- araratchurch
- Aug 14, 2023
- 2 min read
In preparation for our discussion over the next five days, please carefully read and meditate on these scriptures:
“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.””
Matthew 11:25-30 NLT
“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.””
Exodus 33:14-16 NKJV
“Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living. I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” I said in my haste, “All men are liars.” What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.”
Psalms 116:7-13 NKJV
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Romans 8:13-17 NKJV
We are living in a day and an hour that is so pressurized that it can cause our hearts to be overwhelmed to the point of “exploding.” Indeed, people are doing ridiculous things to try to escape the turmoil and to find rest. But the truth is, there is only One Way to find real rest. We will spend the next five days exploring this truth.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Aug 14, 2023
- 4 min read
“By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going.”
Hebrews 11:8 AMP
If you are familiar with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you are also familiar with the fact that they ended up in a fiery furnace as they would not bow to the golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed, God’s process for them went right through a literal fiery trial. But, they weren’t in that fiery trial alone; there was a “fourth man” with them.
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.””
Daniel 3:24-25 NKJV
Yes, the Lord made them impervious to the effects of the fire and was walking through it with them!
But, let’s not leave this story without looking at what the Hebrew 3 said when facing the king (before they were thrown into the fiery furnace):
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””
Daniel 3:16-18 NKJV
It is important to note the attitude they had as they went into the fiery furnace; they were going to remain faithful to God no matter where the process took them, no matter the outcome.
Daniel, the friend of the Hebrew 3, found that his process landed him on the business end of very hungry lions.
You see, King Darius was tricked into signing something that would send anyone into the lions’ den who worshipped any other god but himself for thirty days. Of course, Daniel continued his three-times-a-day praying, knowing where it would land him.
King Darius spent a fitful night after having thrown Daniel to his certain death. But then…
“Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.”
Daniel 6:19-23 NKJV
The king found that Daniel was not injured. God had sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths.
Now, in both these cases—the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions’ den—the outcome was deliverance and promotion. But, their process certainly didn’t “make sense” when they were in the fiery furnace or in the den of lions.
As well, it never would have made sense (from an earthly perspective) if they had perished in the fire or lions’ den. But, consider this portion from Hebrews 11:
“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
Hebrews 11:35b-38 NKJV
Now, who would sign-up for this? Only those who trust God’s process for them…no matter where it leads. Think about it, isn’t that what brought Jesus to Golgotha?
In our opening scripture we see that Abraham went out on God’s call having no idea where he would end up! But, the process led him to his inheritance.
This week we’ve been discussing the need to trust God‘s processes for us. And—because we trust the One orchestrating our process—it doesn’t have to make sense in terms of our expectations. But, if we stay in it to win it, knowing God is with us when we are in His process, we will receive our own inheritance. And, believe me, no, believe the word of God, it will all be worth it!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Aug 14, 2023
- 3 min read
“But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.”
2 Chronicles 15:7 NLT
Some well-meaning parents, in order to convince their children to cooperate with getting some medical procedure (such as a shot), will tell them it’s not going to hurt. As you might expect, that strategy only works once. As soon as the child is subjected to the inevitable hurt, they will no longer believe the word of the parent.
Sadly, such is the scenario in many modern churches in which there is never talk of adversity. Perhaps in an attempt to garner more congregants, only a steady diet of messages about advancement, prosperity, and even self-aggrandizement, are fed. Tragically, the sheep may end up starving spiritually from lack of spiritual nourishment.
Not having been warned that adversity is inevitable, many Christians go into trials totally unprepared for how to deal with what they are facing. Still worse, they may assume that there’s nothing to what they have been being told. They may become discouraged and forsake their Christian walk!
You cannot make an honest assessment of biblical examples and come away saying that we should never speak of adversity. In fact, just the opposite is the truth. Not only is adversity discussed in the Bible, it is very often the focus of its instruction.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
I Peter 4:12-14a NKJV
Here, the apostle Peter is clearly saying that adversity, yes, trials, are not “strange,” but are to be expected by those following after the Lord. Indeed, we are identified as suffering with Christ! As well, on the other side of our suffering, is glory!
Additionally, we are taught that the trying of our faith is what perfects it!
“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 AMP
The apostle Paul shares that God has given him strength to be able to endure hard circumstances. Now, he is at peace in whatever state he finds himself, whether in times of blessing or adversity.
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
In our opening scripture we see what is promised to those who continue to work for the Lord through all circumstances. Yes, our work will be rewarded; our labor is not in vain!
Remember, adversity is to be expected; but you can also expect a reward. This knowledge will keep you in God’s process until it is completed…even when the going gets rough.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!