The person who really trusts God about his protection and deliverance from trouble, is able to relax, and go to bed. What is the proof that a Christian really trusts in God, for his protection and deliverance from trouble? The proof is if that Christian, is able to sleep during the night.
When we read the book of Acts chapter 12, and verses from 1 to 11, we can see, that Apostle Peter, was captured by king Herod, and was put in prison. Now, the reason Herod did that, is because he had started to persecute some Christians, and he even killed James, the brother of John. Therefore, he also decided to find Peter, and shut him in prison. When we read what actually happened to Peter, while he was put in prison, we will find him relaxing, and going to bed, to sleep. What is important for us to notice here, is that Peter surely knew, that king Herod, was persecuting Christians, and that he even killed James, the brother of John. Now, just knowing that fact, would be enough for Apostle Peter, to start worry and be gripped with anxiety, about his own safety and about his life. Peter probably thought, that if Herod killed James, the brother of John, he could kill him too, in order to please the Jews. But what we find when we read Acts 12:1-11, is that Peter instead of worrying and being anxious about being killed by Herod, decided to go to bed. Now, that I believe, is a complete trust in God. I believe that Peter perhaps even did not care about his life anymore, but believed that whatever happened to him, if he was killed by Herod, he would go to heaven, but if he was not killed, he would continue to preach the Gospel, and that is what all mattered to Peter, at that time in prison. Remember that Peter, was scared for losing his own life, when he denied Jesus three times, and was trying to pretend, that he did not know Jesus. Peter did that, because he was worried that the Jews could crucify him too, just like his master Jesus was. But that was before the day of Pentecost, or before the day after the resurrection of Jesus, when the Apostles were filled and baptised, with the Holy Spirit. Since the baptism of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, Peter has become a different man, bold and courageous, by the Holy Spirit in him, and that is what made him not worry about losing his life, anymore. Could you as a Christian, be able to sleep, if you were put in prison, and if you knew that you could be killed, because of your faith in Christ? Peter did, and the proof that he was completely trusting God, no matter what happened to him, is in the fact, that he went to bed, and was sound asleep. And that is when God sent an angel, which took him out of prison, in a miraculous way. Faith and trust in God, will bring peace and a sound sleep to a Christian, even in the time of persecution, just like Peter was. But a lack of faith or trust of God, for his protection and deliverance, will bring plenty or worry and anxiety, and inability to sleep, and have a sweet dreams.
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Sometimes, we as Christians can be wondering, what should we pray for, or for who we shall pray for. But the Bible has shown us clearly, what and for who we shall pray.
If we look at 1 Timothy 2:1-3, we can see that Apostle Paul is giving us divine instructions, about who shall we pray for, and what shall we pray. Paul urges believers, to have petitions to God, and to pray for believers, that is for other Christians, and also, for people in authority. He also mentions intercessions and thanksgiving. Also, Paul says that we should pray for those things, first of all. Now that means we have to put those things on the top priority in our prayer, when we pray to God. Well, that includes some of the main things, for which a Christians should pray for. Let us look at each one of those instructions. Petitions and prayers, to be made for all people. Now, it does not say that we should pray for Christians only, but it says for all people. What does the word 'all' mean? Well, it means all, and that includes non believers and Christians. Petitions and prayers for them means we can pray what we want to pray for them, whatever the need they have is. We can pray for Christians that they will know God better, and come closer to God, and have strong faith in the Word of God, and we can pray other things about Christians. But it also says, that we should pray an intercession type of prayer, when we intercede for certain individuals before God, on their behalf. One example of intercession, is when we as Christians pray for another Christian, to be healed from a disease. We ask God to heal them, and in that sense we intercede for them, before God. And thanksgiving is also mentioned by Paul. Well, I would suggest that every time we pray a petition or intercession types of prayers, we should finish our prayers, with thanksgiving. Thanking God for answering our prayers, at the end of our prayers, shows God, and demonstrates to God, that we really believe, that he has answered our prayer. If we do not really believe, that God has answered our prayers, I do not think, that we will really thank him for the answer. If you do not believe that God is going to answer your prayer, then I do not think that you will thank him for the answer of your prayer. You thank God for the answer of your prayer, only if you believe that he has answered your prayer. Simple like that! And of course, we can give God thanks, not only for answering our prayer, but for million other things, like what God gives us in our life, either as a spiritual or material blessings, and for many other things. And another prayer is that one, for people in authority. Paul says that if we pray for people in authority, like praying for the government of our country, that would result in us, living a peaceful life. What more we need these days, with all those Covid 19 havoc creating days, than having a peaceful life. The whole world is messed up, so we really need a peaceful life. And that life is possible, we if pray for authorities. What shall we pray for the people in the government? Well, one think we could pray, is that God will grant them wisdom, in order to make good and proper decisions, for the glory of God, and for the blessing of the people of that country. Have you been is a situation, where God shows or reveals to you, that he wants you to do something specific, but for you personally, it does not make sense at ll? I do not know about you, but I have.
Many of the thing God will do in your life as a Christian, will not make sense to you, but yet there are there, done by the Almighty God, in a supernatural way. You see, the spiritual realm has different dimensions and laws, which differ from the physical realm and dimensions we live here on earth. Not wonder God said in his Word, that his thoughts are not like our thoughts. Of course they are not, and I am so happy that we can know the thoughts of God, as recorded in his Word, which are perfect, and without anything less than purity, holiness and perfection. When you read the Bible, Old Testament or New, you can see so many times, when God was doing something, and it did not make sense to the people around, watching the miraculous from God. One such example is just before Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, when one of the sisters of Lazarus, went to Jesus, and told him that Lazarus has been already in the grave for a few days. But Jesus told her, that if she believes, she will see the glory of God. Jesus wants the same from us today, to just believe, and not rationalise what he is doing. We can not understand many things about God and what he is doing, so we will be losing our time and effort, to try to do so. Think about the situation with Jesus and his disciples, after the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. He appeared to them, and told them to put their nets, on the right side of the boat, in order to catch fish, as recorded in the Gospel of John 21:6. Now, Peter and John, and some of the other disciples of Jesus, were professional fishermen, who tried to catch fish, whole night, and they did not catch any. And here is Jesus, telling them in the morning, to put their nets on the right side of the boat. I can imagine Apostle Peter scratching his head thinking, 'Why does Jesus asks us to put the net on the right side of the boat? What does it matter, if we put the net on the left side of the boat or on the right? Is that what makes one to catch fish? Why on the right side? It does not make sense!' But yet, they did as Jesus told them to do, and they had a miracle in their boat, having nets full with fish. So, what matters is that, when God gives you any instructions, even if they do not make sense, do not question them, or try to explain them, because most of the time, you will not be able to. Instead, simply believe, with faith, and do what he tells you to do. That is the fist step, of seeing a miracle from God. We tend to think, that if some Christian is an anointed man of God, and God heals people through him, then he can not get sick. But, that kind of an idea, is far from the truth.
A person can be mightily used by God, and even have a healing ministry, but that does not guarantee, that he can not get sick. God has provided and guaranteed our healing, but he has not guaranteed Christians being unable to get sick. Why am I asserting that? Because of the man, who wrote most of the New Testament, Apostle Paul. If we read in Galatians 4:13, 14, we can see, that even Apostle Paul was at one time sick, while he preached the Gospel, to the Galatians people. And it is written, that the people in Galatia, to whom Paul preached the gospel, did not treat him with contempt, because of his illness. Now that is a very important principle, for us Christians to know, that if we see a Christian sick, we should not think that he does not have enough faith, to be healed, or treat him with a scorn, just like the Galatia people, who did not treat with scorn, Apostle Paul, because of his illness. If Apostle Paul was sick, for whatever reason, does it mean, that he did not have enough faith? No, I do not think so, because Paul was one of the followers of Jesus, who was used to see God heal people, when he prayed for them. Paul definitely had strong faith in God, for healing people by prayer, but we do not know for sure, why exactly, he was sick, while preaching the Gospel, at the same time. So, if we as Christians get sick, we should not give hope, that God will heal us, and it does not mean, that we do not have enough faith, to be healed. Sometimes, we do not know exactly, why some people do not get healed, even if they display a great faith for their healing, and even if they are mightily used by God. But that does not mean, that they should not continue to have faith and hope in God, for their healing, because our healing for us as Christians, has been already provided for us by God, by the death of Jesus on the cross, and by his resurrection from the grave. All we have to do, is just accept our healing by faith, and thank God for our healing, because by the wounds of Jesus, we have been healed, just as the Bible says so! You have to have a confidence in God, and believe him, in order to be like king David, who entirely relied on his God, to help him, in his troubles.
When you read the Psalms, you will find in many places, that king David, always went to God for help, in whatever trouble he was facing. He had that trust and confidence in his God, that God will help him and protect him. I mean, think about it. King David was involved in battles, on the battle field, where he could easily be killed. And that was not only once or twice, but many times, while he was a king. And yet, he trusted in God for protection, and God protected him. When you read Psalm 25:15, 16, 17, you can see, that king David, was suffering, and was in anguish, for whatever reason, and very often as you can read in the Psalms, the reason was his enemies. King David, was the man after God's heart, as the Bible says, yet, he was many times in trouble and anguish. You may be thinking, well, how can king David, be a man after God's own heart, and yet, suffer and be in anguish, so many times? Well, yes, he was a man after God's own heart, and God delivered him from all sorts of troubles and suffering, but God did not prevent king David, having troubles. It is obvious that king David had troubles and suffered a lot, as you read through the Psalms, and in the Old Testament. But God delivered him, and helped him, in all those troubles. So we as Christians, have a promise from Jesus too, that we will troubles in this world. That is one of the promises of God for us, and we like it or not. But yet, Jesus also said, that he has overcome the world, and he expects us, to do the same, with his help, and for his glory. Read John 16:33. Going back to king David, in Psalm 25:15, 16, 17, he was asking God, to release him from his anguish and his troubles of his heart. King David, the man after God's own heart, often felt squeezed and pressed, from various directions in his life, which made him feel alone, in anguish, helpless, afflicted and fearful. Do you find yourself in a similar situations sometimes? Do not despair. There is hope for you! Whenever you feel lonely, call on him, who is always with you, and promised to never forsake or leave you! Whenever you are full of fear, call to God to help you and release you from fear, just like king David did, and just as it is written, in Psalm 34. When you are in depression of despair, come to Jesus, who promised to leave his joy in us. Whatever ails you, come to God, because his hand is not too short to deliver, and comfort you in trouble. He has the answer, before you even had the problem. But he is not going to just pour out his answer to you, unless you come to him, and show and prove by your actions, that you are in trouble, even though, he knows it anyway. He just wants you to come to him, and pour out your heart, not because he does not know what is in your heart, because he does, but because he wants to see your willingness to come to him for help, and expressing your trust and believe in him, for delivering you, from your trouble. It is interesting to notice, that the Bible very clearly says, that God loves people in this world, that is people who do not believe in him, and are not Christians, and yet, the Bible also says that, the people who do not have Jesus in their life, or in other words, do not believe in Jesus, God's wrath remains on them. Read John 3:16, 36.
At the first reading of those texts in the Bible, it seem like a contradiction, but it is not, and never can be! Think about this way. An earthly father, loves his children very much, regardless of what they do or not do. But, when those children do the wrong things, their fathers can be angry with them, and even punish them. The fact that their fathers punish them, does not mean that they do not love their children, but they want their children, to do the right things. So it is similar with people in this world, who do not believe in Jesus, and do not serve the Lord. God loves them very much, but because they do the wrong thing by rejecting Jesus, the wrath of God remains on them. And yet, it does not mean at all, that God does not love them, because he does, and is longing for them to be saved. Also, Apostle Paul also mentions in the New Testament, that God disciplines us, for our own good, so that we can share in his holiness. Now, a discipline is never pleasant but painful, and yet, when God is not pleased with us, because we have done something wrong, he still loves us, regardless of what we have done. It is like God is saying to people in this world, who do not believe in him, and reject him that he is angry with them, for living in rebellion and sin before him, but he still loves them, and wants them to be saved, and to come to his family of believers, and be his dear children in Christ. So, there is not a contradiction in the Bible about God loving the people in this world, and yet his wrath remains on them, when they reject Jesus Christ, and do not give their live to follow God, and do what he wants them to do. You may wonder sometimes, if God has forgotten or does care about your suffering and pain. If you have suffered for while, and you have been in pain, either emotionally or physically, and have not seen relief yet, it does not mean that God does not care for you, or that he has forgotten or does not pay attention to your suffering.
How many good fathers are there, who will not care or pay attention to the suffering of their children? Not many! And why is that, that there are some Christians, who tend to think, that when they are suffering or in pain, God has forgotten them, or does not care about their suffering. Let me tell you, that it is a lie straight from hell. The enemy of your soul, will want you to believe, that God does not care for your suffering, and does not pay attention, to your pain. In Psalm 22:24 the NLT New Living Translation, says that God has not ignored the suffering, and has not turned his back to the afflicted person. And that person includes you, if you follow God, believe in him, trust him, and want to obey him. And it is not only in Psalm 22:24, that the Bible shows us that God really cares for us. And he said that we should cast all our anxieties on him, and that includes our suffering and pain. Because, what are some Christians anxious about sometimes? Is it not sometimes about health issues, and sickness? Of course that is. If you suffer in persecution for your faith in God, and you want to be free from persecution, then God can deliver you from persecution for your faith in him, but sometimes, he will not deliver you from being persecuted for your faith in Jesus Christ, but will give you enough grace and strength, so that you can endure that persecution, for your faith in him. Read the book of Revelation 2:10. After you read it, you can see very clearly, that Jesus says some who are addressed in Revelation 2:10, will be put in prison for 10 days, because of their faith, so that they could be tested. Now, you can maybe ask yourself, why does not God deliver them from persecution and suffering? Well, we do not know why, but that is what is written in the Bible. God could deliver them if he wanted, but he let them or their faith in Jesus, be tested, by letting them be persecuted for 10 days. But nevertheless, the pain of the child, is also the pain of the father. God just does not look from heaven at your pain and suffering, and wonder if he is going to deliver you or not. His will is always to take care of your suffering, and to wipe every tear away from your face, just as it says that he will, in the Book of Revelation. How could God want to wipe every tear away from your face, and yet, not want to deliver you from pain and suffering? Of course he does, and he will. Just believe that it will happen for you too, personally. Are you a born again Christian? Then you are at war, like it or not!
Once you become born again from heaven, that is, born again from the Holy Spirit, you are transferred from the kingdom of darkness, to the kingdom of light. For that reason alone, you have become an enemy of the devil. He does not like the truth and the fact, that because you are born again from the Holy Spirit now, you belong to God, and you do not belong to the god of this world, anymore. Before you were born again, or before you became a Christian, you belonged to the enemy of your soul, the devil, because the Bible says that he is the god of this world. Without God and his Holy Spirit in your heart, you belonged to the spirit of Antichrist, which is the spirit influencing and dwelling in the hearts of many people in this world, who are not Christians, and who do not have Jesus Christ dwelling in their hearts. When you were still in the kingdom of darkness, before you became born again, the devil could use you for his own purposes and wishes. But now, because you are a born again child of God, and you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your heart, he can not touch you, as written in one of the Epistles of John, in the New Testament. Therefore, because Jesus Christ lives in your heart and is Lord of your life, you have automatically become an enemy of the devil, and you have overcome him, by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for your sins, and by your testimony about Jesus, as written in the book of Revelation. Before you were born again, the devil had victory over you and your life, because you were living in his kingdom, the kingdom of darkness. After you have become born again, you have overcome the devil, and you have the power and authority to command him in the name of Jesus, to leave your life, or the lives of other people, because of what Jesus Christ did for you and me, by his death on the cross, and by his resurrection from the death. As it says in the book of Acts, Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, and he destroyed them completely, glory and thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that! Amen! But although the devil is defeated enemy, because Jesus Christ destroyed his works on earth by his death on the cross for our sins and his resurrections from the death, the devil still tries from time to time to fight Christians in various ways, because the Bible says that he is like roaring lion, going around the world, looking for someone to devour. And that was written for Christians. In the book of Revelation, chapter 12 and verse 17, it says that the dragon, which is the devil, went to wage war against Christians, those who keep God's commands. From that verse alone, you can see that the enemy of our soul, is still trying to fight Christians, in one way or another. But the only way the enemy can defeat a Christian in a certain way, is when a Christian falls into temptation to do certain sin, not because a Christian wants to sin, but because of difficult or pressing situations, or because of giving in to the sinful nature living in the body of every Christian, just because, a Christian decides to give in to temptation. But nevertheless, if a Christian, who has give to temptation and has sinned, if that Christian repents, and seeks God's forgiveness and mercy, God will forgive that Christian, and will restore him, and most likely help that Christian and train him to try to fight that temptation in the future, so that the Christian will not fall into the same temptation again. But even then, there is no guarantee, that the Christian will not fall in the same temptation in the future again. We as Christians, although we do not want to sin, we sometimes give in to temptation and sin. But we have the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for our sins, to cleanse us from our sins, when we repent before God. Glory and thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that! May our God and Father help us not to fall into temptations and sin, in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen! Every single day, we are bombarded from all directions with all sorts of shifting bad news. The world is sinking into depression and despair, and most people out there, do not know what is going on, or what will be going on, in the near future. But we as Christians, are not left unaware, of why things are, as they are in the world, or what will happen, in the future, because our God has said in his Word, what will happen, in the last days! We have read the end of the book, the Bible, and we win! Glory and thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that!
When we read Psalm 116:6-9, we can see someone, who has learned to do the right thing, when they feel down or depressed. The are not continuing to wallow in their depression, but have lifted their eyes up to God, away from all those depressing things, in their lives, and around the world. They have decided to think about the heavenly things, and not about the earthly things, as we are admonished to do, in the Bible. The person in Psalm 116:6-9, pays attention to their soul state, and and when they find that their heart is sinking in despair, they remind themselves, and their soul, to take a rest. But what is important is to realise, that the reason that person in that Psalm 116 is telling his own soul to take a rest, or to relax in other words, is because that person knows their God, and trusts in him, and his Word. In verses 6 and 7, the psalmist says that God has dealt bountifully with him, and that it is God who has taken away his tears. Do you see that? It is not about what is happening around the psalmist and his life, no. It is about the fact, that God has taken his tears away from him. The confidence and the comfort of the psalmist in Psalm 116, comes from his trust in God, and his Word. That psalmist knew very well, that no matter what happens in his life, God is always there to help him, and comfort him, and to keep him from stumbling or hurt in his life, in the future. In the same way, we as Christians, have to trust what Jesus said and promised to us, that if we are burdened, we should come to him, and find rest of our souls. The rest Jesus provides for our souls as his followers, is always there for us, 24/7, but it is up to us to believe that, and to take advantage of that rest, provided from God for us. If we do not take that rest Jesus provides for us with faith, it will not enter our hearts and souls. We have to receive the rest God provides for our souls, with faith, just as we receive everything else from him, by faith, if that is a spiritual blessing or material. That is why Jesus said in the Gospel of John, that we should not let our hearts be troubled. He is putting the emphasis on us, not to let our hearts be troubled. Only then, we can really experience the peace Jesus provides for us, and the rest he gives us. If we fret, and worry, and are full with anxiety, and not trusting in what God says in his Word for us, how can we have and enjoy the rest which Jesus provides? |
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