The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4). CHAMBERS
Isn’t that an odd thing? We spend a lot of time praying that God would remove the tribulation, suffering and persecution that we experience, yet God is using those very things to produce spiritual fruit in our lives. Without resistance there is no strength …. As you face trials in this life … rather than go to God and ask for relief, ask for strength … ask Him to be glorified in your tribulation. I know that there have been many times that I have wanted to get out of a situation … I was frustrated maybe even angered at it … why did the Lord lead me here? Then I think … didn’t the nation of Israel grumble and complain asking the very question? Have I forgotten so soon what the Lord has delivered me from … am I so focused on my personal comfort that I miss what God is doing … and wants to do in my life? What does He want to do through your life? Are you willing to go where He leads you even if it means personal discomfort or loss. Are you willing to be shaped for His service? Do your really love Jesus? Or are you merely infatuated with Him.
Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. (John 6:2)
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (John 6:63-66)
Those who followed Jesus for what they could get fell away when His crucifixion loomed on the horizon … if we are following Him in the strength of our flesh and not by faith .. we will not be able to stand when the trials come … we will walk away from Him … we will want to go back to Egypt …
And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" (Numbers 14:2-3)
God wants us to live this life with a spiritual perspective and not a life consummed with satisfying the flesh. Rick Warren said that “God is more concerend with our character than our comfort.” Is that your view of the victorious Christian life .. or is it having no worries .. no problems … health … wealth … When you read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, do you imagine that has being the life you want? Did you know that bearing Spiritual fruit is not dependent upon the circumstance you find yourself in? But is evidenced in spite of those circumstances because that fruit springs from your relationship with the Lord.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
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