Trouble on every side

2Co 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 2Co 7:6  Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Discouragement is a common enemy to be faced in this Christian life.  Many of the great heroes of the faith battled discouragement at times.  Paul found himself in distress and trouble.  There were conflicts all around, and he had fears and anxiety within.  There are times when we are surrounded by trouble and stressed by fears.  Paul found help from God.  God gives strength and encouragement to those who are down and in difficulty.  Are you in similar circumstances?  Look to God.  God sent the encouragement to Paul through Titus.  God often uses our brothers and sisters in the Lord to help and encourage us.  Take advantage of the help from God.  If you are down, don’t absent yourself from the house of God.  That may be God’s chosen method to bring you grace and help.     

If you continue in My word

John 8:31 b If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

The proof of the reality of our relationship with God is not in our words but, rather, in our deeds.  A real relationship with God brings a change of heart that desires to know and follow the will of God, as revealed in His word.  In a day when very little premium is placed on a holy life, let’s not forget that this is the evidence of the Lordship of Christ in our life.  

His servants

Psa 101:6  Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

God is mindful of the faithful.  God takes note of those who love Him and live a holy life.  He is attentive to their needs and His presence is with them.  These are the ones God chooses to do His work, to be His servants.  Let us live in such a way that we may be used of God in this dark time.

Angels at the ready

Psa 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

There are times that we can feel all alone in this world.  There are times when we can’t seem to sense the presence of God.  However, help is always near at hand for those who love the Lord.  God always has help surrounding His children, camp round about, ready to deliver.  Trust Him.  God has made provision and His messengers are at the ready.     

God will deliver

Jer 39:17  But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. Jer 39:18  For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

The rise of evil can cause the righteous to fear.  Satan will always use the threat of persecution to strike fear in our hearts.  We have in this passage an assurance that God is always in control, and He is constantly aware of His children.  Those who trust in God shall never been forsaken by God, He will not allow them to become prey and helpless to the evil around them.  Take heart, bravely face the future with your trust in the almighty God.   

Watchful in prayer

Col 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Accessing our help from God comes in the form of prayer.  Prayer is the single most important function of a Christian life.  Prayer is the conduit of receiving help from God.  Prayer is the spiritual connection that builds our relationship with God.  We are to continue in prayer, persevere in prayer.  We are to stay alert, watchful in prayer, don’t let it slack.  In all, we are to maintain an attitude of thankfulness to God.

Liberty

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

I am thankful for the freedom we enjoy.  I am especially thankful for the freedom that Christ has provided for us in salvation.  We are admonished in this passage to not slip back into bondage after we have been set free.  We become angry at the erosion of our freedoms in our country, yet at the same time, too many today are losing their spiritual freedom.  Too many are not living careful lives and are once again becoming a slave to sin. In the context of this passage, many today are losing the liberty and freedom of a real relationship with God, and settling for the bondage of religious ceremonies.  May God help us to keep the liberty He has purchased for us.  

Resolved

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

We need a determination to fully follow God, no matter what.  Our confidence should be that God is able to do anything.  He can deliver out of any situation and He can protect us from anyone.  But whether God chooses to deliver us, or whether He chooses to walk through the fire with us, our determination should be to follow Him fully.  In a time of wickedness and apostasy, let’s determine to follow God fully.       

Being equipped to be used by God

  2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Do you want to be used by God to help others?  That path often leads through hardships and trials.  It is often through our difficulties and trouble that we experience the help of God necessary to equip us to help others.  When we have been through the hard places and found our help in God, we are better equipped to encourage others to also trust God in their trials.  When we can speak with the assurance that comes from experiencing God's help, we will be more able to inspire faith in God in those who we desire to help.

Pass it on

Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deu 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: Deu 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

We have a responsibility to teach our kids about God.  I want us to notice, though, that responsibility begins with loving God with all our heart.  We cannot truly teach our kids about God without a real relationship with God.  When we have a real relationship with God, when we love Him, we can teach our children.  Notice that we are to teach our children about God in the everyday things of life.  When God is truly the focus of our life, talking about Him will be normal and natural.  Don’t fail your kids.  Give them the life saving knowledge of a real relationship with God.  

Wise but harmless

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Living right in the midst of a wicked and godless society is difficult.  It is also dangerous.  We are to be alert to danger and aware of what is going on around us.  We are to be wise, not gullible, not uninformed.  But we are also to be harmless, to not develop a fighting spirit, to not become bitter.  Evil and wickedness around us can cause us to become hard and harsh, but don’t let the wickedness around us cause us to fail to be what we ought to be.

A steady walk

Hab 3:19  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

Habakkuk lived in a time of apostasy, a time of the impending judgment of God.  Yet he knew where to find strength and stability.  Our God, the mighty Creator, the Lord of all the earth is our strength.  He can help us to find stability, that our feet can walk steady along a treacherous path.  He can help us to rise to walk on a higher plane, when all around seems to be in decline.  Trust Him, rely on Him in this shaking time.

Beyond our wildest imagination

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The things that God has prepared for those who love Him is beyond our deepest thoughts and wildest imaginations.  God is good, He is love, He is fair, He is holy, He is just and He is merciful and compassionate. The depths of those things God has in store for those who love Him cannot be fathomed.  Both in this world and in the world to come, there is no limit to the goodness and grandeur of God.  We can’t even imagine! We must experience this for ourselves.  Follow Him fully, trust Him completely.   

Faith without works is dead

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Real faith will lead us to action.  True religion begins in the heart, but it is lived out in everyday life.  A true experience with God will produce a heart of love within us, a love for God first, but also a love for our brothers and sisters.  A true experience with God will show in our love and faith being lived out.  Without a faith that leads to action, a faith that demonstrates love in action, our religion is useless.   

God's special possession

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

In a time of wickedness, God takes special note of those who remain faithful.  This passage was written to ones living in a time of apostasy and wickedness.  Notice that they spoke to one another often and kept their thoughts turned to God.  We too live in a time of wickedness and apostasy, as we have been reminded again this week.  The temptation is to discouragement and to give up.  Instead, we need to encourage one another and keep our heart and mind focused on the Lord.  God takes special note of His faithful remnant in a time of apostasy.  He will not forget or forsake those who are faithful.  God claims such ones as His special prized possession, and will protect and preserve them.   

More with us

2 Kings 6:16 “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” 

Often when we look around, evil and trouble seem overwhelming.  Elisha’s servant could see the army surrounding them, and Elisha had to remind him of their help.  When we are overwhelmed, we too must be reminded of God’s strength and presence as Elijah pointed out.  No matter the troubles we face, God’s power is always more than enough to face the challenge.

He will keep

 Isa 27:3  I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

What assurance! God keeps His own.  He will keep and care for His people, nurturing them always.  He never tires or sleeps, keeping them day and night.  Trust Him, rely on Him, flee to Him for the help and comfort you need.

The family trait

 1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Love is at the heart of Christianity.  God’s love is the center of all things. God is love, and all of His children also love.  It is a distinguishing trait of the family of God.  In fact, if one does not love, they don’t know God.  This passage encourages us to love one another; to put real effort into living and acting as love acts.  Let’s show that we know God and belong to the family of God by exhibiting the family trait.   

Keep the fire

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

One of the great dangers of a time of apostasy is discouragement.  It is discouraging to see evil triumphing.  It is discouraging to see wickedness abounding.  We are in danger of losing our zeal and excitement about the things of God when we are discouraged.  When the things of God cease to thrill us, our love begins to cool.  Take heed to keep your zeal and hope in the Lord during this time of wickedness.  Take heed to cultivate your love for God.  This time of apostasy will pass; let’s make sure we are still on fire when light breaks again.   

The temple of God

Act 7:48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Act 7:49  Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Act 7:50  Hath not my hand made all these things?

God is not impressed with all the pomp and ceremony that goes into much religion.  What can we offer to impress the God who made heaven and earth?  It isn’t our great sacrifices or gifts that God desires.  We are His temple. God is interested in what is in our heart.  God desires that we know Him, love Him and worship Him.  Don’t get so caught up in religion that we miss knowing God.