TRIALS AND SUFFERING
With the advent of televised preaching comes the boundless exposure to the wealth, health and happiness gospel or better said, the prosperity gospel. Christians are never to be without wealth, and perfect health and happiness. The teachings of this gospel are---if you are not happy, healthy or wealthy it is simply because you do not possess enough faith. The Word of God disagrees with this counterfeit preaching.
The Bible tells us:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
The Apostle Paul was a servant of God who possessed tremendous faith yet:
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:6-11
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Philippians 1:29-30
So why are Christians allowed to suffer trials, difficulties, and problems? Here are several reasons to consider----
o To test the strength of our faith and to test it
for genuineness.
o To foster humility.
o To deter us from being dependent on the
ways of the world or wean us from the same.
o To look beyond this life to our heavenly hope
o To reveal who and what we really love.
o To teach to value God’s blessings.
o To develop spiritual maturity.
o Lastly to help us better minister to others in
their trials and sufferings.
Suffering is not futile for it is always beneficial as we often see from hindsight and it glorifies God before a world who is watching.
REMEMBER WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID---
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Pastor Richard Parker
Pastor of Tellico First Baptist Church
Tellico Plains, TN
With the advent of televised preaching comes the boundless exposure to the wealth, health and happiness gospel or better said, the prosperity gospel. Christians are never to be without wealth, and perfect health and happiness. The teachings of this gospel are---if you are not happy, healthy or wealthy it is simply because you do not possess enough faith. The Word of God disagrees with this counterfeit preaching.
The Bible tells us:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
The Apostle Paul was a servant of God who possessed tremendous faith yet:
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:6-11
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Philippians 1:29-30
So why are Christians allowed to suffer trials, difficulties, and problems? Here are several reasons to consider----
o To test the strength of our faith and to test it
for genuineness.
o To foster humility.
o To deter us from being dependent on the
ways of the world or wean us from the same.
o To look beyond this life to our heavenly hope
o To reveal who and what we really love.
o To teach to value God’s blessings.
o To develop spiritual maturity.
o Lastly to help us better minister to others in
their trials and sufferings.
Suffering is not futile for it is always beneficial as we often see from hindsight and it glorifies God before a world who is watching.
REMEMBER WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID---
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Pastor Richard Parker
Pastor of Tellico First Baptist Church
Tellico Plains, TN