For the next 4 weeks I plan to cover this question: Why do Christians Suffer?
If we are God's children, why aren't we excmpt? Or you may have heard: It sure doesn't seem like God cares, what has He done for me? Why am I sick? Why is my child sick? I have come up with four reasons why I feel Christians suffer and will discuss one a week. If you have comments or have other reasons, I would appreciate hearing from You.
Reason # One: Christians suffer just because we live in this world which became imperfect when man sinned. Not only did man have to pay the consequences for that sin, but all of creation did too, from the smallest, tiniest organism, to the largest mountain. So much of our suffering comes just because we live in this world of 'sin'.
Oh yes, God could cause those Cancer causing molecules to change back to normal, He could reach down and give life to a dying saint; He is still a miracle working God. But He does not always intervene with the natural course of nature. Some of His children may be caught in a hurricane, or be lost in a blizzard, or have a terrible accident. These are catastrophes that come because we live in this world that is no longer perfect. But instead of always stepping in and saving us from disasters and illnesses, He has promised to go with us through it all.
Matthew 5:45 states: "...He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." The difference is that we are not alone when we go through a storm, or when the shadows fall. He promises that even when we come to the 'valley of the shadow of death' He is with me.
We gain our strength from the one who went all the way to Calvary for me and for you, and He had to die alone so we would not have to.
So yes, Jesus cares. He cared enough to give His life for us. The days may be dark and long on this earth, but we have a future, this world is only temporary for a Christian, and our blessed Hope is in the Lord.
Remember, you are NOT left alone. You will have the help you need for any circumstance. "My God will supply every need of yours..." (Phillipians 4:19)
Next week: All sin has consequences.
1. God's Holy Word
2. From the heart of CC
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Praise to the Holy Spirit
In John 14:16 we read: "And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter." Just who is this comforter? This comforter is none other than the Holy Spirit. Anne Graham Lotz refers to Him as "another Jesus". In a sense this is a good description as He is the 'Spirit of Christ'. His job is to show us Jesus, to manifest Jesus, and to help us have the 'Mind of Christ'. The Nicene creed pays tribute to the Holy Spirit as being Himself God and equal to the Father and to the Son:
I believe in the Holy Spirit
The Lord and giver of life,
Which proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and Son together
Is worshipped and glorified.
My Prayer of Praise:
Spirit of the Living God, Sweet Heavenly Dove, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Glory, fall fresh on me today. Teach me, melt me, mold me, and give me the 'mind of Christ'. Thank You for giving me a new life. Take over my whole being, fill me with Your love and comfort. Fill every nook and cranny of my heart, fill every cell of my body. Spirit of Prayer, teach me to pray. Thank You for presenting my prayers before the Father according to His will. Thank You for giving me the Spirit of Adoption, so that I may say "Abba, Father".
Amen
Monday, August 3, 2009
Praise to the Son
In Colossians 1:15 we find out who Jesus is: "He is the visible likeness of the unseen God (the visible representation of the invisible." When Jesus was on earth in human form, He did not hesitate to use a plural form when speaking of Himself along with the Father and the Spirit, yet He states that He and the Father are One (John 10:30). Mark 1:10,11 gives us a picture of the plural Godhead. "And when He (Jesus) came up out of the water, at once he (John) saw the heavens torn open and the (Holy) Spirit like a dove coming down (to enter) into Him. And there came a voice out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
John 1:14 states "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of Grace and Truth."
When the Nicene Creed was written it was to give a Statement of Faith honoring Christ's Deity and His claim to equality with God:
John 1:14 states "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of Grace and Truth."
When the Nicene Creed was written it was to give a Statement of Faith honoring Christ's Deity and His claim to equality with God:
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
The only begotten Son of God,
Begotten of Him before all ages,
God of God, Light of Light,
Very God of Very God,
Begotten, not made,
Being of one Substance with the Father,
By whom all things were made.
My Prayer:
Jesus, Lord, Raboni, Begotten of the Father, Our Bright and Morning Star, Immanuel--God with us! You are the Lamb that was slain! You are the King of Kings! I bow before you, Lord; I am not worthy to touch the hem of Your garments--yet You have made me clean, You have covered me with Your righteousness. Without You I am nothing; without You I cannot do anything. Without You how lost I would be! I worship You and I adore You! "Jesus", what a beautiful Name! Amen
1. The Knowledge of the Holy by Tozer
2. The Holy Bible (Amplified Version)
3. The heart of CC
Monday, July 27, 2009
Praise to the Father
'I Lift My Hands in Praise' for the next three weeks, giving praise to each "Person" of our Triune God, along with verses from the Bible, giving praise and honor to the One we worship and adore.
In awe we worship the Father and say with Moses in Exodus 15:11:
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonder?
From Revelation 15:4 we join the Revelator with: Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou art Holy.
Hallowed be thy Name! Matthew 6:9
O Father, in the words of Daniel "Thou art a great and awesome God". I praise You and humbly bow before You. You are Holy, yet You love me so much You allowed Your Son Jesus to be my sacrifice. You are so Holy, You had to turn away from You precious Son when He took my sin on Himself. You left Him alone as You could not look on MY sin. And now, because of His sacrifice, You look at me and see His reflection. You see me as righteous. You see me as without sin, and I praise You. I Adore You! Abba, Father! Amen
1. The Holy Bible
2. From the heart of CC
In awe we worship the Father and say with Moses in Exodus 15:11:
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonder?
From Revelation 15:4 we join the Revelator with: Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou art Holy.
Hallowed be thy Name! Matthew 6:9
O Father, in the words of Daniel "Thou art a great and awesome God". I praise You and humbly bow before You. You are Holy, yet You love me so much You allowed Your Son Jesus to be my sacrifice. You are so Holy, You had to turn away from You precious Son when He took my sin on Himself. You left Him alone as You could not look on MY sin. And now, because of His sacrifice, You look at me and see His reflection. You see me as righteous. You see me as without sin, and I praise You. I Adore You! Abba, Father! Amen
1. The Holy Bible
2. From the heart of CC
Monday, July 20, 2009
God Meant It For Good!
And we know that all things work together
For good to them that love God. Romans 8:28
The term "all things" does not mean 'most things', or 'good things' or even 'joyous things', but it means "ALL THINGS'. God can use my sins, my mistakes, my wrong choices, and even my rebellion, all to work for my good.
God has a purpose for each one of us, and that purpose is that we learn to be loving, joyful, gentle, patient and kind. There may even be a special job for us thrown into the mix, but the main thing is that He wants us to learn to have the mind of Christ, and learn to have 'iron' in our soul. An example would be from Genesis and the story of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and no doubt felt God had forgotten him. To make matters even worse, he was in prison for years through no fault of his, yet all the time God was working. He was later made a ruler and he was able to save many, many peoples throughout the world. In a poem by Freda Hanbury Allen, based on Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers it was a 'God thing'. Here are some of the verses from that poem, showing how God can use "all things":
For good to them that love God. Romans 8:28
The term "all things" does not mean 'most things', or 'good things' or even 'joyous things', but it means "ALL THINGS'. God can use my sins, my mistakes, my wrong choices, and even my rebellion, all to work for my good.
God has a purpose for each one of us, and that purpose is that we learn to be loving, joyful, gentle, patient and kind. There may even be a special job for us thrown into the mix, but the main thing is that He wants us to learn to have the mind of Christ, and learn to have 'iron' in our soul. An example would be from Genesis and the story of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and no doubt felt God had forgotten him. To make matters even worse, he was in prison for years through no fault of his, yet all the time God was working. He was later made a ruler and he was able to save many, many peoples throughout the world. In a poem by Freda Hanbury Allen, based on Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers it was a 'God thing'. Here are some of the verses from that poem, showing how God can use "all things":
"It was not you but God, that sent me hither."
Witnessed triumphant faith in after days;
"God meant it unto good," no "second causes"
Mingled their discord with his song of praise.
"God means it unto good" for thee, beloved,
The God of Joseph is the same today;
His love permits afflictions strange and bitter,
His hand is guiding through the unknown way.
The Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,
Hath purposes for thee of love untold.
Then place thy hand in His and follow fearless,
Till thou the riches of His grace behold.
There, when thou standest in the Home of Glory,
And all life's path lies open to thy gaze,
Thine eyes shall SEE the hand which now thou trustest,
And magnify His love through endless days.
George Mueller once said:
"In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer's good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, and one beside."
"What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." (John 13:7)
1. Streams in the Desert, June 10
2. The Holy Bible
3. From the heart of CC
Monday, July 13, 2009
Place of Help
THE PLACE OF HELP by Oswald Chambers
The Holy Spirit in me makes me a passionate, devoted, absorbed lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lives are changed, not by 'baptism' of the Holy Spirit, but power of the ascended Christ coming into men's lives by the Holy Spirit.
Paul (as we should be) is so absorbed with Jesus that he does not think of himself apart from this marvellous identification with Jesus Christ. It is closer than a union, it is a oneness illustrated by the vine and the branches.
John 15:4 and 5
". . .As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing."
1. "My Utmost for His Highest"
2. The New Scofield Reference Bible
3. The heart of CC
The Holy Spirit in me makes me a passionate, devoted, absorbed lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lives are changed, not by 'baptism' of the Holy Spirit, but power of the ascended Christ coming into men's lives by the Holy Spirit.
Paul (as we should be) is so absorbed with Jesus that he does not think of himself apart from this marvellous identification with Jesus Christ. It is closer than a union, it is a oneness illustrated by the vine and the branches.
John 15:4 and 5
". . .As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing."
1. "My Utmost for His Highest"
2. The New Scofield Reference Bible
3. The heart of CC
Monday, July 6, 2009
Freedom
"Let Freedom Ring!" We lustily sing at this time of year. But do we really know what Freedom is?
One dictionary meaning is: 'a being able to act, move, use without hindrance or restraint'. Synonymous with the word 'Freedom' is the word 'liberty'. The dictionary states that 'liberty' connotes past restriction, or repression. When our founding Father's signed the declaration of Independence, they were stating we were no longer repressed or restricted by another governing ruler. We were setting up our new nation to be free and independent of England or any other nation. To have the Freedom to pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness.
So it is with our Spiritual life. We are repressed, dominated, controlled by sin and the father of lies, Satan. But John 12:36 states "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". Jesus declaration to us is from John 3:16, "Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have Eternal Life." Jesus said "I am come that you might have Life, and have it more abundantly." This is our Declaration of Independence that gives us True Freedom!
From the heart of CC
One dictionary meaning is: 'a being able to act, move, use without hindrance or restraint'. Synonymous with the word 'Freedom' is the word 'liberty'. The dictionary states that 'liberty' connotes past restriction, or repression. When our founding Father's signed the declaration of Independence, they were stating we were no longer repressed or restricted by another governing ruler. We were setting up our new nation to be free and independent of England or any other nation. To have the Freedom to pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness.
So it is with our Spiritual life. We are repressed, dominated, controlled by sin and the father of lies, Satan. But John 12:36 states "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". Jesus declaration to us is from John 3:16, "Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have Eternal Life." Jesus said "I am come that you might have Life, and have it more abundantly." This is our Declaration of Independence that gives us True Freedom!
From the heart of CC
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