Choosing the Afflictions of the Righteous

[witness4jesus]

Wednesday night, Brother Hall taught on this subject, using text from Hebrews 11-12 and Job 32-35.

So often it seems that people feel they are blessed of God if they receive material blessings such as homes, cars, jobs, money, etc. I can think of one lady in particular right now who feels very blessed of God in that she is prosperous, and yet her world is actually anything but.

The people mentioned in Hebrews suffered violent afflictions, things we would shudder to think of going through, and yet, they endured them AND WERE BLESSED OF GOD.

I have been studying quite a bit of the life of Joseph, and the first thing that hit me was that Joseph WAS THE FAVORED SON. He was beloved of his father, and yet, that did not prevent him from falling into some very tough circumstances. He was cast down into a pit, sold into slavery, lied about and cast into prison, and then forgotten by the butler. But through it all, Joseph knew he was the favored son, he knew he was favored by God, and held his head high.

It is very difficult for us in our prosperous society to see such an individual as blessed, favored, or used of God, and yet, there are many out there that do endure afflictions being highly used of God.

My mind today is that God is the designer of our lives, and will use them for His purpose, having purchased them with the great ransom of His precious blood. We must hold our head high even in afflictions and count it joy to be used of Him.

sis pam

[ddc101]

In reading a portion such as the topic posted here I always remember Job and his life and how people thought he was being punished by God when in reality he was going through a grevious trial in order to test his character and love and obedience.
I wonder how many people would proclaim to publically be christians if the government outlawed Christianity.If things were as hard here as they are in countries such as China where public worship is forbidden.Its the trial that tests you that lets you see where you need to progress in God.I thank God for every trial and affliction for every chastizement because that means he thinks enough of me to correct me.lv sis.c

[Sandy]

Whenever this subject comes up my first thought regarding it is written in Hebr. 5:
6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.

9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvatin unto all them that obey him:

I believe these verses are speaking of our Lord when on this earth in flesh. So if he learned obedience by the things which He suffered, then who are we to think we will not as well, when we drink of the same cup of suffering he told his disciples they would drink of.

If you never have a trial then you will never know if you can come through it victorious in Him, right?

I believe this is why Paul said he gloried in tribulations and trials. Not that they are fun. They are not. But if we walk with God in faith, we can walk through them victorious in the end. That is what faith is all about to begin with. Relying completely on Him. Not that it isn't easier said than done either. But if we are to be like Him, we will have them along the way I believe.

[survivor4christ]

Sis. Pam,

That indeed is a challenge, holding your head high, knowing that you are still favored and blessed of God, when you are going through the trials of life.

For me, the very first thing that hits me is, Lord if I am so blessed, so anointed, why can't I deliver myself and those I love from these afflictions? Doesn't the anointing destroy the yoke? Why are these 'yokes' still here, Lord? What possible glory can you get out of this mess?

God lets me know that He still gets all the glory, not in my strong points, the things in my life that are going right, but by those things in my life that are going awry. The things that won't budge, the thorns, those infirmities I have fasted and prayed, cried and travailed would be a part of my past.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Let the weak say they are strong
Let the poor say they are rich
For what the Lord has done.....for us
Give thanks....

Love to all,
Sis. Wenona

[witness4jesus]

Sis Wenona, yes, those are questions we often ask ourselves in our afflictions.

For me, it was always feeling less than blessed because others received answered prayers, while my most precious desires remained [seemingly] unheard.

God has really been dealing with me about this.

It is a real challenge, but we have to come to the point where we realize that God is using our lives for a purpose. As in my example of Joseph, Joseph did not know what God was doing with his life. He only knew his circumstances, and his own sense of who he was in God.

But through Joseph's afflictions, God was able to save Israel. God was able to further His plans. Because Joseph did his best with what He was given, God lifted him up.

There are good days and bad days. Ultimately it gets down to how much we trust the Lord with our lives. How much we trust in Him to work it to the good. How much we believe in His kindness and mercy.

If my afflictions can be the salvation of a soul, then isn't that worth it? If my afflictions can serve a higher purpose than what I see, then I glory in it.

And yes, we are made strong in that weakness.

God bless you today, sis.

sis pam

[dllong]

"We know that all things work together for good to them that
love God."
--Romans 8:28

Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure. He knows, for
instance, that God sits in the stern-sheets of the vessel when
it rocks most. He believes that an invisible hand is always on
the world's tiller, and that wherever providence may drift,
Jehovah steers it. That re-assuring knowledge prepares him for
everything. He looks over the raging waters and sees the spirit
of Jesus treading the billows, and he hears a voice saying, "It
is I, be not afraid." He knows too that God is always wise, and,
knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no
mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He
can say, "If I should lose all I have, it is better that I
should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is
the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God
ordains it." "We know that all things work together for good to
them that love God." The Christian does not merely hold this as
a theory, but _he knows it_ as a matter of fact. Everything
_has_ worked for good as yet; the poisonous drugs mixed in fit
proportions have worked the cure; the sharp cuts of the lancet
have cleansed out the proud flesh and facilitated the healing.
Every event as yet has worked out the most divinely blessed
results; and so, believing that God rules all, that He governs
wisely, that He brings good out of evil, the believer's heart is
assured, and he is enabled calmly to meet each trial as it
comes. The believer can in the spirit of true resignation pray,
"Send me what thou wilt, my God, so long as it comes from Thee;
never came there an ill portion from Thy table to any of Thy
children."

"Say not my soul, 'From whence can God relieve my care?
Remember that Omnipotence has servants everywhere.
His method is sublime, His heart profoundly kind,
God never is before His time, and never is behind.'"

[witness4jesus]

That is very good.

sis pam

[pastorb]

When I look at Job it was not because of Job or anything he was going through, the trail had nothing to do with Job. It was God, displaying his ability to keep his people.

God knew the heart of Job was not after things as the devil had suggested and thus the exercise.

It's a blessing when God can trust you to go through and know that you will not forsake him over something simple.

Paul said this that I go through is a light affliction is only for a moment and its working within me a far exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

James says count it all joy knowing that the testing of your faith brings suffering but let suffering have it's perfect work in you that you may comeout victorious.

[dllong]

The heavy and continued trials through which many of the Lord's people have passed, should teach us to be silent and patient under lighter crosses. Yet we are often tempted to repine and despond under small sorrows. For this we should check ourselves. David comforts himself, in his distress and fear, that God noticed all his grievances and all his griefs. God has a bottle and a book for his people's tears, both the tears for their sins, and those for their afflictions. He observes them with tender concern. Every true believer may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what man shall do unto me; for man has no power but what is given him from above. Thy vows are upon me, O Lord; not as a burden, but as that by which I am known to be thy servant; as a bridle that restrains me from what would be hurtful, and directs me in the way of my duty. And vows of thankfulness properly accompany prayers for mercy. If God deliver us from sin, either from doing it, or by his pardoning mercy, he has delivered our souls from death, which is the wages of sin. Where the Lord has begun a good work he will carry it on and perfect it. David hopes that God would keep him even from the appearance of sin. We should aim in all our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we may serve him without fear. If his grace has delivered our souls from the death of sin, he will bring us to heaven, to walk before him for ever in light.

Dave Long

[jsc1215]

So often it seems that people feel they are blessed of God if they receive material blessings such as homes, cars, jobs, money, etc. I can think of one lady in particular right now who feels very blessed of God in that she is prosperous, and yet her world is actually anything but.

The people mentioned in Hebrews suffered violent afflictions, things we would shudder to think of going through, and yet, they endured them AND WERE BLESSED OF GOD.

I have been studying quite a bit of the life of Joseph, and the first thing that hit me was that Joseph WAS THE FAVORED SON. He was beloved of his father, and yet, that did not prevent him from falling into some very tough circumstances. He was cast down into a pit, sold into slavery, lied about and cast into prison, and then forgotten by the butler. But through it all, Joseph knew he was the favored son, he knew he was favored by God, and held his head high.

It is very difficult for us in our prosperous society to see such an individual as blessed, favored, or used of God, and yet, there are many out there that do endure afflictions being highly used of God.This thread is definitely an old one...but I am glad I found it. There is a lot of wisdom here when it comes to comparing God's wisdom to men's...often we look only at the outward appearance and equate that to being blessed of the Lord. God does not look on the outer package, but at the inward man...if that person's heart is pure and right before God, then he shall bear fruit which will be made manifest unto others.

Hebrews 11:36-38, KJV:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 [Of whom the world was not worthy:] they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. :bow:

If the rest of the world could see what God sees in His servants, they would be simply amazed and shocked.