Patiently Endure.

Mini Sermon by C. E. Strain

We are in a microwave society. A baked potatoes in 2 minutes. Popcorn in 3 minutes. We picture everything in less than five minutes.

Don't wait for the mail, just fax it. Don't send snail mail, email it. And then we wonder why they don't respond to the mail instantly!

The generation that plays video games or computer games, amasses 10,000 points in no time. Those points cannot be redeemed for anything, but the time spent winning those points develops tremendous thumb strength and lightening reflexes. We have developed a generation of great thumbs.

We picture Paul's ship wreck, in Acts Chapter 27, as an instantaneous "accident" like at a street corner when two cars collide. Everything in slow motion. But only taking seconds.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. Acts 27:14-15

And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. Acts 27:19

But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; Acts 27:27

This "trial" or shipwreck was now into the second week. How long are your trials? Do you just want them over with in a simple prayer? There is too much to gain in a trial, to be delivered with a prayer.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

In the Old Testament, we find Abraham holding to God's promise that his seed would be as the stars.

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Gen 15:5-6

He counted it to him for righteousness! Your trials are what the Lord looks for to condition your charactor. Nothing else will grow your strength in the Lord more than letting the Lord be your strength!

The real trials of live that you face, that is what molds you into the Christian that the Lord wants you to be. As for Abraham's trial:

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Heb 6:15

And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:11-12

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