"Einstein felt, at most, man had attained 1% of the possible knowledge of the universe. Do you think it's possible God is able to do unexplainable things with the 99% we don't understand?" -from
Rooms by James L Rubart

Thursday, October 3, 2013

blessings through raindrops

"Pastor 'Ameen,' leader of the evangelical church movement in Iraq, said that before baptizing new believers he teaches them that they will face persecution."
- Voice of the Martyrs magazine, July 2012

Pastor Ameen tells them they WILL. he doesn't say it's just something that happened in Bible times, or to faraway believers in countries with scary governments.
why don't we teach the same thing here in the US?
why is it that we feel almost entitled to a peaceful life with no arguments?
why have we adopted the ridiculous notion that it's a faux pas to discuss 'religion and politics?'
why are we shocked when we hear that Christian kids are being bullied at school, or when atheists sue to remove 'in God we trust' from our currency, or when we make a Christian statement on the internet and get blasted and barraged with insults for speaking about Christ, or when you sit down to pray but immediately get inundated with phone calls and texts and knocks at the door and hunger pangs and the temptation to watch tv? (yes, persecution is not only bodily harm from ill-willed unbelievers; it is often attacks from Satan in the form of temptation or distractions, etc...)

Jesus clearly said we WILL suffer and we WILL be persecuted.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death,
and you will be hated by all nations because of Me."
- Jesus, in Matthew 24:9

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..."
2 Timothy 3:12

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering,
as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,
you are blessed,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
1 Peter 4:12-14

Pastor Ameen's approach brings home the gravity of the situation: when you choose Jesus, you need to be fully committed, and fully aware of the implications. there's no 'nominal' allowed with God, no situation where luke-warm is acceptable.

"In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus sends out His disciples on two occasions: in Matthew 10 and again in Matthew 28. On both occasions He gives the disciples specific instructions, but neither time does Jesus tell them to assess the risk. he doesn't tell them to ask permission to share the gospel or heal the sick. And He doesn't tell them to poll the villagers first to measure their receptivity to the gospel. 
"In fact, Jesus' words in Matthew 10 would not be considered hopeful or positive by the world's standards. He tells the disciples that they will be delivered up to government officials and will be 'scourged' or terrorized by religious officials. He tells them that families will reject them and even have them killed. To leave no doubt about how they can expect to be treated, Jesus summarizes their situation as 'sheep among wolves,' telling them that they will be 'hated by all' for His name's sake.
"Still, He said, 'Go!' and His disciples went. They had a mission to accomplish - reaching all nations with the gospel (28:19)."
- Voice of the Martyrs magazine, October 2013

"... Jesus wants His disciples to know that mission and persecution are inseparable. When done in the spirit of Jesus, you cannot have one without the other. When done in the spirit of Christ, mission has always taken place in the shadow of the cross. ... Survival, however, is not their prime concern. They are to be committed to accomplishing the purposes of God, even if it means their death."
- late Glenn Penner, former CEO of Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

yep. even if it means their/my/your death. i love how he says mission always takes place in the shadow of the cross. always. the meaning of the cross - its suffering leading to our salvation and thus our right relationship with God - is our whole purpose as Christians. Jesus, our perfect example, suffered unthinkably. why is it odd that we should follow in His footsteps, even the suffering ones?

it is shallow to think the Christian life will and should be easy.

it's human nature to look for the easy road. we like the world to be in a perfect, predictable pattern. we want 'follow these 5 steps to get this great outcome.' that's why the false gospel of health, wealth, and prosperity is so successful. be good and God will bless you. send money to the poor (often it doesn't even reach them) and God will send you money. like we can con God into blessing us. like we can force His hand. like He owes us 'the good life' if we're doing good deeds.
WRONG!!!

Jesus told a story about a guy planting a farm. he threw down seed as he walked. and if you know gardening, you know that not every seed you plant will grow. there are different reasons for non-growth: weeds, rocks, no dirt...
Jesus likened the seeds and soil to people who have received His message; some will take it and grow, like they are in rich soil. but some act like seed planted in rocks, which support a beginning growth but have no room for roots, and the plant dies.

"But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. 
When trouble or persecution comes because of the world, 
he quickly falls away." 
Matthew 13:21

how do we get that root? how do we survive the rocks of persecution and trouble? we must choose God first every day. spend time with Him. read His word, if you have a Bible. listen to His voice. worship Him as you drive to work or as you sit in your back yard. what would you do with your best friend? - do those things with God.
the good things you do should be from a motive of worshiping Him and growing your faith, not to get earthly pleasures in return. 
and sometimes, though you do all the right things, say all the heart-felt prayers, read all the right verses, God will still allow hardships to come your way. He has the freedom to bring prosperity or to allow evil to visit you. 
and sometimes we actually learn better when we are facing hardship than when everything is going swimmingly. why do you think the gospel thrives and expands in countries where persecution is most rampant (like China)? persecution brings out the true believers, and forces those on the fence to make a decision.

"blessings" ARE a blessing, but sometimes so are hardships.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; 
perplexed, but not abandoned; 
struck down, but not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"... We also rejoice in our sufferings, 
because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 
perseverance, character; 
and character, hope." 
Romans 5:3-5

i love the words of this song about blessings coming in ways we don't want or expect. God has promised blessings, but often they're not the pleasures and wealth we're looking for here on earth. sometimes even the suffering is the blessing, if it leads us to learn or grow.

Blessings by Laura Story

we pray for blessings, we pray for peace
comfort for family, protection while we sleep
we pray for healing, for prosperity
we pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
all the while, You hear each spoken need
yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
what if Your healing comes through tears?
what if a thousand sleepless nights 
are what it takes to know You're near?
what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

we pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
and we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
we doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
as if every promise from Your word is not enough
all the while, You hear each desperate plea
and long that we'd have faith to believe

when friends betray us
when darkness seems to win
we know the pain reminds this heart
that this is not, this is not our home

cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
what if Your healing comes through pain?
and what if a thousand sleepless nights
are what it takes to know You're near?
what if my greatest disappointments
or the aching of this life
is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?
and what if trials of this life
the rain, the storms, the hardest nights,
are Your blessings in disguise?

persecution is hideous. it's not what God's world was supposed to look like. it's a result of the sin cancer.
but God is still present, and He still desires that every human being would turn from sin and selfishness to discover Him.
that is why Christians find joy in suffering. for the joy set before us. that's why Jesus endured the taunting and the spitting and the jeering and nailing and the piercing and the gasping for air and the excruciating separation from His Father and the dying - for the joy set before Him.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, 
the author and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, 
scorning its shame, 
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 
Hebrews 12:2

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, 
whenever you face trials of many kinds, 
because you know that the testing of your faith 
develops perseverance. 
Perseverance must finish its work 
so that you may be mature and complete, 
not lacking anything." 
James 1:2-4

Jesus' joy was conquering death so that He could bring that same power to us. All true Christians will conquer death!!!!
Jesus' joy was bringing life so that we could enjoy that same life forever with Him.
Jesus' joy was sitting at the right hand of God after enduring.
our joys are similar:
-the joy of some being saved through our lives and words
-the joy of knowing we are on the right path: on God's path
-the joy of being saved now and being part of God's kingdom
-the joy of personally knowing God's voice and His leading hand

-the joy of reaching heaven one day and God saying, 'well done, good and faithful servant!'

do you have that joy?
are you willing to suffer persecution and hardships in order to claim Christ as your own? if you choose Him, you WILL suffer.
if you're looking for the easy road on earth, choosing Jesus isn't guaranteed to get you there. but it IS guaranteed to bring unspeakable joy, immense security, and eternal life in the long run.

JOIN US!!!