We’ve often heard the saying that it is darkest before the dawn, meaning that often things get worse before they get better; so we should not admit defeat when victory is just ahead.
And we have Scriptures which give us this same encouragement:
- Galatians 6:9
- And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
- Hebrews 6:12
- That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Coming into the place that Jesus prepared for us does indeed require perseverance on our part. We need to remember this when we are tempted to give up and say that the Word isn’t working. When we plant the seed of God’s Word in our hearts, it will produce a harvest —IF we don’t give up, but rather continue in that Word (John 8:31).
Mark 4:14-17 ) The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
We shall reap, IF WE FAINT NOT
(Galatians 6:9).
Hebrews 12:1-3 … 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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
It is your mind that is the problem —the carnal mind which is the Satan, the accuser, the one that comes immediately to steal the Word that you have sown in your heart. You can count on it: whatever carnal belief which you have that is contrary to the Word of God will surface (manifest, appear) as soon as you sow that Word in your heart. (John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy)
But rejoice! The carnal mind (the devil; your own disposition) has only a short time to work:
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
—because darkness is ALWAYS dissolved by the light.
- John 12:46
- I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
- John 10:10
- The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
That abundant life is ours to enjoy if we will just continue in the Word
(John 8:31) and judge not by the appearance
(John 7:24). If I judge the appearance to be the reality (rather than the Word of God), I will begin to faint; and the Word will be stolen from my heart by my own carnal mind (the devil).
I must look at the things that are not seen, the things that are eternal (2Corinthians 4:18); and the faith of the Son of God
(which I now live by) will bring those things into manifestation (Hebrews 11:1; Galatians 2:20)–IF I faint not!
James 1:2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
I must not be double minded, looking first at the Word and then at the appearance. My eye must remain single.
Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
And when my whole body is full of light, no darkness can come in. It will be immediately dissolved by that light.
And this Scripture shall be my personal experience:
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.