The Victory of the Cross of Christ (continued)
Throughout the Word, the Holy Spirit intertwines "the patience [the endurance]: and "the faith" of the saints, with "the tribulation" and "the Kingdom" and "the Patience [the patient endurance]" which are Jesus. In Acts 14:22, we are exhorted "to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God." Romans 8:17 declares that we are joint-heirs with Christ, "if we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." First Peter 4:13 tells us: "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing". Second Timothy 2:12 clearly states, "If we endure (with Him is implied), we shall also reign with Him." However, in order to find the fullest meaning of the statement made to the overcomers in Revelation 13:10, "Here is the patience [ the endurance] and the faith of the saints," we have to consider Hebrews 12:1, 2.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Beloved, in these Scriptures e find the Faith of Jesus, the Endurance of Jesus, the Throne of Jesus; so let us do as this precious words says, Let us lay aside, strip off and throw aside, every encumbrance [every distraction] let us put off and away from ourselves once for all that sin which so easily entangles us ["that sin" - of allowing our natural man to rule in our lives], and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] unto Jesus, fixing our eyes on Jesus."
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 66)
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