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What trials?
fe32k:
Many people speak of trials and tribulation. The Bible mentions trials and tribulations for true believers, of this I have no doubt. I do, however, doubt that the many that mention of their daily trials and tribulations speak of the same thing that the scriptures mention. The apostles faced persecution due to what they preached. They were joyful during (mostly after) these trials. They considered themselves privileged to face such trials for preaching Jesus.
Now when one has a bad day at work because they're manager would not get off their case, when you fall and break your leg, when you have a fight with your Wife/Husband, when you are having financial issues, etc. These are not trials and tribulations that are unique to believers! Absolutely everyone in the world has face this at one point of their lives.
I don't think that a believer should feel (though it does happen) that the world is on their shoulders. Lets remain faithful Brothers and Sisters for Christ has overcome the world. We too shall overcome because He who started a work in us will complete it if Christ really abides in you. Let us speak confidently of what God has put into our hearts and when we get Persecution in return let us REJOICE for we are found worthy to suffer for the Lord's sake. This is what the scriptures speak of. Our daily trials are a process that ALL must go through according to God's will. Unique to us are those rejections and cursing of the synagogues of Satan who find this pill hard to swallow. We who do not, will feel the medicine curing us unto perfection. And that medicine is Jesus!
My prayer is that this capitalist mind set that has consumed this country does not entrap me as well and none of you. I get up every weekday and go to work and wish that maybe, just maybe the Lord's return will occur before I return to work. Besides I am just passing by. Let us leave these worries and stress behind. Otherwise we might get consumed by it. Let's share when we are persecuted for Christ's sake and let us comfort one another in truth and love. I read threads a lot and seldom add a thought, but I thought this was important. Let's hold on tight till the end. Us who overcome will receive a crown of life. Hallelujah!
Now to the merciful, the powerful and mighty, the loving and beautiful God be power and glory now, and for ever. Amen.
God be with you all,
Roy
Redbird:
Dear Roy,
Amen to that. I believe that is what the Spirit is trying to tell us. To endure and to overcome. Count it as joy, as we look to our saviour, Jesus Christ and to the only true God.
Lisa
hillsbororiver:
Hi Roy & Lisa,
There certainly is much truth in what you posted; we can get caught up in the self pity spiral because of a tyrannical boss, rude and insensitive people, money (lack of) issues, mundane jobs, etc. Also our health and the physical condition of our family and friends can cause despair and real emotional pain. These are the trials and tribulations all humanity shares.
The trials and tribulations of those called to judgment now are a bit different;
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
This process of judgment is a real and gut wrenching experience at times, in my own case I have had old forgotten wrongs I have done in my past become painfully fresh, as if it happened yesterday. Things I had previously justified became glaringly wrong, sinful and evil in my eyes, the time to bitterly repent had/has arrived.
There are times when anger, rage, jealousy, envy, impatience, lust, and all the things I have begun to despise rear their ugly faces and once again I fall, fail and stumble over my flesh.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Also I have experienced temptations that I had thought were behind me become painfully alive causing stress and a recognition of just how carnal my flesh and natural spirit is and without the grace of His Spirit I would be susceptible to many self destructive actions.
There is a certain duality of mind inherent in this;
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
This can be quite maddening, it is almost as if we become a dual personality once we are called by Him and He begins to purge us from our carnal nature. There was a time not very long ago where I could justify just about anything I did or thought of, the only regret would come if I got caught or had to face consequences for my actions. Now even thinking about selfish actions can and does twist my gut into a knot and I know the only hope is to pray for deliverance and spiritual strength to overcome these temptations.
Believe me it was not always so, this is (relatively) recent but an undeniably powerful transformation process.
His Peace to you,
Joe
Kat:
Hi Roy,
I understand what you are saying. Most of us are not persecuted like the apostles were, because they were boldly proclaiming this new truth, to a world that was very hostile to it. Today there is a much lesser element that could be considered hostile to Christianity. They lived in a very different world of religion than we do today.
There are those that reject the truth we may share with them in a way that might be considered persecution.
But for the most part, in our lives we deal we the same thing that the rest of the world deals with, as you said;
--- Quote ---Now when one has a bad day at work because they're manager would not get off their case, when you fall and break your leg, when you have a fight with your Wife/Husband, when you are having financial issues, etc. These are not trials and tribulations that are unique to believers! Absolutely everyone in the world has face this at one point of their lives.
--- End quote ---
But I tend to look at things now differently, as Joe said;
--- Quote ---The trials and tribulations of those called to judgment now are a bit different;
1Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
--- End quote ---
We are going through much the same things as the rest of the world, but it is how we react to these things, that we are being judged by. We are being help by a different standard than the rest of the world. There is much we have to overcome in our lives, to be worthy of the kingdom. Everyday that we are on this earth, is an opportunity to walk in this newness of life and to becoming closer to the image of Christ.
Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
v. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
v. 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
v. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
v. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
v. 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
v. 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
v. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
v. 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
v. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
v. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
v. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
v. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
YellowStone:
This is a wonderful thread and I thank you Roy for starting it and all who responded thus far for the wonderful instruction given :)
I believe that the trials and tribulations that we are faced with on a daily basis and held accountable as Kat stated can be used as a measuring stick by ourselves. Sometimes it can be quite frightening in what we find.
We should work always towards mastery of the truth.
1Cr 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible
There are two words in the above Scripture that really speak of what must become and be always.
Temperate
egkrates {eng-krat-ace'} [1468]
1) strong, robust
2) having power over, possessed of (a thing)
3) mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining
a) controlling one's self, temperate, continent
Incorruptible
aphthartos {af'-thar-tos} [862]
1) uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable
a) of things
2) immortal
a) of the risen dead
Pretty simple just looking at it, but Satan is not a push over and will work harder, the closer we get. He will not concede one of us, because there is strength in numbers. Perhaps this is why brother Ray is being persecuted more than we; in the hope that he will fail and we will all stumble and fall too.
Remember always to:
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Your brother in Christ,
Darren
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