Romans 8:
28-39
In the letter, she related a
conversation she had with Bill and a question she asked him: “Why do you think
you’re suffering? Why would God put you through this?” Bill’s immediate reply
was, “I’m not suffering! It depends on the definition of suffering. Even
grasping for breath for extended periods of time does not compare with what
Christ went through during his trial and crucifixion. He has six hours
suffocating on the cross. Think about Peter being crucified head downward,
Paul’s persecution and finally being beheaded. All the disciples were
persecuted and martyred, except John who was exiled.” Dr. Bright continued,
“What I am going through is very minor...”*
Our Part: Love God and Resting in His Favor
Trouble comes
to everyone. Christians are not exempted. Some interpret it as a sign that
there’s something spiritually wrong but the Word of God tells us otherwise;
it’s really an indication that God is at work.
Every person in the world will encounter various
trials throughout life. Satan seeks to defeat you by tempting you to trust your
own wisdom, to live according to your self-centered feelings, and to gratify
the desires of your flesh. In contrast, God’s will is for you to be an overwhelming
conqueror in all of these tests for His honor and glory.
The Epistle
of James says “Consider it pure joy...when you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.” (1:2) He continues in
verse 12, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials, because when he has
stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love him.”
That little
and seemly insignificant statement, “to those who love him”, is a key to God’s
favor. Your subjective attitude towards the Lord is everything. The devil will
tempt believers to blame God. You cannot both love God and blame Him. James said,
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me...For God does not tempt
anyone with evil.” (v.13)
Rather than
blaming God try praising Him when passing through difficulties. Sing praises to
His name. Pour out your heart in love and exaltation. Jesus said, “Blessed are
you when people insult you, persecuted you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because is your reward in
heaven...” (Matthew 5:14)
“After Paul
and Silas had been severely flogged, they were thrown in prison...About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other
prisoner were listening to them...All at once all the prison doors flew open,
and everybody’s chains came loose...and jailers and guards alike got saved that
night!
Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “As
Christians we should never feel sorry for ourselves. The moment we do so, we
lose our energy, we lose the will to fight and the will to live, and are
paralyzed.”
John A. Younts said,
“Self-pity is a powerful, negative attitude that gives rise to many, many
excuses for sin. People fall into Satan’s trap of giving themselves
“permission” to sin to compensate for the difficulties and trials they’ve had
to bear. Self-pity is a direct rejection of God’s control. It is saying, “I
don’t like what you’ve done in my life, and I absolutely will not be content! I
can’t change it, so I’ll just be angry and miserable.”
The antidote to self pity is found in God’s Word, Psalm 92: “It is good to Praise the
Lord and make music to your name.”
Worshipping and singing God’s praises is much, much better for us. It
places us in a position of Divine favor. Romans 28: 28 “And we know that in all
things God works for good of those who love him.”
Here is that
little and seemly insignificant statement again; the key to bringing the believer
into a place of favour and great assurance. Circumstances
will oppose and seek to hinder but remember what the word says “if the Lord is
for you who can or what can work against you?” God is for you!
It’s
important for all of us to know just how much our heavenly Father loves each
one of us. But, how many know that it has to be a mutual love. We are to
reciprocate this love. If our
passion for Him is not reciprocated then there is something spiritually wrong. Our passion and love for Him is expressed
through our devotion, worship, prayer, fellowship and serving Him.
And If for
some reason you’re unsure as to how deep and passionate your love should be
towards our Lord I exhort you to examine the scriptures and listen to the
dialogue between Jesus and Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7: 36-50. It’s a story
about a forgiven sinful woman who came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of
perfume...who wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them and poured perfume on them...Jesus said “she loved much.”
Jesus turned
toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your
house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her
tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this
woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she
has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been
forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little
loves little.” (44-47)
Her love for
Jesus positioned her in Divine favor. A shift took place. The repentant sinner moved into orbit with
the Father’s love. She moved into the realm of divine favor; her many sins were
forgiven.
John Murray
said, “In such terms no criterion could be more discriminating, for love to God
are both the most elementary and the highest mark of being in the favor of God.
In the sovereign love and wisdom of God all the nasty experiences we go through
are all made to converge upon and contribute to that goal of good for us. Not
one detail works for evil; in the end only good can be our lot.”
The saint is
assured that no ultimate evil can befall the child of God. Glory is the only
outcome, no matter what the tribulations may be. The believer can be confident
of God’s loving protection. Paul says “we know”. He is certain. He knows from
his own experience and also by the record of God’s dealing with other like
Jacob, Joseph and Job.
There is
harmony in the bitter and the sweet in God’s superintending providence.
Sunshine and tears, “He knows it all.” My heavenly Father watches over all of
His children. We know all things works for our benefit. They do not work for
evil but for good. So it was for Joseph. Though sold by his brethren, falsely
accused and put in a dungeon, God was with him and he became ruler over Egypt
and at the end of the day he rescued Joseph saved his family from starvation.
Our heavenly Father has our best interest at
heart. There’s times when you may feel abandoned but it’s only a feeling. Your heavenly
Father will never leave you nor forsake you. He will never leave you an orphan.
He loves you with an everlasting and unconditional love.
Every
element and every molecule set in motion is “working together for good to them
that love Him.” In His sovereign love and wisdom everything is made to converge
upon and contribute to that goal.
His Part: Conformity to His Image
Here is
something that blows me away! God’s children are foreknown, predestined,
called, and glorified. Did you get all that? The “call” God placed upon our
lives is the “guarantee” that such will be the result. You and I are called
into fellowship with Christ “who saved us, called with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal.”
Foreknown
God foreknew every believer before
they came on the scene of action. The child of God was known in eternity, was
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4) and was
ordained unto eternal life. (Acts 13:18) God did foreknow those who would
believe, who would respond to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 16:14)
Whom He foreknew He did predestinate to
be conformed to His image. God’s purpose
for the believer is that he “be conformed to the image of His Son.”
1.
The Pillar
of Atonement: “It is Christ that died” He’s our Conciliator
2.
The Pillar
of Resurrection: “who was raised to life” He’s our Justifier
3.
The Pillar of Ascension: “is at the
right hand of God” He is our Mediator
4.
The Pillar if Intercession: “is also
interceding for you” He is our Advocator
*Pause Recharge Refresh by H.B. London
JR. P. 177
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