Through it and Back Again!

When you have "been through it and back again" remember that God knows all about it. He knows the struggle and He goes through with us.
Remember too that every trial makes the believer stronger and wiser. It may not "feel" that way at the time of the trial, but when we are through it we see more clearly.

God never takes us through a trial without a purpose.

Isaiah 41:10 "10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Romans 5:3-5 "…5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

The Believer in Christ has great hope in all situations!!!

Luke 18:10-14

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Holy Spirit Reveals Truth to Us!

Matthew 16:14-17

"14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

How to become born again.

Romans 10:9-10

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

Confessing with our mouth does not make us saved, the confessing is the natural expression of the born again experience after becoming born again.

Many people "say" all the time that they are "Christians", I notice though that many never use words like "born again" or "repentance." When we speak of Christ they seem embarrassed or agitated as though they are very uncomfortable with "God talk."

One of the first signs of the born again believer is an interest in the things of God. There is no embarrassment rather there is a desire to know more about Him.

John 14:15-16 "15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

When someone becomes born again they are given the Holy Spirit Who comes to live in them. Their desires change into His desires. Their responses to life changes into more humble replies.

The "fighting spirit" of the unsaved is removed from the one who becomes born again. How can anyone retain a fighting spirit when they had to repent, confessing their sinfulness to God to become born again. A broken spirit, one that recognizes their sinfulness will lose the pride that used to dwell within as a constant way of life.

A believer may fight in a weak moment, however the more they grow in the Lord the less they will sense a need to fight or defend their sin. The more they seek Christ the less they will respond willfully or pridefully.

Proverbs 16:18-28
"18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends."