The Impact of Peace in Action part 2
“The TEMPTATIONS (testings) in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation (testing) to be MORE THAN YOU CAN STAND (beyond what you can bear). When you are tempted (tested), he will show you a way out SO THAT YOU CAN ENDURE IT.”
1 Corinthians 10 : 13
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The enemies (difficult people) in your life are no different from what others experience. God is faithful. He will not allow your enemies to be more than you can stand (beyond your ability to deal with peacefully).
When you are dealing with an enemy, he will show you a way to have self-control towards them, remain peaceful while in their presence, love and bless them in spite of the way they’ve treated you, so that you don't lose your testimony, and have the ability to draw them and others into the Kingdom eventually.
In the MIDDLE of those Seasons of ‘Trouble’ we begin to misunderstand the reasons for the trials and temptations in our lives. We get confused. We experience pain and suffering. We feel abandoned and alone, even sometimes traumatized. In the emotions of those difficult moments, all of those things that are supposed to cause us to draw nearer to God - our enemy loves to leverage them to draw us away from our trust and faith in God. We end up allowing our emotions to dictate our faith.
John 16 is a clear example of misunderstanding when Jesus told the Disciples that they were being left behind. In John chapter 8, Jesus said, "I am going away." They were confused over this statement. "Why, Lord? Why!?".
Jesus meets the Disciples right where they are in their confusion and explains what is going on.
“I have told you these things, so that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In this world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE (MANY trials, sorrows, difficulties, tribulations, sufferings, distress, frustration). But TAKE HEART! (take courage, be confident and certain, filled with Joy and Peace) I have overcome the world.”
John 16 : 33
Therefore nothing that this life or world throws at you will overcome you...unless you allow it!
Trials test us. Relationally, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We are afraid that we won't make it through them. We get weak from wrestling with it in our minds. We exchange peace for anxiety. But if you are in Jesus and Jesus is in you, take heart! Because together, you will overcome and overpower every and any problem or difficulty you face in this world.
Peter had experienced trials, temptations and suffering himself and learned how to face them with peace. He encourages believers who were suffering persecution to not lose hope. Peter was realistic about trials:
“Dear friends, DO NOT BE SURPRISED at the FIERY TRIALS that have come on you TO TEST YOU, as though something STRANGE were happening to you.”
1 Peter 4 : 12
He said don't be surprised by the fiery trials that come to you but don't wallow in them either. Don't allow your trial or difficult situation to cause you to sink into unbelief, despair, or sin, or cause you to get stuck into depression, isolation, or sin.
Peter’s point was that we can be aware of the reality of trials in our lives and recognize our ability to persevere in peace in the middle of them. Those who persevere through trials and frustrations in this life without wavering in their faith and trust in God, having peace through it all will have the greatest testimony and impact on the world.
“But the one who ENDURES TO THE END (stays true, stands firm, stays faithful) will be saved.”
Matthew 24 : 13
“God BLESSES those who PATIENTLY ENDURE TESTING AND TEMPTATION. AFTERWARD THEY WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1 : 12
Look Tribe, we need to stop playing victim to all of our circumstances and put on our spiritual armor and slay those giants that get in the way of our freedom!
“Stay away from people who ACT LIKE A VICTIM IN A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED”
Bishop Dale Bronner
“Consider it PURE JOY (opportunity for great joy, a sheer gift, be glad)… WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS (tests, challenges, temptations, trouble) of many kinds,”
James 1 : 2
WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT?
“The ‘WHY’ (why we should consider trials pure joy) is rooted not in the experience of the trial but in the results of the trial. We tend to focus on the trial itself and we tend to react or overreact to the emotions of the trial. Instead, we are supposed to focus on what the trial produces in our lives and our spiritual growth. If the number one goal of your life is to avoid pain, you will miss out on many opportunities to grow spiritually.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12 : 12
______________________________________________________________________
We may never learn why we go through certain trials in this life, but we need to strive to live in peace and in the fear of the Lord even when life is tough. No matter what comes, good or bad, we can trust God's wisdom. We can trust He will see us through.
1 Corinthians 10 : 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The enemies (difficult people) in your life are no different from what others experience. God is faithful. He will not allow your enemies to be more than you can stand (beyond your ability to deal with peacefully).
When you are dealing with an enemy, he will show you a way to have self-control towards them, remain peaceful while in their presence, love and bless them in spite of the way they’ve treated you, so that you don't lose your testimony, and have the ability to draw them and others into the Kingdom eventually.
In the MIDDLE of those Seasons of ‘Trouble’ we begin to misunderstand the reasons for the trials and temptations in our lives. We get confused. We experience pain and suffering. We feel abandoned and alone, even sometimes traumatized. In the emotions of those difficult moments, all of those things that are supposed to cause us to draw nearer to God - our enemy loves to leverage them to draw us away from our trust and faith in God. We end up allowing our emotions to dictate our faith.
John 16 is a clear example of misunderstanding when Jesus told the Disciples that they were being left behind. In John chapter 8, Jesus said, "I am going away." They were confused over this statement. "Why, Lord? Why!?".
Jesus meets the Disciples right where they are in their confusion and explains what is going on.
“I have told you these things, so that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In this world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE (MANY trials, sorrows, difficulties, tribulations, sufferings, distress, frustration). But TAKE HEART! (take courage, be confident and certain, filled with Joy and Peace) I have overcome the world.”
John 16 : 33
Therefore nothing that this life or world throws at you will overcome you...unless you allow it!
Trials test us. Relationally, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We are afraid that we won't make it through them. We get weak from wrestling with it in our minds. We exchange peace for anxiety. But if you are in Jesus and Jesus is in you, take heart! Because together, you will overcome and overpower every and any problem or difficulty you face in this world.
Peter had experienced trials, temptations and suffering himself and learned how to face them with peace. He encourages believers who were suffering persecution to not lose hope. Peter was realistic about trials:
“Dear friends, DO NOT BE SURPRISED at the FIERY TRIALS that have come on you TO TEST YOU, as though something STRANGE were happening to you.”
1 Peter 4 : 12
He said don't be surprised by the fiery trials that come to you but don't wallow in them either. Don't allow your trial or difficult situation to cause you to sink into unbelief, despair, or sin, or cause you to get stuck into depression, isolation, or sin.
Peter’s point was that we can be aware of the reality of trials in our lives and recognize our ability to persevere in peace in the middle of them. Those who persevere through trials and frustrations in this life without wavering in their faith and trust in God, having peace through it all will have the greatest testimony and impact on the world.
“But the one who ENDURES TO THE END (stays true, stands firm, stays faithful) will be saved.”
Matthew 24 : 13
“God BLESSES those who PATIENTLY ENDURE TESTING AND TEMPTATION. AFTERWARD THEY WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1 : 12
Look Tribe, we need to stop playing victim to all of our circumstances and put on our spiritual armor and slay those giants that get in the way of our freedom!
“Stay away from people who ACT LIKE A VICTIM IN A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED”
Bishop Dale Bronner
“Consider it PURE JOY (opportunity for great joy, a sheer gift, be glad)… WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS (tests, challenges, temptations, trouble) of many kinds,”
James 1 : 2
WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT?
“The ‘WHY’ (why we should consider trials pure joy) is rooted not in the experience of the trial but in the results of the trial. We tend to focus on the trial itself and we tend to react or overreact to the emotions of the trial. Instead, we are supposed to focus on what the trial produces in our lives and our spiritual growth. If the number one goal of your life is to avoid pain, you will miss out on many opportunities to grow spiritually.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12 : 12
______________________________________________________________________
We may never learn why we go through certain trials in this life, but we need to strive to live in peace and in the fear of the Lord even when life is tough. No matter what comes, good or bad, we can trust God's wisdom. We can trust He will see us through.
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