My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:2-3
The word tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
. . . for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Peter exhorts us to be full of Joy in the Lord.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:7-8
In a world full of animosity, strife and confusion, Jesus lets us know that we should keep our focus on things above and not on things of this earth, because our heavenly father knows our need and He will take care of us.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:7-8
In a world full of animosity, strife and confusion, Jesus lets us know that we should keep our focus on things above and not on things of this earth, because our heavenly father knows our need and He will take care of us.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
When we suffer, we have to go through as a good soldier; not with tired resignation or a 'whoa is me attitude', but with our head held high secure in the knowledge that God is in full control of our situation and He will work it out. Here are some ways in which God is in the midst of your situation:
→ TO TEST YOUR FAITH:
Everything in the spiritual world is based on faith. This is why the strength of your faith must be tested:
That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7
It is a trial of faith when you pray as Jesus did, for God to let the cup of bitterness pass, and yet it does not pass. Instead, you are forced to drink deeply of its suffering. Faith will teach you that our prayers are not unanswered just because they are not answered the way we want.
→ TO EQUIP YOU TO COMFORT OTHERS:
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you share God's comfort with others, do as the scripture says:
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down , and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way ; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you share God's comfort with others, do as the scripture says:
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down , and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way ; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13
→ TO TEACH YOU NOT TO TRUST IN YOURSELF:
Apostle Paul spoke of the purpose of his sufferings in Asia: . . .
In Asia we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life; But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
You will come to recognize that . . .
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
Apostle Paul spoke of the purpose of his sufferings in Asia: . . .
In Asia we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life; But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God which raiseth the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
You will come to recognize that . . .
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
→ TO DEVELOP POSITIVE SPIRITUAL QUALITIES:
We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, (resulting in the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts). Romans 5:3-4
There is a sifting; a refining that must take place in our lives as Peter tells us:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5
Yes, God wants to perfect you; to grow us to maturity in Him. It is through this process that we can better understand what Apostle Paul says:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Hebrews 2:10-11
It is these qualities that conform you to the image of Jesus, which is God's plan for you.
Bible Study
We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, (resulting in the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts). Romans 5:3-4
There is a sifting; a refining that must take place in our lives as Peter tells us:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5
Yes, God wants to perfect you; to grow us to maturity in Him. It is through this process that we can better understand what Apostle Paul says:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Hebrews 2:10-11
It is these qualities that conform you to the image of Jesus, which is God's plan for you.
Bible Study
03/09/17
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