Suffering #2

On November 2, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Goals, God's Will for Me, Strengthing, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #58
Suffering #2

Fact #30 Trials can come into my life that are for God’s purposes (Job 1:7).

There are times that God wants us to suffer!?!
When does God want me to suffer?

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:6–7)

And if the above does not happen then:

If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15 underline added)

God wants our faith to be perfect and complete thus producing eternal praise, glory, and honor. Godly suffering produces such results!

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God’s Law

On October 30, 2015   /   Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Strengthing, Trials  

Things Above Thought
TAT #50
God’s Law

America takes another step into the darkness. A single law now stands against God’s law. God’s Chosen stand in disbelief, shocked and dazed. What do we do now? Maybe there’s someone we can ask. I know, let’s ask some of God’s Chosen in China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. Maybe someone there knows how to stand firm against governments that write ungodly laws.

But wait there is someone we can ask. Some of us may even know of him. He has lived under one of the darkest governments of all time, a government that actually hunted and killed God’s Chosen. Yet we know that he stood firm for many years until the government finally tracked him down and killed him. Some say he made notes on how he did it. Surely those notes would help us. If we can find them, reprint, and distribute them, maybe we can learn how to stand firm in our faith in the encroaching darkness.

Does anybody know where we can find a New Testament?

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Direction

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #49
Direction

Well it seems many now have concerns about the direction of the USA.
As most of you know I love to confuse an issue with another question. So let me ask that other question. What is the direction of your life?

So grab your Bibles and let me “clarify” the above question with the following questions.

Who is your God, the government or Jesus Christ?
Do you love with a godly love or with the love that Adam loved Eve in Genesis 3:6? (Cross reference that with 3:17.)
If you were unable to communicate by words, in any way, and your only witness was your life, what would God think about your witness/life?
Which country do you love the most USA or your Hebrews 11:13 & 16 country?

Part of the activity of Things Above Ministries is to encourage and strengthen the remnant from the god of this world who appears to be rapidly constructing his single world government. And as he spreads this government the world gets darker. Therefore let each one of us “stand firm” on and in God’s light. But not just with words but with our entire being.

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Spiritual Minded

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #47
Spiritual Minded

Colossians 3:1–2 says to set your mind on things above? Does that mean we are to spend our days thinking about all the objects and beings in heaven? No, it means we are to be spiritually, or godly, minded. “So how do we maintain a godly mind throughout the day?”

The best way I know of is by the rule found in Deuteronomy 6:7:

You shall teach them (the Scriptures) diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

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Everything?

On October 30, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, God's Will, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #45
Everything?

Because of the trial that Satan brought upon Job, Job lost his children, his money, his friends, and his status but he did not lose his wife, (Job 1:13–37:24). But many of Job’s day to day workers did lose everything, they lost their lives.
Am I willing to live righteously and lose everything or just lose what Job lost?

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Prepared?

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, Helper, Strengthing, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #44
Prepared

Hostility toward God’s chosen is growing worldwide.
Are you prepared for an obedient life to the LORD in light of this?
Really?
How have you prepared for it?

Let’s go through a short check list:
1.    Strong, intimate and consistent relationships with members of God’s spiritual family?
2.    Consistent Bible study?
3.    Consistent prayer throughout the day?
4.    Recognizing and responding to the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart and working on your character?
5.    A desire for God to use you to glorify Him with your coworkers and worldly friends who are now becoming contentious and hostile toward God’s chosen?
6.    A growing desire to throw off religious beliefs which are created and promoted by human institutions and return to a simple life of obedience base on accurate biblical knowledge?
7.    Feelings of inadequacy and a longing to be with Him in your eternal home?

I’m so convicted by my lack of preparation I think I’ll stop writing now and go study.

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FOCUS!

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Goals, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #41
Focus

Doing the Lord’s will is not always enjoyable. I know that sounds like heresy to some Christians but look at Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul, and of course our Lord Jesus Christ, they all had lives of great suffering but they endured. Why were they able to do so? I also know I am called to suffer (Heb.12:2; Col. 1:24–28; 2 Timothy 2:3).
James tells me that suffering can make me perfect and complete (James 1:2–4). But why is it important for me to be complete and perfect? Hebrews 11 and 2 Tim. 2:12 answers that question – to prepare me for a particular spot in God’s eternal kingdom. I know my salvation was achieved by Christ and is secure but there is more possible, (1 Corinthians 3:14–15; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5).
The strange thing about my suffering is that when I focus on the joys, comforts, and present rewards on this earth I become less comfortable and less intimate with my Lord Jesus. Present earthly joys, comforts, and rewards blind me from the joys of my present sufferings. But when I focus on the future eternal joys and intimacy with Christ then my present sufferings seem to disappear.
It is my eternal focus that strengthens my present endurance in all my sufferings and turns those sufferings into joy (Heb. 12:2). Look at the focus of each of the following verses.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.
(Heb11:1 NET Bible)

For if only in this life – I – have hope in Christ, – I – should be pitied more than anyone – else.
(1 Cor. 15:19 NET Bible, personalization added)

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:16)

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)

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Simple & Abundant

On October 30, 2015   /   Endurance, Faith, Strengthing, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #38
Simple and Abundant

The entire human race was plunged into sin because Adam and the woman took one bite out of one piece of fruit. Job was blessed abundantly simply because he forgave his friends (Job 42:10). Naaman was healed of leprosy because he simply washed in the Jordan river rather than doing a great and might work of his own (1 Kings 5:1–14). Moses was kept out of the promised land because he simply struck a stone with his staff (Num. 20:11–12). We are saved into an abundant spiritual life because of one person (Rom. 5:19).

Many are now telling us that we all can do great things. Hollywood releases movie after movie of simple people doing great things, becoming great people, and we all cheer at the end. The countries of the world have a “New World Order” in mind and are looking for great people to lead us into that “new” frontier. A bigger and better world order with abundance for everybody.

But what about the simple things that God asks us to do every day of our lives? He simply asks us to be obedient to Him and then to wait for His blessings ………………………………………… even if they come after death ……………………………………… and last for all eternity (Heb. 11:1–40).

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Improvement or Perfection

On October 30, 2015   /   Character, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Satan, Strengthing, Trials  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #37
Improvement or Perfect?

Paul lived under a dictator who demanded that the citizens revere him as a god and killed all who disesteemed him. To improve on that problem Paul wrote volumes on government improvement? No he wrote:
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, (Titus 3:1)

Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. (1 Peter 2:13–14)

Paul suffered much for his faith—many imprisonments, close to death several times, 195 lashes, beaten with rods three times (number of lashes unknown), stoned, three times, shipwrecked and drifted for 24 hours, in frequent danger from and in the environment, in the cities, also from robbers, from his own countrymen (Jews), from Gentiles, and from false brethren. He labored through hardship, many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst (often without any food), and without proper clothing to protect him from the elements. Apart from all that, there was the daily pressure of concern for God’s spiritual family (2 Corinthians 11:23–28). To improve on that problem Paul wrote volumes on the “getting even” aspect of faith? No he wrote:

malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
(Titus 3:2)

It seems to me that Paul had a “hidden” agenda:

“for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13 emphasis added)

Paul’s “hidden” agenda was equipping us so that we could work in the service of building up (perfecting) other saints, helping each other mature to the fullness of Christ.

So how’s all our “building” coming along today? Are we working for human improvement or godly perfection?

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