Jesus said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but those who stand firm to the end will be saved.  (Matt :24)

                             So, we find that the Lord is talking about endurance. 

Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship or adversity.  It can also mean sustaining prolonged stressful effort.  When things are too easy, endurance does not increase, but when things are too difficult, an athlete may give up before reaching the goal.  Therefore, they train for endurance.

                                                   Our Spiritual endurance.

If we don’t build our spiritual endurance, we will find it increasingly harder to remain steadfast in our faith under pressure.  Therefore, we must purposefully build our spiritual endurance “muscle.”

The Parable of the Sower gives a clear picture of Believers who lack endurance.  Those whose hearts are stony ground: “have no root in themselves and endure only for a time. “(Mark 4:17)

 The parable of the man who built his house on the sand.  (Matt 7: 24-27) When troubles come this house will fall.  But not the wise man who built his house on the rock.  This house stands firm.  Thus, building a house on a solid foundation demands endurance from the builder.  That’s us.

 Steps to building our spiritual endurance.

1. Make an unwavering commitment to the Lord. ….in our suffering or times of trouble we have hope.  God hears us.  We know that our hope comes from Him.  Whatever He allows for us, we know it is planned and in that we have our hope.   (Romans 5:3-5)

1. See the unseen……  We must look at this world through a spiritual lens, looking beyond our physical existence on this earth to eternal things that don’t decay.
2. Never give up………Never give up, even when you fail.  The Lord understands so pick yourself up and move on.  Can you and I admit when we are wrong?  Excuses come easily; confessions are difficult.
3. Remember the reward.  Scripture pictures our lives on earth as a race.   Paul says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of the God in the Messiah. ((Phil. 3:14)

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.  There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day.”   (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

                                          Let us say…………Amen!