Joel 2:25-27; Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 33:18-22
Faith is indispensable to the Christian life. It is not only the key that opens the door to the Kingdom, but also, the determinant of the beneficiaries of the exceeding and precious promises of God.
Persistent pain and distresses in this life often perplex many believers.
Patience is a prerequisite for Divine Restoration for every believer seeking a way out of “the sufferings of this present time”, be they self-inflicted or heaven-sent for the refinement of the virtues of the believer.
Powerful performance of Divine Restoration awaits believers who marry faith with patience.
“Daily living by faith on Christ is what makes the difference between the sickly and the healthy Christian, between the defeated and the victorious saint”– A.W. Pink.
P1. Persistent Pain, Distress and Ruefulness
Job 1:1-3,13-22; 2:6-10; 1 Samuel 30:1-6; Mark 5:25-27; Leviticus 15:19,25-27
Don’t despair, sulk and sink in your distress:
- God will turn your pain to your gain; you disappointment to His appointment
- Job lost his health and wealth, but he jealously guarded his innocence and integrity
- Conquer your persistent pain, distress and ruefulness (regrets, sorrow and sadness) with persistent faith, determination and a renewed sense of hope
“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.” — C. S. Lewis.
P2. The Prerequisite of Patience in ‘Delayed’ Recovery
Job 13:15-18; 14:14; 19:25-27; 42:1,2; 1 Samuel 30:6-16; Mark 5:25-28; James 5:7-11
Restoration is birthed when faith marries patience:
- Faith and patience are inseparable; they are two sides of the same coin
- Patience is an undeniable proof of faith – the greatest test of faith is patience
- Don’t equate patience with passivity
- The patient doesn’t give in to: Pressure, Anxiety, Tantrums, Indifference, Exasperation, Nagging and Temptations (Romans 5:3-5; 12:12; Isaiah 28:16)
“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it”– Arnold Glasow.
P3. Powerful Performance of Divine Restoration
Ephesians 3: 20; Isaiah 61:1-7; 1 Samuel 30:8,17-20; Mark 5:25-30,34; Job 42:10-17;1:3
God rewards persistent faith and patience with Divine Restoration:
- We ought to emulate the paths followed by the saints of old for Divine Restoration
- Other miracle-seekers were captivated by the example of the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 14:34-36)
- God restores to the afflicted, righteous, and patient believers more than they have lost
“Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation… Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian” – Andrew Murray.