Triumphing In Challenging Times

TRIUMPHING IN CHALLENGES TIMES

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;… Philippians 1:12-13

As children of God we all face trials from time to time. These trials come not to destroy us but to challenge and build our faith. When we face our trials with the strength of the Lord, and with the assurance that they will ultimately turn out for our good, we will always triumph over them. In 2 Corinthians 1:8, we read that the trials the Apostle Paul faced were so horrendous that he sometimes desired to depart this life and be with the Lord. But Paul learned to live above his circumstances, and overcome all his challenges. And you too can do the same. Here are three lessons we can learn from him:

•  Focus on God and not the problem. As you deal with life’s trials, keep the eyes of your heart focused on Jesus Christ. He has the sovereign ability to handle whatever you are facing. When you relinquish control to God, He is free to work in a miraculous way.

•  Focus on the will of God and not on the opinions of men. Seeking the counsel of others always is a wise idea, and the Bible supports this. However, be sure what your friends tell you aligns with God’s Word, which is your ultimate authority. Seek godly counsel from others but make sure that you spend time alone with God in prayer. God reveals Himself to those who seek His face.

•  Focus on positive results and not personal pain. No one enjoys hardship. However, when trials come, ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to learn from the situation, and how you can apply those lessons to your life. Paul lived above his circumstances because his focus was set on the Saviour and not on the trial. As a result, he gained a tremendous victory.

Prayer: Father, give me the strength to focus on Jesus, and so triumph even in difficult times.

Scriptural Reading: Philippians 1:12-26

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;

14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:

16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Triumphing In Challenging Times

You Will Eat The Best

YOU WILL EAT THE BEST

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19

The hope of glory, a healthy body more than enough money to take care of your family and finance the work of the gospel, a happy marriage, happy and healthy children, peace of mind are some of the blessings God has for His children. But, those blessings are not just going to fall in your lap. You must be willing – as well as obedient – if you’re going to eat the best from God’s table.

   To be willing and obedient to God implies being unwilling and disobedient to Satan. You must resist the devil and reject lies. If you are willing and obedient to the devil, you will have no peace. His intention is to kill, steal and destroy.

   Don’t be willing for Satan to put sickness on your body. Be willing, instead, to be healed! In honor of Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary, refuse to except anything less than divine health. Don’t be willing to live in lack, but be willing instead to live in divine prosperity and abundance. Refuse to allow Satan to stop the flow of God’s financial blessings to you.

   Be willing to receive God’s best plan for your marriage and your children. Don’t settle for anything less than the perfect will of God for your family. God wants to raise your children in a home full of love and harmony; a home that is a house of God and a gate of heaven.

   To receive the best God has for you, you must also be obedient to His commands and instructions. You must be willing to submit to His will. May you receive God’s best as you walk before Him with a willing and obedient heart.

Prayer: Lord, I am willing and ready to obey. Feed me and my family with the best in the land.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 1:10-20

10 Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah:

11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats.

12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts?

13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall …

You Will Eat The Best

Choose Your Companions Carefully

CHOOSE YOUR COMPANIONS CAREFULLY

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33

Sinful companionship will corrupt a good lifestyle. You may ignore this truth, you may deny it, you may wish it were not so; but the truth still remains that close friendship with ungodly persons will always have a negative impact on your Christian walk.

   This is why Paul exhorts in 2 Corinthians, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (6:14). Of course, we are to reach out to, and show genuine love toward, unbelievers. But witnessing to an unbeliever and closely embracing an unbeliever are two different things.

   Knowing how we easily justify our wrong choices, Paul says, do not be deceived! No matter how much you may justify this friendship to yourself, you cannot change the spiritual reality. If you are yoked in a romantic relationship, a business partnership, or a close camaraderie with an unbeliever, or a person with ungodly values, the idolatry of their heart and the faithlessness of their worldview will inevitably become a stumbling block for you.

   We do not like to think of friends or acquaintances as being “evil”, but anything that draws you away from a single-minded pursuit of Christ will have an evil effect on your life. Their intentions may not be evil, their lifestyle may not appear evil, but if their faith is not in Christ then their effect on you will be negative.

   Those you walk with have a powerful impact on your success and destiny. So choose your companions wisely.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for giving me godly and faithful friends.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-34

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Effects of Denying the Resurrection

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?

31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ J…

Choose Your Companions Carefully

Work Hard

WORK HARD

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10

The Lord has appointed believers to be His ambassadors to a lost and hurting world. As His followers, we are to represent Him in our character, conduct, and conversation whenever we interact with family, friends, neighbours, or coworkers.

   God expects us to be diligent in our work and faithful to complete it. However, in our self-absorbed, pleasure-seeking culture, it’s very easy to get sidetracked into laziness. This sin is dangerous in a Christian’s life because of the potential harm that can result—it can hurt our witness for Christ, damage our relationships with others, and waste both the time and the gifts the Lord has given us. One negative result of such a lifestyle is a character marked as unreliable and untrustworthy.

   Laziness frequently shows up as procrastination. For example, despite saying that we will take action, we repeatedly delay the start time. Or we may begin a project and yet find reasons not to finish it. Being neglectful is another manifestation: though we make an attempt to carry out responsibilities, they are handled in a haphazard  or incomplete way; relationships with loved ones go untended; or the needs of others are overlooked.

   Irresponsible behavior doesn’t fit who we are in Christ. It takes hard work to be successful. It is going to take diligence for you to achieve your goals in life. It is important to have a dream. Yes, plans and strategies are necessary. Praying to God for help is vital. But, all these must be crowned with hard work in order for you to achieve your goals.

Prayer: Lord, give me a diligent heart.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

NKJV

Work Hard

Live A Life Of Love

young asian woman running and jumping with colored balloons

LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Romans 12:15

The church of Jesus Christ is often described by Paul as being “the body of Christ.” This imagery is meant, we are told, to remind us of how closely we are connected to one another.

   If you accidentally smash your thumb with a hammer, the rest of the body is not unconcerned as though the effected area does not concern the rest. The injured thumb will be pulled away from the place of injury by the arm, perhaps cradled by the other hand, or brought to the mouth for comfort’s sake.

   Similarly, any member of the body of Christ should have their pain felt, and ministered to, by every other member of the body. The sorrow of one should be a grief for all.

   On the other hand, where one member of the body is prospering or enjoying a special time of blessing, the rest of the body should rejoice together with them. This is many times more difficult to do than grieving with each other, because of our self-centered and covetous nature. Too often we grieve when others are blessed rather than rejoicing with them.

   But the church that is functioning as it ought to will see each member in its midst being comforted, cleansed, encouraged, and enjoyed by every other member of the body. Therefore, look for someone today in your church to grieve, or rejoice, with; bear their burden, or share their happiness with them.

Prayer: Lord, help me live a life of love.

Scriptural Reading: Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Live A Life Of Love

Great Faith

GREAT FAITH

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” Matthew 8:8

This centurion knew authority when he saw it. He himself commanded one hundred men, and he had witnessed countless examples of power and authority within the ranks of the Roman army. And he knew Jesus had it.

   As a result, the centurion did not come pleading his worth (although the Jews made the mistake of pleading on his merit to Jesus). He knew that there was no claim he could make upon Jesus’ power; if Jesus healed, it would be because He wished to heal, not because the centurion deserved the favour.

   Further, the centurion had such confidence in Jesus’ authority that he knew Jesus could do what had not even been seen or done yet, apparently. Jesus had so far only healed in person, but the centurion knew that anyone who could heal personally could also heal from a distance if he so desired. “Speak the word only” was all that Jesus had to do and he knew his servant would be healed.

   Jesus’ reply to the centurion is just as remarkable as the centurion’s statement. Jesus exclaimed, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (v.10). This is quite a compliment, coming from anyone. But for Jesus Himself to marvel at the centurion’s faith tells us it is certainly something to emulate ourselves.

   When you come to God in prayer, do you see yourself as deserving His favour or do you realise that you are not even worthy to come before Him in the first place? No matter what displays of power or answered prayer you have seen in the past, do you have faith that He is able to do even more than you have witnessed?

Prayer: Lord, increase my faith.

Scriptural Reading: Matthew 8:5-13

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,

6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

NKJV

Great Faith

Created For Good Works

CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. —Ephesians 2:10

When Jesus told the parable of the talents, He was letting us know that each of us has a special purpose in life, and God expects us to cooperate with Him so that it is fulfilled. All three servants in the parable in today’s scriptural reading are given various talents, which represent the individual’s gifts and resources. The servants who put their gifts to productive use were rewarded by the master. They were given more resources and greater responsibilities.

But one of the servants was so fearful and self-centred that he buried his talent and was totally unfruitful for the master. Jesus calls him a “worthless servant.”

If you are a child of God, He has blessed you with special gifts that He expects you to use for His glory. If you don’t know what they are, ask Him to reveal them to you. Ephesians 5:15 AMP says that we should “live purposefully” and make the most of our time. We have a destiny to fulfil and a purpose to accomplish. We have a God to glorify.

There may be a solution to a problem facing society that you are the only one wired to solve. There may be many people who will perish if you don’t preach the gospel to them. It’s my heartfelt prayer that you will make a decision today to cooperate with God’s plan for your life and align your will with His. If you do, God’s promise in Psalm 138:8 belongs to you: The Lord will fulfil his purpose for you!

Prayer: Lord, give me more grace to fulfil my calling and fulfil my purpose for your glory.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 2:1-11

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in …

Created For Good Works