If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans8:31

[Nomad]

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans8:31

Do not be discouraged at the difficulties and oppositions that
will rise up before you when you begin resolvedly to walk with
God. Discouragements turn multitudes from religion, and provide a
great temptation for many young beginners to turn back. Israel in the
wilderness was ready to retreat to Egypt. God himself will have his
servants and his graces tried and exercised by difficulties, and Satan,
will quickly raise up storms before us, as soon as we are set out to sea.
But God is on your side and has all your enemies in his hand, and can
rebuke them, or destroy them in a moment. O what is the breath or
fury of dust or devils, against the Lord Almighty! In the day you en
-tered into a covenant with God, and he with you, you entered into the
most impregnable rock and fortress, and covered yourself in a castle
of defence, where you may (modestly) defy all adverse powers of earth
or hell. If God cannot save you, he is not God. And if he will not save
you, he must break his covenant. Indeed, he may resolve to save you,
not from affliction and persecution, but in it, and by it! But in all these
things you will—‘Overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved
us’ (Rom 8:37). It is far more desirable and excellent to conquer by
patience, in suffering for Christ, than to conquer our persecutors in
the field, by force of arms. O think on the saints’ triumphant boastings
in their God: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble’ (Psa 46:1). If all of the world were on your side, you might
yet have cause to fear. But to have God on your side is infinitely more!
Christ the Captain of your salvation has gone this way before you, and
now he is engaged to make you a conqueror! Do not be afraid where
Christ is leading the way. Do not draw back when you see his steps
and his blood!

Puritan Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, i:43

 

[Madad21]

Nice brother, amen to that.

 

[RANDOR]

Thanks

 

[laid renard]

But in all these things you will—‘Overwhelmingly conquer through him
who loved us’ (Rom 8:37) It is far more desirable and excellent to conquer by
patience, in suffering for Christ, than to conquer our persecutors in
the field, by force of arms. O think on the saints’ triumphant boastings
in their God: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble’ (Psa 46:1). If all of the world were on your side, you might
yet have cause to fear. But to have God on your side is infinitely more!

I can testify to that !!!!!!!

 

[ironmonk]

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans8:31

Do not be discouraged at the difficulties and oppositions that
will rise up before you when you begin resolvedly to walk with
God. Discouragements turn multitudes from religion, and provide a
great temptation for many young beginners to turn back. Israel in the
wilderness was ready to retreat to Egypt. God himself will have his
servants and his graces tried and exercised by difficulties, and Satan,
will quickly raise up storms before us, as soon as we are set out to sea.
But God is on your side and has all your enemies in his hand, and can
rebuke them, or destroy them in a moment. O what is the breath or
fury of dust or devils, against the Lord Almighty! In the day you en
-tered into a covenant with God, and he with you, you entered into the
most impregnable rock and fortress, and covered yourself in a castle
of defence, where you may (modestly) defy all adverse powers of earth
or hell. If God cannot save you, he is not God. And if he will not save
you, he must break his covenant. Indeed, he may resolve to save you,
not from affliction and persecution, but in it, and by it! But in all these
things you will—‘Overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved
us’ (Rom 8:37). It is far more desirable and excellent to conquer by
patience, in suffering for Christ, than to conquer our persecutors in
the field, by force of arms. O think on the saints’ triumphant boastings
in their God: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble’ (Psa 46:1). If all of the world were on your side, you might
yet have cause to fear. But to have God on your side is infinitely more!
Christ the Captain of your salvation has gone this way before you, and
now he is engaged to make you a conqueror! Do not be afraid where
Christ is leading the way. Do not draw back when you see his steps
and his blood!

Puritan Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, i:43

I couldn't understand that, i'm sorry. I am finding it hard to understand lots of things lately, but I did read it through.

 

[Nomad]

I couldn't understand that, i'm sorry. I am finding it hard to understand lots of things lately, but I did read it through.

No worries. I'll try to summarize. The following comes from the middle of the devotional posted above.

Indeed, he may resolve to save you,
not from affliction and persecution, but in it, and by it! But in all these
things you will—‘Overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved
us’ (Rom 8:37)

The idea here is that there are times when God, in his infinite wisdom, decides not to save us out of tribulation but rather to uphold us in the midst of it. The reasons for this may or may not be readily available to us, but the Apostle Paul assures us that if God is for us, then who can be against us?

 

[Helen]

Yes, we only need faith for today.
Even if our faith feels small and weak, we just have faith in Him anyway.
Believing that God can do, will do, and is doing what is best for each one of us.

We focus our faith on His will, not just our own desired outcome.
And, then we let it all go, and trust Him with the outcome.

Believing for wisdom, healing, deliverance, victory, or provision isn’t what faith is. Faith is believing in Him who is all wisdom, our victory, Healer, Deliverer, and Provider... is what faith is.

*It takes just as much faith to bear a burden or weight as it does to believe that it can be removed!!

Faith as a mustard seed ....

God IS for us, who can be against!!!

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Richard Baxter is both convicting and thought provoking.
Just reading the table of contents of the Christian Directory is thought provoking considering the detailed thought offered.
Such thought is mostly absent Mal3:14-18

 

[Windmillcharge]

Romans is a wonderfull book and chapter 8 is a challenging read.
To pull 3 verses .
v 4. he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

We are to live not by our desires but by the desires of the Spirit. Is this true of us?

v18. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Suffering, what suffering. Do we in the west know what this means?

and v28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

A well know verse that people think means health and wealth, but means that Everything whether good or bad is to be lived through and in our lives is to glorify God.

How does our lives do this?