THE TRUE BLESSING OF TRIALS, AFFLICTIONS, AND SUFFERING

Don't beafraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
~ Isaiah 41:10 ~

A friend recently shared with me that God once told her "In ministry, I allow you to express your talents and giftings, but in trials and sufferings, I give you Me"

It is Finished

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. ~John 19:30~

The cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning. His birth was so there would be His death. The incarnation was for our atonement. He was born to die so that we might live. And when He had accomplished the purpose He had come to fulfill, He summed it up with a single word: "finished."

            In the original Greek, it was a common word. Jesus probably used it after He finished a project that He and Joseph might have been working on together in the carpentry shop. Jesus might have turned to Joseph and said, "Finished. Now let's go have lunch." It is finished. Mission accomplished. It is done. It is made an end of.

            So what was finished? Finished and completed were the horrendous sufferings of Christ. Never again would He experience pain at the hand of wicked men. Never again would He have to bear the sins of the world. Never again would He, even for a moment, be forsaken of God. That was completed. That was taken care of.

            Also finished was Satan's stronghold on humanity. Jesus came to deal a decisive blow against the devil and his demons at the cross of Calvary. Hebrews 2:14 says, "Only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death." This means that you no longer have to be under the power of sin. Because of Jesus' accomplishment at the cross, finished was the stronghold of Satan on humanity.

            And lastly, finished was our salvation. It is completed. It is done. All of our sins were transferred to Jesus when He hung on the cross. His righteousness was transferred to our account.

            So Jesus cried out the words, "It is finished!" It was God's deliberate and well-thought-out plan. It is finished—so rejoice! ~ Pastor Greg Laurie ~



Freedom in Christ Jesus

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?  Galatians 4:8-9

I used to believe in superstition. I used to worry about bad luck if I broke a mirror, or something bad happening when I walked under a ladder, and lets not forget Friday the 13th, just to name a few.  When I became a child of God though He started teaching me things in His Word (the Bible) and the Bible tells me not to believe in superstition as it is of Satan. So I stopped believing in superstition and starting believing God. I was set free from the fear of superstition. If I start to worry again about superstitious things I am no better of than I was in the beginning and am enslaved by them all over again. What good is that? The Bible tells us when Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed. So ask yourself  "is there anything in my life that Jesus has set me free from that I am now allowing to creep back into my life?" If so confess it to God, turn from it, and walk in freedom, as in Christ you are set free from bondage of ever kind. "...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" 

Acts 13:38-39

Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

If you are being held captive by the sin in your life, if you beat yourself up, and believe there is no hope, God say's differently. There is forgiveness in Jesus. God is faithful to forgive us of everything through the blood of Jesus Christ. Because He suffered and died in our place we are forgiven when we surrender our will to His will and believe on Him. The Bible tells us that God removes the guilt of sin. So if your feeling defeated because of things you have done in your life, there is hope in Jesus Christ. Cry out to Him today and tell him your sorry, ask Him to forgive you, and surrender your life to Him. Stop living for yourself and start living for Him. Then get ready for the tears of joy as you feel the burden lifted off of you, as you know you have been truly forgiven and washed clean. Thank You Jesus. Thank You!



Well Done Please

Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear ~ 1 Peter 1:17 ~

How does a stranger, in a town that he does not intend on staying in, live his life? Well, a person in this situation would certainly want his needs met but probably not much more. Things that might seem valuble to a person who lives in the town would be a hindrance to someone just passing through. The Bible tells us God will provide all we need to share the gospel and live a life of holiness, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus"  Philippians 4:19 Anything more than that will just slow us down, get in the way, and hinder our walk with God. So live your life as a stranger in town, in reverent fear of the Lord, so that one day you can hear God say, "Well done my good and faithful servant"

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:12 ~

 

The spirit of the world is one that leads and binds people to sin, but Christ followers or Christians are given the Spirit who is from God, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables Christians to have the mind of Jesus revealed to them in a way that others can never understand. The Holy Spirit is in contrast to the sinful nature, purififying the hearts of Christians, therefore bringing forth good fruits.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God ~ 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ~

People who do not know God have a hard time understanding God's ways and the Bible because God is Spirit and He speaks to us by Spirit and that is done most often in prayer. It is important to connect with God on a spiritual basis, meaning allowing His Holy Spirit to search our hearts and soul and open our eyes and ears. If you don't spend time in prayer, not just talking, but also listening, how in the world do you expect to hear from and be led by God? If you want to know the thoughts of God, spend time alone in prayer.