From CHRIST JESUS we have a PERFECT example of enduring under hardship, and being patient as we do! It is a Christian's duty, not only to keep from gross wickedness, but also from things that lead to sin, or appear evil. 1 PETER 2 &; 1 PETER 4...
---“We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” (ACTS 14). All who are converted need to be confirmed in the faith; all who are planted need to be rooted. It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but it is encouragement that we shall not be lost and perish in it. Err is EVER near; temptations, and the misdeeds of the being are also, so close by that we are easily led into what CAN be resisted, and overcome via HIS GRACE, and KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL. There IS an enemy, and great enmity towards all who receive CHRIST JESUS, and take up their crosses to FOLLOW HIM, therefore, obstacles, challenges, and tests prevail, and in fact, may increase with our Christian maturity...
In this day, and for a while now, ALL of my people, and myself, have been confronted with seemingly endless suffering, challenges, and obstacles; it has been a tough few months, but, we ARE equipped to move through, and past, THANKS BE TO THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, although, some of my people ARE NOT quite IN HIM, thus, those whom ARE, have to set the example, and inspire THE WAY, and this, not through words, instead through deeds. It gets difficult at time when it seems the skies are pouring in every facet of time, yet, FAITH AND WILL ARE strengthened through persevering, and enduring, WHILE RELYING ON *GOD*...
Silly are those who imagine that in receiving CHRIST JESUS that there is nothing but ease ahead! HOW could it be so when we are in such an evil, wicked realm WHICH sees us thinking, acting, and reacting in the human condition, EVEN when we are IN HIM? You think the enemy decides that if we are now of CHRIST, he won't mess with us anymore? He WILL, and even more so, BECAUSE he is NOT happy that some WILL be safe forevermore, while he, and those who bit into his poisons, suffer evermore...
3+++His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4+++Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5+++For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6+++and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7+++and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
8+++For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9+++But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10+++Therefore, my brothers and sisters,a make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
11+++and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Faith unites the weak believer to Christ, as really as it does the strong one, and purifies the heart of one as truly as of another; and every sincere believer is by his faith justified in the sight of God. Faith worketh godliness, and produces effects which no other grace in the soul can do. In Christ all fullness dwells, and pardon, peace, grace, and knowledge, and new principles, are thus given through the Holy Spirit. The promises to those who are partakers of a Divine nature, will cause us to inquire whether we are really renewed in the spirit of our minds; let us turn all these promises into prayers for the transforming and purifying grace of the Holy Spirit.
The believer must add knowledge to his virtue, increasing acquaintance with the whole truth and will of God. We must add temperance to knowledge; moderation about worldly things; and add to temperance, patience, or cheerful submission to the will of God. Tribulation worketh patience, whereby we bear all calamities and crosses with silence and submission. To patience we must add godliness: this includes the holy affections and dispositions found in the true worshiper of God; with tender affection to all fellow Christians, who are children of the same Father, servants of the same Master, members of the same family, travelers to the same country, heirs of the same inheritance. Wherefore let Christians labour to attain assurance of their calling, and of their election, by believing and well-doing; and thus carefully to endeavour, is a firm argument of the grace and mercy of God, upholding them so that they shall not utterly fall. Those who are diligent in the work of religion, shall have a triumphant entrance into that everlasting kingdom where Christ reigns, and they shall reign with him for ever and ever; and it is in the practice of every good work that we are to expect entrance to heaven.
We cry, "OH NO", as we experience more, and more of the opposition in this woeful world, but we TURN TO THE LORD, we PRAY, we PRAISE HIM, we WORSHIP, and we REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us, AS we study, learn, embrace, and utilize MORE of THE WORD, and exist accordingly! You see, all of the challenges ARE designed with purpose, and reason; whether they are derived of *GOD*, or the enemy, they TEACH us, STRENGTHEN us, and GUIDE us TO REMAINING IN HIM, THAT HE REMAINS in us; these PROVE HIS people, indeed they DO separate the TRUE from the others! Some people WILL fall away, and this quickly, when they have too much bad happening, but the FAITHFUL KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON, while taking pertinent lessons to heart, increasing their knowledge, and understanding, AS they TRUST THE LORD *GOD* to bring them through the dark, heavy storms of time...
Misinterpretation of MUCH of THE WORD HAS seen people believing FAITH means ease, but CHRIST JESUS SHOWED us through HIS constant suffering, that is NOT so! HE whom IS *GOD*, and Man, COULD have had a royal, and easy walk on this Earth, but there was DIVINE REASON, and POWER at work IN HIS suffering, and cruel death! Let us accept our sufferings FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of others, and our own souls FOR the very POWERS it holds, now, and forever!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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