APOSTOLIC ENDURANCE

by Senior Elder Dr. Michael Scantlebury | elder@dominion-life.org

Endurance has always been one of the foundational pillars of the church and in the life of any Spirit-Filled believer.

In this article we want to take a look at a few scriptural references of this tremendous quality or grace gift released to the Church/saints through the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 10:36 states:

"For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:"

The Greek word used here for "endurance" is the word "Hupomone" and it means: Constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out or patient endurance.

This word "Hupomone" comes from two words:

• "Hupo" - Under
• "Mone" - To Remain

It describes the capacity to continue bearing up under difficult circumstances not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat. Let us now re-read that same portion of scripture replacing endurance with its meaning.

"For you will need to have the ability to bear up under all kinds of trying circumstances not with passive complacency, but with fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

"So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;"

The Greek word for endure in this reference is a different word, it is the word "Anechomai" which is made up of two different words:

• "Ana" - Up
• "Echo" - To hold

This word carries the idea of persevering, tolerating, bearing with, putting up with, standing firm and not loosing ones courage under pressure. Also in this portion of scripture, the ability to "Endure" is identified as "Manifest Evidence" of the righteous judgement of God. That is AWESOME!

Matthew 24:13

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved"

This is yet another Greek word "Hupomeno" and it conveys another interesting shade of meaning. It means:

To hold ones ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, stand firm, persevere under pressure, and wait calmly and courageously. It is NOT passive resignation to fate and "mere patience" but the ACTIVE, ENERGETIC RESISTANCE to defeat that allows calm and brave endurance.

Most people who read this text subscribe to the interpretation that it is referring to the return of Jesus. This could be true but there is an application for here and now, if you endure in whatever adverse situation that you maybe facing, salvation will come.

This verse was in the context of Jesus speaking about extreme pressure existing:

Great deception; False Christ; Wars and rumors of war; Nation rising against nation; Famine, Pestilence, Earthquakes, Offences, Brothers betraying each other, False Prophets; Love of many waxing cold. And it was in this context that the Lord encourages us to ENDURE to which salvation will result. Please note that this is the kind of environment that the Kingdom of God is actively advanced. In Matthew 24 we read of the preceding sequence of events and in verse 14 the Word of God declares:

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

We need to understand that the heat of the battle is intensifying. The demonic onslaughts are becoming more pronounced. We need strong leadership that is able to stand in the heat of the battle and wage a good warfare of faith. We need to learn how to build in the Spirit and effectively pull down the strongholds of the enemy. "Chocolate soldiers (ones who cannot endure) will melt in the heat of the spiritual battle."

The emerging leadership in this time of apostolic reformation must rise above "success" and must be clearly prophetic in foresight and revelation while being apostolic in authority, wisdom, and strategy. These dimensions will help prepare the present generation adequately to become the dynamic leaders of tomorrow. We are in what could very well be the last millennium, even the last century before the return of Jesus. We are standing at the threshold of a new era and time period that will produce its own distinctive generation.

We need apostolic wisdom to consolidate what is happening today and be able to restructure our ministries and churches until they become relevant to the times we are living in. We must find apostolic strategies and employ God's divine principles to reach every region that we currently occupy and to those territories that the Lord will call us into. We must be people of apostolic endurance for this to be accomplished. The days for weak, soft "Christianity" is over. The Church must be allowed to step strongly and resolutely into her Governmental Role and destiny of ruling the nations with a rod of iron as described in Revelation 12:5.

Remember Gideon if you feel yourself becoming weary in the forward thrust and momentum that the Lord is seeking to establish in us.

Judges 8: 4

"When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit."

Remember also the Lord's answer to Jeremiah when he began to question the Lord regarding the wicked's prosperity.

Jeremiah 12:5

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?"

Let us at the Church of Jesus Christ be strong and focused in these trying times!

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