I dedicate this topic to a dear brother in the Lord who embodies the words of the apostle as recorded in the 5th chapter of 1 Thessalonians:
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing. (verses 9-11 NASB)
I remember that day when the Lord raised me up and poured His Spirit upon me. When my eyes opened for the first time the Spirit moved upon me, revealing my place in the company of the saints: it is good and altogether worthwhile that I encourage the beloved of the Lord. I witnessed the truth of all I had endured over many long years of hardship and trial, how our Father in heaven prepared me in the crucible of suffering to speak of the glories of the Most High who delivered me with a mighty hand.
For the truth cannot be concealed but is revealed in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. My deliverance is our deliverance for God is no respecter of persons; His mercy for my sake is His mercy for us all; and those things which I have seen and heard are not mine alone but belong to the saints. We share in this inheritance as the children of promise, my friends.
Are you suffering? Rejoice, because it's through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
Are you afflicted with weakness? Be of good cheer for as the Lord spoke to the apostle Paul, the power of Christ is perfected in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Let the words of the Psalm be our own:
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
So that I may learn Your statutes.
The Law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
(Psalm 119:71-72)
Let no discouraging word take root in our hearts at any time but rather, rejoice because He who is with us has overcome the world. There's no better way to rejoice than to encourage one another, my friends. Praise the Lord!
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing. (verses 9-11 NASB)
I remember that day when the Lord raised me up and poured His Spirit upon me. When my eyes opened for the first time the Spirit moved upon me, revealing my place in the company of the saints: it is good and altogether worthwhile that I encourage the beloved of the Lord. I witnessed the truth of all I had endured over many long years of hardship and trial, how our Father in heaven prepared me in the crucible of suffering to speak of the glories of the Most High who delivered me with a mighty hand.
For the truth cannot be concealed but is revealed in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. My deliverance is our deliverance for God is no respecter of persons; His mercy for my sake is His mercy for us all; and those things which I have seen and heard are not mine alone but belong to the saints. We share in this inheritance as the children of promise, my friends.
Are you suffering? Rejoice, because it's through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
Are you afflicted with weakness? Be of good cheer for as the Lord spoke to the apostle Paul, the power of Christ is perfected in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Let the words of the Psalm be our own:
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
So that I may learn Your statutes.
The Law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
(Psalm 119:71-72)
Let no discouraging word take root in our hearts at any time but rather, rejoice because He who is with us has overcome the world. There's no better way to rejoice than to encourage one another, my friends. Praise the Lord!
