Rejoicing in Pain

 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11–12)

Christian Hedonism says that there are different ways to rejoice in suffering as a Christian. All of them are to be pursued as an expression of the all-sufficient, all-satisfying grace of God.

One way of rejoicing in suffering comes from fixing our minds firmly on the greatness of the reward that will come to us in the resurrection. The effect of this kind of focus is to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18). In making the suffering tolerable, rejoicing over our reward will also make love possible.

“Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35). Be generous with the poor “and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14). Confidence in this promised reward cuts the cord of worldliness and frees us for the costs of love.

Another way of rejoicing in suffering comes from the effects of suffering on our assurance of hope. Joy in affliction is rooted not only in the hope of resurrection and reward, but also in the way suffering itself works to deepens that hope.

For example, Paul says, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4).

In other words, Paul’s joy is not merely rooted in his great reward, but in the effect of suffering which solidifies the hope of that reward. Affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces a sense that our faith is real and genuine, and that strengthens our hope that we will indeed gain Christ.

So whether we focus on the riches of the reward or the refining effects of suffering, God’s purpose is that our joy in suffering be sustained.

Christ’s Sufferings in Us

 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (Colossians 1:24)

Christ has prepared a love offering for the world by suffering and dying for sinners. It is a perfect sacrifice. It pays in full for all the sins of all his people. Nothing can be added to make a better gift. It is lacking in nothing — except one thing, a personal presentation by Christ himself to the nations of the world.

God’s answer to this lack is to call the people of Christ (people like Paul) to make a personal presentation of the afflictions of Christ to the world. In doing this, we “[fill] up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” We finish what they were designed for, namely, a personal presentation to the people who do not know about their infinite worth.

But the most amazing thing about Colossians 1:24 is how Paul fills up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

He says that it is his own sufferings that fill up Christ’s afflictions. This means, then, that Paul exhibits the sufferings of Christ by suffering himself for those he is trying to win to Christ. In his sufferings they are to see Christ’s sufferings.

Here is the astounding upshot: God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people.

God really means for the body of Christ, the church, to experience some of the suffering he experienced so that when we proclaim the cross as the way to life, people will see the marks of the cross in us and feel the love of the cross from us.

GOD WATCHES OVER HIS CHILDREN ALL THE TIME!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 01, 2021.

SUBJECT : GOD WATCHES OVER HIS CHILDREN ALL THE TIME!

Memory verse: "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Palm 127 vs 1.)

READ: Psalm 121 vs 1 - 8: 

121:1: I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? 

121:2: My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

121:3: He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber, 

121:4: Behold, He who keeps Israel neither slumber nor sleep. 

121:5: The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 

121:6: The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. 

121:7: The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 

121:8: The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in. From this time forth, and even forevermore.

INTIMATION:

God is our help in our daily lives. He is our protection day and night.  Not only is He all-powerful, He also watches over us. Nothing diverts or deters Him. We are safe in Him. We never outgrow our need for God's untiring watch over our lives. We should never trust a lesser power than God Himself. God protection for us is for all times; day and night. We are safe and we never out grow our need for God's untiring watch over our lives. When we establish a relationship with Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior, we need not fear because (1) God is with us, (2) God has established a relationship with us, (3) God gives us assurance of His strength, help, and victory over sin and death.

God is our shelter, a refuge when we are afraid. Our faith in God as Protector would carry us through all the dangers and fears of life. Therefore, put all your trust in God, trading all your fears for faith in Him, no matter how intense your fears. To do this we must "dwell" or "abide" with Him. By entrusting ourselves to His protection and pledging our daily devotion to Him, we will be kept safe. God watches over us, and is so personal with us that He knows our individual names. In all the individual encounters with God in the Scripture, God called every one of them by their names. This is an indication of His care over us. He knows us individually to our minutest details. 

Consider the leader of your country, he does not know you by name, let alone think about you. But the King of all creation, the Ruler of the universe, is thinking about you right now. Allow this truth to buoy up your self esteem. If God always has us in His thoughts, it is expected we should keep Him in our thoughts more faithfully. 

It seems impossible to consider the end of the world without becoming consumed by fear, but the Bible is clear: God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat; He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any circumstances.

Families establish homes and watchmen guard cities, but both these activities are futile unless God is in them. A family without God can never experience the spiritual bond God brings to relationships. A city without God will crumble from evil and corruption on the inside. Don't make the mistake of leaving God out of your life. If you do, all your accomplishments will be futile. Make God your highest priority, and let Him do the building.

When we turn to Christ, and establish a relationship with God, we should rest assured of His guidance, protection, and defense from everything that can try to harm us. When circumstances go against us, it is tempting to think that God also is against us. When facing problems, trials, suffering and death, we may feel like giving up in despair. But that is a lie from the pit of hell.

When we feel seriously let down by life, we should remember that we still have one hope and our only hope. God is all the hope we need because He promises to be a shield to protect us. God is for us and we should focus our thoughts on Him, knowing that He will restore our confidence in Him and the future He has planned for us. If circumstances turn against you don't blame God but rather seek Him. 

God promises great blessings to His people, but many of these blessings require our active participation. He will deliver us from fear, save us out of our troubles, guard and deliver us, show us goodness, supply our needs, listen when we talk to Him, and redeem us, but we must do our part. We can appropriate His blessings when we seek Him, cry out to Him, trust Him, fear Him, refrain from lying, turn from evil, do good and seek peace, are humble ourselves and serve Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my everything. In You I live, and move, and have my being. You are my refuge and my fortress, and in You I completely trust. You are my Helper, and forever will be, and watching over me day and night. All glory, honor, thanksgiving, and adoration are Yours now and forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE HEALING POWER OF GOD'S WORD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 31, 2021. 

SUBJECT : THE HEALING POWER OF GOD'S WORD!

Memory verse: "He sent His word and then, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107 vs 20.)

READ: Proverbs 4 vs 20 - 22: 

4:20: My son, give attention to My words; incline your ear to My sayings.

4:21: Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;

4:22: For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

INTIMATION:

God's Word is medicine. It is medicine to all our flesh. However, you need to learn how to take God's medicine in order to get it to work for you. This is very important, and the wrong application of God's word has been the bane of many believers.

We know that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10 vs 17). But the honest truth is that God's medicine (God's Word) won't do you any good if you hear it over and over again for hours yet still continue to think wrongly and talk wrongly. You have got to believe God and have faith in His Word you heard, and then act out your faith on the Word you heard to draw from God's grace (the power of God) for effective working of the word in your life. For faith without works is dead (James 2 vs 20). 

So, when you are confessing God's Word, if you would think like this: "I am taking my medicine—God's Word. God's medicine always works. It never fails." Say that to yourself and mean what you are saying, think (meditate) on that continually, and you will get God's Word working in your life. It is your faith in the word that draws from the grace of God (the power of God) to accomplish the healing.

Many people claim they have faith while what they have is intellectual assent—agreement with a set of Christian teachings—and as such it would be incomplete faith. True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts. If our life remains unchanged, we don't truly believe the truths we claim to believe.

A careful study of the passage we read today will expose the true attitude or conduct required to bring the power in the word of God to bear in your life. Verse 20 says; "My son give attention to My Words, incline your ear to my sayings." God is speaking to you to concentrate on His word, give every consideration to His word. He goes on to say "do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart." (Verse 21). That is to say meditate and reflect on the word continually. This is because "For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh" (verse 22). God's Word is medicine to all your flesh. That means there is nothing it won't cure. 

Remember Jesus Christ's coming heralded the coming of the kingdom of God on earth, and His wish is that God's Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6 vs 10). The Bible says there is no sickness in Heaven. Therefore, we know that it's God's Will that there be no sickness on earth. In Third John 2, the Bible says: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." It is therefore, God's wish that we will proper in all things and be in health at all times, as we believe, have faith in Him, and work out our faith (as our soul prospers).

A sister was sick for some time, and was given a date by the doctors to pass on. She drew from her faith in God's word, and memorized, continually meditated, and claimed the passage in Isaiah 53 vs 4 - 5, and personalized it: "Surely He has borne my griefs and carried my sorrows; ....But He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities; the chastisement for my peace was upon Him, and by His stripes I am healed."

Consequently, she received her healing, and lived for many more years. And this is one of the numerous testimonies we have heard of the efficacy of healing characteristic of God's word. 

Prayer: Abba Father, though the grass withers, the flowers fades, but Your word stands forever. You are not a man, that You should lie, You have always done what You say. Your word has never returned to You void, but achieves and prospers in what You sent it. I have found Your word, and my life is in Your word. Endue with the spirit of complete obedience and trust in You and Your Word, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

The Seminary of Suffering

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less reliance on self and the world. I have never heard anyone say, “The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort.”

But I have heard strong saints say, “Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God’s love and growing deep with him has come through suffering.”

The pearl of greatest price is the glory of Christ.

Thus, Paul stresses that in our sufferings the glory of Christ’s all-sufficient grace is magnified. If we rely on him in our calamity, and he sustains our “rejoicing in hope,” then he is shown to be the all-satisfying God of grace and strength that he is.

If we hold fast to him, “when all around our soul gives way,” then we show that he is more to be desired than all we have lost.

Christ said to the suffering apostle, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responded to this: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

So suffering clearly is designed by God not only as a way to wean Christians off of self and onto grace, but also as a way to spotlight that grace and make it shine. That is precisely what faith does: it magnifies Christ’s future grace.

The deep things of life in God are discovered and magnified in suffering.

RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2021.

SUBJECT : RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL! 

Memory verse: "See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all." (First Thessalonians 5 vs 15.)

READ: First Peter 3 vs 8 - 9:

3:8: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

3:9: not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

INTIMATION:

It is often our desire to return evil for evil, tear people down verbally or get back at them, if we feel hurt. God encourages us to pay back wrongs by praying for the offenders, to seek peace and pursue it. If we love life and desire to see good days, we should eschew evil and do good. "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." (Psalm 34 vs 15 - 16.) 

It is often fashionable, in this our fallen world, to tear people down verbally or get back at them, if we feel hurt. In God's kingdom, revenge by oneself is an unacceptable behavior, and therefore, is ungodly. Rise above getting back at those who hurt you. Instead of reacting angrily to these people, pray for them.

In our memory verse, the apostle Peter warns us against returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling (abusing, maligning, belittling, defaming, or deriding). But, on the contrary, we should bless our offenders, knowing that God called us to this, and in so doing, we inherit a blessing: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5 vs 44).) 

It is difficult or near impossible, in this fallen world to love your enemies, or bless those who curse you, or do good to those who hate you. When we are wronged or feel wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score but to love and forgive. However, this is not natural, but supernatural! 

If you love your enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life, and this is only possible for those who give themselves fully to God, because only Him can deliver people from natural selfishness. Only Him gives us strength to love as He does. Instead of planning vengeance pray for those who hurt you. Our praying for our offenders rather than revenge helps us not to take laws into our hands and we then overcome evil with good.

Jesus, our Messiah, and 'role model,' prayed for His enemies, His accusers, and His persecutors, who abused, maligned, belittled, defamed, and derided Him, even on the weight of excruciating pains as He hung of the cross; "....Father forgive them, for they know not what they do...." (Luke 23 vs 24.)

Prayer: Abba Father,give me the grace to live justly and practice righteousness. Strengthen me to pay back evil with good, above all, to obey Your Great Commandment, "to love my neighbor as myself," in Jesus' Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Danger of Drifting

 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1)

We all know people that this has happened to. There is no urgency. No vigilance. No focused listening or considering or fixing of their eyes on Jesus. And the result has not been a standing still, but a drifting away.

That is the point here: there is no standing still. The life of this world is not a lake. It is a river. And it is flowing downward to destruction. If you do not listen earnestly to Jesus and consider him daily and fix your eyes on him hourly, then you will not stand still; you will go backward. You will float away from Christ.

Drifting is a deadly thing in the Christian life. And the remedy for it, according to Hebrews 2:1, is: Pay close attention to what you have heard. That is, consider what God is saying in his Son Jesus. Fix your eyes on what God is saying and doing in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

This is not a hard swimming stroke to learn. The only thing that keeps us from swimming against sinful culture is not the difficulty of the stroke, but our sinful desire to go with the flow.

Let’s not complain that God has given us a hard job. Listen, consider, fix the eyes — this is not what you would call a hard job description. In fact, it is not a job description. It is a solemn invitation to be satisfied in Jesus so that we do not get lured downstream by deceitful desires.

If you are drifting today, one of the signs of hope that you are born again is that you feel pricked for this, and you feel a rising desire to turn your eyes on Jesus and consider him and listen to him in the days and months and years to come.