A Call to Persevere

While packing my stuff, I came across this article which I felt is an encouragement for us as we run the next lap into 2007.

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River of Life Weekly Summary (Nov 10, 2000)
Pastor Francis Frangipane
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IF WE DON'T LOSE HEART
Worn Out Saints

"And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time" (Dan 7:25). (NAS)

The prophet Daniel warns of a time when Satan, through the antichrist, will wear down the strength of God's saints. This end time battle reveals a pattern that is actually occurring today: Satan seeks to wear us out through delays ("alterations in times") and in compromise to God's word ("alterations ... in law").

The final effect of what seems like never ending delays is that the believers are worn out.

Do you know anyone who is weary with their battle? Are you yourself weary?

I know many who seem trapped in situations which should have been remedied months and even years ago. Yet, the battle continues against them. Situations and people, often empowered by demonic resistance, stand in opposition to the forward progress of God's people. As a result, many Christians imperceptibly make incremental adjustments to this resistance until a quiet oppression weighs heavily upon their souls.

This battle to wear out the saints may be rooted in conflicts with children or spouses; perhaps it is a health issue or some unresolved division within their church, yet on and on it goes. Like a skilled and masterful thief, the enemy daily erodes the joy, the strength and passion of many Christians. Yet the scale is larger than our personal struggles.

Consider the conflict in Israel or the elections in the USA. How long will these things drag on?

Satan's plan is to drag them on until Christians grow weary and stop praying. Satan is the dragon whose goal is to "drag-on" the battle with draining, wearying delays. He persists until we wear out, give up and quit praying. Without our intercession, he then releases hellish consequences into their unhindered course.

Additionally, as situations stretch beyond reasonably expected conclusions, weariness of soul can also exacerbate the original situation, leading to fleshly reactions or just over-reactions, which also further resolution. We lose patience, eventually seeking relief rather than victory, thus compromising the standards of God and conscience.

PERSEVERANCE
There is a reason the Book of Revelations mentions the word "perseverance" seven times. Over and again we see those who persevered, overcame. It is one thing to have vision, another to have godly motives, but neither will carry us to our objective: we must also be prepared to persevere.

The root of the word "persevere" is the word "severe." We must face the fact that, en route to our victory, things may get severe. It is with severe faith, severe or extreme steadfastness, that we inherit the promises of God (Heb 10).

James tell us, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have {its} perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (Ja 1.2-4).

Endurance. Perseverance. Steadfastness. These are the qualities that breed character, that transform the doctrine of Christlikeness into a way of life. "Let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect. . ." The key to perfection, to a life "lacking in nothing," is perseverance.

WEARINESS OF THE MIND
"But I'm weary," you argue. Yes. Part of the weariness is from faulty thinking in our thought life. If we knew the battle was going o take as long as it has, we would have prepared for more realistically. Every building plan will probably take twice as long as we assumed; every virtue, will take a year not a month to be worked in us. It may take twenty years for our loved ones to be saved. If things happen sooner, we can rejoice, but we have only prepared ourselves for the easiest of breakthroughs, not the ones that cost us time and tears. Satan manipulates our unrealistic expectations, which he then uses to wear us out.

When I travel, I pray and trust God for divine help and often I am rewarded with perfect flights with no delays. Yet, I have also learned to accept that I will occasionally arrive later than I expected. I am not shocked when there are flight cancellations and delays; I anticipate them. While others are anxious, I'm more calm, trusting God. My peace enhances my witness of Christ when I speak to people who, standing near me, are anxiously waiting.

Some may argue, "Isn't that unbelief to expect delays on flights?" I don't think so. I think it's wisdom. Wisdom is not the enemy of faith. I have found that if I don't trust God and relax, I become anxious, fretful and distracted. Worse, I have found that the Holy Spirit will not descend and rest in power upon a man controlled by circumstances.

Jesus' spirit stayed in abiding peace, yet still He accommodated delays as part of life's package. He was often delayed by the huge crowds or urgent needs of the people around Him. People died waiting for Jesus to show up. Did He become anxious? No, He stayed focused on the Father and, without losing His trust in God, simply raised the dead, even when He arrived late.

At some point we must accept that God knows when we are being delayed and that He has a miracle conclusion waiting, in spite of the extra time we've spent getting to our destinations.

One dear pastor I know had labored long and hard with a new building project, but it was constantly being delayed. It was scheduled for completion in September, then rescheduled for December, then January, and then February. Finally, with weariness in his voice, he called and asked if I could join him for their dedication.

It was set for the first week of March.

"When exactly do you need me?" I asked. He answered, "March fourth."

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit illuminated my heart. God had chosen this date prophetically, 1 told him. The Lord wanted that church, as an army, to "march forth" into their destiny. In a flash, the weariness weighing upon him was gone and joy and a sense of destiny swept his soul. The delay wore him out, but the delay had a purpose.

Dear ones, let us persevere. We just don't know what the victory will look like when we finally break through.

Consider Joseph.

Betrayed, enslaved, slandered and forgotten, he had to endure to reach his destiny. But when the time finally arrived, never in his most wild dreams did he imagine the outcome would be so great or wonderful.

What we become to God is more important that what we do for Him. Our struggling, praying though we have been delayed time and again, deepens our character. Maintaining our standards when pressed, finding grace when stretched, makes us true men and women of God.

The Almighty One is in control. He knows how to take what was meant for evil and transform it
into something good, even using the devil's own devices to bring him down. God has something wonderful in store for us otherwise the enemy would not be fighting so intensely. Indeed, scriptures tell us that Satan rages worst when he knows his time is short (Rev 12:12).

CHARACTER BEFORE BREAKTHROUGH
Returning to Daniel, God gave him another vision of the end of the age.

Here's what he wrote, "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them ..." (Dan 7:21).

This is the battle: we feel war storming against our souls and we feel overpowered. But the prophet said the overpowering continued only, "... until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom (Dan 7:22).

There is a principle here that, understanding it, will lead to victory in your battle. There will be a time, inevitably, when we feel overpowered. Yet, if we endure, if we climb higher into God, if we refuse to lose our trust in God, a time will come when the "Ancient of Days" enters our circumstances. Looking at our newly developed character, He will pass judgment in favor of our cause. God looks at our character, forged in the fire of overpowering delays and battle, and says, "Good, this is what I was waiting for."

So, whether you are praying for this country or standing for your children; whether your cry is for the lost or for simply the end of some local or national conflict, remember the words of Paul: "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Gal 6:9).