869.

"BUT LET ENDURANCE HAVE ITS WORK COMPLETE, THAT YOU MAY BE COMPLETE AND SOUND IN ALL RESPECTS, NOT LACKING IN ANYTHING". (James 1:4).

Endurance: Bearing or surviving; patient suffering; lasting quality. (Chambers Dictionary).

LET ENDURANCE HAVE ITS WORK COMPLETE? -- WHAT WORK?
Jesus gave an illustration to those who were not granted to understand the sacred secrets of God. (Luke 8:5-15). In verse 13 he says: "Those upon the rock-mass are the ones who, when they hear it, receive the word with joy, but these have no root; they believe for a season, but in a season of testing they fall away".

But in verse 15 he says: "As for that on the fine soil, these are the ones that, after hearing the word with a fine and good heart, retain it and bear fruit with endurance." The Greek Interlinear Translation reads: "they are bearing fruit in endurance." To test whether one is sufficiently rooted in the faith to be able to survive seasons of testing and still retain one's faith through such tribulation, the spiritual quality of endurance is essential. When the completion of this all-important work of endurance has been achieved, one has endured these "various trials" until the quality of one's faith has been brought to a perfected state. (James 1:2-4).

WHEN IS ENDURANCE COMPLETE?
It is complete when all doubts about God and His incoming Kingdom and government are removed, and on "hearing the word with a fine and good heart" one retains it and bears good "fruit" with endurance (V.15); until the Word from God (His Will for us) has finally become our own new and unchanging nature. This is so that instinctively we are able to identify righteousness and separate ourselves from the deep destructive works of satan's invisible hordes, knowing accurately the Will of God by the Word He gives, and by faith "do it". (Luke 8:21 NWT). Just as a rotten fruit tree cannot bear good fruit, so it is with persons having merely physical appreciations, they cannot bear the fruitages of the Spirit. (Matt 7:17-20. Jude V.4-19). But what does it mean to be "complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything"? The answer is written in Luke 8:15. Yes, one must "bear fruit with endurance".

In Galatians 5:22,23 there is listed these fruitages of the spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. To be "complete and sound" "not lacking in anything", one must endure under "various trials" (James 1:2) and still retain these qualities. It is in this way that one "bears fruit with endurance", that one is rooted in the faith, and is bringing one's "fruit" to perfection.

Conversely, those who are carried away by anxieties, riches, and pleasures of this life, are "completely choked and bring nothing to perfection". (Luke 8:14). They do not bring to perfection the fruitages of the spirit in their own natures, because in a "season of testing" such fruitages are not evident in endurance. Further, fruitages of the spirit need to be understood.

Example (1): Love "does not rejoice in unrighteousness". (1 Cor 13:6). So while Jesus himself was complete as a man of peace, he overturned the tables of moneychangers in the temple    for peace. (John 2:15-17)

Example (2): Softly-spoken persons may seem to have an appearance of wisdom and humility but inside prove to be "ravenous wolves". (Matt 7:15. Col 2:23).

Now as the wrath of God is coming in relation to fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, covetousness, and idolatry (Col 3:5,6), how should sons of God anointed with a portion of His Holy Spirit be toward their spiritual work in Christ's congregations?  See John 2:15-17.

17/4/80.

 

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