But I'm Saved. I'm a Child of God. I no longer have to worry about anything. I can have no fear. This is true. As a Child of God, you should not worry about anything. If you understand that God, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of all that is, was, or ever will be, is now your Daddy, and you recognize the fact He is still very much in charge, you should NOT worry. You should have no fear. However? However, is that even though this is true, and you are no longer part of the World, you are now simply in the World, you still fall under control of the World. In other words, Gravity still has a hold of you. Fire still burns you. The cares and affairs of others, still effect you. You are still, a physical being, in a physical world.
Now consider this. Do you care about what is in your possession, or are you more concerned with what is taken from you. Say you have two $100.00 bills. I take one from you. I put the one in my pocket, and now you know, it is gone from you. Which bill are you thinking of. The one in your pocket? Or the one in mine?
This is how the Devil sees you. Ever hear of a person that is about to have their Home repossessed? Or their vehicle repoed? They are furious. They are hateful. Some burn their homes to the ground, or drive their cars into walls or off cliffs. Why? If they can not longer have them, they do not want anyone else to. Ever hear of the story of love and murder? His Wife was about to leave him and take their children with her, so he murders her, and maybe even the kids, so they will not leave him? That is how the Devil thinks of you.
You are born into the World. The World belongs to the Devil. As long as you are in the World, the Devil has control over you. He can and sometimes will, "bless" you. He can and sometimes will make you rich. Famous. Powerful. Adored. He will even encourage you to become "Religious." You want to go to Church? Go ahead. There are many to chose from where you will NEVER hear the name Jesus, nor ever learn of the Resurrection. Nor ever receive the Spirit of Adoption. He will even let you become powerful and honored by those in that Religion. Just never mention the name Jesus the Christ. Unless you are rejecting it. Denouncing it. Forbidding it. Look at Saul.
But what happened to Saul when he became Paul? Paul was Saul before he was converted. Equal to Hitler in every way. His soul purpose in life was to hunt down, abuse, imprison, and even slaughter, God's chosen people. He received great power and position in his Religion, for doing such a good job. Then Jesus appeared before him and asked him to follow Him. He said yes, and became Paul. So great a Saint that HE wrote a lot of the New Testament that we read today.
After his conversion? Put in prison over and over. Faced death over and over. Received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times. Beaten with rods 3 times. Stoned one time. Shipwrecked 3 times. Spent a day and night in the sea. And was in continual danger from robbers, and even his own people. Was always in danger in the city, in the country, at sea, from those he thought to be Brothers. Often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked. I guess you could say he had some trials and tribulations. I love this Passage. This was one of his letters to the Church at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 11:
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.Even though the Devil tempted him over and over, tormented him, Paul remained faithful to Jesus. Paul did not have an easy walk. When you look in The Word, all through The Word, you will notice a trend. Who is it that the Devil wanted to tempt the most? Was it the guy on the street with the needle in his arm? The women on the street selling herself for her next high? Nope. They already belong to him. No. Whom the Devil chooses to tempt, are those that are no longer his.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Look at Job. "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." He was Rich. He had a large family. But, he was a Child of God. The Devil himself walked into the Throne Room of God and asked God to tempt him.
Job 1:
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.First he takes away all Job has. However, you need to get this one point. Look at this passage. 1 Job: 16
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
"While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."The fire of God. All these things were going wrong in Jobs life, and those witnessing it, thought it was God Himself doing it. Yet Job remained faithful. Job said "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
So the Devil, even more furious that this did not work, returned to the Throne Room of God.
Job 2:
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.What did God say to Satan? "He is in thine hand." Why? Because he was. He is in the natural realm. In is in the physical. Satan has power and control. Yet, notice the one thing God told the Devil he could not take. Job's "Life."
2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Look at Peter.The one Jesus told was the rock on which He would build His church.
Luke 22:
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:Picture this. Jesus just praising you, blesses you, then tells you, the Devil wants you. Peter, who seen Jesus do miracles, heal the Sick, raise the Dead, walk on water, and even walked on water with him, most likely thought to himself, cool. The Devil wants me? But here I am with the Lord. He is going to tell him to take a hike. But Jesus said "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." In other words, Jesus said, "Go ahead Satan.Try him. He is in your hands. However, his life belongs to me."
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
You know the story. Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny any knowledge or association with Jesus three times before the Rooster crowed three times. On the third, Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter ran away.
What all these examples, and there are many more, have in common is this. In the middle of their trials and tribulations, they never lost sight of the goal. They never lost faith. They understood, that if they chose to forsake God, and His Will, God would forsake them. But if they chose not to, then God would never leave them nor abandon them. They did not respond to the trials and tribulations by the flesh. But by their spirit.
I think one of the easiest explanations on how to deal with things that will pop up in your life, is by James.
James 1:
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.Wait....Did he just say count it all joy? Yes. Yes he did. He said call it all joy when trials and tribulations come into your life. Why?
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.Again, Paul, wrote a lot of the New Testament. Job received much more than he lost. Peter became the Rock on which Jesus said He would build His Church. However, none of these things are worthy to be compared to that of which awaits us in Heaven. Does God tempt His Children? James went on....
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:So again, we learn that it is important, for one to not only hear the Word, but to do it. To seek out God's purpose and plan for your life. What does it profit a man to receive a great gift, then not use it? True Faith is not being Religious. It not about going to Church once a week and hearing God's word, singing hymns, and going home to live as you will. True Faith is not simply following the Traditions of Men, but having a one on one relationship with God Himself. With Jesus. Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in all things. James even talks briefly about religion here.
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.Doing the Will of God. Being a Sower of the Seed. A Shower of The Way. A Teller of Truth. Once you become a Child of God, it is up to you to follow Jesus or not. It is up to you to allow the Spirit to guide you or not. Do not think for a second that God doesn't know who you are. Do not think for a second, that you can not accomplish whatever it is that God instructs you to do. Do not think for a second that you can not overcome the trials and tribulations that may come into your life. Make no mistake about it, they WILL come.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
When trials and tribulations come, understand that is evidence that you are doing something right. If you are not doing anything to further the Kingdom of God, or, lead others to Salvation, then why would the Devil be concerned about you? Oh, he will still hate you because you are now of God, but attempt to stop you from doing what?
Truth is, if you are doing God's Will, God is on your side. If you are lead by the Spirit, the Spirit is with you. If you are following Jesus, Jesus is with you. If God be with you, who can be against you? Who can succeed in stopping you from doing what God has ordained you to do? Truth is, no one can. Nothing can. There is nothing greater than God. While you are living for Him, and doing His Will, there is no longer anything or anyone, greater than YOU.
Trials and tribulations will come. Jesus himself told us this. Rejoice and be glad when they do, for in these times, is when God is closest to you. Trust in Him. Rely on Him. Never lose Faith. Never respond to these things in the flesh. But remain in the Spirit. Allow God to show you the way through.
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..
"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"
That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}
If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}
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