Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Dear friends,
I was in prayer this morning and as I closed my eyes and just listened for a moment I heard in my spirit the Lord softly speaking to me. The word that He dropped in my spirit was ENDURE! I felt a drawing to go to the book of Hebrews and I knew God would be speaking to me! It’s passion week! Good Friday is right upon us and Easter is on Sunday. The Church is facing a crisis that I have not faced in my life time as some of you as well. But the Lord! I heard Him saying this morning to ENDURE. We know Psalms 30:5 says, “weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning”.
But will you take a moment and walk with me through in Hebrews12? Please read to the end so you can understand the complete text and be encouraged by His Word!
Hebrews 12:1-13 (NKJV)
1Therefore 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, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Let’s stop there a moment! This is it!! Let us RUN with ENDURANCE the race THAT IS SET BEFORE US! Take a moment and look at the times we are facing now. The time that is “set before us”. It is not time to give up, throw in the towel, nor be angry, or bitter. It’s not time to be weary but it’s time to ENDURE!
ENDURE IN GREEK: hypomonē (from 5259/hypó, “under” and 3306/ménō, “remain, endure”) – remaining under, i.e. endurance; steadfastness, especially of God enabling believers to “remain (endure) under” the challenges He allots for them.
ANYBODY FEEL CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW? YOU FEEL LIKE RUNNING AWAY?
Instead of running away….it’s time to remain where we are and accept the challenge that is given to us and run the race that is set before us.
This is HOW!
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is the Author of your life! He is the One who gave you breath and nothing can take you out as a believer before your time. He is writing your beautiful story and He is doing so with joy! Listen my friends…He went to the cross because He already could see what was on the other side of the cross…..Victory! The Bible says, “for the joy (you and me) that was set before Him…He endured the cross…….wiped out the shame…. And He sat down…..He rested at the right hand of the throne of God. Let’s keep looking at what else He endured!
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility (Opposition) from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
We are being encouraged to take a look at what Jesus endured so that we can endure also…..when we don’t endure…we become discouraged in our souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
Then he goes on to say that we need to endure the discipline of God. God will show you what is in your heart. I feel like through this time of “social distancing” God will show you some things if you allow Him to go to the secret places in your hearts. He will reveal anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, prejudice, racism, envy, jealousy etc………
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Verse 12 is my favorite! When I feel weak, discouraged, upset, and down I will read this verse. I mean…you know…Easter is coming and it’s depressing that we can’t gather! It’s depressing that we can’t gather at all. What do we do? Honestly, the other day, I walked around the house and cried most of the day because my heart aches for the church and some of the things I’ve been seeing. But every morning when I dive in the Word of God…….the Holy Spirit breathes upon me and fills me up again with strength and power so that I CAN ENDURE! It’s important to be filled with the Holy Spirit everyday so that we can endure what is set before us.
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
*strengthen the hands which hang down….in essence he is saying…pay attention to what is bent over…pay attention to what is weak. The word strengthen in Greek is: ἀνορθόω anorthóō; from 303 and ὀρθόω orthoō (to set straight, set up); to set upright, set straight again:―to make erect again, to restore, to make strong.
Feeble knees in Greek: παραλύω paralýō; from 3844 and 3089; to loose from the side:―paralytic(1), paralyzed(3).
Have you been weakened or paralyzed by fear and anxiety from the Corona Virus and what it has done to the world and the economy? Has Social distancing invited loneliness and depression? Has lacked of touch made you feel less loved? If so, here is your answer in the Word of God!
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
The Word is telling us in verse 13 that unhealed wounds will cause you to walk a crooked path…unstable…up and down. Then he says, “so what is lame” implies to what is hurt….what has been wounded may not handicap you for the rest of your life but instead be healed!
I discern that “social distancing”, the “economy fall”, and fear may be stirring up some things in your soul that have not been healed. Let’s think about this for a minute. Hebrews starts off by saying we have a host of people in heaven who are cheering us on. They see what you are going through and they see also what lays before you. They know that greater things are coming! Then he goes on to say to lay aside those things that have entangled you…maybe arguments, prejudices, anger, unforgiveness etc. What has entangled you? Fear? Anxiety? Panic?
He is saying there is a JOY that is coming that far outweighs the pain you are going through right now. The Lord is saying to you to be strong, look to Jesus, the Author of your life, the Finisher of your life and ENDURE whatever has been set before you! If you need to say, “I’m sorry”, then endure the pain of it and just say it so that your path won’t be crooked and your walk with the Lord won’t be handicapped! If you need to talk with someone, then talk with them and make things right before the Lord. If you carry jealousy or envy…it’s ok…don’t be entangled with the shame of it, just take it to the Lord and make a great exchange with Jesus in the Throne Room of Heaven.
Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that you help those who are in need right now. I pray that Your Mighty Spirit will calm all the anxiety and all the fear. I pray that You will destroy arguments and the plans of the enemy to destroy families, marriages, homes, businesses, churches and finances. I pray you will heal them of fear Lord. Help them to outwit the enemy through walking in obedience. I pray that whatever is hurting in your sons and daughters, that You will stir it up so they can be healed. I pray for a supernatural strength and power to endure these times that we are in. Give us all the strength we need to face every hour of the day and every day of the week! Strengthen the Church of Living God all over the world and send a mighty awakening to the body of Christ. Heal the body of Christ my Lord. We know that You are coming back soon for a Bride that is spotless! Because of Your blood we have hope! Thank you Jesus for enduring the cross. Thank you for loving us so much that You called it “your joy that was set before you”. Thank you for loving us Jesus. We are reminded of Your great love and wide and deep your love travels for us!
Amen! JOY IS COMING!
Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
