Songs in the night Worship God only

Songs in the night

Get thee hence, Satan:
for it is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
and him only shalt thou serve.
— Matthew 4:10

DURING the forty days in the wilderness our Lord had come to see that the dominion of earth could be attained only through great
suffering.
He was weak from his long fast, and all the details of prophecy were
before his mind. He saw himself as a lamb dumb before his shearers; as the serpent lifted up in the wilderness.
Satan’s suggestion was a temptation, but after consideration he saw that Satan was asking him to violate his covenant
— to go contrary to God’s will.
Immediately he answered, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve.”
Then the devil left the Lord, finding nothing to work upon
— so loyal was Jesus to the Word of Jehovah.
Afterwards the angels came and ministered unto him. —Z. 1912-262 (Hymn 200)

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Partakers of His Suffering

Partakers of His Suffering

        . . . but rejoice         to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . . 
       — 1 Peter 4:13       

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, "Oh, I can’t deal with that person." Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.

The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered "according to the will of God" ( 1 Peter 4:19 ), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the "long road home."

Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not  knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— "God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!"

 - Oswald Chambers


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2016 linkupdate

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Rejoice even though bound to grieve

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (1Pe 1:6 NIV)

 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1Pe 4:12-13 NIV)

 “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,” (Heb 12:5 NIV)

 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:11 NIV)

 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Heb 4:15 NIV)

 “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Heb 2:18 NIV)

 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1Co 10:13 NIV)

Read more:
About suffering
Miracles in our time of suffering
Suffering
Suffering continues
Suffering leading to joy
Suffering-through the apparent silence of God

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Jubelen alhoewel ook droevig

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Christ Suffering (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Suffering redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin

surrendersacrifice has posted a new topic entitled "Why is suffering redemptive?" in forum "General Theology" on Bible Truth.

Suffering is redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin through His suffering.  Jesus invites us to join Him in His redemptive work by allowing us to enter into His suffering (which we encounter while doing His work) (Colossians 1:24).  Therefore, to be worthy of Christ we must deny our self, take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38 & 16:24; Mark 8:34; & Luke 9:23 and 14:27). Even the personal sufferings we encounter in life when suffered with faith in Christ (which means that we believe that God will bring out of our suffering) is redeeming because it produces endurance, character and hope (Romans 5:2-3); enables us to overcome sin; and enables us to share in His life (1Peter 4:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:19-21).  Suffering makes us humble; humility teaches us to rely on God; and reliance God frees us of selfishness (which is the cause of all sins). Quite often we are afraid of suffering, however we must remember that Jesus will lighten our burden (if we trust Him) (Matthew 11:30); and that the sufferings of the present is nothing compared to the glory that awaits those who trust Him (Romans 8:18).

A love not exempting us from trials

"God's love for us is not a love that always exempts us from trials,
but rather, a love that sees us through trials."
- Anonymous

“If we open our heart for the love of God
we  get more ‘breathing space’
and more easily can we aim ourselves  to the will of God.”
 - Marcus Ampe

“The love of God is an one of the largest realities in the universe
A pillar on which the hope of the world rests.
But it is also a personal intimate matter.

God does not love races, he loves people.
He does not love masses, but people.
- A. W. Tozer

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts …"
Romans 5:3-5

God, our maker, give that we can be formed for the  good by You.
Give us your fatherly love and lead us not in temptation
but release us of angriness and evil
and give that we can share your love with others.

Dutch version / Nederlandstalige versie > Een liefde die ons niet vrijstelt van verzoeking

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Reacting to Disasters

Reacting to Disasters
Whenever there is a disaster in the world, we find ourselves both troubled by the suffering and loss of life involved and by the questions asked about why God allows such things to happen. 

There are no ‘easy’ answers, as Job was to discover as he struggled with the catastrophes that overtook him and his family. Of course his friends were convinced that he was being deliberately punished by God. But their understanding was discredited by God himself, who declared they had “not spoken of me what is right” (Job 42:7). 

Many years later, the Lord Jesus Christ was asked about the massacre of Galileans in Jerusalem by Roman soldiers. The case of the Tower of Siloam, also in Jerusalem, was also fresh in their minds. It had collapsed and killed eighteen people. Jesus asks the rhetorical question: “Do you think that [the people who suffered] were worse sinners than all other men?” He provides the answer: “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-5). 

> > > Click to read the full article

Also of interest: Read:  Haïti: did God cause the earthquake?

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Heed of the Saviour

“For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:” (1Co 1:26 ASV)

 “Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, And let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah.” (Ps 27:14 ASV)

 “but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.” (Jas 1:14 ASV)

 “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (Ro 3:23 ASV)

 “and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,” (Ro 9:23 ASV)

 “I love Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, Therefore will I call [upon him] as long as I live.” (Ps 116:1-2 ASV)

 “For thou hast delivered my soul from death, Mine eyes from tears, [And] my feet from falling. I will walk before Jehovah In the land of the living.” (Ps 116:8-9 ASV)

 “Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. To him [be] the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Pe 5:5-11 ASV)

 “Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah: Thy blessing be upon thy people. [[Selah” (Ps 3:8 ASV)

 “(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):” (2Co 6:2 ASV)

 “how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;” (Heb 2:3 ASV)

 “God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.” (Ps 68:20 ASV)

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Acht slaande op de reddende

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2016 update

 

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