The Church today (by and large) is weak and anemic and we need to strengthen our grip on God, and determine to hold fast not only to the faith, but faith itself. We need patience to wait upon God, faith to stand firm upon the promises of God, and hold on until the answer comes.
Jesus gave this parable to the people and said, (Luke 18:1) “Men ought ‘Always’ to pray and not ‘Faint”. He told us we were to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking until the answer came. We were not to become weary in well-doing, for we should surely reap if we wouldn’t faint, cave in, or give up (Gal. 6:9) “And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we should reap if we do not faint”.
Today we are spoiled because of instant everything. Instant (fast-foods), instant knowledge (through Google search). This instant (give me what i want right now) has weakened us, destroyed our ability to wait for anything we need or want. It has produced an impatience that can’t endure any trial, hardship, or pain. It has robbed us of self-control and it has become one of the great sins and plagues of our lives and churches today. GOD HELP US.
I believe one important element of recovery is ‘WAITING UPON THE LORD’. Waiting upon the Lord, is a practice of getting still before the Lord, and waiting expectantly in silence and quietness for periods of time (10, 30, 60, minutes or more, until we hear from God). (Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint’. My brother/sister, that’s strength, that’s power, that’s endurance, that’s joy, that’s staying power, and that’s victory, praise God.
We all like instant answers to our prayers, but when in our weakened, give in, give up mentality, the answer requires that we hold on and fold fast for hours, maybe all day, and all night, and maybe longer we faint and cave in. (I’m preaching to myself as well as you). This is a teaching the whole church needs. Child of God, Paul writes to the Ephesians 6:10 (and us today) “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil”. We need to do things God’s way (which is never the easy way), but is the best way and experiences no failures along the way. Our soul and spirit needs to hold on to another’s soul and spirit in faith, encouraging others that the answer is on the way, but the Devil must be defeated by standing steadfastly against him with the Word in faith. God cannot fail, and we cannot succeed without Him. Remember, All things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26), and Jesus said in (Mark 9:23), “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes”.
We can and will become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Amen.
