Trying times are telling times.
They not only reveal the nature and the capacity of evil men.
They reveal the amazing power of God at work in His people, at work through His people, and at work for His people!
The Early Church knew trying times. Pharisees and Pagans aggressively opposed the New Testament Church. It was against the law of the Jews to preach Christ. It was against the law of the Romans to obey Christ.
With each new day, comes fresh evidence that Satan and his minions know their days are numbered. Christians are being martyred, mistreated, and mocked by Satan's evil empire. The enemy has infiltrated governments, permeated the media (print, broadcast, and internet), and compromised the church.
All hell is aligned against the Lord's anointed.
BUT IN THESE TRYING TIMES GOD IS NOT DEAD, OR DOWN, OR DEFEATED! His truth is marching on.
I love the encouraging words of the Apostle Peter--himself no stranger to persecution--
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
I PETER 1:3-7
GOD IS AT WORK IN HIS PEOPLE!
He called us. He convicted us. He converted us. He consecrated us. And He is keeping us! WE ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH!
The Apostle Paul declares that the same Spirit "that raised up Jesus from the dead" dwells in the sanctified children of God! (For you theologians, I mean the initially sanctified as well as the entirely sanctified).
GOD IS AT WORK THROUGH HIS PEOPLE!
Having been transformed and renewed, the Spirit of God who worked in us, is now working through us! He has called us to the Kingdom for such a time as this. He is raising us up to be His voice of cheer to a world in despair. He is working through us to be His helping hands in a world that needs a hand-up more than a hand-out. He is shining His love and grace through us, in a world filled with gloom and despair.
We are His people! The people of the crucified, risen, ascended, and coming soon Savior!
GOD IS AT WORK FOR HIS PEOPLE!
As the culture continues slouching towards Gomorrah (Thank-you Robert Bork for that title. RIP) there is a strong temptation to doubt that God is still at work FOR HIS PEOPLE!
Yet the same God who was with us in Christ Emmanuel, who is in us in Christ the Savior, is also FOR US! Hear the Apostle Paul, "IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?"
Facing the trying times of the first century, the Apostle exalts:
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 8:32-39.
I'm not sure why any Christians labors under the illusion that they who live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer no persecution. The Scriptures promise just the opposite. And I'm equally unsure why any Christian who is facing trial would whither and fade into doubt and despair.
Who cares what the enemy throws at us?
We "serve a risen Savior who's in the world today!...Rejoice, Rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing, eternal Hallelujah's to Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find! None other is so loving, so good and kind! He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today!" (HE LIVES)
THE LORD HAS PROMISED US THAT HIS STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS. WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US.
His sufficient grace will keep us day by day. Let these trying times be telling times! Let us be telling for Christ!
- Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest. - Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,“
This the pledge to me He made. - Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand. - Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/713#ixzz2KJoolu00
- ONWARD!
Pastor Richard M. Jones
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH – A Crusaders Church of America
2969 North Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri 63074 - Telephone (314) 298-5840; Cell (314)
607-1424
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