It does happen, but there are some things that we can do to maintain our joy. We can slow down, walk tight with Jesus, ignore distactions and diligently sow to the Spirit instead of to the flesh, or to fear, or doubt, or to worldliness.
Yeah, if you do walk with Him it won't always be easy as pie. Christ had opposition as well—He walked in the truth, He walked in love and then He experienced fierce opposition, so He totally understands you. He can encourage you in His Scriptures.
I wish we didn't have opposition ..so sorry 'bout that.. but one day soon we won't have any opposition any more. O what a day that will be! It's really gunna happen, so let's be faithful.
But 'til the Rapture of the Church actually takes us up n away in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, in a blink.. we will have opposition.. so think it not strange by beloved brother or sister. I mean don't go on viewing the trials, the persecution, the hellish hassles, and all the unnecessary troubles that others cause us as we spread the Gospel.. that way. They are part of normal Christianity today ..this side of the Rapture.. and not strange stuff at all to our obedient "walk."
"My dad is now cleaning out the closet, and just gave me: 'In case of the Rapture, you can have this t-shirt.'" ~ Evan Williamson
I want to encourage you today. Don't walk away from Jesus when you hurt, walk towards and with Him…walk toward a decent church and spiritual pastor who sees, and walk with other growing believers..and then with the unsaved, but walk in the will of God. You are an overcomer by faith in Jesus Christ.
Obedient believer, in any given situation that you face, you and the Lord together are pretty much the majority so to speak. So don't be fearin' people, or fear witnessing, or fear circumstances.
Huh, but what does that mean? It means personal victory, it means blessings comin' at cha, it means good stuff that money can't buy, it means strong protection, others-orientated-fruitfulness and joy as others come to the faith you have, and it means great change for the good—for His glory. And it means even more than all that!
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" ~ Paul, Rom. 8:31
Do you now feel like you've lost it all? You haven't ..even if it might look or feel like it. Easy for me to say huh. I don't mean to come off as insensitive or cavalier. You really might have lost all physical possessions, but you have God with you. And your existence is more than this life, it's more than your broken heart, it's more than your crushed dreams and loneliness. Your life is more than the difficulty that you're currently experiencing, more than how others try to define you. Romans 11:29 promises us that God's gifts and God's call are all under full warranty.
Your pain won't last forever, believer, but you will. God is good even when so many outcomes that you see ..are not. Remember, He hasn't broken one promise yet. See Rom. 8:28,29.
You and I can still have joy inside …so much so that it can overflow into the life of others as we tell them about the best News we've ever heard—the Gospel of our salvation. It's the only Way in where you need to be. It's still free and sets free. God is the One who does that.
So much to be thankful for—we have eternal life in Christ. We can also enjoy abundant life now too ..as we walk together through this life. We can have deep gratitude, love and peace in intimate fellowship with God through Christ today! Yes, there is so much that we can be thankful for.
Your lungs inhale and exhale approximately 11,000 liters of air per day. Mine as well—it's the gift of physical life. We've been blessed with some time to choose God's Son, and to then help others choose Him as well.
Here's a basic principle that I like to remember. If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to arrive much better, just bring some friends with and go together with Christ. Let Him make you spiritual in your walk instead of half-hearted. Why? Cuz in relationship building, fast is slow and slow is faster.
I hope that makes sense. Yeah, people who try to build friendships real fast typically don't see real friendships being built up fast at all. People who would bring others with them to heaven need to slow down. They also need to first stop, wait, and pray in faith. We just need to be strong early, not after we are with weak people in need of help.
Think about Jesus. He was real stong. He would stop, pray, and later while moving through a crowd He would take time for those clamoring and pullin' on Him. He would obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit like we need to do. Yes, God the Son would pause, focus in, wait, and carefully listen to the people as they sometimes grabbed at him. He was patient and gentle. He was the One with real Solutions and all the answers while walking slowly through the throng. He would point even the proud towards Scriptures they thought they already knew. And some followed.
You can go slow and minister the truth of Scriptures to people around you as well. Be full of grace and truth like Jesus was and is.
I dare ya.. walk slowly through the crowds, build friendships slowly…not all fast, carelessly, and hasty. Take time to focus in and actively listen.. to think, to ask wise questions, to pray together (offer to do this, most won't mind), and to help em. You know that's what being a reborn on-fire believer, a real Christian disciple, a soul-winner is all about.
Go do a prayerful study in the Scriptures on Christ's holy character, His walk, on His friendships, His kindness, and on how Jesus dealt one-on-one with all those not-yet-forgiven individuals He cared about, and then decide to be more like Him in His walk with the Father. Also take a good look at relationship-building in the Bible.. at "slow" verses "fast."
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 Jn. 2:6
Jesus was saying, "'The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.' And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also [were] in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him." Mark 1:15-20
"Please, my lord, go ahead of your servant. We will follow slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for the livestock and the children." Gen. 33:14
"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.." Jam. 1:19
"He who is slow to wrath has great understanding.." Prov. 14:29
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy." See Ps. 103:8, 145:8, 15:18, Prov. 16:32, 19:11, Joel 2:13, Jon. 4:2, Nah. 1:3
Yes indeed, I want to encourage you to walk slow enough around people (and I don't mean when you're on your employer's clock and he asks you to really move). But I challenge you to walk brave, to be alert, to walk compassionate, to ask bigger for other's sake, to expect miracles so others can walk, to be real strong out there today..and to simply remain steadfast in walking with Christ.
"Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes—all the time! It must be that way, for God's glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to reveal Himself to a watching world." ~ Henry T. Blackaby
Listen, you can cry crocodile tears all you want, or have a self-focused pity party. You can search high and low for counselors who will tell you just what you want to hear, and strive for spiritual growth all you want apart from the Word of God …and some people will really feel for you. But it (spiritual growth) just ain't gunna happen even on your best day apart from Jesus. It's all so worthless minus the Word.
Think about the people around you who need you to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might instead of your own—some are really depending upon you to be all that God wants you to be.
You can walk slow or fast ..minus having any prayer with the Lord at all.. But that walkin' and helpin' and service will be worth LESS. Why have it that way. Why not seek first the King, the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness (right standing, forgiven, right living in Him) and be blessed all day long in Him? Believe me when I say: There's no such growth.. independent from the Word of God.
You can sincerely have the right motive or desire inside to go help people with your life, and try real long n hard until the cows come home ..to become a blessing or a fruitful Christian dash soul-winner, just to please God perhaps, but apart from the working of God's Holy Spirit in and through you, it would all just amount to a pile of worthless wood, hay, and stubble so to speak.
So choose to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, not ahead of Him or behind Him, and then to walk slowly (slow enough) with those people the He leads you to walk with. facebook.com/shareJesus
