GOD’S PURPOSES, PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER! PART ONE

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. William Valmyr

 “18 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. 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, 39 nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:18, 37-39, NKJV)

Biblical Answers to Suffering

Before I begin, let me just say that God is not the author of pain, confusion and suffering. Although God may use them for our good; these human quandaries are the result of the Fall of man (see Genesis 3) and too often the consequences of our own sins. Are you enduring pain and suffering caused by people or spiritual warfare? Do not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. In times of affliction, do nothing, say nothing, and write nothing that you would not be willing to embrace the consequences. God never promised that the Christian life would be easy.

The apostle Peter writes, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care [anxieties] upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7, NKJV).  Do not lean on your own understanding but trust in the Lord always. The writer of Hebrews states that “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV). In times of unimaginable suffering, Christ promises to be real and a lasting hope!

Friends, I encourage you to search the Scriptures and learn to trust Him even in the face of doubts. This is the essence of the life of faith and herein lays the power of trusting in God’s unfailing love through His word.  It means becoming doers of God’s Word by applying the principles of Scripture in your area of needs.  God cares about you, He loves and He wants to make you whole. I will continue this teaching tomorrow, in the meantime God bless you in your journey of faith. God’s grace is sufficient for you. I love you and I am praying for you!

 

SOUL CARE: HOLINESS IS NOT AN OPTION BUT AN IMPERATIVE FOR THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST!

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. William Valmyr

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NIV).

A Biblical Definition

Holiness is not just the absence of immoral acts such as fornication, adultery and all kinds of sexual sins; but holiness is the cultivation of purity in the human mind and heart. Holiness is first an on-going internal work of transformation, a godly fear and sensitivity to the presence and voice of the Holy Spirit that is manifested through godly living. Truth be told, God is more interested in our holiness than He is in our happiness.

God’s Picture of Holiness

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8, NKJV). As Christians, we are called to spend our lives seeking to live holy lives rather than seeking happiness in all the wrong places.  Friends, I am afraid that we are out of the will of God, when we neglect God’s admonition to live holy lives by sacrificing our souls at the altar of happiness:

 “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish you blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13—4:1-8; NKJV).

A prayer of Repentance

Beloved, if you do not mind, would you pray this prayer with me? “Dear Heavenly Father , I desire to deal with my own sins, and how often we have grieved your Holy Spirit by our [my own] lack of holiness.  Lord, I pray that we (Your children) would hear and respond to Your plea for purity. Father, I pray that we would move toward Your grace through a heart of repentance. Lord, please forgive me of my sins (impurity, immorality and uncleanness); and please forgive us all for sinning against Your holy character. And Heavenly Father, please strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit so that I may be empowered to possess my own vessel in sanctification and honor to You. I pray this in the matchless name of Jesus Christ!”

Friends, today if you can hear God’s voice, do not harden your heart. I plead with you for the love of Christ, to live a holy life before God and man. God cares for our souls more than our momentary pleasures or anything else in this life. I love you and I am praying for you!

BECOMING A CHAMPION IN CHRIST: BUILDING YOUR INNER STRENGTH!

Copyright © 2012 by William Valmyr

“But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!” (Jude 1:20-21, The Message)

Beloved, it is God’s plan to build you up into a person who is fit for His service. It is God’s desire for live a life that is saturated by His divine will for you. It is God’s will for you to become a spiritual champion in Christ. As you seek to maintain a healthy but steady spiritual life with God, there are some spiritual principles and resources that God has made available for you and I to enjoy. The Scripture tells us that God through "…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:3-4, NKJV)

The Process

So how do I become a Champion in Christ? Much could be said about the process of building our inner strength and of becoming a spiritual champion. Without being very cavalier about the subject, I will use a very well-known quote from one of the world’s greatest athletes. Muhammad Ali (the world’s greatest heavy weight champion in boxing) once said, “Champions are made from something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream, a vision. They have a last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."

The Ultimate Goal

Becoming a spiritual champion in Christ is a process that warrants the grace of God and demands much discipline on our part. As I mentioned early, God has already made all the investment necessary to ensure that you can reach the spiritual goal of becoming of one His spiritual champions. Friends, none of this is possible without developing a life that is built on unwavering commitment to the spiritual disciplines such as Bible study, meditation, prayer, worship and unhindered fellowship with God. God the Father, loves you so much that He has the best in mind for you.  Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd is ready to lead you into the journey of becoming a spiritual champion. And the Holy Spirit is ready to empower you with the grace and fortitude to become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I love you and I am praying for you! God bless you in your spiritual journey!