SUFFERING… WHY???

If God loves me, why do I face problems?

This is one of those questions which plague many of our brothers and sisters in their everyday Christian life. There are those that actually believe that if you suffer hardship then there must be something wrong in your Christian walk. That in some way you have unconfessed sin and that the only way to turn things around is to go to God with your sin and beg forgiveness.However I am here to set the record straight. It is not the sin in our lives which causes us to have hardship. This is the thought of Jobs friends, and indeed they were not really friends at all to the man that lost everything even though he did not sin. Sometimes it seems that we suffer needlessly, but I say that God works all things for good to those that love him. From my own personal experience, I can say that I had a very difficult childhood. I never knew my real father and I was abused by a few stepfathers

Paul suffered more than most believers ever will. But in his sufferings he learned a lesson very few learn:

* That Yahweh’s strength is made perfect in weakness. This implies that human wisdom, wealth, fame, talent and strength generally get in the way of Truth if they are not sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

* That the insignificant believer who realises his/her own smallness and lack of strength can go on to harness the mighty power of God!

Suffering is the lot of all mankind, believers included. They suffer like other people. The difference is that when a true believer suffers he/she has the comforting assurance of faith that suffering has a divine purpose and will one day end. One day we shall all fully understand why God allowed us to suffer. It’s so easy to complain when suffering strikes home and family; but before you begin to complain, think on these verses:

2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2 Corinthians 11:22-30 (KJV)
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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.

… to be continued….

Read Full Post »

Our Father

(The first in a series of teaching on the Lord’s Prayer, by Pastor Onesmus)

The most endearing and precious impression of God is not that He has unlimited power, nor that He is judge of all, but that He is our Father.

If He is our Father, then we are kin to Him and He cares for us. Human beings not the animals are made in God’s image (James 3:9)

Because of His interest in us, God said to Christ, “Let Us make man in Our image after Our likeness.” (Gen. 1:26)

This appealing thought cannot be enjoyed by evolutionists who think that man is made in the image of some lower animal. But the Bible believers exalt in that man is made “but a little lower than God” (Psalm 8:5, ASV), and that he is a son of the “Father of spirits”. (Heb. 12:9)

By creation, all men are sons of God and there is one Father of all mankind. (Genesis 6:2, Luke 3:38, Acts 17:26)  Exhilarating then is the thought that our ancestry is not from below but from heaven.  Nevertheless, if a man only exalts in his being a son of God by creation, and if he never becomes a son of God by the gospel, he is worse off than the lower animals.

Animals die and are none existing.  But there is something in man that cannot die that is danger of eternal fire.

To be right, a man must be a son of God in two senses, i.e., creation and new creation. He is born as a baby to earthly parents. But he must be born again! (John 3:3)  He must become a new creature! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus knows the feeling that wells up in your heart when you think of your Father, and He wanted His disciples to think of God in that fashion.

An earthly father would sacrifice to put bread in his child’s mouth.  How much more then shall your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Mat. 7:11)

He, being unlimited, knows more about me than I do.  Having counted every hair on my head! (Luke 12:7)

He, who never forgets even a sparrow, assures His children, “fear not, ye are of more value than the sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)

He watches eagerly over me, and at the same time is just as concerned for an Indian man on the other side of the world.

He knows the names of over six billion people now living, and more billions in the spirit world.

He hears when souls under the alter cry to their Redeemer. (Rev. 6:10)

And if every one of more than six billion images of God, who are still in the flesh, were to cry to Him at once, it wouldn’t tax Him to listen to everyone. Nay, He would hear every one with such patience and heart-interest as if that one were the only person in existence.

It pleases both the heavenly Father and the earthly father if a child stops to say thank you. The Father’s great heart is grieved if I leave my room in the morning with out talking to Him, and He is hurt if I brazenly, thoughtlessly try to call out the day’s activities without taking confidence and imploring His providential care.  If you, like Jesus, (Mark: 1:35) feel you can’t live through a day and do what you ought without a private talk with your helping Father, He is pleased.

If you depart into a desert places or walk in a garden, “While the dew is still on the roses,” in order to talk to your God in secrecy, you will receive the strength for the day and Satan will not have as easy a mark that day

As your day “So shall thy strength be”. (Deut 33:25)

If you, like Daniel, take time in the middle of the day to sit in heavenly places with a divine companion, you will be more patient and kinder as the day’s toil proceeds.

If at the end of the day, you fail not to express thanks for your bread and bed, for your family and friends, for mercies and protection, for forgiveness and cleansing, then will the joy of your salvation be restored to you. You will live at peace with yourself and your Maker, and your sleep will be deeper and peaceful.

You have a Father. He is YOUR Father!

Read Full Post »