Trouble Can Be a Blessing in Disguise
"It is written that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
"Troubles come, and then a respite is granted, and then new troubles follow on the heels of the old ones. Our spiritual enemies will not long leave us in peace; nevertheless, they are a blessing in disguise if they drive us to our knees. Very few souls thrive as well in times of prosperity as they do in seasons of adversity. Winters’ frosts may necessitate warmer clothes, but they also kill the flies and garden pests." ~ Arthur Pink 1886-1952, "The Life of David"
2 Timothy 3:12 warns,"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." It is a warning and a guarantee that when one decides to live godly then they should expect to be persecuted for the wrong reasons. Jesus also said in Matthew 5:11-12,"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." It is very easy to only think of the wrongful persecution for Christ's sake than the reward in Heaven. But the Bible says that if you are going to be standing up for Jesus then expect the whole world to go against you.
How can all these troubles be a blessing? It is a blessing because it is very easy to forget to pray when you are in easy zone. It is very easy to sin when you are at ease. The whole idea of God allowing persecution to the Christian is for the sake of maturity and purification. The finest diamonds are only made with much labor. The finest olive oil come only through beating. The finest gold can only come through purification. 1 Peter 1:6-10 says,"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
When it cmes the trial of faith, do you know that faith that is not tested cannot be trusted? There are times Christians feel like they are not saved. God sends trials not only to purify but also to assure. It is also God's way of telling the Christian they are saved and that they will endure. It is also God's way of showing the Christian the power of God's grace to make the Christian endure to the end. It is also God's way of telling others that there is something worth suffering for. It was not through times of peace but times of wickedness that the Christian faith flourished. The bloodier the attacks Satan was allowed to do on Christians, the more Christianity grew instead.
"Troubles come, and then a respite is granted, and then new troubles follow on the heels of the old ones. Our spiritual enemies will not long leave us in peace; nevertheless, they are a blessing in disguise if they drive us to our knees. Very few souls thrive as well in times of prosperity as they do in seasons of adversity. Winters’ frosts may necessitate warmer clothes, but they also kill the flies and garden pests." ~ Arthur Pink 1886-1952, "The Life of David"
2 Timothy 3:12 warns,"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." It is a warning and a guarantee that when one decides to live godly then they should expect to be persecuted for the wrong reasons. Jesus also said in Matthew 5:11-12,"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." It is very easy to only think of the wrongful persecution for Christ's sake than the reward in Heaven. But the Bible says that if you are going to be standing up for Jesus then expect the whole world to go against you.
How can all these troubles be a blessing? It is a blessing because it is very easy to forget to pray when you are in easy zone. It is very easy to sin when you are at ease. The whole idea of God allowing persecution to the Christian is for the sake of maturity and purification. The finest diamonds are only made with much labor. The finest olive oil come only through beating. The finest gold can only come through purification. 1 Peter 1:6-10 says,"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
When it cmes the trial of faith, do you know that faith that is not tested cannot be trusted? There are times Christians feel like they are not saved. God sends trials not only to purify but also to assure. It is also God's way of telling the Christian they are saved and that they will endure. It is also God's way of showing the Christian the power of God's grace to make the Christian endure to the end. It is also God's way of telling others that there is something worth suffering for. It was not through times of peace but times of wickedness that the Christian faith flourished. The bloodier the attacks Satan was allowed to do on Christians, the more Christianity grew instead.