5/01/04
Psalms 37:7 ~ Tells us to “Fret not thyself because of Him who prosperth in his ways, because of the man that bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
Fret Not ~ A Job Like Experience
5/01/04
Psalms 37:7 ~ Tells us to “Fret not thyself because of Him who prosperth in his ways, because of the man that bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
When sorrow and trouble overwhelms us we can sound like atheist. We too like Job can say, “If I had called, and He (God) had answered me; yet would I not believe that He has hearkened unto my voice. ‘For He, breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplied my wounds without cause.” Job 9:16-17
In one day, Job lost everything suddenly! It’s like Job was saying, “it doesn’t pay to be holy or walk uprightly –God treats the wicked and the pure the same. We suffer, so why labor and be upright?”
That’s just the way I have been feeling for the past two months, so I greatly relate to Job’s suffering. I, too, cried out to God –I would ask Why? Why are you letting these things happen to me? I would argue and question.
Did He answer me? No He was ever so quiet. I know from faith what the Bible says that “He will never leave you nor forsake you, but at this time and place, I wasn’t too sure about that.
I felt just like Job – I loved God; I prayed; I’m honest, kind and compassionate. I was dedicated to Him, repentant believer-yet here I was suffering. I was letting Satan sift me like sand. (I was human)
I too prayed as Job did, Oh please, God take your rod off my back. All these side effects of a broken knee are overwhelming me and the problems of family business compounded the illness. I would complain, then repent and then complain again. I’d cry myself to sleep –I was restless, nervous, bored and depressed many of days.
Then, it seemed that I would have a breakthrough and I would have a good day until evening and then something else would show up to make me feel bad and I would start hurting somewhere else. Then round three or round four of pain would start and so would the whining and complaining. This has been the pattern for weeks.
I think everyone in this room can relate to some of this at one point in their lives. We all ask “why is all this happening to faithful servants of God? Why doesn’t the Lord intervene and stop it?
But, saints of God, if you are hungry, thirsty and want more of God –you will go through trials of testing to make you as close to Jesus as you can stand at the moment.
David Wilkerson wrote in one of his articles:
“Never have so many the Lord’s sheep been so deeply tested. Something has been unleashed in the land over these past few months. Many of the godly men and women I know have fallen under a flood of trouble, hardship, suffering and sorrow.
This flood of trouble has a personal entity behind it: Satan. The fact is, the devil was Job’s troubler, and he’s still the troubler of God’s people today. Once again, the enemy is standing before the Lord, making great accusations against his church. He’s challenging God, saying, “You have no true body in this last hour. You don’t have the spotless bride your Word prophesies of. Take a good look at your people, God. They’re not wise virgins. Most of them are sound asleep. They’re materialistic, self-centered, grasping for riches and the good life. They don’t care about spiritual things. They’re preoccupied with making life better for themselves.
“Just listen to what their leaders are teaching. They’re telling the people they don’t have to suffer. They claim that every material thing is theirs for the taking. I dare you now, God: take down your wall of protection from around your people. Let me at them for just a short time. I’ll put all your fattened followers to the test.
“You know full well that this generation has been pampered like no other. If you’ll just allow me to sift them, you’ll see for yourself that you won’t have a remnant left. I’ll smite them with fiery arrows of temptation, bring them to poverty, pour out a spirit of despair on them. Then you’ll see all of your spoiled followers fold. I assure you, God, they’ll crumble and quit within the first hour. There aren’t any Jobs left in your body on earth. They’re all spiritual wimps.”
In the Book of Revelation, John describes a scene that I believe is taking place right now
The apostle John writes prophetically, “Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12). Today, as the devil brings indescribable woes upon humankind, many people are crying out in utter confusion, just as Job did.
Of course, as God’s children, we know that Satan can’t touch us. That could only happen if our Lord decides to let down his hedge of protection and allow the devil to try us. In my opinion, that is exactly what’s happening right now, throughout the church of Jesus Christ. The Bible warns us very clearly that in these last days, God will put his people through a purifying fire. And now, as we face trouble upon trouble, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for us to place our trust in the Lord, through every trial.
Of course, this wasn’t the counsel Job heard. When this suffering man was at his lowest point, he was besieged by critics posing as counselors. These so-called friends only further discouraged Job. They accused him of having hidden sin in his life, and urged him to repent. However, the Lord revealed to Job that these men’s accusing words were mere foolishness.
I want to issue a warning right now to every Christian who isn’t suffering but who knows a dear brother or sister who is. Maybe you have a believing friend whose unemployed, with no job in sight. Or, maybe a sudden calamity has struck your friend’s home. Or, perhaps your friend is being flooded with problem after problem, with no end in sight.
My warning to you is this: It’s a wicked thing to misrepresent the Lord to those who are suffering. Therefore, when you see such a person discouraged by his trials, don’t judge him. Only God can see into that person’s heart and know whether sin lodges there.
So, be careful not to add to your brother’s sorrows. Instead, put your arms around him and encourage him. Let him know you care for him, with the very love of Christ. If your friend weeps, weep with him. If he grieves, grieve with him. That is truly godly counsel, because it comes straight from God’s Word. And pray that the Lord gives you his own heart of compassion for his suffering people. After all, you may be the next one to face the furnace of affliction.
Our present sufferings produce one of two things in us: either hard- heartedness and a spirit of unbelief, or a glorious vision of God’s control over everything concerning us
Perhaps right now you’re suffering an excruciating trial. Yet, you know the reason behind it isn’t that God is dealing with sin in your life. So, you wonder, why is the Lord allowing you to endure such awful pain?
It could be that the furnace of your affliction is meant to bring you into a life-changing revelation This is exactly what happened with Job. In the midst of his suffering, Job made an incredible discovery: despite his pure knowledge of God, he didn’t truly know the Lord. He confessed, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).”
( Direct Quote from David Wilkerson newsletter entitled “God of our Monsters.”
Now back to my story:
Friday April 30th, I finally had a breakthrough, our let us say, I had just about enough of my own pity party. I cried out to the Lord, saying “I can’t take this anymore!” Lord, I don’t want to continue like this, I don’t want to continue to go from bed to chair, to bed. I have already finished the assignment Ernie gave to me, I need something to keep me busy. I need to get my mind off of ME!
After a short while, I heard this still sweet voice say, “go to your computer and type up all your prayers and tidbits of information I have given you over this past few months.”
I got in my wheelchair and sat down at the computer after retrieving the two notebooks of handwritten material and started typing. It was like medicine.
Ernie came home for lunch and he asked me if I felt like going out to eat but I would not give him a yes or no. The busier I got typing and getting my mind off self, the better I felt. So about four p.m. I decided to take a bath and clean up. I called Ernie and told him I was already for my date! He was elated. I even stayed up until 9 pm that evening and I had not done that for 2 months, pain free!
I got up Saturday morning at 6:30 am and was still feeling great, did my exercises and the Lord, impressed me to write this experience of the struggles. It seems like once I made the decision to get my focus off my illness and on to God and the prayers I had handwritten, my body started responding to the Word.
I feel like I have jumped a big hurdle. I know I am not where I want to be, but at least I’ve started trusting more in God. I talk to Him more, and I started remembering how He has loved me through all this in more ways than one.
I had a beautiful experience last Saturday with the Lord. I was at the Dance Festival at one of our local churches and they put me right on the front roll. By the time of the second dance the power of the Holy Spirit presence was so strong, I started crying. The dancers were beautiful and the different songs so awesome. So when they were laying hands on some of the people who needed a breakthrough, I started shaking, and when the pastors told them to receive, I started receiving. The Lord just enfolded me in His powerful love. Even though I was not in the line, I received. Then one of the pastors came and laid hands on me and prayed over me. WOW! The power was so great! It was a good thing that Pat Brown what behind me, as I just leaned back in my wheel chair and just let the Lord love on me. It was the most wonderful feeling, I felt like I could just roll out of my wheelchair right onto the floor. Our God is so good.
I believe He also healed the muscles spasms in my right arm and shoulder as the muscles no loner hurt.
Yes, I have had a breakthrough, and I know the trial is not over yet. The Lord has much more for me to learn. I just pray that I will not let ole slew-foot get under my hide again.
Yes, the Lord allows us to go through tests and trials, but for a reason. He loves us too much to leave us where we are. Our troubles in life are not simple accidents, no matter what we face, or how deep our pains reach inside us the Lord is right there with us. We have to remember to say, “My God can do anything!” when we are deep in our trials.
You know if Satan could have us just five minutes without God’s protection, we would be sifted like sand, and torn asunder.
Our wonderful Father wants His children to know Him more deeply and intimately than merely thought worship services, Bible Study, or prayer time. He wants intimacy, He wants us to enter into a conversation with Him, He wants us to enter into the Holy of Holies and abide with Him. He wants us to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him and that includes our trials and tribulations. He wants us to know Him as a Father, who is all-knowing, ever near to us, giving Him total control of our lives, He wants to hold us in the hollow of His loving hands.
Just remember the Bible never says the Lord will keep us from affliction –rather, it says He delivers us out of them. That exactly what God did for Job and that’s exactly what He will do for us and for me.
We as believer can greatly rejoice even in the midst of trials. Peter reminds us of one of the delightful paradoxes of Christianity:
· Joy in the midst of sorry
· We can rejoice in the prospect of a kept inheritance for a kept people.
· We can find joy in the knowledge that the various trials are only for a little while, whereas the glory will be forever.
· We read in 1Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction which is but a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Meaning, our afflictions viewed by themselves might be ever so heavy, but when compared with the eternal weight of glory that lies ahead, and then they are light. Also the light affliction is but for a moment, whereas glory is eternal. The lessons we will learn through afflictions in the world will yield richest fruit for in the in the world to come.
We can take comfort in our sufferings knowing that our suffering is neither purposeless nor fruitless. One of the many beneficial purpose of affliction in this life as a child of God is to test the genuineness of our faith. True faith is indestructible. We as believers may undergo severe tests and trials, but instead of destroying our faith, they become food for faith to feed on.
Job probably sustained heavier losses in one day than any other man in the history of the world, yet he was able to say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15)
Genuine faith will result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. This simply means that God will reward every instance of faith that stood the test. He will praise those who are joyful though surrounded by trouble. He will award honor and glory to tried and suffering believers who were able to accept their tribulations as a vote of confidence from Him.
William Lincoln wrote:
“People talk a lot about love, but the true test of love to God and Christ is, that in the trial it says – ‘I would not lose the favor and smile of God, so rather suffer than grieve Him’. Love will be content with a trust and the smile of God, rather than a better position and popularity of the world without it. Such testing must come to all the true children of God; they winnow the chaff from the wheat. The gold comes out of the fire tried and purified from its dross.”
God is saying that we just have to put our trust in Him and Him alone.
Prayer
O God, Father, I pray that You would give Your heart, to this class of extraordinary women and me, a heart of compassion for Your suffering people, so we can say like Job “I heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eyes seeth Thee –Therefore I shall abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
Lord I know You can do anything, and no thought is hidden from You. You are all powerful, You can do all things and Your purpose cannot be thwarted and Your plans for our lives will succeed. I know You are standing over me and this class of women today with a sword in Your hand to defend and to heal us. No man, nor monster, can affect Your plan or purpose; we are to simply stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
Grant us today Your presence and fill us with Your love.
In Jesus name I pray.
Continuation/Trials and Temptations
Trials and Temptations
How do we react when various forms of testings come into our lives?
Do we complain bitterly against the misfortunes of life, or do we rejoice and thank the Lord for them.
There are several possible attitudes we can take toward these testings and trials of life.
James 1:3 says to test your faith. He pictures faith as precious metal which is being tried by the Assayer (God) to see if it is genuine. The metal is subject to the fires of persecution, sickness, suffering or sorrow. Without problems, we would never develop endurance. James 1:4 say’s “But let patience have its perfect work.
Sometimes when problems come we become desperate and use frantic means to cut short the trial. When we don’t consult the Lord as to His purpose in the matter, we rush to the doctor, for instance we gulp down large doses of medicine in order to shorten the trial. By doing this, we actually may be thwarting God’s program in our lives. And it’s possible that we may have to undergo a longer trial in the future. We should not short circuit the development of endurance in our lives. By co-operating with God we will become mature, well-rounded Christians, lacking in none of the graces of the Spirit.
We should never become despondent or discouraged when passing through trials. Some problems in life are never removed. We must learn to accept them and to prove His grace is sufficient. (2 Cor 12:8-10)
Peace comes through submission to the will of God. Some problems in life are removed when we have learned our lesson from them. As soon as the Refiner sees His reflection in the molten metal, He turns off the heat.
Just know that we don’t have to face the problems of life in our own wisdom. If, in the time of trial, we lack spiritual insight, we should go to God and tell Him all about our perplexity and ignorance. All who thus exercised to find god’s purpose in the trials will be liberally rewarded. God is pleased when we are teachable and tractable. We all lack Wisdom - Spiritual Wisdom is the practical application of our Lord’s teaching to everyday situations.
We must approach God in faith, with no doubting. We must believe He loves and cares, and that nothing is impossible with Him. If we doubt His goodness and His power, we will have no stability in time of trouble. The source of Wisdom is God; it is obtained by prayer; it is available to everybody; it is given liberally and without reproach; the crucial condition is that we ask in faith, with no doubting.
So by remaining submissive to the chastening of God, we permit His discipline to mold us into His image. If we try to short circuit His dealing with us, He may have to teach us over a longer period of time using more instructive and consequently, more difficult methods. There are grades in God’s school and promotion comes only when we have learned our lessons.
So when testing comes to us, we should realize that God is treating us as sons. God’s discipline is always perfect. His love is infinite and His wisdom is infallible. His chastening are never the result of whim; but always for our profit. His objective is that we may be partakers of His holiness. Jowett explains: “The purpose of God’s chastening is not preventive but creative. He chastens “that we may share in His holiness.”
At the time all discipline seems painful. But it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
We as believers should not cave in under adverse circumstances of life: our lack of faith may have unfavorable influences on others. Drooping hands should be reinvigorated to serve the living Christ. Feeble knees should be strengthened for preserving prayer. Faltering feet should be guided in straight paths of Christian discipleship. Lets count it all joy when trials and temptation come upon us for then we know we are God’s sons in Christ Jesus taking us from glory to glory. Amen?
Written and complied by Susie from Believers Bible Commentary
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