2 Samuel 7:16-17
“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ” Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.”
INSIGHT
-Endure comes from the root word chuwl in Hebrew and it means to remain firm or bear with patience trials, afflictions and adversity. To persist pressure with perseverance through faith in Christ. Many scriptures have outlined the word endure to indicate the act of purification by fire and water (Num 31:23-24). To always give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercies endures forever (1 Chr 16:34), His mercy is everlasting and truth endures to all generations (Ps 100:5), His mercies endures forever (Ps 106:1; 107;1; 118:1). Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments for his descendants will be mighty on earth, wealth and riches will be in his house and his righteousness endures forever (Ps 112:1-3). Those who endure to the end shall be saved (Mat 24:12-13). We are reminded to labor for food which does not perish but the food that endures to everlasting life (Jn 6:27). Love endures all things, love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8). God chastens His sons and enables them to endure it (Heb 12:6-7). We are called to shun from sin which easily ensures us as we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1-2). When we endure we will be blessed (Jam 5:11) and after endurance through Gods will; we will receive the promise (Heb 10:36).
-When Samuel was instructed to anoint a king from the house of Jesse; David had been forgotten and was considered least among his brothers. God had a great plan for his life despite the neglect that he faced. David stood firm in the Lord having killed a lion, a bear and Goliath the Philistine; when nobody else could face him. We too face many challenges, hardships, neglect and tribulations in our lives but we are reminded to remain steadfast in the Lord and He will sustain us. After David became king, he intended to build the house of the Lord; when prophet Nathan outlined Gods’ covenant to David saying that his house and his kingdom will endure forever, and his throne will be established to all generations. The grace or God is sufficient for us all, and just like David who received Gods’ unmerited favor, we too have received grace through Christ Jesus. David then alleged that those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever (Ps 125:1). We are reminded to always trust in the Lord in our daily lives for He will never leave us nor forsake us and He will return to rule and reign eternally, and will be united with Him through faith from everlasting to everlasting.
PRAYER
We give thanks to You Lord, for You are good and Your love endures forever. You are the King of kings, the God of gods, our Almighty Father, Your love endures forever. You alone created the heavens and earth and all that is in it, Your love endures forever. You alone does great wonders, Your love endures forever. We thank You Lord for You have enabled us to begin this new week in good health, Your love endures forever. Have mercy in all the sick, suffering, depressed and all of us in our various challenges for Your love endures forever. Turn our darkness into light Father and help us to reach our place of dominion through grace for Your love endures forever. Amen
Hebrews 12:6-8
“because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”
INSIGHT
-No temptations have overtaken us such as is common to man for God is faithful and cannot let any temptation overcome us that we cannot endure (1 Cor 10:13). God reminds us to put Him first in everything and avoid all evil through maturity in His word. Jesus tells us that whoever wants to be His disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Him (Lk 9:23). As sons and daughters of God; we are reminded to endure in His discipline for He chastens those He loves. Therefore, when we are convinced to walk in the light and holiness of God; then we should consider ourselves loved by our everlasting Father. It is through the same love that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and we are separated from sin by His blood which enlightens our souls with righteousness. God reveals that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and should lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us but run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1-2).
PRAYER
You are the Alpha and Omega Lord, our great I Am, our great High Priest, the author and finisher of our faith, all glory and praise belongs to You Father. We humbly ask You Jesus to forgive us our sins, sins of our families, sins of our forefathers, sins of our leaders, sins of our nation and sins of the world, and cover us with Your precious blood. Deliver us from all any form of evil and external influence that seeks to take over our nation and the continent of Africa Father, that You may fight for us Father for the battle belongs to You. Some trust in horses, others trust in chariots but we put all our trust in You Lord with firm confidence that You will deliver us from forms of evil, slavery, sicknesses, drought and pestilence, and renew our strength. We thank You Father for chastening us as Your sons and daughters so that we not go astray but follow Your paths of righteousness. Take control of our lives, our friends, families, nation and the whole world Lord, and shepherd us in the way we should go. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God; and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
2 Timothy 4:2-5
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
INSIGHT
-Some emergent churches fashion the word of God in a customer driven approach which stimulates the congregations own desires and attracts many to the church; which would effectively mean more revenues. Post modern culture in the church encourages drama, more stories and motivation speeches which take over sound doctrine. Paul coaxed Timothy to preach sound doctrine in season and out of season, convincing, rebuking, exhorting others with long-suffering and teaching. Paul answers the questions; why peach:-to enhance the knowledge of God so that many may come to salvation, what to preach:- the true word of God and not one own word; and when to peach:- at every opportunity, all of which point to true doctrine directed by the Holy Spirit. We are reminded to be committed and persevere by systematically preaching, teaching, give hope, share resources and knowledge, edify and encourage others through the true word of God as each one is called. Further, to only invite the true word of God into our hearts and to do all things according to the will of the Father.
PRAYER
Our Father who at in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread & forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power & the glory; forever & ever. Amen
Hebrews 6:13-15
“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
INSIGHT
-Abraham had faith in the promises of God even through obedience exposed by the sacrifice of his son Isaac; which was a picture of the death and resurrection of Christ, in Whom we are founded. Through patience and endurance in faith; God blessed Abraham and multiplied him according to His covenant with him. We are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the same promise for we have put on Christ through faith in Him (Gal 3:26-29). Faith makes the next level possible; as it activates the righteousness of God by which we are clothed through the blood of Christ and receive abundant blessings both for us our descendants forever (Ps 112:1-3). Like the disciples who asked Jesus to increase their faith, we are called in the same manner to hold fast faith in Christ through endurance which is pleasing to Him; that we may also receive the promise.
PRAYER
We praise You Lord our Father for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. We honor You Father for You are gracious and Your truth endures to all generations. Remember us with favor O Lord that You may fulfill Your promise to us Your children through the Abrahamic covenant, that You may bless us and multiply us; faithful Father. Visit us dear Jesus with Your salvation and grace that You may bless us indeed and expand our territories; so that we may rejoice in the gladness of Your truth as You designed it for us before the foundations of this world. Help us Lord that we may not grow weary of enduring in faith but always remain steadfast always believing in You. Increase our faith dear Father that we may forever be pleasing to You and glory with You through Your inheritance for us & our descendants forever. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End the First and the Last, we exult Your holy name now & forever. Amen
Matthew 24:12-13
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
INSIGHT
-This chapter in Matthew is key to outline the events that will come to pass at the end of time; before and after Christ comes back. Before His return, lawlessness and hatred will be prevalent, but those who endure to the end will be saved. Many temptations and tribulations will also be experiences. Jesus demonstrated high standards by overcoming temptations, having been led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He dwelt for fourty days with the wild beasts and was tempted, but the angels ministered to Him (Mk 1:12-13). Jesus was also betrayed by the chief priests and scribes. They condemned Him to death, mocked Him, scourged Him, spit on Him and killed Him, but through endurance; He rose again on the third day and gained victory for us all (Mk 10:33-34). In the same way; when we endure temptations we will receive Gods blessings and receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to all those who love Him (Jam 1:12). Like the faithful servant who was trusted with five talents and delivered five more, he was told “well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of Your Lord” (Mat 25:21). In faithfulness and endurance through faith in Christ; we will also receive the crown of life and enter into the joy of the Lord.
SUMMARY
Endurance is a word used to symbolize patience and perseverance in trials and adversity. God promised David that His house will endure forever; which is evident today through the Sovereignty of Christ and His eternal salvation for us. The promise given to Abraham delivered through the Abrahamic covenant also exposes the eternity of the Gods’ love and mercy to us; for it has been designed for us. Through the knowledge of Christ revealed in the scriptures; the fact that Gods’ love and mercy endures forever; has been brought to light. We are therefore reminded to take heed to the exhortations according to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that; we should rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. In recognition that there are many challenges and temptations in life; we should always be alert to give thanks to the Lord for He is our only Saviour. We also called to be diligent and accountable for the flock entrusted to us, attend to our herds; for riches are not forever nor does a crown endure to all generations (Ps 118:1). It is therefore necessary to know what we have been called to do and take full responsibility like the faithful servant so that when Christ returns we may be rewarded and enter the joy of the Lord. Apostle Paul was a faithful servant. He fought the good fight, he finished the race and kept the faith through which a crown of righteousness will be laid upon his head when Christ returns, together with us who have been chosen according to Gods’ purposes (2 Tim 4:7-8). For this reason we bear witness to the fidelity of God so that we may run the same race of salvation with endurance; committed to the righteousness of Christ through faith. With humility and repentance we are reminded to always examine our consciousness amid temptations; setting our eyes on Jesus Who disciplines us and sets us free through the washing by His precious blood. Christ endured the same race and won victory for us through His death on the cross and resurrection on the third day; making us His sons and daughters; so that we too may inheritance eternal life with Him.
PRAYER
We give thanks to You Oh Lord our God and Savior for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. Thank You Jesus for the great care and love that You have shown us, be exulted beyond the heavens and the earth. Forgive us our sins Lord, sins of our families, friends, leaders, nation and those of the whole world. Remember our dear brothers and sisters in Sudan that You may deliver them from unrest and strife. Deliver our African countries Jesus from neo-colonialism and political influences which have robbed us of our birth right. Have mercy on us Lord and take charge of our nation; Kenya and the entire continent of Africa. You are our only hope of salvation Jesus; we put all our trust in You knowing that Your promises are true and right and You will enable us to inherit our heritage inherent in Your kingdom through Your divine grace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God; and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. Amen