Post by Jerod W. Rickert on Aug 27, 2008 18:26:44 GMT -5
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2Ti_3:12)
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:18 If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Trials, hardships, afflictions, temptations, Persecutions... some of our least favorite subjects to read or talk about... Yet, so poignantly important to understand... We are not called into a life of pleasure and pain free service, but of persecution and attack... My precious brothers and sisters, we are GOING to have to face the devices and attacks of not only the enemy of our souls, but those who hate and mock God... what good is there if we live in such a way as to be accepted and loved by the world... We are to stand fast and holy, in HIS righteousness, not counting the loss, but the eternal gain that thesse things bring forth and produce... The life of service to a Holy and Righteous God is not without price or cost, it is to sign on for a tour of duty that guarantees pain and sacrifice... We are not to lose heart in this, but to know that it is for OUR refining and building... The seasons of peace and hope that HE brings in and amongst these trials are what define us as believers... Let us not run in the face of persecution, but stand strong and thankful that our lives shine in such a way that we are able to be hated for HIS name sake...
Psa 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
2Co 6:4 Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;
realizing that HE has allowed that which we face is a key to standing strong in the face of doubt and defeat... the Psalmist here was defeated and beaten down by the enemy... to the point of feeling dead... Yet he persevered for the Glory of the God the he (and we today) serves... And it is that very endurance of what we MUST walk through that marks us as children of the most High God... There is no glory in merely escaping all troubles and hardships, it is only in passing through the fire of refining that our Gold begins to surface and shine as a post and a landmark for a lost and dying world to see... Even the world hates those that seem to walk through life with no scars or battles, but that same world gains a (sometimes grudging) respect for those that pass through the furnace of affliction and come through it in victory, even victory born of defeat at times... Notice that it is in our darkest times, where we feel so alone and forsaken that even this cold, Godless world stands up and asks, "How do you do it? I don't think I could survive what you have been through..." THIS is where the glory abounds and resides... Not in running from or escaping adversity, but in rising above situation and calamity to show the strength and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ...
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Joh 16:33 I have told you this so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!"
What a precious promise!!! "[glow=red,2,300]for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.[/glow]" Oh how sweet these words can be amongst the tumult of everyday life... and what joy can we find in them, what solace can we take from them... We are in the company of the prophets!! and of the apostles!! and of our Lord Jesus Christ HIMself!! Is it easy or "normal" to praise God with gladness and joy when our life seems to be falling down around us? When it seems that every choice we make is marred with error and pain? When everything we seem to put our hand to crumbles and breaks? NO!!! It is the hardest thing in the world!!! But it is then, in our weakest, most defeated moments, when WE can't do it or make it right, that HIS greatest glory is manifested for the world to see... Let us remember that persecution is a Promise from God HIMself... there is no if, maybe or perchance here, there is absolute certainty that all who choose to take up their cross and follow HIM, all who begin to learn to put to death the flesh and live in and by the Spirit, all who learn to love HIM more than everything else in life, WILL face suffering, but do not lose heart, HE has overcome the world!!! And we, as co-heirs with Jesus, have overcome the world at HIS side... Walk in HIS victory, and we will pass through these trials...
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Rejoice with HIM, precious brothers and sisters, knowing that our weaknesses are the very things that HE is made manifest in, in power and glory!! troubled, distressed, persecuted, perplexed, cast down, infirmities, reproaches... WOW!!!! how much fun can one man or woman have?? But we are NOT defeated!! we are victorious by standing strong and persevering, with JOY!!! the Joy of the Lord, which is our strength... Friends, it is not in our weakest moments that WE are strong, that is when HE is strong in us!! So rejoice in our times of suffering, they will lead us to victory that is supernatural!!
1Pe 1:6 On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while.
1Pe 1:7 Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.
[glow=red,2,300]"On that day"[/glow]... let us not forget that to everything under the sun there is a season... and that the completion of each time of trials and pain, there will come a season of gladness (at least until the next round begins, LOL)... we must not forget that "though the sorrow may last for the night... our JOY comes in the morning" and that HE will turn our "mourning into dancing"... we will have seasons of defeat and trials and sadness, and it is OK, acceptable and perfectly normal to experience all the negative feelings and emotions that go with it... let us just remember NOT to camp there... God has promised us victory and joy and refining, IF we persevere... we do have a responsibility to see it through, to stand firm and to let HIM clothe us in victory... But let us know that in refinement our beauty becomes more evident, and that this beautification can only come through great pain and heat... But oh, how precious to see that dross fall away and our golden beauty begin to shine through!!!
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In closing, let us remember that NOTHING can separate us from HIS great love... EVER!!! Let us rejoice to know that even when we feel abandoned and broken, HE is ever faithful and fully aware of what we can or cannot take... He will never leave nor forsake us, and HE has already been there and worked through it, not only is HE at our side (and often carrying us) every step of the way, HE has brought it through to absolution and is there to share in our pains and losses and well as our joy and victories... Know that we are always in the very apple of HIS eye... and HE has not called us into defeat and loss, but ultimately to victory... So stand strong, and having done all to stand... STAND
May the abundantly overwhelming grace and glory of our Saviour reign upon you and keep you...
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:18 If the people of this world hate you, just remember that they hated me first.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Jas 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Trials, hardships, afflictions, temptations, Persecutions... some of our least favorite subjects to read or talk about... Yet, so poignantly important to understand... We are not called into a life of pleasure and pain free service, but of persecution and attack... My precious brothers and sisters, we are GOING to have to face the devices and attacks of not only the enemy of our souls, but those who hate and mock God... what good is there if we live in such a way as to be accepted and loved by the world... We are to stand fast and holy, in HIS righteousness, not counting the loss, but the eternal gain that thesse things bring forth and produce... The life of service to a Holy and Righteous God is not without price or cost, it is to sign on for a tour of duty that guarantees pain and sacrifice... We are not to lose heart in this, but to know that it is for OUR refining and building... The seasons of peace and hope that HE brings in and amongst these trials are what define us as believers... Let us not run in the face of persecution, but stand strong and thankful that our lives shine in such a way that we are able to be hated for HIS name sake...
Psa 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
2Co 6:4 Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;
realizing that HE has allowed that which we face is a key to standing strong in the face of doubt and defeat... the Psalmist here was defeated and beaten down by the enemy... to the point of feeling dead... Yet he persevered for the Glory of the God the he (and we today) serves... And it is that very endurance of what we MUST walk through that marks us as children of the most High God... There is no glory in merely escaping all troubles and hardships, it is only in passing through the fire of refining that our Gold begins to surface and shine as a post and a landmark for a lost and dying world to see... Even the world hates those that seem to walk through life with no scars or battles, but that same world gains a (sometimes grudging) respect for those that pass through the furnace of affliction and come through it in victory, even victory born of defeat at times... Notice that it is in our darkest times, where we feel so alone and forsaken that even this cold, Godless world stands up and asks, "How do you do it? I don't think I could survive what you have been through..." THIS is where the glory abounds and resides... Not in running from or escaping adversity, but in rising above situation and calamity to show the strength and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ...
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Joh 16:33 I have told you this so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!"
What a precious promise!!! "[glow=red,2,300]for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.[/glow]" Oh how sweet these words can be amongst the tumult of everyday life... and what joy can we find in them, what solace can we take from them... We are in the company of the prophets!! and of the apostles!! and of our Lord Jesus Christ HIMself!! Is it easy or "normal" to praise God with gladness and joy when our life seems to be falling down around us? When it seems that every choice we make is marred with error and pain? When everything we seem to put our hand to crumbles and breaks? NO!!! It is the hardest thing in the world!!! But it is then, in our weakest, most defeated moments, when WE can't do it or make it right, that HIS greatest glory is manifested for the world to see... Let us remember that persecution is a Promise from God HIMself... there is no if, maybe or perchance here, there is absolute certainty that all who choose to take up their cross and follow HIM, all who begin to learn to put to death the flesh and live in and by the Spirit, all who learn to love HIM more than everything else in life, WILL face suffering, but do not lose heart, HE has overcome the world!!! And we, as co-heirs with Jesus, have overcome the world at HIS side... Walk in HIS victory, and we will pass through these trials...
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Rejoice with HIM, precious brothers and sisters, knowing that our weaknesses are the very things that HE is made manifest in, in power and glory!! troubled, distressed, persecuted, perplexed, cast down, infirmities, reproaches... WOW!!!! how much fun can one man or woman have?? But we are NOT defeated!! we are victorious by standing strong and persevering, with JOY!!! the Joy of the Lord, which is our strength... Friends, it is not in our weakest moments that WE are strong, that is when HE is strong in us!! So rejoice in our times of suffering, they will lead us to victory that is supernatural!!
1Pe 1:6 On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while.
1Pe 1:7 Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.
[glow=red,2,300]"On that day"[/glow]... let us not forget that to everything under the sun there is a season... and that the completion of each time of trials and pain, there will come a season of gladness (at least until the next round begins, LOL)... we must not forget that "though the sorrow may last for the night... our JOY comes in the morning" and that HE will turn our "mourning into dancing"... we will have seasons of defeat and trials and sadness, and it is OK, acceptable and perfectly normal to experience all the negative feelings and emotions that go with it... let us just remember NOT to camp there... God has promised us victory and joy and refining, IF we persevere... we do have a responsibility to see it through, to stand firm and to let HIM clothe us in victory... But let us know that in refinement our beauty becomes more evident, and that this beautification can only come through great pain and heat... But oh, how precious to see that dross fall away and our golden beauty begin to shine through!!!
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In closing, let us remember that NOTHING can separate us from HIS great love... EVER!!! Let us rejoice to know that even when we feel abandoned and broken, HE is ever faithful and fully aware of what we can or cannot take... He will never leave nor forsake us, and HE has already been there and worked through it, not only is HE at our side (and often carrying us) every step of the way, HE has brought it through to absolution and is there to share in our pains and losses and well as our joy and victories... Know that we are always in the very apple of HIS eye... and HE has not called us into defeat and loss, but ultimately to victory... So stand strong, and having done all to stand... STAND
May the abundantly overwhelming grace and glory of our Saviour reign upon you and keep you...