Peaceful Strength

What does it mean when the Word of God talks about a Patient Endurance? In 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 Paul speaks of Praises to The LORD so that we would be reminded of His compassion and His comfort in ALL our troubles, because our trials and troubles are testings at work in us to be more like Him, so that through Him He might provide ALL comfort to others. Notice it does not indicate that we as believers would never face anymore difficulties or burdens in life, no on the contrary Paul indicates not only will we, but we should and then also be thankful and bring Praise for the tribulation we currently are going through. “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort over flows”. v5

In verse six it states the purpose is to produce (bare fruit) of a Patient Endurance which is the demonstration of a Peaceful Strength that only comes from above. Paul goes on to say in 6:3-10 of the same book. That WE are to present ourselves…just as we present ourselves to The Lord as a Living Sacrifice we are to present ourselves to others so as not to cause a stumbling block, in EVERY circumstance! We grow and mature through the adversity. We are often told the Word is the only offensive weapon we have as believers, not true, it declares right here that both hands are to be armed with “weapons of righteousness” in the Power of God, in the Holy Spirit. When we display a Peaceful Strength it is the evidence of a patient endurance reflecting The Lord Jesus Christ and the Power of Almighty God.

Revelations 1:9 I, John, your brother and companion IN the suffering and Kingdom and Patient Endurance that are OURS in Jesus. We are called TO A Patient Endurance just as we are called into His Kingdom as well as his sufferings for a Glory that far exceeds anything in this world. In 13:9,10 John describes this peaceful strength like this, He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for Patient Endurance and Faithfulness on part of the saints. Again, whatever the circumstance we go through we must give a greater witness and testimony to Him who has already overcome, He who lives in and through us. In 14:12 in regards to the mark of the beast, how will we ever develop the tenacity of faith in humble obedience to reject and discard the enticing benefits of the mark of that beast and or his name if we DO NOT equip ourselves for A Patient Endurance A Peaceful Strength, not of our own but by His Spirit, ALONE!

In Psalms 23 the image of this Peaceful Strength is described like this.

HE is My Shepherd, He leads, He guides, He is with me and restores my soul, righteousness is my path because His Name is Righteousness. Even in the shadow of death I have nothing to fear because HE IS WITH ME. Now here is the important part of the picture, HE prepares a table for me IN the presence of my enemies. Imagine such a Peaceful Strength as we REST IN HIM in the middle of the battle, the war, the tribulation, HE desires to set a banquet feast for us to partake with HIM. Our Peace Our Strength come from knowing that HE IS…EL Shaddai The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, HE IS GOD!