"Number one, God uses suffering to reveal our spiritual condition...our spiritual character. God uses suffering to reveal our spiritual character. You really do not know the truth about someone spiritually when everything is going well, right? It doesn't surface because basically they appear to be at peace and happy and with a measure of joy and satisfaction and fulfillment in life because superficially and on the surface everything is okay. Then when things begin to go wrong, reality begins to surface as to their spiritual condition. And the worse things get, the more their spiritual character is un-bared. When you strip away the blessings, and you strip away the successes and you strip away the prosperity and you strip away the health and you begin to peel it all back, then you're going to find out what somebody is really made of spiritually."
An excerpt from How God uses Suffering - Part 1 by John MacArthur
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Three of the devil's weapons
The devil has many ways to trick us and get into our heads to make things go his way and against God's.
Some of his tactics are used when we are most vulnerable - when we feel saddened or are experiencing pain or grief. His "3 Ds" as I like to call them are distraction, disillusionment, and discouragement.
Distraction. The world has many things out there that are pleasing to the eye. But ask yourself if they are pleasing to God. It's the devil's way of distracting you from what you should be doing.
Disillusionment. Being oblivious is the devil's way of covering up your sins, acting like there's nothing wrong with what you just did. You think everything's fine, when in reality, things are crappy. God appreciates your honesty when coming clean to things...hopefully sooner rather than later.
Discouragement. It's easy to get discouraged over something. You may have done wrong to hurt someone or something. The feeling of guilt is going to take over your body. You must then ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to give you strength whenever you are feeling weak. Move on!
Note: The devil has many more ways to get in our heads than these "3 Ds." Be aware that he isn't limited to just these.
Some of his tactics are used when we are most vulnerable - when we feel saddened or are experiencing pain or grief. His "3 Ds" as I like to call them are distraction, disillusionment, and discouragement.
Distraction. The world has many things out there that are pleasing to the eye. But ask yourself if they are pleasing to God. It's the devil's way of distracting you from what you should be doing.
Disillusionment. Being oblivious is the devil's way of covering up your sins, acting like there's nothing wrong with what you just did. You think everything's fine, when in reality, things are crappy. God appreciates your honesty when coming clean to things...hopefully sooner rather than later.
Discouragement. It's easy to get discouraged over something. You may have done wrong to hurt someone or something. The feeling of guilt is going to take over your body. You must then ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to give you strength whenever you are feeling weak. Move on!
Note: The devil has many more ways to get in our heads than these "3 Ds." Be aware that he isn't limited to just these.
(How do) I know God is real.
Sometimes, we become too complacent with many things (school, work, etc.). I became complacent towards the Lord. I only looked to him with all my heart whenever I needed him the most and then pretty much forgot about him after that. Then, the moment I do something against his word, he changes something in my life. It's just the way the Lord works to show that he is all powerful and to teach you a lesson. I admit that I am weak. I let my pride (thinking I could get by on my own when I got back from school) and my emotions get the best of me, and I am most certainly paying for it. [Proverbs 16:5]
In [Hosea 11:4], the Israelites were stuck in the desert with nothing to eat. The Lord cared for them because he loves them, and provided them with food to eat. But then the Israelites were oblivious that it was God that had helped them out. The Lord was forgotten once they became satisfied [Hosea 13:4-6]. The Lord became angry with them and took their king away [Hosea 13:11].
King Solomon also showed his disrespect towards the Lord by disobeying his command [1 Kings 11:1-13]. Solomon held his love with 700 wives from different nations. The Lord didn't want him to do this because they would turn his heart towards other gods. So as he grew older, he wasn't fully devoted to God anymore. Thus, he became angry with Solomon because his heart was in the wrong place. Solomon didn't keep God's command...so guess what the Lord did next? He told Solomon that his kingdom will be ripped away from him, but only being left with one tribe [1 Kings 11:13]. But the thing is, he was going to do this to Solomon's son. Not Solomon. But imagine how that must feel. Knowing that your child will be given less than what you had because of a selfish move that you made.
So what does this have to do whether God is real or not. Well it just shows the Lord's almighty power. He can take anything away from you in an instant; the moment you disobey his command. God IS real and you should be living in fear of what he can do to your life. This isn't some spiritual high that I'm experiencing because of the troubles I'm facing in my life. It's the fear of the Lord that is now fueling my life.
"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." - Hosea 14:9
"Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through fear of the Lord a man avoids evil." - Proverbs 16:6
In [Hosea 11:4], the Israelites were stuck in the desert with nothing to eat. The Lord cared for them because he loves them, and provided them with food to eat. But then the Israelites were oblivious that it was God that had helped them out. The Lord was forgotten once they became satisfied [Hosea 13:4-6]. The Lord became angry with them and took their king away [Hosea 13:11].
King Solomon also showed his disrespect towards the Lord by disobeying his command [1 Kings 11:1-13]. Solomon held his love with 700 wives from different nations. The Lord didn't want him to do this because they would turn his heart towards other gods. So as he grew older, he wasn't fully devoted to God anymore. Thus, he became angry with Solomon because his heart was in the wrong place. Solomon didn't keep God's command...so guess what the Lord did next? He told Solomon that his kingdom will be ripped away from him, but only being left with one tribe [1 Kings 11:13]. But the thing is, he was going to do this to Solomon's son. Not Solomon. But imagine how that must feel. Knowing that your child will be given less than what you had because of a selfish move that you made.
So what does this have to do whether God is real or not. Well it just shows the Lord's almighty power. He can take anything away from you in an instant; the moment you disobey his command. God IS real and you should be living in fear of what he can do to your life. This isn't some spiritual high that I'm experiencing because of the troubles I'm facing in my life. It's the fear of the Lord that is now fueling my life.
"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." - Hosea 14:9
"Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through fear of the Lord a man avoids evil." - Proverbs 16:6
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