PRAYER IN TROUBLED TIMES

Three words in the New Testament that embrace trouble.

These are tribulation, suffering and affliction. They differ somewhat, and yet, practically, each of them means trouble of some kind. Our Lord gave His disciples warning that they might expect tribulation in this world, that they could not hope to escape it, and that they would not be carried through this life on flowery beds of ease. How hard to learn this plain and patent lesson!

"In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world" ~John16:33

There is the encouragement. As He had overcome the world and it's tribulations, so might they be able to do the same.

Paul also taught this lesson as throughout his ministry as he confirmed souls of the children of God and exhorted them to continue in their faith. He told them,

"we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" ~Acts14:22

Paul knew this firsthand as his journey was anything but smooth and easy. He uses the word sufferings to describe the troubles he had experienced in Romans 8:18.

"For I reckon(or consider) that the sufferings of the present time

 are not worthy to be compared with the glory

which will be revealed in us"

What an encouragement that must have been for Paul's sufferings, but what about the others who he had brought to a faith in Christ and their suffering?

Paul talks about the sufferings of the children of God in 2Corinthians.

"For our light affliction, which is for a moment,

works for us an far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"

2Corinthians 4:17

So how can this apply to the time in which we live today? The modern world in which we live in 2013 may believe that we are so much more advanced or that the experiences of the time of Paul would never be possible today. I would have to beg differently as a believer and encourage my brothers and sisters to certainly consider this type of thinking to be deception to the greatest degree. Although science and technology have advanced greatly, we are but a few catastrophes away from experiencing life as people did a thousand years or even two thousand years ago. Just recently, around the world the news has spread about the vulnerability to attack of the communication and locator systems that have been placed into orbit. How far back would that put us, especially since most people only use cell phones for connecting and getting directions?

Then there is the growing threat of natural disasters according to studies. What would it mean to you and I if we experienced an earthquake like Haiti? What if there were more of the mega-storms to come as we experienced with Hurricane Sandy? How much more is our government going to be able to help with the disasters and what of the insurance companies stop paying for damages or go bankrupt? Just how many days would it take to do back to the days of Paul? If there is ever this time when we loose the conveniences of today and people lose the comforts of their homes, there is going to be a major outbreak of anger, stress and fear. People have depended on technology for their safety and security for so long that it will be a time of great desolation for many. Why must I remind myself and you about this possibility? Why not just write devotions about thoughts of peace, love and harmony and happiness today?

Because it is the prepared heart of the believer that there will be peace, love and harmony with the dispensation of the providence of God as He  wills for their individual life and situations. Yes, we can and we will find this when we realize that it is through those times that man will either rebel or turn to His maker and Savior.

When I thought about this, it reminded me of the suffering that has already taken place in the lives of so many as a result of attacks especially in the past 15 years in America through bombings, airplane hi-jacks, shootings, abductions, murders and the loss of life and property through what we call natural disasters. I don't believe they are very natural, but we have been through unheard of flooding, hurricanes, tidal waves, oil spills, earthquakes, wild fires, record tornado hits and devastation. On top of all this, we have experienced sickness like never before and the concern that antibiotics are not working. Who really knows of the effect that the nuclear waste released by Japan over a year ago will have on the entire world through food and air qualities.

Are we really that advanced to say that the writings of Paul wouldn't apply to our day? I think not and as the day of our Lord's return approaches, we can rest assured that God will use the troubles of this world to bring men, women and young people to His throne, not to punish them, but to draw them near so that they too can say in our time of trouble, as the apostle Paul said,

"know that tribulation works patience and patience, experience

and experience, hope: and hope does not make us ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad (put into circulation) in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost which is given to us" ~Romans5:3

He brings the world into a state of grace where troubles are not only endured,

but where we can find under that tribulation a spirit of rejoicing.

These are the gracious benefits of justification!

What rich fruit can result from even painful tribulations!

Shalom.

"REVELATION WARNS OF DESOLATION....IN THE CHURCH?"

Why would God forsake a Church?



Revelations 2:1-7

This final written message that John recorded to the congregation in Ephesus was one of approval and also correction. What I see God relaying to this assembly was that He too detests the false teachers, but He also sees that the church has moved away from their first love or their most important purpose and that was to win souls to Christ and baptize them as Paul and his disciples had taught them to do under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

God said - "to all who can hear" - this signifies that there were some in their assembly who were fooling people into believing that they were followers of Christ, yet who were not able to hear the words of the Spirit speaking through God's messenger. So God said to them, "listen closely church! Don't get caught up with who is obeying and who isn't, but pray for them and keep moving in the right direction!"

Finally, God lays down some conditions for this congregation and the true followers of Christ. He warns them that they had better repent and get back to their first love (witnessing) or He will come swiftly and remove their candlestick unless they repent. God isn't going to put up with compromising, lukewarm people claiming Him as their God, yet not even living for His purpose.

On the other hand, those who did what the messenger instructed them to do; God said that they will eat from the tree of eternal life in the paradise of God (yet to come). Look at the drastic difference of outcomes that are presented here by God Almighty to the church of Ephesus. Yes, it applied to the issues at hand in their church, but could we apply it to our congregations today? Sure we can. Some will tell you it doesn't, but I ask, "Why not?" Some will say God is changing with the times and people are different and that God views the world and the church different. Then why hasn't He sent more disciples to rewrite the Bible and why does the Holy Bible prophecy the destruction of the world?

Would we be afraid of this kind of message if an angel showed up in our churches across the globe today? Would we need to make any changes in our behavior and repent?

Bottom line, are we doing what we were first appointed to do as believers? Were we taught about the first love of witnessing and how a believer is to serve God in word and deed?

Spreading the gospel is the message to the early church and it still ought to be our first love today. We must do more than just agree. We must act on the great commission of our Lord to reach out to the world around us for Christ. The candlestick represents the light of God's Word shining in a world where sin is prevalent. Christ wants the flame of His candlestick (the church) to be used to light your and my candles and then we will go and take this flame to light the way of our neighbors and our associates and family members who do not have this light shining in their lives already.

This is our first love! Keeping the candle's flame shining forth and I truely believe that those who do this will one day eat from the tree of life that grows in the middle of the paradise of God. Yes, eating with the church of Ephesus and all who carried the Light since the world was created. (Rev.2:7)

But to those who do not listen, "Take Heed!".  God also warns that He will take this candlestick away without repentance and returning to their first affection and first work. (Rev. 2:4-5) What would life be without the presence of His Light in our lives?

"Desolate" is the word that comes to my mind. I would be desolate and lost in my iniquity (my sinfulness). The warning of the desolation of the sinner (to be left to themselves) has been proclaimed once more in this final book of Revelations and it's message is directed with no doubt to the members of the church; but only those who will hear will respond to the Spirit's message.


Revelations 2:7
"He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God. "