“We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God..” Acts 14:22b
"..through many tribulations it behooves us to enter into the kingdom of God." BLB
Don't be surprised by them. We have trials that work for us as we submit and follow Jesus (see Romans 8:28-29). Those who refuse to believe outside in the world experience troubles that work against them. (Read more..)
3.) What are the perfecting storms that come from the tough trials of life? It can be from emotional hardships in life that come from other types of hardships ..cuz face it, this life here can get hard quick. I mean these are from tough trials and opposition that God allows in our way, for us to go through for growth and learning sake. Sometimes these events seem so random too, but they never are. God has a plan. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. Father knows best and wants us all to grow up having balanced spiritual maturity.
Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 nkjv).
In Romans 8:28 the Bible says that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (nkjv).
A perfecting storm, Kurt, what's that one more time? This is when God allows hardships into our lives to make us stronger spiritually. We can profit from trials. Sometimes we do profit earlier and sometimes we foolishly opt to gain from them later if we are thick-headed and stubborn. Job went through a perfecting storm--he and others got SO blessed when he simply chose to go do what God told him to do.
The Bible says, “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:3–4 nlt).
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| Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen |
"Then Jonah prayed to his God from the belly of the fish. He prayed: “In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to GOD. He answered me. From the belly of the grave I cried, ‘Help!’ You heard my cry. You threw me into ocean’s depths, into a watery grave, With ocean waves, ocean breakers crashing over me. I said, ‘I’ve been thrown away, thrown out, out of your sight. I’ll never again lay eyes on your Holy Temple.’ Ocean gripped me by the throat. The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight. My head was all tangled in seaweed at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root. I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O GOD, my God! When my life was slipping away, I remembered GOD, And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshiping you, GOD, calling out in thanksgiving! And I’ll do what I promised I’d do! Salvation belongs to GOD!” Jonah 2:1-9 msg
In Jonah chapter 2 the Bible says, “The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (verse 10). The big fish hurled. It barfed the believer, launched its lunch, puked up the prophet. The whale basically cruised on up to the shoreline and regurgitated Jonah onto the sand and gravel. I've had that happen at Salt Creek beach before minus the whale.
"Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach." Jonah 2:10 nlt
God is compassionate and once again called out to Jonah to go bring His message to the people of Nineveh and it happened. This time Jonah obeyed. What has God asked you to go do? He's asked us all to be involved in His Great Commission. Do we keep His Greatest and 2nd Great Commandments?
Jonah finally got around to applying the Word of God.. to obeying the Lord in order to become a blessing for that people. Man, a little bit of obedience before the Lord sure can bring in a whole lot of blessing for others! He does that, and we willingly listen up.
Then probably the greatest spiritual awakening in all of human history took place there.
Jonah had been losing hope (see Jonah 2:7) but the God of hope helped him through.
We live in a collapsing culture today. I think a lot of people in our world are starting to lose hope. God's living word is His will for you--He's our living hope.
The lonely hopelessness all around us--this according to some experts is one of the reasons why the suicide rates have skyrocketed, but you and I in Jesus praying.. can become a part of the Solution instead of part of the problem.
Please don’t lose heart no matter the intensity of the storm or what swallows you up for a time. You will get through it if you just hold on to Christ. Cling to Him, never stop. Never give up. He's a only whispered prayer away!
Jonah was in a storm, and in a great fish for a time so he quoted some Scripture in his prayer reminding God of who He is (God already knew), and specifically, Jonah quoted from the God's Psalms. How comforting is that!
Storms, big fat trails, huge testings, weird temptations, times of tribulation--these things come and then they go. Yeah, they come into the lives of reborn Christians in the forms of a calamity, a tough circumstance at school or work, or say a hardship in private or out in public. It might be a medical issue, a marital problem, a big bill to pay from spending, a legal issue, a bully on the sidewalk, or say from something else. The list goes on and on and on. Life happens rough in this sin-cursed fallen world, but there are three kinds of storms a believer will face that they can overcome them by God's help.
God in the Bible promises us: “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 nlt).
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” Psalm 107:29
1. Right Praying (biblical, promise-based in faith)
2. Right Thinking (helps with a good attitude)
3. Right Living (in God’s Spirit, His will and wisdom).
Remember, the world is changed through prayerful believers suffering strong in God’s will..according to God's word.
What are the three types?
1.) The suffering of circumstances.
2.) The suffering from persecution.
3.) The suffering of choosing to.. along with others.. suffer as the Holy Spirit personally directs you into this.
1. Nehemiah acknowledged the greatness of God. You’re awesome, praise You. (get things in perspective. Lord’s prayer--hallowed be your Name)
2. Nehemiah reminded the omniscient God of His promises--(That's sort of reminding self).
“And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now." Neh. 9:32
Some Bible promises are obviously made to Israel. And many were made to Christians in Christ’s Church, even for us today.You’re Christian life won’t work unless you follow His plan. Believer, you have God’s power and His promises, His plan and purpose. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
God's power is not available apart from the Scriptures. His divine power is connected to His precious and magnificent Bible promises. (See the context).
We get connected with God who is our power source... by the Word of God. By the exceeding great and precious promises of this Book, the Bible.
God's power is not available apart from the Scriptures if you want the power of God to be working in your life, then don't ignore this Book. It's His love letter to believers.
I've experienced.. several Christians longing for breakthrough. They come and talk about what's happening in their lives with all the struggles.
I like to ask them a couple questions about their personal connection. I say.. Man, don't complain about not having power in your life. Please. It's because connected between God and you are wires so to speak ..and the wires carry the power of God through, yes right from Him directly to you.. and what are those wires? They are His precious promises.
Why are these promises great? They are great because they come from a great God and they lead to a great life. That's why they're great!
Why do you and I even need to focus on this?
Well, number one.. God's promises are incalculable in their greatness. They're exceedingly great because we can't even for sure count them all while here. I mean no one can fully count the promises of God in the Bible. Many people have tried to.
I remember reading about a guy named Everett Storms of Ontario Canada. He took a couple years in his attempt--he decided to try and find out how many promises were in the Bible. He heard that there are 30,000 promises in the Bible. But wait.. there are only 31,000 verses in the Bible.
Q: So about how many Bible promises are in there, Kurt?
It’s been said that the grand total is: 8,810 promises in the Bible. And about 85% of them are made by God to human beings cuz God loves us!
Isaiah has more than 1000 promises in it.
Which chapter has the most promises? Well, in Psalm 37 -- see how practically every verse is a promise. Here's a challenge for ya: Read through, and pray through the entire Bible with its good promises. Memorize some.
Quickly in a nutshell, basically here are some promises for you to look up: You’ll never be alone, believer. God loves you and has a good plan. God will get you through all you’re facing, I mean deep waters etc. God will provide all your needs. See Matt. 6:33, Mal. 3:10. He’ll forgive us of all our sins. Ask, in Jesus' Name.
3. Nehemiah confessed sin in prayer.
He felt sorry for em and said, “We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.” Neh 1:7
