Christ Said it and I Believe It

Amen, Amen!!!! We can meet any day, at any time in any place with anyone. We don't even have to meet with the same people every time, we can meet with different people at different times. God does not want us to neglect one another and it is the Holy Spirit Who guides as to when, where and with whom.

Romans 14:4-6 "…4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"

Trials Strengthen the Believer in Christ

As a believer, our faith is stronger during trials. Those who lack trials are proud that they must have a good amount of faith. Just the opposite may be true.

Hebrews 12:7-11 "7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

All children of God must endure trials to grow in holiness and in wisdom. Those who have had few trials and an easy life often lack wisdom.

James 1:5

"5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

Many Church attendees today are not asking for wisdom or they would leave those houses of apostasy. They prefer to think pleasant thoughts that stroke their egos rather than humble themselves and ask God.

When we ask God for His wisdom we see things that most do not see and notice things that are only Spiritually discnerened.

Because of this, we are hated and rejected by those who love their traditions more than they love God.

Handling Accusations of Lacking Faith Because of Our Trials

Prosperity preachers use manipulation in every gathering. They "guilt" people and claim they have little faith if they don't do what the preachers say.

This is a scam used by ALL prosperity preachers to line their own pockets with currency. Never trust someone who is getting wealthy off of others in the matter of "church gatherings." Something is wrong with those who are living a lifestyle of opulence because of their preaching.

Remember Pauls's experiences?

The next time someone accuses you of lacking faith because you are sick or because others have rejected you, remind them of Paul the apostle and his life of service to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:23-33

"23 Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea.

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers;

27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,

33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands."

Our trials are not evidence that something is wrong, just the opposite, they may be evidence that something is right.

James 1:2-4

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. "

Luke 21:15-17 "…15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.…"

Matthew 10:21

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death."

Jeremiah 9:4

4 “Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor,

And do not trust any brother;

Because every brother utterly betrays,

And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer."

We love people and share the gospel with whomever the Holy Spirit leads but we place our trust only in Christ, not in any human being.

Paul was once a murderer of believers before Christ saved him.

"Acts 26:10,11

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them…"

This ought to give us hope that anyone can be saved no matter what they have done in their lives. Paul went from a killer of God's people to a preacher of the word.

When God tells us to walk away from someone we walk away, however, when the Holy Spirit tells us to speak we should speak even if it means the loss of love from our families or even a loss of life.

Revelation 12:11

"… and they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death."

When we are tempted to cry and whine that someone doesn't like us perhaps remembering what God said will dry those tears and give us joy and peace. Weeping over the loss of a loved one because we love Christ is the same as putting them first before Christ. Yes, feelings are real, weep for a short time but never allow it to control us or divert us from the mission God has given to us which is His Word to the lost and instruction to believers.

Hallelujah!!!!