Revelation 3:11Amplified Bible

¹¹ I am coming quickly. Hold tight what you have, so that no one will take your crown [by leading you to renounce the faith].

In this passage the church of Philadelphia was being warned of an upcoming persecution. The call was to take courage and be bold in the face of persecution so that their faith would remain in tact. The power to do this comes only from the Holy Spirit. There’s also other ways satan will slip in to try and take your crown. Most often it comes from people thrown into our life’s that cause chaos and wreak havoc. In these moments we must remember 3 things. Number one: we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood but rather satan (Eph 6). People will always be people and when satan is using a person to test your patience, remember that it’s not the person we must fight, it’s satan! Number 2: Matt5:44 teaches to love the people and pray for them anyway. Even if they’re against you, persecuting you, using you, we must remember to still do good! Scripture says overcome evil with good! Number 3: We must remember who we are in Christ! We can never allow anybody to get us out of Christian character. But if our crown gets knocked sideways, don’t fear! Just straighten your crown! And continue the work God has called you to. (1 Peter 2 ⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.)

God has called us to be separate from the world! Straighten your crown and move forward! For you belong to the King of Kings!!!

Matthew 6:14-15
Amplified Bible
14 For if you forgive [a]others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

FORGIVENESS!
This is something we all want. It’s one of the easiest things in the world to accept, yet the hardest to give away. Harboring the feelings of being hurt is like a cancer that will rot the soul. It robs you of joy and steals your time, captivates your thoughts, dictates your actions, and makes you a slave to the pain the situation created to get you to that point. The grudge that you hold in your heart is like a dark plague that not only torments you but hangs like a shadow over everyone you love. The pain will begin to effect the ones you hold dear as you punish them for the pain inflicted on you from other people. This pain will be felt in your dreams as you sleep and be played over and over in all your life experiences as you look for the next blow to come from those you desperately want to trust. This cancer of unforgivable circumstances will destroy you from the inside out and take away from each beautiful relationship you could’ve had. The longer you hang on to the pain the more irreparable damage will be done until you’re reduced to a prisoner of a dark empty shell of who you use to be. You’ll look for the worst in every person and every situation until you find yourself unable to see good and beauty in anything. And despite knowing this it’ll feel impossible to JUST LET GO! When you finally get to the end of your rope you realize the pain caused by holding the grudge doesn’t even compare to the small inconvenience of the pain that caused the grudge. Scream to yourself today…. I will no longer allow these past hurts to weigh me down! I’ll no longer be bitter and calloused! I’ll no longer be a prisoner to the pain! I’ll break free from the chains and LET GO! The pain will not rule me anymore! Today I break free!
JUST LET GO!!!!!

Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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.

Hupomone pronounced, hoop-om-on-ay. It is the Greek word for patience in this passage. It means endurance, steadfastness, the idea is a NO QUIT ATTITUDE! But let’s break it down. There’s several things this scripture says we need to do in running this race. First, be encouraged that others have ran this race of faith in Christ and they’re witnesses to the fact that it’s worth every pain. You can find these in Hebrews chapter 11. Second, the writer says, “lay aside every weight, and sin that would hinder our running. It’s time to shed anything that you drags you down. All of these aren’t necessarily sin. Sin still needs to be dealt with and we should strive to live a life free from sin. When Christ died on the cross and rose again, it didn’t only take care of the consequences of sin, but also frees us from the power of sin. John 8:34-36. This weight could be worry, anxiety, maybe relationships, or anything hindering you relationship to Christ. He says shed it all! And he also says, keep your eyes on Christ! The author and finisher of your faith! When you continue on, it teaches that we can be encouraged by considering all Christ has overcome for us! John 16:33 says that though we have tribulation in this world we can be of good cheer knowing Christ has overcome the world! But finally, the writer says “run with patience”! That’s hupomone. Years ago my wife and I visited Panama City Beach, Fl. It just so happened the iron man triathlon was going on. After swimming and riding bikes they ran. This started just before daylight and they were still running late into the evening. We watched as they ran up the strip, down the strip, and back again. One lady stood out from the rest. She wasn’t the fastest, she didn’t appear to be the strongest, she didn’t have on the coolest outfit. She was EXHAUSTED! Her feet were barely moving, drenched in sweat, her pant leg was torn just at the bend of her knee, and her leg covered in blood from what looked like a nasty fall. Her elbows and hands scraped up. But a face full of determination! She wasn’t worried about the cost, only the finish! That’s what HUPOMONE looks like! So what is this race? Living a life that glorifies God. Reading the word, going to church, maintaining a strong prayer life, but most importantly doing good to others in an effort to show them the love of Christ. Running this race is making an impact for The Lord. While running this race, you’ll have many falls, bumps, bruises. You’ll carry many scars and heartaches! I know you may be weary, but press on knowing the reward is well worth the pain!
HUPOMONE!!!!

Galatians 6:9King James Version

⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Genesis 41:1King James Version

41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

Have you ever been in a place where you felt forsaken? That your prayers wasn’t heard and God was nowhere around? This is precisely where Joseph was. Joseph was a young Hebrew boy that had a dream that his family would bow to him. He was also his dad’s favorite. Because of this, his brothers threw him in a pit with plans to leave him for dead. They eventually had a change of heart and sold him into slavery. And now as a grown man in Genesis chapter 41, Joseph is setting in prison for a crime he never committed. While in prison he interprets his cell mates dream and tells him, “when you get out, don’t forget me”. His cell mate (the cupbearer for pharaoh) gets out of prison and reinstated to his position serving pharaoh, just as Joseph had said. But it’s been 2 years and the cupbearer has still yet to remember Joseph.
This has got to be a horrible time for Joseph. He’s been waiting 2 years for the cupbearer to mention his name. Joseph could’ve very easily had the same attitude that we often get. The attitude of Where’s God in this? Why won’t God do something?! But without Joseph’s knowledge God was working. This dream pharaoh had was exactly the opportunity the cupbearer needed to mention the name of Joseph. You see The Lord had been setting things in order for Joseph before he ever experienced the problem. Matt 6:8 says God knows your needs before you ask! We must learn to trust in God even in those times we feel imprisoned and forsaken.

Psalms 27:14

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

After this, the cupbearer tells Pharaoh of this Hebrew servant that interprets dreams. Pharaoh calls, and after Joseph gives God glory for the interpretation, pharaoh sets him up as 2nd in command of all Egypt. Shortly after, Joseph’s dream is realized! Trust God today! He hears your prayers and is working on your behalf!

Proverbs 18:24

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” 

King James Version (KJV)

It’s very hard in this day to find a solid friend. One who will support, encourage, and seek after your best interest without any ulterior motives. This life can get pretty lonesome and dog eat dog sometimes. But there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. It’s thought provoking that Prov 17:17 teaches that a brother is born for adversity. In other words it’s a brother that you can count on even in the hardest of times. But the scripture says there’s one that sticks even closer. So many times we get so overwhelmed by the struggles of life that we feel all by ourselves. Maybe it’s the passing of a loved one and you feel nobody understands. You feel that nobody has empathy or sympathy. Maybe it’s a horrible break up or a close friend betraying you. It could be a mental, emotional, or spiritual storm that has raged on for years sucking all the energy out of you, leaving you without any joy and full of hopelessness. Maybe right now you’re in the darkest place you’ve ever been and feel forsaken and forgotten. There’s a friend that will be by your side. This friend loves you so much that he died for you even as you were a sinner. (Romans 5:8). He’s so much more than a friend King David calls him a shepherd that will provide,protect, and comfort us even in the valley of death! (Psalms 23) The writer of Hebrews calls him our high priest, that encourages us to come to the throne of Grace with confidence, in time of despair! Peter refers to him as savior. (2 Peter 1:1). Paul when come face to face with him on the road to Damascus refers to him as Lord. (Acts 9). He’s been called so many things. The Lilly of the valley, the rose of Sharon. In the gospel of John it’s taught the he’s the creator of all creation. But the most precious to me is friend. Yes he’s our savior! Yes he’s our Lord! But who are we that the creator of the world, the one who hung the stars, and tells the ocean where to stop, who according to Colossians 1:17 holds all things together, would take the time to be our friend? But not just a friend but a friend who sticks closer than s brother! This man is Jesus Christ and he’s promised to never leave or forsake us. Even in our deepest, darkest valleys, Christ can be found by our side. Call on the name of Christ and I assure that you’ll find a friend you can count on!