November 5, 2024

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Ps 130:5-6 nkjv    Do you think faith, waiting, and patience are essential to walking in Scriptural pathways?

There is much written in the Scriptures concerning patience and waiting. I must confess, neither of these efforts are among my strong suits. We are told each man is given a measure of faith [from Yahweh]; patience and waiting we must work out on our own. It is also above my pay grade to explain why there must be suffering and struggles that can only be addressed with patience and waiting, and believing Yahweh’s Word that promises hope beyond our trials. The issue, it seems, is that these things are beyond our direct influence in the natural realm. Perhaps some of these troubles are necessary training for some future challenge that we need deep inner strength to overcome… consider this:

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” rev 14:12 nkjv    Preceding this verse, we see the judgment of wicked Babylon and its fall, with language concerning the beast and those who took its mark and worshiped it, and their torment in the eternal fire… these “patient” saints no doubt did suffer as suggested in the following verse”

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” rev 14:13 nkjv    AND,

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” rev 12:11 nkjv    Why were they “overcoming him [satan]?” We are told the devil [anti-christ/satan] was going all out to get them… “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” rev 12:17 nkjv

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:” rev 6:9 nkjv

As it appears to me, even after being martyred, these souls under the altar were being consoled and told to “wait” a bit longer…

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev 6:10-11 nkjv

We live in a troubled world; a world full of sinful people who truly do hate Yahweh, His Word, His people and His Messiah… I will suggest that the devil is now making war with the saints and that the evil onslaught will increase and intensify; perhaps we may be in or close to the opening of the fifth seal. Even so, the best I can tell, as related to the above thoughts, is that the answer to it all was written by David in Psalms long ago:

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” ps 37:7-9 nkjv

I think it seems likely that “overcoming” requires faith, patience, and waiting… I think that is why Yahweh sent us His Holy Spirit… to indwell us and strengthen us where/when we fall short. When Yeshua was speaking to the Laodicean church and reading off their miserable condition, He said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” rev 3:19-20 nkjv    AND, then He said:

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” rev 3:21 nkjv

Shalom, John