Why do we suffer?

'… the Lord is still for the body. If we offer ours to Him, acknowledging Him as Lord of everything and claiming His promise by faith, we shall see how the Lord can deliver us from ourselves. Irrespective of how we physiologically are made, even possessing special weaknesses, we can overcome our sins through the Lord.'  Excerpt- The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

We know the Lord truly is the LORD of all of us, mind, body, spirit, all of us.  And we also know how much our bodies can influence our minds and spirit.  Clearly in the passage above, Paul wants his infirmity of the flesh to be taken away from him. Obviously he is disturbed by this thorn in his flesh enough to pray about it. This thing, this ailment of his he called- THE MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET HIM, he wanted it gone.  Most of us can probably relate to some degree, having experienced physical distresses. Some of us with chronic ailments- such as this had to be for Paul- comprehend how awful it is to have to live with constant pain, constant distress.  Our various messengers of Satan buffeting us are things we'd love to be rid of. And as Watchman Nee writes in the excerpt above- the Lord is for our body too- not just our spirit, He is Lord of all of us. And yes, the Lord can deliver us from sicknesses and such, but more importantly He knows when not to deliver us for reasons beyond our full comprehension. 

Paul could say that his ailment was left intact because if he didn't have it he would be exalted above measure, he would think much higher of himself with the danger of pride taking over.  Paul ended up GLORYING in his infirmities knowing that the power of Christ was still working in Him. Paul didn't give up on God because his prayers weren't answered and he continued to suffer. He could have given up his walk with Christ, blaming Him for not healing him like he believed he needed. But Paul knew that all he needed was whatever it was Christ deemed He needed. If Christ believed it necessary for Paul to suffer physically, mentally, spiritually- to receive reproaches, to lack necessities, to be persecuted, to be in distress then Paul gloried in all those awful things, he took PLEASURE in all those things, and that pleasure was knowing that He was living wholly for Christ and whatever befell Him was all for Christ's glory.  Paul's strength was his relationship with Christ, to him nothing else mattered and he was sorely tested on this over and over again.  Why, you may ask?  It's the same why we ask when we suffer isn't it, or others we love suffer, or anyone or anything suffers, we ask why, we lament the why and Satan would have us BLAME God for allowing the suffering.  Satan would have us cry out, WHY GOD!? WHY?! And Satan wants to use our weak relationship with Christ to insinuate that God isn't truly working out things for our good or the good of others. If Satan can put doubt into our minds about God's truth, about God's love, then Satan's aim has been met, he wants us to doubt, to despair, to give up on God.

More on this tomorrow by the grace and will of our GOD, may we never, no matter what befalls us, leave the love of our Savior! All through HIS amazing LOVE now and forever! All through Jesus Christ our LORD. 

The Truth.

2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

2Pe 1:17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

Cunningly devised fables.

How many people believe in cunningly devised fables?  It's all a part of deceptive practices that Satan uses. Here in this passage Peter is telling them that they haven't followed cunningly devised fables as they spoke of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. People believed that those who actually witnessed our Savior's miracles, those who heard the Father God blessing His Beloved Son, were spinning fables.  Today people believe the same thing- many people.  We may not have been with our Savior while He walked the earth but we know through faith, that He, and all He's done is not the stuff of fables.

We really do have a MORE sure word of prophecy. And we really do need to take heed so that all the light of the word of God can dispel all the darkness Satan would have us engulfed in. We need to take heed to the sure word of prophecy until the day star arises in our hearts!

Not a single prophecy is of ANY private interpretation. If anyone says they have their own interpretation they need to read these words. The will of MAN is not involved in prophecy, the Holy Spirit- God the Holy Spirit- gave men of God the words, they were not their own words at all.

We believe in GOD'S words, not man's words, not Satan's words, but GOD'S words are what we believe!

May He only ever allow us to see His truth! May we see, may we understand, and may we through the truth follow Him and be His in that truth!

Joh_14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  

Exhort one another DAILY.

Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Exhort one another DAILY.

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Provoke unto LOVE and to GOOD WORKS.

Exhorting one another more and more the closer to Christ's return we get.

Exhort-

1. to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.

2. to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.

We are to urge, to advise, to caution earnestly, to admonish urgently… all to the glory of God, all for the salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We need to do this DAILY and more and more as every day passes.

Act 11:23  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 

Cleave to the LORD!  In a world that would have us torn from Christ's truth, we must CLEAVE ever closer to our Savior!

1Th 2:11  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children

Exhort, comfort, charged- as a father to a child.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words--

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

Lord, please, help us to exhort one another! Please! We need to exhort one another DAILY! Help us! Please!

Satan is going about as a ROARING LION, Satan wants to devour all of us! SAVE Us keep us from the evil that would tear us away from You, from Your love, from Life in our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

Please.

Hour of Temptation.

Rev 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

Hour of temptation.

Sounds almost like a book or movie title doesn't it? Of course some might make this into something sensual, but the "title" would be more appropriate for a movie or book about the last war for the saints.  A spiritual war is taking place in all of our lives, every single human being with the mental capacity to know right from wrong is in this war. We are all tempted.

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Rom_3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

All have sinned- so all have been drawn away of their own lusts, enticed when facing TEMPTATION.

Temptation.

There will come a temptation that TRIES all who dwell upon the earth.  This great temptation that all will face is something so awful that all who are NOT KEPT from the hour of that temptation by Jesus Christ our Lord, will fall to the temptation and sin.  ONLY those kept by Jesus will be saved from this horrific temptation.  We need to keep the word of Jesus' patience. What is the word of Jesus' patience…

We need to study this a lot more, and by the grace and mercy of God we will- His will be done!

Lest ye enter into temptation.

Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Watch.

Pray.

The spirit is ready.

The flesh is weak.

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Watch.

Pray always.

To escape.

1Co 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

Watch.

Be strong.

Rev 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 

Watch.

Hold fast.

Repent.

Rev 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Please, help us keep the word of Your patience!

Please, keep us from the hour of temptation!

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Keep us from temptation!

We don't want to be devoured by Satan!

Are you watching?

Jesus is going to return for us who love Him in truth, in deed, in knowing Him and being known by Him.

When Jesus returns He will return for those who are WATCHING for Him.

All who are NOT watching for Him, will NOT be His.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 

Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 

Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 

Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 

Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. 

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST, now and FOREVER!

Content, Not Coveting.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

Covetousness.

1. inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.

2. eagerly desirous.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/covetousness>

Content.

Satisfied. The state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/content>

We will ALWAYS have the only thing we truly need, and it is something that can never, ever be taken from us by anyone. No person, no circumstances, not a single thing can ever take our Savior from us- it's impossible. 

The ONLY way we can be without our Savior is to choose to be without Him.

Does that choice have to be a conscious one? It does, but sometimes our consciousness of a decision we make is deliberately shrouded so we fail to ever realize we've made the choice at all. Self-deception is a VERY real thing.

The act of making oneself believe something that is not true He was unaware of his own self-deceptions

From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-deception>

Isn't this going to be true of many, dare I say, MOST Christians when our Savior returns?

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

They are going to say- LORD, LORD, haven't we done so much in Your name? They are going to believe they've tirelessly worked for the Lord in many ways. They are believing they live for the Lord, that He is their Savior, their reason for all they do. They are going to do WONDERFUL WORKS- all in the name of Jesus. They are going to CAST OUT devils- and they’ll do it using the marvelous name of our Savior. They WILL make prophecies, and do so with Jesus' name on their lips! They BELIEVE, truly, truly believe they are saved in Jesus Christ, their Lord. Not for a moment do they believe that the things they are doing are not for Jesus. They are utterly deceived because Jesus is going to tell them they are workers of iniquity! Jesus is going to tell them ALL their wonderful works were NOT for Him, they didn't prophesize for Him, they didn't cast a single devil out by using His power.  And if Jesus tells them this, then what must be true? That the wonderful works, the prophesizing, the devils being cast out are all works of SATAN, in whom all iniquity dwells.

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

Workers of iniquity.

Psa_5:5  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Psa_28:3  Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Working iniquity all the while believing they are working God' work - this is how insanely great the self-deception is in those who refuse to truly belong to Christ, in all His truth!

We are to be content in this world filled with so much covetousness. We are to be content having Christ in a world where material goods are now called essentials, and needs. We are to be content knowing our Savior will never leave or forsake us. Lose all you possess in the world, and you will still have Jesus Christ our Lord! 

Please, Lord, please, we beg of You, don't let us be self-deceived! Please, we don't want to be workers of iniquity! Please, Lord help us to be content with YOU above all else that strives to take Your place. Please, Lord, please! Help us! Save us!

All through Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior NOW and FOREVER! Please! Father, please, we would be saved!