Sometimes we face trials

In life we encounter many difficulties. Even as an organisation we can have to face trials or having to look at people who tell lies about us and have people defending the false accuser.

Sometimes we lack this necessary wisdom to face trials and persevere faithfully. These are the times when our suffering is so overwhelming that we are tempted to question whether God is either sovereign or good or to come to question if the organisation we are with might be the right one.

In such circumstances we may not forget that the adversary of God may be everywhere and in all sorts of disguises. There are enough people who shall try to get you away from your church or from your faith group. Their aim shall be to discourage you and to destroy your faith in that group you where doing so much for.

Though when we look at the matter, take distance form it we shall see some good things in it as well. It shall give us an opportunity to check if we are connected  with the right persons. Also it shall remind us that if we lack the wisdom needed to face such trials with faith and steadfastness, we can ask God.
We should ask God.

We must ask God.

In the very first chapter of his letter, James reminds us that the God we are to ask is not only sovereign, He is also faithful.

Many people may try to annoy us and get us so far that we start doing the wrong things; They may tempt us or want us to lure in saying things which can harm us more.

Many may use many ways to tempt us or to get us so far that we might react in the way they would love us to see, bringing damage to us. God does not tempt us to sin; He is good. He doesn’t make fun of us when we ask for wisdom; He is the God who gives generously.

James 1:5 The Scriptures 1998+  (5)  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.

When tempted by evil doers, we should not be afraid to ask God for advice. At moments we may feel left abandoned. We may feel as if so many are turning against us. We also may feel like we once more failed.

When daring to talk to God and asking His advice, He shall come to us and by our guide. Our good and sovereign God will grant to us the very thing we are lacking, the very thing we need to face suffering well.

So, let us ask God for wisdom, believing that He is sovereign, faithful, and good, and that God uses our suffering to make us look more like Jesus.

James 1:4 The Scriptures 1998+  (4)  And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.

Life might not always be easy and may demand a lot of us. Often we have to show a lot of patience.

When believing in God, trusting Him, we might find out that everything comes all right in due time.

Do you believe? Ask Him! He is a generous God who delights in giving good gifts to His children in order that we may patiently and faithfully endure to the end.

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Additional reading

1. An other look at the events of today by one of our magazines
2. Today’s thought “Be aware of what went on” (August 15) He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.
3. The post-Christian world
4. Through much tribulation
5. About transgression, law and punishments
6. The ecclesia Facebook account from now on restricted access 
7. Golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters obedience
8. The Golden rule not always as easy as its sounds
9. Gates to different belief systems in this world
10. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 1 Charity and neighbour love
11. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 2 Prayer and neighbour love
12. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 3 Forgiveness and neighbour love
13. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 4 Treasures’ and neighbour love
14. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 5 Matthew 6: 24-34: e) Anxiety and neighbor love
15. Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 6: Matthew 7:1-5 Judgment and neighbor love
16. Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 8: Matthew 7:6-11 Giving and neighbor love
17. Matthew 7:12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Summary on the Torah’s Fulfillment
18. Matthew 7:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #1 The Narrow Gate and the way to destruction 
19. Religious Theology – The wide gate!

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Ability (part 6) Thought about the ability of God’s Provision Bringing Glory

God’s Provision

Brings Glory

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

Psalm 50:15

    Did you know that you bring glory to God by calling upon Him when you are in distress?

God promised He would deliver you if you turned to Him. You deny the Lord honour that is rightfully His every time you find yourself in difficulty and you fail to call upon Him for help! There may be times when God allows you to reach a point of need so that you can call upon Him, and thus let Him demonstrate to a watching world the difference He makes in the lives of His children.

If God never allowed you to experience need, people around you might never have the opportunity to witness God’s provision in the life of a Christian. If you never faced a shortfall, you might be tempted to feel self-sufficient and without any need of God in your daily life.

    Pride will tempt you to think that you do not need to seek God’s assistance. Self-regard will seek to convince you that you can handle your dilemma through your own wisdom, resources, and hard work. Pride will also rob glory from God and seek to give it to you. Don’t allow your pride to take what rightfully belongs to the Lord. Call upon your Lord and wait exclusively upon Him to rescue you. Then give Him the glory that He deserves.

    Self-sufficiency can greatly hinder your ability to experience God and bring Him honour. The next time you are in distress, turn to Him!

From Experiencing God day by day

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Preceding articles:

Ability
Ability (part 2)
Ability (part 3) Thoughts around Ability

Ability (part 4) Thought about the ability to have ability

Ability (part 5) Thought about the abilities to be under God's Spirit
Be not afraid of those trials which God may see fit to send upon thee

A Living Faith #4 Effort

Remember there's a light in the next day

If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling

Your struggles develop your strengths

Even in tough times remembering the blessings

Frank risks taking

The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears

Preaching to an unbelieving world

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Additional reading

1. Creation of the earth and man #23 Man in the image and likeness of the Elohim #7 Corporeal and spiritual change
2. Dealing with worries in our lives
3. Looking at three “I am” s
4. Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
5. the Bible – God’s guide for life #5 What is God like
6. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #15 Exposition before the Creator
7. Is God behind all suffering here on earth
8. Seeing or not seeing and willingness to find God
9. God’s never-ending stream of much-needed mercies
10. In Defense of the truth
11. May we have doubts
12. Fear in your own heart or outside of it
13. Watch out
14. Welcoming writing that can help to heal, to grow and to learn about ourself
15. Philippians 4:4–7 – Do Not Be Anxious
16. Ruth having reason to grief
17. How can we prepare for the Kingdom of God
18. He who knows himself, is kind to others
19. To Live Gratitude

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If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling

"If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling."
- Unknown

If we would talk less and pray more about them,
things would be better than they are in the world:
at least, we should be better enabled to bear them.
- John Owen

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:6

God, let me be free from problems.
My hope is always on You.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Als je problemen al langdurig zijn, probeer te knielen

English: John Owen (1616-1683) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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2013 update:

 

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Frank risks taking

"It has been my philosophy of life that
difficulties vanish when faced boldly."
- Isaac Asimov

Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life;
not a philosophy of life, but a living presence.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.
- Author Unknown

Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero;
better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth;
better to have taken some risks and lost
than to have done nothing and succeeded at it.
- Erwin W. Lutzer

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication ...
that utterance may be given to me,
that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains;
that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Ephesians 6:18-20

Lord God, give me boldness to speak
and let me step over the problems.
Give that I always shall do well the tasks given to me,
that I ask in Jesus name, amen.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Vrijmoedig risico’s nemen

Cover of Isaac Asimov

 

The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears

"The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears."
- Native American Saying

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves have received from God."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Lord teach me my grief to bear
and teach me to sea the positive side of my difficulties.
Let me also assist people who have difficulties
and let me comfort those who have grieve.

Dutch version > De ziel heeft geen regenboog als de ogen niet tranen

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2014 update:

 

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A Living Faith #4 Effort

A LIVING FAITH IN ACTION

Effort

Prev. > A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action 

Faith and works are inseparable; salvation requires both elements to be present and neither of these elements will be achieved without making an effort to overcome the natural tendencies of human nature. It takes an effort to learn and put into practice the Commandments of Christ.

However, although effort is required on our part, non-the-less faith and its works will not be achieved by personal strength. Trust and faith in the Lord Jesus comes first. It is only by remaining firmly rooted and grounded in him that faith will grow and produce works. Paul writes:

“For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:5-8

Firstly Paul speaks of remaining steadfast in faith. Life will throw many temptations, trials and difficulties in the path of all who truly seek to follow the Lord Jesus.  There will be times when these temptations and trials may feel overwhelming and maybe even insurmountable. Possibly there will be even times when the thought comes, ‘why me’? Nobody is unique in having this experience, for it will be something that all who diligently seek the Lord Jesus and strive to follow him will maybe feel. What really counts is how we respond to these trials and moments of weakness.

Now one option is to think that the path and effort needed is too much. Faith wavers, trust decreases which then leads to an attitude of ‘live for today, for tomorrow we die’.  Another option is giving way to despair; a longing for salvation may remain, but a deep abiding feeling of personal sin and unworthiness, hangs like a black cloud overhead. This may lead to an attitude of ‘I have done so much wrong, sin feels overwhelming, and therefore I must have failed’.  However, there is a third option, the one that fights despondency and puts faith into action. 

So, how can we put faith into action? Well in the quote from Colossians Ch.2 Paul continues by exhorting believers to walk in Christ, being rooted in him and established in faith. If we ‘walk in Christ’ then in effect we will obey and follow His Commandments. Faith does not give up, rather faith acknowledges personal failure and inabilities, it perseveres and remains in Christ.  Faith does not surrender to despair, but continues to be active:

Ø  A living faith trusts and has hope.

Ø  A living faith confesses sin, repents and endures.

Ø  A living faith realises that Yahweh has in Jesus provided the means of reconciliation and paved the way for mercy and forgiveness.

Apart from Christ we are and can do nothing. But through him all things are possible for as Jesus said “all things are possible to him who believes." Remember the allegory that Jesus used when he described himself in these words:  ‘I am the true vine’. Jesus is the root stock that nourishes the whole vine, thus he continued:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Without Christ we are powerless and without hope. However, if we remain in him then despite our weaknesses, despite our failures and despite our personal sense of sin, we will ultimately bear fruit. We will produce the works of faith.

Therefore with this in mind, we must take to heart the third point from the quote in Colossians Ch. 2 where Paul warns against being led astray by what he terms ‘empty deceit’ and the ‘traditions of men’. There is only one Truth, only one path, only one Lord. Did not Jesus say: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the one true Gospel message. Paul warned the early disciples saying “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another” Gal 1:6. The same message applies equally as much in this age:

F There is no other gospel, no other path to salvation than that clearly shown in scripture.

F We know, believe and obey the one gospel message or we do not. There is no middle ground, no alternative way.

F Only if we walk according to the Word can we have fellowship

F We must avoid those things and people that could lead us astray

Thus again Paul writes:

“I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you” 1Cor 15:1-2

Only if we receive the Word of Truth and stand firm by making the effort to “hold fast the pattern of sound words … in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2Tim1:13) will faith be something living and active in our lives.

Without daily exercise and the correct diet the body soon becomes flabby and out of condition.  Likewise without exercising faith and having a well balanced scriptural diet, we become spiritually flabby and spiritually out of condition. In its extreme lack of physical exercise and poor diet leads to obesity and premature death.  In a similar way, unless we make the effort to feed on the Word and grow spiritually, faith will die! Now Paul exhorts:

“…exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim 4:7-8

So once again we see that it is a matter of character development and having the right attitude of mind. Effort and exercise in spiritual matters is the beginning of exhibiting the works of a living faith.  Paul sums up some of these works saying:

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Romans 12:10-12

Note those active words, denoting effort and describing some attributes of a living faith:

Ø  Diligence

Ø  Fervent

Ø  Patient

Ø  Steadfast

Ø  and the implied humility and selflessness.

If the effort is made to acquire these attributes then we will indeed rejoice in hope, for our eyes will be focussed upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The wisdom of Solomon gives the final word:

“diligence is man’s precious possession”… ..“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction” Proverbs 12:27; 13:1

Are you wise? Are you heeding Yahweh and obeying His instruction?  Are you making the effort to develop a living faith?

To be continued …….A Living Faith #5 Perseverance

Andy Peel

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In this series:
A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
A living faith #2 State of your faith
A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
A Living Faith #4 Effort
A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
A Living faith #7 Prayer
A Living Faith #8 Change
A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
A Living Faith #11 My place in the body of Christ and my ecclesia
A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus


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2016 January update

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