Patient Endurance (Revelation 1:9)

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus…
– Revelation 1:9

What an intro! This is John writing the book of Revelation. From the very beginning, he is saying, “Here’s who I am.” And he’s writing this letter to brothers and sisters in Christ, different churches. He says, “I am your brother.“

So, this is a picture of us as family together. “I’m your partner.” We are alongside each other in these things. You’re my partner in the tribulation; we’re alongside each other in trials. And I’m your partner in the kingdom, so we’re alongside each other in the kingdom of God.

And then, this is the phrase I really want to hone in on and lead us to pray according to: “I’m your partner in the patient endurance that is in Jesus.” What a phrase that we see multiple times in the book of Revelation. We’re alongside each other, patiently enduring. Just think about what that means in the context here in Revelation. John is writing to Christians who were being persecuted, who were suffering because of their faith in Jesus.

And from the very beginning, John is saying, “Let’s patiently endure together.” As I read this, we’re obviously not in the same shoes. I’m not John, and we’re not in first-century Rome, experiencing persecution and suffering specifically because of our faith in Jesus to where our lives are being threatened—at least for most of us.

But I do want to say to you… part of me wants to look you in the eye, or any of you who are followers of Jesus, and to say: I, David, I’m your brother. As we’re praying together on this podcast, we’re doing this as family. We’re family together. And I’m your partner. I’m alongside you in trials, in the kingdom of God, and in patient endurance.

I’m just assuming there’s some need for patient endurance in your life today. Maybe that’s because of sin you’re battling with that is such a besetting influence in your life, meaning it just feels relentless. And patient endurance is called for, just to keep pressing in, to keep fighting that battle by the power of the Holy Spirit in you. We all battle with sin, and we battle with suffering: anxiety, hurts, pain, sorrow, struggles, discouragement, disillusionment. I could go on and on. I don’t mean to be depressing, but I do mean to be true. We live in a fallen world where we need patient endurance in Jesus. And we’re in that together.

So I just want to pray that over you and us. God, we pray for patient endurance today. We pray that you’d help us to endure faithfully all day today, and then again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. God, help us to endure temptation, to say no to sin. Please help us to be patient. We long for the day when sin is no more, when temptation is no more. So God, help us to patiently endure, to fight the fight of faith against temptation and sin today.

And God, we pray that you would help us to patiently endure whatever we’re walking through in this fallen world. It’s hard; it’s heavy on our hearts. God, help us to patiently endure in Jesus, in the one who promises to give us all the strength we need today, all the peace we need today, all the joy we need today, all the wisdom we need today. Everything we need today, we have in you, Jesus. So help us to patiently endure as we wait for the day when sin and suffering will be no more, and sorrow and pain will be no more. We know, we believe, we trust that day is coming. We can’t wait for that day, Lord Jesus. And so we pray that you would help us to patiently endure today, and tomorrow, and the next day, as long as you give us breath.

And God, as we are family, partnering together in all these ways, help us to work together well for the spread of your kingdom, for the spread of your love, for the spread of the strength and joy and peace and wisdom and life that are found in you, Jesus. Help us to patiently endure as we share the gospel, make disciples today and tomorrow and the next day. And God, we pray that you’d help us to faithfully do that among all the nations.

A Prayer for the Algerian People

We pray specifically today for the Algerian people, for thirty-eight million Algerians who have little to no knowledge of your love for them in Jesus, and knowing that it’s hard to spread the gospel in Algeria.

God, we pray for patient endurance for our brothers and sisters there, the small number who are there, and we pray that you would help us to be faithful partners with them, praying for them and coming alongside them in any way you call us to. God, we pray right now for patient endurance over our brothers and sisters in Algeria, and we pray for the spread of the good news of Jesus across Algeria.

All of this, O God, we pray as brothers and sisters and partners together in tribulation and your kingdom and in patient endurance. In Jesus’ name, amen.