BLESSING THROUGH TRIALS

THE PASTOR SPEAKS OUT!!!!

For the Christian, there is no shortcut to God’s blessing. There is no easier way than to “take up your cross daily” and follow Christ. The easy part is in knowing that he will not suffer us to be tempted above or beyond what we are able to endure.

Jesus said that we must “through much tribulation, enter the kingdom of God. This does not refer to the Great Tribulation, which is the time of Jacob’s Trouble. Sometimes our trials may be so great as to make us think we are in the Great Tribulation. God however, has promised to save us (the church) from this wrath. (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Trials are necessary and the rigors of growth demand hard work and perseverance. We must of course know the reason for our trials; to be sure it is not because of our disobedience to God. Trials however, generally do not imply disobedience but are used by God to make us strong. Gold, silver and other precious metals can only be brought to their potential by going through the fiery furnace. The intense heat separates the metal from the ore.

The apostle Paul talks about the buffeting of Satan in 2 Corinthians 12. He calls it “a thorn in the flesh”. The word buffet means “to deal blow after blow”. This is not Paul’s blind eyes, as some would teach. The buffeting of Satan is seen in Paul’s testimony in the 11th chapter. The beatings, stoning, jailing etc., is buffeting. God permitted this to keep Paul humble- (12:7). Paul said, “God’s grace is sufficient for me.”

Some things to help us and make us strong are given to us by God in Christ. We sometimes refer to these as means of grace.

Study of the Scriptures is important- 2 Timothy 2:15.

Fellowship with the Body of Christ in the local church is needed- Acts 2:41-47. Read the 1st chapter of 1 Thessalonians and find what is needed to be an Ideal Christian.

All this begins when we look to Jesus and not to ourselves, and certainly not be consumed by the negative trials of our life. We become what we allow to consume us. -DPTSr.