When a submarine is about to come under a depth charge attack, or is about to ram a surface ship, the crew is advised to brace for the impending impact.
Advancing disciples must take steps to be prepared for the trauma and impact associated with spiritual combat.
Suffering for good (1) is an ongoing part of discipleship. At times disciples will suffer for doing good (2).
At other times disciples will suffer for doing bad (3).
Yet, suffering for good is one of the reasons (4) that many who claim to be followers of Christ, avoid or abandon the spiritual battlefield, and become unfit (for service) in the Kingdom of God (5).
As painful as it may be, spiritual warriors consider suffering for good to be an honor and a privilege (6), having been called (7) to suffer for the name (cause) of Christ.
In this presentation, we are going to take a look at the self-induced and avoidable misery, suffering, and adversity that God will send or allow to take place in the life of a born-again believer, disciple, and or ambassador.
Not all born-again believers embrace or remain in discipleship. Not all disciples are all that thrilled about where God desires that they function as His ambassador; be it at home, work, play, or mission field.
Jonah found himself being thrown overboard into a raging sea for having run away from an assignment (8) that God had given him to do.
Jonah didn’t want the job.
Instead of doing what God wants them to do (at home, work, school, or play), believers will often come up with an alternative, less confrontational, area of service. Going somewhere else or doing some other good deed does not get the job done that God has given us to do.
The purpose of discipline is to motivate one to take corrective action.
When sin is the issue at hand, the corrective action begins with a 1John 1: 9 confession to God. This confession is a matter of acknowledging having done, or having failed to do, something that was either required or prohibited by the Word of God. The corrective action is completed by the John 8: 11 forsaking of the confessed sin from that point forward.
If one chooses not to respond to God’s call to repentance (change of mind and actions) long enough, there can come a time when one can no longer hear the voice of God, and are even annoyed by the spokespersons (pastors, parents, fellow believers, etc.) that God sends to speak to us.
God’s inaudible voice is communicated through the Spirit that indwells (9) born-again believers, and the audible voices of His human, and sometimes angelic (10), spokespersons.
When we have said NO for the last time, God turns the unrepentant individual over (11) to reap the consequences of his or her negative decisions.
One never knows when his or last opportunity to say YES to either the Gospel Message or the call to the post salvation life of discipleship has been, or may be. For this reason, we are given the Heb. 3: 15 warning:
"… TODAY if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me (Heb. 3: 15 NASB)."
One can become more or less religious at any time he or she decides to, but can only become spiritual (born-again/baptized/regenerated/edified, etc.) through the pre-salvation and post salvation ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
The devil will tolerate one becoming religious, knowing what the end result will be.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the (12) will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I NEVER knew you; DEPART from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matt. 7: 21, 23 NASB parenthesis mine).”
It’s when one desires to become spiritual, or to advance in the post salvation spiritual life, that one will draw enemy fire.
For the unbelievers, failing to repent (change his/her mind) about the Gospel Message, means spending eternity future in the lake of fire (13).
For the back-sliding, born again believer, failing to repent (change his or her mind) about embracing the post salvation spiritual life, means spending eternity future in Heaven (14), but without a 1Cor. 3: 14, 15 reward or the Revelation 2 and 3 privileges in store for advancing disciples.
As long as we have the things of this world around to distract us, eternal matters can easily be put back on the rear burner. But the second we die, and leave all such things behind, the matters of eternity are all that there is going to be! Then, it will be too late to make any changes.
We may think that we, or someone else, is or was a good person, and deserving of Heaven. God says otherwise.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2: 8, 9 NASB).”
1John 1: 9 confessions (to God) of one’s present sin, followed up by the John 8: 11 forsaking of the same sin in the future, is required is one is to reach and maintain a higher level of spiritual maturity. This is what glorified God.
There are no rest areas along the road to spiritual maturity. One is either moving forward or sliding backwards at any given time.
Most of us are familiar with the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, but how many of us can cite the more than 300 ways that one can sin that are recorded in New Testament Scripture?
We are clearly living in a world in which good is being called evil, and in which evil is being called good.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil… (Isa.5: 20 NASB).”
Confessing, but then not forsaking the same sin, will result in one spending much of one’s post salvation spiritual life in a revolving doorway, going around and around, in and out of fellowship with God, and not moving forward along the road to spiritual maturity.
We do not serve God in order to be rewarded, but God has made it clear that He intends to reward and privilege (in Heaven) those who pick up the cross and follow Him (15), while here on Earth.
A born-again believer picks up the cross by embracing the post salvation life of discipleship.
The post salvation life of discipleship begins with the study and application of the Word of God for the development and sustaining of one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
Suffering for blessing and suffering for discipline will be a reoccurring experience of an advancing disciple. The more light we shine into a darkened soul and world, the more suffering for good we WILL encounter in response. The more that we are in need of corrective action, the more suffering for discipline we WILL experience.
Don’t mistake God’s mercy during the lull before the storm for a license to sin. The fool will say, “Nothing has happened.” The wise man will say, “Nothing has happened, yet.”
Furthermore, one will never know what blessings he or she has already denied himself or herself by the choices he or she has made.
In God’s timing, be it in time here on Earth, or in eternity after we depart, each one of us WILL reap the blessings or the consequences of the good or bad seeds (choices) that we have sown (made).
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he WILL also reap (Gal. 6: 7).”
It is important to conduct 2Cor. 5: 13 SELF examinations to determine if the suffering and or adversity that we experience is for our correction or eventual blessing.
Instead of asking why, ask God for what reason He has either sent or allowed the suffering or adversity to come to us.
I can tell you from personal experience, had it not been for the suffering and adversity that I have encountered, I would not be where I am today in my personal walk with the Lord.
Most of the suffering and adversity has been of the self-induced variety.
We prepare for impact by putting on and mastering the use of the spiritual armor of Eph. 6.
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6: 13-17 NASB).”
(1)\t1Pet. 3: 14, 17 (2) 2Tim. 3: 12 (3) Heb. 12: 6 (4) Mark 4: 17 (5) Luke 9: 62 (6) Acts 5: 41 (7) 1Pet. 2: 21 (8) Jonah 1: 2 (9) 1Cor. 3: 16 (10) Luke 1: 19/Heb. 13: 10 (11) Romans 1: 28 (12) John 6: 40 (13) Rev. 20: 15 (14) Rom. 8: 1 (15) Matt. 16: 24
Advancing disciples must take steps to be prepared for the trauma and impact associated with spiritual combat.
Suffering for good (1) is an ongoing part of discipleship. At times disciples will suffer for doing good (2).
At other times disciples will suffer for doing bad (3).
Yet, suffering for good is one of the reasons (4) that many who claim to be followers of Christ, avoid or abandon the spiritual battlefield, and become unfit (for service) in the Kingdom of God (5).
As painful as it may be, spiritual warriors consider suffering for good to be an honor and a privilege (6), having been called (7) to suffer for the name (cause) of Christ.
In this presentation, we are going to take a look at the self-induced and avoidable misery, suffering, and adversity that God will send or allow to take place in the life of a born-again believer, disciple, and or ambassador.
Not all born-again believers embrace or remain in discipleship. Not all disciples are all that thrilled about where God desires that they function as His ambassador; be it at home, work, play, or mission field.
Jonah found himself being thrown overboard into a raging sea for having run away from an assignment (8) that God had given him to do.
Jonah didn’t want the job.
Instead of doing what God wants them to do (at home, work, school, or play), believers will often come up with an alternative, less confrontational, area of service. Going somewhere else or doing some other good deed does not get the job done that God has given us to do.
The purpose of discipline is to motivate one to take corrective action.
When sin is the issue at hand, the corrective action begins with a 1John 1: 9 confession to God. This confession is a matter of acknowledging having done, or having failed to do, something that was either required or prohibited by the Word of God. The corrective action is completed by the John 8: 11 forsaking of the confessed sin from that point forward.
If one chooses not to respond to God’s call to repentance (change of mind and actions) long enough, there can come a time when one can no longer hear the voice of God, and are even annoyed by the spokespersons (pastors, parents, fellow believers, etc.) that God sends to speak to us.
God’s inaudible voice is communicated through the Spirit that indwells (9) born-again believers, and the audible voices of His human, and sometimes angelic (10), spokespersons.
When we have said NO for the last time, God turns the unrepentant individual over (11) to reap the consequences of his or her negative decisions.
One never knows when his or last opportunity to say YES to either the Gospel Message or the call to the post salvation life of discipleship has been, or may be. For this reason, we are given the Heb. 3: 15 warning:
"… TODAY if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me (Heb. 3: 15 NASB)."
One can become more or less religious at any time he or she decides to, but can only become spiritual (born-again/baptized/regenerated/edified, etc.) through the pre-salvation and post salvation ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
The devil will tolerate one becoming religious, knowing what the end result will be.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the (12) will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I NEVER knew you; DEPART from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matt. 7: 21, 23 NASB parenthesis mine).”
It’s when one desires to become spiritual, or to advance in the post salvation spiritual life, that one will draw enemy fire.
For the unbelievers, failing to repent (change his/her mind) about the Gospel Message, means spending eternity future in the lake of fire (13).
For the back-sliding, born again believer, failing to repent (change his or her mind) about embracing the post salvation spiritual life, means spending eternity future in Heaven (14), but without a 1Cor. 3: 14, 15 reward or the Revelation 2 and 3 privileges in store for advancing disciples.
As long as we have the things of this world around to distract us, eternal matters can easily be put back on the rear burner. But the second we die, and leave all such things behind, the matters of eternity are all that there is going to be! Then, it will be too late to make any changes.
We may think that we, or someone else, is or was a good person, and deserving of Heaven. God says otherwise.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2: 8, 9 NASB).”
1John 1: 9 confessions (to God) of one’s present sin, followed up by the John 8: 11 forsaking of the same sin in the future, is required is one is to reach and maintain a higher level of spiritual maturity. This is what glorified God.
There are no rest areas along the road to spiritual maturity. One is either moving forward or sliding backwards at any given time.
Most of us are familiar with the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, but how many of us can cite the more than 300 ways that one can sin that are recorded in New Testament Scripture?
We are clearly living in a world in which good is being called evil, and in which evil is being called good.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil… (Isa.5: 20 NASB).”
Confessing, but then not forsaking the same sin, will result in one spending much of one’s post salvation spiritual life in a revolving doorway, going around and around, in and out of fellowship with God, and not moving forward along the road to spiritual maturity.
We do not serve God in order to be rewarded, but God has made it clear that He intends to reward and privilege (in Heaven) those who pick up the cross and follow Him (15), while here on Earth.
A born-again believer picks up the cross by embracing the post salvation life of discipleship.
The post salvation life of discipleship begins with the study and application of the Word of God for the development and sustaining of one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
Suffering for blessing and suffering for discipline will be a reoccurring experience of an advancing disciple. The more light we shine into a darkened soul and world, the more suffering for good we WILL encounter in response. The more that we are in need of corrective action, the more suffering for discipline we WILL experience.
Don’t mistake God’s mercy during the lull before the storm for a license to sin. The fool will say, “Nothing has happened.” The wise man will say, “Nothing has happened, yet.”
Furthermore, one will never know what blessings he or she has already denied himself or herself by the choices he or she has made.
In God’s timing, be it in time here on Earth, or in eternity after we depart, each one of us WILL reap the blessings or the consequences of the good or bad seeds (choices) that we have sown (made).
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he WILL also reap (Gal. 6: 7).”
It is important to conduct 2Cor. 5: 13 SELF examinations to determine if the suffering and or adversity that we experience is for our correction or eventual blessing.
Instead of asking why, ask God for what reason He has either sent or allowed the suffering or adversity to come to us.
I can tell you from personal experience, had it not been for the suffering and adversity that I have encountered, I would not be where I am today in my personal walk with the Lord.
Most of the suffering and adversity has been of the self-induced variety.
We prepare for impact by putting on and mastering the use of the spiritual armor of Eph. 6.
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6: 13-17 NASB).”
(1)\t1Pet. 3: 14, 17 (2) 2Tim. 3: 12 (3) Heb. 12: 6 (4) Mark 4: 17 (5) Luke 9: 62 (6) Acts 5: 41 (7) 1Pet. 2: 21 (8) Jonah 1: 2 (9) 1Cor. 3: 16 (10) Luke 1: 19/Heb. 13: 10 (11) Romans 1: 28 (12) John 6: 40 (13) Rev. 20: 15 (14) Rom. 8: 1 (15) Matt. 16: 24