 |
| Lessons from God's Faithfulness (Part One) |
IC: For one, we should not be surprised when our faith is tested. There is no guarantee for the Christian against trouble, but there is a guarantee against defeat, if one does not faint.
Akin: Awesome! That is large. You mean we don’t have to go out looking for trouble (challenges)?
Akin: Having trouble (challenges) is part of living. And, God does not shield us from living. He does not shield us from life. Rather, He says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2, NLT)
Akin: Notice, He said, "WHEN," not "IF." Hence, going through trouble and challenges in life is a guarantee.
IC: We can also look at it from the angle that the mere fact we are being challenged with a situation means there must be something in us, or on our way, that the enemy is uncomfortable with us appropriating. Simply put, there is something in us worth wrestling away. It means we are not a bunch of “nobodies” and it feels good not being classified as one.
Akin: Awesome! We each have greatness in us yearning to manifest. And, the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy; wanting to stop us from birthing that which God has put in us.
Akin: I was just listening to Charles Stanley preach along this line, in a message titled, “Wisdom in the Midst of Trials” (link provided below). He said, “Our natural reaction to trouble is to seek a way out, but sometimes God has something far more important in mind than our immediate relief. Instead of focusing on escape, we need to figure out what we can learn from the difficult or painful experience.”
Akin: As John Maxwell rightly notes, “A faith that has not been tested cannot be trusted.” God is the one who takes His children THROUGH the "proving grounds" of "the valley of the shadow of death." "Through" is the word. He does not leave us there, nor abandon us. [Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6] He is with us every step of the way.With Him on our side we win. [Psalm 60:12]
IC: Trials are like fire. Depending on how it is managed can be a purifier. The notable precious jewelries of this world, diamond and gold, all go through the furnace for purification. In their raw state, the materials are not attractive, like mere carbon stones. Through the “trial by fire” controlled process, the impurities are burned off and the end-product polished, becoming adorable.
Akin: Hoping you all are being blessed. We will continue from here next week.
Other Resources:
No comments:
Post a Comment