WOO-HOO, BLESS GOD – OUR GUY IS BACK!!

A big, “THANK YOU!” to everyone for their prayers for Bill. He’s still giving the devil a fist in the face and your prayers are helping. Keep it up!!

CONSTANCY, PERSISTENCE, FAITHFULNESS

At first glance these three words may seem to be synonymous. But, as Rush Limbaugh has famously opined, “Words mean things.” While that may sound painfully obvious, it really is not. There’s a word that I am very fond of using – “nuance”. It is THAT word which really gets to the heart of the differences in the ones above.

Constancy: “The quality of being faithful and dependable. The quality of being enduring and unchanging”. Interesting. GOD is portrayed in the scripture as being “Constant”, i.e., “Unchanging” “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” Malachi 3:6.

As His children, we are expected to learn and practice CONSTANCY in our lives. “… and be not weary in well doing, for in due season, if you do not faint, give up, or change course then you shall reap a harvest.” Galatians 6:9 – (My translation from the Greek).

We all desire to see a “harvest” from our efforts here on earth; be that in the natural or in the spiritual realm. Such a “harvest” will ONLY come if we are CONSTANT (unwavering) in our labors. “But you must ask (pray) in faith, without doubting (nothing wavering), because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.…”. James 1:6-8 OUCH! We MUST display and practice CONSTANCY.

Persistence: “Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” Our GOD loves and blesses persistence! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 (See, also Luke 11:9-10, Luke 18:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, and MANY other scriptures which speak of and encourage persistence.)

Faithfulness:   “True to one’s word, promises, vows, etc. Reliable, trusted, believed.” Who is the one who is faithful and true? It is GOD HIMSELF. As His children, we are expected to display this virtue in our lives. “Moreover it is required in stewards that they be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 In other words, faithfulness is not an option for us; it is a REQUIREMENT. There are hundreds of verses that speak to the issue of faithfulness, but I think that this one speaks most eloquently and succinctly. (Some other references include Hebrews 3:2, Luke 16:10, Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 27:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Matthew 25:21, etc).

Do you see the differences between these “synonyms?” The meanings of these words are quite nuanced (ie “characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression”) and their scriptural applications in our lives are very different one from another.

So, why have I chosen to “hammer” on these words and their meanings? Because, I believe, that we are in a time when we MUST demonstrate these qualities in our prayer lives. ENI, after all, is a prayer focused ministry, and it is very likely that YOU, too, are a “PRAY-ER”. So, as you pray, I encourage you to be:

“CONSTANT” , i.e., be dependable! How often have words similar to these escaped our lips AND our hearts in the very same moment? “Brother (Sister) I will pray for you!”. If you say it, HE expects you to DO IT.

“PERSISTENT” – if you are going to take a matter before the Lord in prayer, then be tireless! It is not that I believe God “forgets” we have come to Him in prayer on a given matter but, persistence is something that HE HONORS. (See Colossians 4:2-6 and Luke 18:1-8.) In short, WE are the ones who are in need of what persistence develops in US.

“FAITHFUL” – I think that one of the best messages that I have ever heard on this was preached by my “North Carolina Pastor”, Larry Cole. His message was taken from Revelation 17:14 (NIV): “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings–and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” Faithfulness in a “follower of the Lord” is required and it imparts POWER. Be devoted! As Pastor Larry preached it, “Many are called, few are chosen, and even fewer are found to be FAITHFUL”. Those who are found faithful are given both the power and the privilege of triumphing WITH THE LORD.

So my dear friends, be CONSTANT, be PERSISTENT, and be FAITHFUL. You can DO THIS!!! When you do, I believe you will experience new levels of power and answered prayer in your lives. As my friend and mentor Esther says, “PRAYMORE!!”

Till next month …

Bill