One thing they all have in common is their frustration. Life just isn't working as easily as it should, indeed as was promised when they made their commitment to the Lord!
Old things were supposed to have passed away and all things become new, but apparently, this did not happen. As a result, these people feel they've been cheated.
In a summary response to that expectation, let me say this: becoming new does not presuppose becoming easy. One thing we need to learn immediately is to read the Holy Scriptures as they are written. This will be visited in a later post.
So, these people are facing untold hardship and are at their wit's end! They wonder why God who is supposed to be so benevolent and powerful isn't intervening. It matters not their station in life, or the continent in which they reside, they are going through the valley of the shadow of death, and it seems God has turned His back on them.
In listening to these precious people, I observe that they all have something in common besides their suffering. They all are ignorant of the workings of God, the characteristics of Jesus Christ, and the office of the Holy Spirit.
Now I know you cannot walk successfully or harmoniously with another except you have some understanding one of another, and are in agreement with each other. How can you agree with someone you neither know nor understand.
So, we'll tackle this problem from its point of origination. Jesus Christ told His disciples to go into the world, preaching the good news, and making disciples of all men. He gave them the assurance that He'd be with them even unto the end of the ages.
See Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, and John 20:21. This is what has come to be called "The Great Commission."
A very important caution to this commission which is often overlooked, and which to a large extent explains the frustrations of the people of God is found in Acts 1:4-5 which says "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from me for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
PRAYER
Our Father in Heaven, please give me the promised Holy Spirit so I am enabled to be in agreement with you and to do your will. Amen.
#momomily2013
Wow! That's a much needed explanation that we need at the very difficult times!!!
ReplyDelete"We''re living in the old age of time.," said a friend of mine. Indeed we're living in a time and season where we each need to stop and take inventory of our walk with God, retrace our steps where necessary, and then continue the race.
DeleteThis is awesome. To God be the glory. What a way to walk through the word of God.
ReplyDeleteFor so long, we've tried to impose our standards on God, and we have failed woefully. What we need to do is take another look at His requirements, and by the help of His Holy Spirit , live by them.
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