continued from (6b) Now That I Believe...
"
How do I deal with adversity and affliction now that I believe?
1. Recognize that we’re saved from sin, not from suffering.
When Adam sinned, death entered the world (Romans_5:12). Ever since then,
the pain and sickness that lead to death have been part of the human race.
Paul says, “we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now.” And we also know that Christians are not exempt from
suffering because Paul adds,
“and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of
The Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves” (Romans_8:23).
Adversity is also part of the Christian life, else Paul wouldn’t exhort us to
have “patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye
endure” (II Thessalonians 1:4).
2. Don’t doubt the love of God.
When we are sick, injured or in pain, when we suffer emotional trauma
or financial reversal, there is a tendency to question the Love of God.
“If God Loves me, why am I sick?” or, “If God Loves me, why did this
happen?” God’s Answer Is Found in Romans_5:8:
To determine God’s Love for us, we must not look to our circumstances
in life, we must rather look to The Cross. At Calvary He Demonstrated
His Love For us When He Saved us from our sins and the punishment
of hell. After Calvary, His Love For us can never be called into question.
3. Learn the value of adversity in this life.
Someday “that blessed hope” of the Rapture (Titus_2:13) will put an
end to all our troubles, and so we “rejoice in hope of The Glory Of God”
(Romans_5:2). But in the meantime, Paul says that we can “glory in
tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and
patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3,4).
We can glory in tribulation since we know it works for us, not against
us. It works to instill in us these desirable qualities in life, and rewards
in the next life.
4. Learn the value of adversity in the next life.
Tribulation not only works good things for us in this life, it works good
things for us in the next life. Paul says that “our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us A Far More Exceeding And Eternal
Weight Of Glory” (II Corinthians 4:17).
This is because while God could have taken us home to be with Him the
moment we believed, He rather chose to leave us here to serve Him. But
since leaving us here exposes us to sickness, hardship and heartache,
God Promises To Richly Reward the suffering that we endure.
If it be asked how richly we will be rewarded, suffice it to say that “the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans_8:18). God here vows to
lavishly reward all affliction that we encounter as we represent Him here
as “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20).
"
(R Kurth)
Berean Searchlight FULL Article:
Now That I Believe (Part 1)
Now That I Believe (Part 2)
Now That I Believe (Part 3)
View attachment 23894
GRACE And Peace...
====================
Index "Now That I Believe":
(1) Introduction
(2) What Did I Believe
(3) What Happened When I Believed
(4) Why Should I Serve The LORD
(5a) How Should I Serve The LORD (5b)
(6a) How Should I Deal With sin (6b)
(7) How Should I Deal With Adversity
(8) What Is my Future / Conclusion
"
How do I deal with adversity and affliction now that I believe?
1. Recognize that we’re saved from sin, not from suffering.
When Adam sinned, death entered the world (Romans_5:12). Ever since then,
the pain and sickness that lead to death have been part of the human race.
Paul says, “we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now.” And we also know that Christians are not exempt from
suffering because Paul adds,
“and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of
The Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves” (Romans_8:23).
Adversity is also part of the Christian life, else Paul wouldn’t exhort us to
have “patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye
endure” (II Thessalonians 1:4).
2. Don’t doubt the love of God.
When we are sick, injured or in pain, when we suffer emotional trauma
or financial reversal, there is a tendency to question the Love of God.
“If God Loves me, why am I sick?” or, “If God Loves me, why did this
happen?” God’s Answer Is Found in Romans_5:8:
“God Commendeth His Love Toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ Died For us.”
while we were yet sinners, Christ Died For us.”
To determine God’s Love for us, we must not look to our circumstances
in life, we must rather look to The Cross. At Calvary He Demonstrated
His Love For us When He Saved us from our sins and the punishment
of hell. After Calvary, His Love For us can never be called into question.
3. Learn the value of adversity in this life.
Someday “that blessed hope” of the Rapture (Titus_2:13) will put an
end to all our troubles, and so we “rejoice in hope of The Glory Of God”
(Romans_5:2). But in the meantime, Paul says that we can “glory in
tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and
patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3,4).
We can glory in tribulation since we know it works for us, not against
us. It works to instill in us these desirable qualities in life, and rewards
in the next life.
4. Learn the value of adversity in the next life.
Tribulation not only works good things for us in this life, it works good
things for us in the next life. Paul says that “our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us A Far More Exceeding And Eternal
Weight Of Glory” (II Corinthians 4:17).
This is because while God could have taken us home to be with Him the
moment we believed, He rather chose to leave us here to serve Him. But
since leaving us here exposes us to sickness, hardship and heartache,
God Promises To Richly Reward the suffering that we endure.
If it be asked how richly we will be rewarded, suffice it to say that “the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans_8:18). God here vows to
lavishly reward all affliction that we encounter as we represent Him here
as “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20).
"
(R Kurth)
Berean Searchlight FULL Article:
Now That I Believe (Part 1)
Now That I Believe (Part 2)
Now That I Believe (Part 3)
View attachment 23894
GRACE And Peace...
====================
Index "Now That I Believe":
(1) Introduction
(2) What Did I Believe
(3) What Happened When I Believed
(4) Why Should I Serve The LORD
(5a) How Should I Serve The LORD (5b)
(6a) How Should I Deal With sin (6b)
(7) How Should I Deal With Adversity
(8) What Is my Future / Conclusion
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