Stepping Out, Regardless of Trials and Tribulations.

Oh they WILL come.

I have no idea, where this concept came from. The concept that once you become Saved, you will live the rest of your Life in Peace and everything will be Rainbows and Lollipops. That you will coast through Life without a care in the World and you will not have to worry about a single thing. Perhaps it is the thought of what is to come mixing in with what is still here? I'm not sure. There is also this concept that as long as you are in God's Plan, you will have nothing to worry about as well. Are you sure about that?

Lets look at Paul. Seriously? Paul was Saul before he was converted. Equal to a Jihadist in every way. 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. Did he have Trials and Tribulations? I guess you could say that.

Let's see, 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 Rivers, Robbers, 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. Here is his account. This was one of his letters to the Church at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

"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. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 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;

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; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."

You see, no matter what was going on in the negative sense to Paul, his first concern was always the Church. Was always God and His Will. Now Paul is the extreme example, but look at any in the Bible. Noah, Moses, David, Job, the Saints, from Peter to Simon. Even Judas for a time. What all these 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 did not chose to forsake God, and His Will, God would never forsake them. They did not respond to the Trials and Tribulations by the flesh. But by their Spirit.

James even goes as far as to tell us to be HAPPY when Trials and Tribulations come In James 1:2-12

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"

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?

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 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. 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. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 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.

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."

Job received much more than he lost. Peter became the Rock on which Jesus said He would build His Church, and Paul, wrote a lot of the New Testament. However, none of these things are worthy to be compared to that of which awaits us in Heaven. Here is something that you may have been taught incorrectly. God does not tempt you. James went on in verse 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: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

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. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.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: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 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."

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. To Step out of the World and the Norm, so to speak, and Serve God. What does it profit a man to receive a great gift, then not use it? Truth Faith is not being Religious. It is 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 Man, 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. in Verse 26 on

"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. 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."

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. Do not think for a second that they will NOT come. Make no mistake about it, they WILL come.

Think about this, 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. All you need to do is Step Out, and follow Jesus. Be obedient to what God calls you to do, regardless of anything else. Put God first in your Life, and He will be with you always.

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}

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!