Garry spoke from Colossians 1:9-14, Paul’s prayer that the Colossians may have great endurance and patience. Sometimes we possess innate gifts from God, talents that we have from birth and which can be nurtured and developed. Other gifts come directly from the Holy Spirit, often termed the ‘gifts of the Spirit‘ (listed in 1 Cor 12, including gifts of inspiration such as the ability to speak in other languages or interpret these or the gift of prophecy, gifts of revelation (e.g. messages of wisdom and knowledge and the discernment of spirits) and gifts of power (faith, healing, miraculous powers.)) The Holy Spirit gives other gifts, however. In Ex 31:1-6 we read how He gave Bezalel ‘wisdom… understanding… knowledge… and… all kinds of skills to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all knids of crafts.’ God is able to give us different gifts to fulfil His purpose at specific times.
God can give us the gift of prayer (see Rom 8:26), the gift of hope (Rom 15:13) and the gift of encouragement (2 Thess 2:16-17). We all have different gifts (Rom 12:5-8). and certainly encouragement is needed if we are to persevere and endure (see Acts 4:36-37, Acts 11:22-26). Paul prayed for the Colossians to have the ability to endure, to persevere, to hold fast. He had experienced pressures far beyond his own ability to endure (see 2 Cor 1:8-9). but had seen God’s help and deliverance in his own life, which encouraged him to pray for the Colossians too. This gift of endurance helps us to be faithful witnesses for Christ.
Endurance is about more than grim determination and ‘clinging on to the bitter end.’ The endurance God gives is fuelled by the joy which He also provides and therefore we can be strengthened, can rejoice and can hold on, knowing that we have been rescued by God and can trust Him to see us through.