What is the expectation to experience in the Christian life ?
Well, BLESSINGS, of course !
Hmmm . . .
What does “blessings” mean ?
It depends on where you live in the world.
It depends on when you lived in the world.
where you live
In America, blessings from being a Christian is definitely the exception to the rule in the world today.
Most other places are cool or cold toward Christians, and many are hostile.
For them, persecution is the blessing of following Jesus, because it brings them much closer to Jesus—by their own testimony.
In America, blessings from being a Christian have pretty much matched approval and success in the culture.
B U T, that seems to be changing now—and quickly—and dramatically for some.
— Christian grandmother sentenced to jail time for quietly praying publicly.
— Christian family terrorized by huge, overbearing FBI raid to arrest the father, unjustified.
— Christian businesses sued and shut down for not promoting values against the Bible.
Comfortable Christianity is starting to lose some of its glitter, its shine, even in America.
But, many are still saying,
“If it hasn’t affected me and my family and my job [yet], I don’t have time to think about it [much]. I don’t hear those far-out stories on the news I listen to.”
Blessings, Success, Promises of Good Life—still very appealing, still popularized with big followings in ‘successful’ churches.
when you lived
In America, blessings from being a Christian is definitely the exception to the rule in the history of Christianity.
Expectations, in the past.
B U T G O D – – – What does He say ?
What is to be expected from the Bible ?
What did Jesus say ?
What did people of great faith experience—in the Bible, and in the 2000-year history of Christianity since ?
The Bible says,
GREAT FAITH – GREAT TESTING.
Jesus said,
GREAT FAITH – GREAT TESTING.
People of great faith in the Bible experienced
GREAT FAITH – GREAT TESTING.
People of great faith in the 2000-year history of Christianity since, experienced
GREAT FAITH – GREAT TESTING.
“God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply”
—–A.W. Tozer
David Jeremiah*
C.S.Lewis*
Paul*
Charles Spurgeon*
– – –
Lots of theological ‘either-or’s pulling us apart inside, and pulling us apart from each other.
Some seem to never be settled, until . . . ?
— Debates over prosperity vs problems
— ‘Choices?’ over popularity or persecution
— “Take it easy” or “Endure hardness”
— “Friendship with the world—enemy of Christ” or follow in Jesus’ footsteps
So ?—therefore ?—now what ?—then what ?
What is the TRUE message of Christianity ?
Just read the Bible.
Believe what the Bible says.
Accept all the Bible’s promises.
Follow all the Bible’s instructions.
Take to heart all the Bible’s warnings.
Receive all the Bible’s words of comfort.
Do everything that the Bible tells you to do.
Jesus—“Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, because you are my disciple. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. In the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”
“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
*Jeremiah—GREAT FAITH—“After half a century in ministry, I thought it would get easier.”
*Lewis—Shadowlands—GREAT FAITH—Such a powerfully used man of God, was devastated and tested severely when he lost his wife.
*Paul—GREAT FAITH—God told Ananias to baptize Paul, just converted, after persecuting Christians, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine. I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”—in prison frequently, flogged severely, exposed to death again and again, five times thirty-nine lashes, three times beaten with rods, stoned, three times shipwrecked, a night and a day in the open sea, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, in danger from false believers, often without sleep, hunger and thirst and often without food, cold and naked, concern for all the churches.
And then Paul wrote, “I have learned, in whatever state I am, therein to be content.”
*Spurgeon—GREAT FAITH—“Many are the afflictions of the righteous;” so let this be some comfort to you, — that you are one of the Lord’s suffering children, one of those who have to pass through rough roads and fiery places in the course of their pilgrimage to heaven.
—–from sermon Believer Tested By Trials, 1880
“I know, perhaps, as well as anyone here, what deep depression of spirit means, and what it is to feel myself sinking lower and lower; yet, at the worst, when I reach the lowest depths, I have an inward peace which no pain or depression of spirit can in the least disturb.”
—–from sermon Rest As A Test, 1879
Speak Your Mind