the promises through faith and patience. So, don't despise it. It's a, in this quality that God works in us, is eternal. It's gold. Having this quality of patient faith, a faith that's patient, faith that can endure, faith that won't waver, faith that won't give up, faith will keep going under negative circumstances. That quality is gold. That's why I told the lukewarm church, "Buy from Me gold refined in the fire." And, um, so we have to have that. He said, "Yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul."

Therefore, Hebrews 12:1. "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. Let us run with endurance." There's that word. "The race that is set before us." It's not a sprint. It's an endurance race.

James 1. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." He's talking about the character of Christ. The character of Christ is formed in the crucible of patience. Patience is required for the second coming to be prepared for the second coming.

James 5, verse 7. "Therefore, brethren, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and the latter rain." That's what we're doing right now. We're fasting, we're praying, we're leaning in. I don't believe it's going to be a long time, but we don't know. It could be a month, could be three months, could be four. I don't know. But I'm not moving. I'm not moving on. I'm not backing off. My, I'm going to stay leaning into God. I'm going to stay persevering, faithful, focused. I'm not going to let my fervency's not going to diminish. I'm going to stay fervent, stay faithful, stay focused. This is the quality that we must have to inherit the promise. He said, "Be patient until the latter and the latter rain comes." It's going to come. Now, he said, "Don't grumble against one another." That's what happens when we become impatient. "Lest you don't do it, lest you be condemned. For behold, the Judge is standing at the door." "My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You've heard of the perseverance of Job and you've seen the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."

So, Job is an example, and the other prophets are examples to us of being patient under tribulation. When Job had horrible, painful things come in his life, heartbreaking, disappointing, he didn't understand it, but he never wavered from his faith in God. He said, "He even said, 'If the Lord slays me, I'll trust Him.'" Oh, my God. "If the Lord slays me, I'll trust Him." His wife said, "You're still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die." He said, "You speak as a foolish woman. Shall we receive good from God, and not also adversity from the Lord?" The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Now, as some have taught, well, the Lord didn't take away. It was the devil. It was the devil. But please listen. Have you ever seen those videos where they show the canine units? You know, the sheriff, the police, they get those trained dogs. They're so, they're beautiful animals, so trained, and they can sniff out drugs, and they can run faster than anybody fleeing from the cops. They got some guy in a car, and all that. The dogs jump. They'll jump right through the window. You know, all of you. The guy goes, "Help, help! I give up! I give up!" They got those. You ever seen those videos? Oh, they're awesome. You know, some guy gets out, he's he's running, he's jumping over walls and around bushes. The helicopter shows a dog, right? And the guy's going, "Get him off! Get him off! Get him off!" The cops just take their time. They do it. It's like, "Okay, now suppose you had one of those dogs, and it was trained, you had on a leash, and I said, uh, and I told that, you know, the dogs, when they tell them, 'Go,' they go. Is they're so obedient? They'll sit there like this, like, do you know they want to go? And they won't go until he goes, 'Go.' Then they go. When they say, 'Stop,' they stop." Sometimes it's like they get so overexcited. We've done that with Doug, you know, hunting with birds. Please don't get mad at me because I've hunted. Okay? You're probably wearing a leather belt, leather shoes. You know, I heard Bill Johnson say this once. He said, "I like quail. He said, 'I like him right next to my mashed potatoes.'" But he said, "He said, 'If I had one of those dogs, and I was trained, I could say, I want it to bite Russ in the leg. Just bite him.'" I would never do that because I love Russ. Besides that, we need a drummer. Have no bass pedals. You know. But if I have the dog on a.

leash and I know that if I let go of the leash, it's going to bite him. If I let go of the leash on purpose, in any court of law, I'm guilty. It's even in the Bible. If you have an animal that you know gores people, and if you don't keep it in a pen and it kills someone, you're liable. That's in the Bible.

So yes, it was the devil, but God let him go. Meaning this, the devil can't do anything unless he gets permission. Even Jesus said to Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you." So why did God let him? I, I'm guessing because he needed to be sifted. Because sifting and the stumbling revealed his pride and helped him to repent. So when we get, yes, it was a devil that attacked Job, but when we get attacked, our first thing should be to go to God and say, "Lord, show me. Did I open a door? Do I need to repent? Have I done something wrong?" First, submit to God, then resist the devil.

You know, so Job, he didn't know what was going on. He said, "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." And the next verse says, "In all this, Job did not sin." Means miss the mark. So where to take the prophets as an example, and Job is an example. He suffered and he trusted God. Now, he said, "Look at the end. Look at the end of Job's life." God's very compassionate. He went through hell like none of us have. Job went through hell like none of us have, and God restored everything double, and he came out of it a better man.

So let me finish. Try to finish here. Trying to finish. I want us to see the value, the great value of having perseverance worked in our life. John, Revelation 1. "I John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience." See, the kingdom and patience go together. Tribulation in the kingdom. "We must through much tribulation enter." And tribulation works patience. And patience is the character of Christ. "I'm your brother in tribulation, the kingdom, and patience." Patience makes us like Jesus. If you meet a patient person, you're meeting a Christ-like person. Patience is what allows us to be kind. Patience is what allows us to give grace to people. Patience has allowed us to wait and trust God. Revelation 3:10. "Again, because you kept my command to hope." Amen. "Whatever perseveres." But it's the same word. Persevere, endure, pace. You've kept that word. "I'm going to keep you from the hour of trial coming on the whole earth." When he talks about the mark of the beast, he says, "Here is the patience of the saints." The saints are still on the earth. They're enduring. They say, "We're not taking it."

How about Peter? When he tells us how to enter into glory, he said, "Uh, add your faith, diligence, with diligence, virtue, to virtue, patience, patience, long-suffering." Perseverance, actually, is the word. Perseverance. He said, "If perseverance abounds in you, an abundant entrance will be given to you into the kingdom." First Peter 5:10. "Now may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory after you suffered a while, perfect you, strengthen you, establish and settle you."

First, I'm almost done. Second Timothy 2. Paul says, "Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that's." See, that's what love is. All that Paul went through, he, he could. Paul could only go through beating, shipwreck, stoning, tribulation, perils. He could only go through that because he was had the love of God, and the love of God manifested in him through patient endurance. If you don't have love, you'll quit.

So I, I'm, I'm getting out of the ministry. I've been stoned twice now. I didn't sign up for this. But Paul's love was so big, he couldn't stop. He said, "Oh, he's." Paul said, "I endure everything for the sake of the elect." Which is why Paul laid down his life for the church. Then what he said, "If we died with him, we shall also live with him. If we endure." There's that word, *hypomonē*. "If we endure, we shall reign." Everybody look at me, please hear this. If we get this characteristic built in us, not everybody's going to reign with him in the next stage. Steadfast, unwavering, persevering, enduring faith. That's the word. He is *hypomonē* or *hupomenei*. That word means to persevere, be patient, and endure. He said, "If we do this, we will reign with him." That's what he said. Because that process makes us Christ-like. The people sitting on thrones in the next age will be like people coming to the earth to rule the earth with Jesus in the Millennium. They're going to be Christ-like.

So in closing, patience, which means faithful, steadfast, enduring, not wavering. Through that, we are number one, we are made perfect. Number two, we inherit the promises. Three, we're counted worthy of his kingdom. Four, we're made fit to reign with him. Five, we please him and don't draw back. Six, we keep our soul into salvation. Seven, we become Christ-like. And eight, we're qualified as ministers of the Gospel. If we have these characteristics of patience, without it, we don't have any of those things. Well, I had, let me see. Hold on. That's enough for today. Praise God. Let's give him praise.

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Holy, holy, holy, holy.

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