Christ Through Adversity

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Tuesday, May 05, 2020
Chapters: Psalms 15, 22-24, 47, 68
Message: Christ Through Adversity

Hello My Friend,

Adversity; An event, or series of events, which oppose success or desire; misfortune; calamity; affliction; distress; state of unhappiness. We all deal with adversity in different ways, some hide in fear, some are fearless, some depressed, some happy, some reckless, some bitter, some envious, and yet some strong. How we handle adversity has to do with our heart, and let me tell you, as much as we would like to think that our heart cannot possibly bring us to do things we could never imagine, think again. The heart is full of deceit, during times of adversity, [Matthew 15:18-19  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:]

I have to tell you that how I deal with adversity is often dependent upon my faith, not in God, but in my own abilities. Of course, our faith in God is often the key to how well we deal with adversity, but our faith in our own abilities can often cause havoc on our faith in God. You see, as we know faith and works go hand in hand, our works is what increases our faith, [James 2:14-26]. Naturally, when one event after another comes our faith decreases. Again, it is not necessarily our faith in God that decreases, rather our faith in our ability to handle adversity. And this is where God comes in, we must understand that God does know our heart, so, there is a difference between a lapse of judgment and a changed heart. David understood this, and even reminds us that how we react to adversity has to do with that is in our true heart.

[Psalms 15:1-5  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  5  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.]

[He that doeth these things shall never be moved.] Okay, how we react to adversity can take us down some deep dark paths, but their faith in God shall never be moved. This is why God does not base our salvation on our works, we get into trouble more times than we can count, a true heart for God is one that comes to Him daily confessing their sin, and He forgives every bit of it, [I John 1:9]. I spent a good part of the morning asking God to fix my heart because it has been a mess for a couple of weeks now. When you walk with Christ you tend to notice those things, and will do anything to from being moved. Then as I read this Psalm and it opened my heart. It is the reminder of just what Jesus did to save me.

[Psalms 22:7-11,13-19  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,  8  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.  9  But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.  10  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.  13  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.  14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.  15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.  16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  17  I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.  18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.  19  But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.]

[He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him:] This is of course, the prophecy of Christ hanging on the cross being foretold well before God even told David that He would send His seed through his. The world does the same thing, they mock and ridicule us for trusting Jesus through our adversity, in the end, they are the ones who will suffer much more than we ever will. Once we come to understand that Jesus is, in fact, with us, that we really are not meant to suffer through this alone nor does God want us to, the next Psalm comes to mind.

[Psalms 23:1-6  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.]

[He restoreth my soul:] Our soul belongs to Jesus forever, but adversity can bring it to feel as though we are not. Let me tell you, nothing we do can ever separate us from Christ! The devil may taunt us with this garbage in our heads that make us doubt that Jesus is with us, but it is all a lie, even death cannot separate us from Christ, [Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.]

Yes, we mess up, sometimes several times a day, but there is a difference in someone who is genuinely saved with a pure heart, and one who is not at all saved. Only Jesus knows if one truly has received Him with all their heart, so we must not be quick to judge someone. I will give an example. A person gets saved while attending a memorial service, they keep that faith, but do not go to church. Since they are saved by grace they are not aware of God’s commands so they tend to remain doing what is right in their own eyes, often the complete opposite of what the Bible says. Since they are now saved, more adversity comes, and unless they learn the truth they will continue to suffer a series of events. Nevertheless, they are still saved, and will be in heaven because they heard just enough of the Bible for them to believe in Christ and receive Him as their Saviour.

[Psalms 24:3-6  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  4  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  5  He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  6  This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.]

[nor sworn deceitfully.] An amazing transformation happens as we come to Christ with a pure heart, people and things that were once essential in our lives disappear and are replaced by people or things that please God. Do not be offended or surprised to see a dear friend turn on you, many will flee as you get closer to God, but keep on praising Him and do not worry about them because He will help you get through the adversity you are going to face. God abundantly blesses those who trust in His salvation, not those who swear on Him deceitfully. Keep in mind, anyone who has been abusing God’s good mercies and graces with no intention of changing will suffer for it in this life unless they repent or He has to take them home sooner for suffering in it.

[Psalms 68:18-21,33-35  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.  19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.  20  He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.  21  But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. 33  To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.  34  Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.  35  O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.]

[and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.] The more you walk with Christ the more you learn His ways and become more like Him. The one who remains living in sin with no taught of repentance will face a lot of adversity. Jesus loves us way too much to see us living our lives as though He never found us. Think about it, He suffered a great deal of adversity Himself, not to mention the suffering He went through so that our soul does not end up in hell. Of course, we are going to suffer if we know Him and are living as though we do not care what we are doing, but we must not forget that we belong to Christ, our soul is in His hand, and no one can pluck us out of it, [John 10:28-30  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  30  I and my Father are one.] Amen!

Today’s Prayer: God, Life gets weary sometimes for the adversity I face, so weary that it takes a toll on my soul, I feel it suffocating as I try to live my life pleasing You and everyone else around me too. You are the only one who can restore my soul, who can bring it back to life, to feel passion and compassion in all that I do. You are also the only one to get me through every bit of adversity I am faced with, and to keep me from being moved in the first place. Lord, Lead me and guide me, keep the joy of my salvation overflowing on everyone that crosses my path. Fill me with Your love, joy, mercies and grace, and give rest to my soul as You always do. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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