Why do we go through trials
and tribulations? What purpose do they serve? What should our response be to
them when we are going through them? Should we try to escape them, to run away
from them? Sometimes, if we can, the Lord may lead us to do that, such as he
counseled his disciples that if they were persecuted in one place that they
were to flee to another.
But, other times we are
encouraged to not flee, but to stand strong in the Lord, and in his mighty
power, and to put on the armor of God with which to fight off Satan’s evil
attacks against us. In these times, we are encouraged that these trials are for
our good, to purify us, to make us holy, and to mature us in our walks of faith,
for we were destined for them.
“You have heard; look at all this.And you, will you not declare it?I proclaim to you new things from this time,Even hidden things which you have not known.”Isaiah 48:6 NASB
What have we heard? We have
heard the prophecies of scripture regarding the last days and these final days
before our Lord’s return. Some of those prophecies are in the Old Testament and
some of them are in the New Testament. Matthew 24 comes to mind, as does the
book of Revelation, in particular Revelation 13.
We read in these passages
that we should expect to be persecuted for our faith in Jesus Christ, that we
will be delivered over to tribulation, and that we will be hated by all nations,
and that some of us will even be martyred for our faith and testimonies for
Jesus Christ.
We also read that many false
prophets and teachers will arise and will mislead and deceive many, and that
lawlessness will increase, and that the hearts of many will grow cold. Many
will fall away and will betray and hate one another. But, the one who endures
in their faith in Jesus Christ to the end will be saved. And, the gospel of our
salvation will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the
nations, and then the end will come.
We also read that a beast,
which I believe is comprised of the wealthy and powerful of the world, who are
forming a one-world government and a one-world religion, will arise and will
conquer nations and peoples and will make war against the saints of God and
will overcome them. Many will go into captivity, and many will be killed by the
sword. This calls for much perseverance and faith on the part of the saints of
God, Christ’s followers.
Where are we in this?
“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;For how can My name be profaned?And My glory I will not give to another.”Isaiah 48:10-11 NASB
So, where are we presently in
all of this? I believe we are there. Some of this has obviously been happening
ever since Jesus was killed and then rose again from the dead and then ascended
back to heaven and sent his Holy Spirit to indwell the lives of his followers.
Throughout the past 2000 years, Christians have gone through what is described
here, yet American Christians have known little of this type of severe
persecution, though it is already here, to some degree, and it is going to get
much worse.
But, much of what is
prophesied in Matthew 24 and in Revelation 13 is here in spades in our day and
time. This beast has risen and is still rising and is conquering nations, peoples
and followers of Christ. The US government and their NATO allies work for this
beast in conquering nations and in persecuting and killing Christ’s followers,
his saints. We are being delivered over to tribulation, and we are being hated,
and many are being imprisoned for their faith or are being killed for their
testimonies for Jesus Christ.
There are tons of false
teachers within the church spewing forth false doctrine and false gospels,
giving people a false hope of salvation from sin. And, many hearts have grown
cold. Even within the church lust addiction has soared to new heights, to the
point of being an epidemic, even among pastors and elders. I believe this is a
big part of why they have diluted the gospel to turn it into the broad road
which leads to destruction in place of the narrow road which leads to eternal
life with God, to excuse their sin.
So, if you are a follower of
Christ who stands on the Word of God, the Word of Truth, and you don’t
compromise with the world, and you are living a holy life committed to Christ
and to obedience to his Word, even in America you may be going through
persecution at the hands of those who have compromised with the world and who
are living to gratify the cravings of their sinful flesh. And, you probably are
being hated, rejected, and mistreated, even by church people, and even by
pastors and elders who are given over to addictions and to gratifying their
sinful cravings.
But, what is your response to
all this? What is God doing in your life?
For Your Profit
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit,Who leads you in the way you should go.“If only you had paid attention to My commandments!Then your well-being would have been like a river,And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.“Your descendants would have been like the sand,And your offspring like its grains;Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”Isaiah 48:17-19 NASB
This “furnace of affliction”
has come upon the whole world. The world has come under the control of this
beast, who is still rising, and who is still conquering peoples, nations and
Christians, and America is beginning to get a taste of that, too. But, more
severe times are in order for us, for we, as a nation, will not escape this.
God is allowing all of this to happen, as was prophesied in scripture, though,
to fulfill his purpose, which is to turn hearts to him, or back to him, and to
purify his saints, to make them ready for his return.
But, involved in the fulfilling
of that purpose is the spreading of the gospel throughout the whole world. So,
when we, as Christ’s followers, are put through the fire of trials, it moves us
to call on God in our suffering, and to humble ourselves before him, and it
moves us to obedience to him and to his Word. And, it also moves us to want to
share with others the hope, healing, forgiveness, comfort, strength and
encouragement we have found in Christ, our Lord. Our trials have a way of
motivating us to follow our Lord and to want to stand against evil and lies,
and to desire the truth.
In my life, I know this has
been true, and as a result of the trials and hardships I have been through, I
am much more convinced of the need to get the truth of the gospel out to as
many as possible before the end comes.
So, the Lord has been having
me write out what he teaches me each day through His Word and to post it on the
internet in various places so that the gospel truly is going throughout the
world to many nations. And, I know I am not alone in this work, but that many
followers of Christ have been led to do the same, to get the gospel out to the
ends of the earth. I have no control, though, over where it ends up going or
how many receive it. My job is just to obey my Lord in getting it out there,
and he takes it from there.
I am assured, though, that
lives are being impacted for Jesus Christ, and that as a result of what God has
called me, and others to do, in sharing the gospel on the internet, that it is
bearing fruit in people’s lives, and that it is bearing much spiritual
offspring, which comes from the Lord, not me; not from us, for we are just the
messengers. Only God can produce the fruit.
I know, though, for myself,
and I am assuming this is true of others, as well, that if it had not been for
the “furnace of affliction” the Lord has taken me through, and is still taking
me through, that I would not be doing what I am doing today, and I would not be
spreading the hope and assurance of deliverance from sin, and I probably would
not be as passionate as I am about getting out the message that Jesus died to
set us FREE from slavery (addiction) to sin, not just to forgive our sins and
to promise us heaven.
So, affliction has been for
my good, to teach me God’s ways and his truth, so that I might walk in them,
but also that I may share with others how they can also walk in the ways of the
Lord and be free from bondage to sin.
I Will Uphold You
An Original Work / November 4, 2011
Based off of Isaiah 41:8-20; Ephesians 6:10-18
You are My servant; I’ve chosen you.
I’ve not rejected you; I’ve been true.
Do not be fearful; I am with you.
Don’t be alarmed, for I am your God.
I will give you strength, and will help
you.
I will uphold you with My right hand.
All who’re against you will be
disgraced.
Those who oppose you, they will perish.
Enemies you search, but will not find.
They war against you; nothing will be.
I am your Lord God, who takes your
hand;
Says, “Do not fear, for I will help
you.”
The poor and needy, water they need.
Their tongues are thirsty; no drop to
drink.
I will give answer; not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow from within.
My living water I will outpour
On those who seek Me; and Me adore.
Jesus provided the sacrifice;
For our sins blood bought; He paid the
price,
So we’re forgiven all of our sins,
When we invite Him to come within.
He cleanses us from our impure hearts.
His life within us gives a new start.
Thursday, February 1, 2018,
8:02 a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for these words of encouragement today to my
heart. I pray it will bless the hearts of many others today who are in that “furnace
of affliction,” to know that You have a purpose for this in their lives, and it
is for their good, and it is for the spreading of your gospel, that many people
will turn their hearts to Christ.
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