Don’t Lose Heart
Encouragements that will prevent you losing heart for the victory to come.
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town 14th May 2023.

Despondency and apathy set in over time, when people start to think that their hope will be deferred.
Pro 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

James 1:1-4 Wuest’s Greek Translation of the New Testament
“James, a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, those in the dispersion. Be constantly rejoicing. Consider it a matter for unadulterated joy [without any admixture of sorrow] whenever you fall into the midst of variegated trials which surround you, knowing experientially that the approving of your faith, that faith having been put to the test for the purpose of being approved, and having met the test, has been approved, [that this approving process] produces a patience which bears up and does not lose heart or courage under trials. But be allowing the aforementioned patience to be having its complete work in order that you may be spiritually mature and complete in every detail, lacking in nothing.”

This phrase caught my attention:
“produces a patience which bears up and does not lose heart or courage under trials”

What does it mean to bear up under pressure during a trial?
There is a time to stand firm and carry the weight of responsibility that God has entrusted in your care.
That is not the time to lose heart and fear the unknown.

Encouragements that will prevent you losing heart for the victory to come.

1. Be strong and of good courage.
When you are on the brink of your promise land hear the words of the Lord:
“Jos 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Jos 1:6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Jos 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
It takes tremendous strength and courage to observe to do His word.

2. Use joy as s source of strength through the trial.
The joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh. 8:10
Endure for the joy set before you. Jesus is our example:
Heb 12:2 “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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The God of hope Himself fills us with all joy and peace in believing.
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God’s kingdom is a kingdom of joy in the holy Spirit!
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The thing about Christian joy is that is linked to what we believe, versus to what we see and receive! To adjust your life and reset your hope, adjust your intake and hearing of the preached word that produces faith. Learn to pray in the Holy Spirit and build up your faith.

3. Patience is a reward for enduring a process.
The process of our faith’s approval produces patience.

Patience is a force that helps us bear up under pressure, and not to lose heart. Patience gives us courage while we wait for the promised blessing, wit the full knowledge that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us His kingdom.
There is a scripture that gives us a clue as to how that kingdom is dispense in our lives:
Gal 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

What we draw from this passage includes the process of maturity. When God things we are ready, he releases new things that we have the capacity to enjoy and steward for others too.
I have been very aware of raising up a new generation of reformers that can be the faithful stewards of this move of God into its next phase.

“Having met the test, has been approved, [that this approving process] produces a patience which bears up and does not lose heart or courage under trials.”

Experience in the Lord’s grace and provision during trials of our faith, becomes a substance and material we can use to substantiate our hope for the future. God is our stone of help – Ebenezer!

In addition to maturity, patience completes every detail of your life. God uses patience to give you a total overhaul in every aspect of life. I once heard the Lord say to my spirit: “I am at work on your behalf.” This means a lot and we should a take a moment to consider the fact that God, Our Father, is at work on our behalf.
When we submit to his process that produces patience, He is giving the pace for grace to work. Grace is unmerited favour, but also an enabling force that is let lose in our beings and spheres of influence. It sanctifies us through the process and carries us while we are being worked on. Grace enables us to do things we never thought possible, because it accesses our spiritual DNA code and releases our true potential.
It changes our thinking and causes our inner systems to change to align with God’s will and ways of working. When this happens, we have a new power and faith to accomplish great exploits in His name, but not like before.

We won’t be so tired and feel like we are striving for nothing. Patience is a confident twin of our faith. Just wait, I’m busy!

Hear our Lord Jesus saying:
Don’t lose heart … I am your provider
Don’t lose heart … I am your healer
Don’t lose heart … I am your good Shepherd
Don’t lose heart … I heal your broken heart
Don’t lose heart … I am the rebuilder of ruins
Don’t lose heart … I am your Reconciler of relationships
Don’t lose heart … I am your salvation
Don’t lose heart … I am your solution
Don’t lose heart … I am the Christ in your crisis
Don’t lose heart … I am the door and your way of escape
Don’t lose heart … I am heling you finish what you started
Don’t lose heart … I am the baptizer with the Holy Spirit
Don’t lose heart … I am working on your behalf
Don’t lose heart … I am with you always
Don’t lose heart … I am coming for you and my Church!