The War in Your Mind Pt. 2

Why does Paul say suffering produces endurance, and endurance character, and character hope?

Paul writes to a church that has already been through the worst and tells them the sequence runs forward, not backward. Lee Warren made the same case from brain science: a person who has survived small hard things learns they will survive the larger ones. The chain Paul describes is not a slogan but a road someone actually walks.

Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:3–5

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2–4

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—…

1 Peter 1:6–7

What did Jesus mean when he told the seventy-two they had authority over all the power of the enemy?

Jesus sends out a group of ordinary followers and gives them delegated authority, the way an army gives a private the backing of the whole chain of command. Ron Tucker drew on his own days as a private to make the point: the power is not in the man, it is in whose name he carries. Luke records the seventy-two coming back stunned that it worked.

Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

Luke 10:19

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17–20

These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Mark 16:17–18

Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9–11

Why does David argue with himself in Psalm 62 instead of praying one steady prayer?

David starts by telling his soul to wait quietly, then breaks into a rant about enemies who flatter to his face and curse in their hearts, then pulls himself back to the same refrain. Ron Tucker calls it a roller coaster and says that is what prayer often looks like. David had already sung his rescue out loud after Saul's men chased him cave to cave, so he knew how to be honest in front of God.

My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress. I will never be greatly shaken. How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalms 62:1–8

I love you, Yahweh, my strength. Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalms 18:1–3

Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth. Job answered: “Let the day perish in which I was born, the night which said, ‘There is a boy conceived.’

Job 3:1–3