In two of our previous posts, we talked about the fact that righteous can suffers affliction just for the sake of the kingdom and also for confirmation of His integrity before both God and Satan.
http://selfsameglobal.blogspot.com/2018/01/affliction-two-way-confirmation-of.html
and http://selfsameglobal.blogspot.com.ng/2018/01/affliction-of-righteous.html
We shall be studying about the trouble that the righteous encountered as a result of disobedience unto God. A believer is no longer in charge of his life decisions. The moment we are declared dead to sin and awakened to righteousness by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, we turned to servants of righteousness. Our waymaker; compass for the journey, the Holy Spirit will take over; leading us through to heaven.
It become major error for Christian to assume control by dictating to God whatever he preferred above doing the will of God. This action was made equal to witchcraft practice. When God see Christian that manipulate, distort or outrightly disobeyed instructions, he is seen as a witch of which the scripture says, such should not live. The instructions we are bound to follow may be so unconventional, not convenient and demanding such that even those who are established in faith may sometimes be in webs of disobedience. The development of young converts is usually characterized with struggle of self will against God's. Choice of our own ways rather than following the direction of success by the Holy Spirit. Affliction are allowed at such time to teach Christian the obedience of Christ. The moment we eventually yield to total control by the Spirit of God, the trouble shall seize and blessings of obedience will become evidence.
The Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai: “Nineveh is a big city. I have heard about the many evil things the people are doing there. So go there and tell them to stop doing such evil things.” But Jonah tried to run away from the Lord. He went to Joppa and found a boat that was going to the faraway city of Tarshish. Jonah paid money for the trip and went on the boat. He wanted to travel with the people on this boat to Tarshish and run away from the Lord. Then the men said to Jonah, “It is your fault that this terrible thing is happening to us. Tell us, what have you done? What is your job? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?” Jonah said to the men, “I know I did wrong—that is why the storm came on the sea. So throw me into the sea, and the sea will become calm.”
Jonah 1:1-3, 8, 12 ERV.
The account of Jonah according to scripture portrayed a righteous man who used every possible means to avoid specific assignment given by God. He knew God will show mercy on the people of the land against his personal desire. He created new path for himself. For every child of God who choose wrong part out of disobedience, the weapon designed for their restoration is affliction. He that the Lord loves will always be fortunate for divine chastisement. Continuous prosperity contrary to the purpose of God is an evidence of backsliding and rejection by God. The complexity of this situation is that people around you may also be endangered by your action. The solution is simply to turn back to God.
While Jonah was in the stomach of the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God. He said, “I was in very bad trouble. I called to the Lord for help, and he answered me. I was deep in the grave. I cried to you, and you heard my voice. “You threw me into the sea. Your powerful waves splashed over me. I went down, down into the deep sea. The water was all around me. Then I thought, ‘Now I must go where you cannot see me,’ but I continued looking to your holy Temple for help. “The seawater closed over me. The water covered my mouth, and I could not breathe. I went down, down into the deep sea. Seaweed wrapped around my head. I was at the bottom of the sea, the place where the mountains begin. I thought I was locked in this prison forever, but the Lord my God took me out of my grave. God, you gave me life again! “My soul gave up all hope, but then I remembered the Lord. I prayed to you, and you heard my prayers in your holy Temple.
Jonah 2:1-7 ERV
The moment God handled Jonah, he was trained for obedience by affliction. Abraham was delayed from attaining fullness because of partial obedience. He struggled with the pain of denied promise until Lot was separated from him. Deuteronomy chapter 28 explain in detail the blessedness of obedience and equally the suffering of disobedience. Isreal became partaker of all Egypt curses whenever they defiled God's injunctions. In same manner Christian provoked curses whenever we defile God. There are so many ways desires of the flesh had led to separation from God. The narrow part seems too narrow to contain our ambition, wealth and fame. Thus many have wilfully forsake the Lord. But mercy of God to some manifest in pruning that may be painful.
The wisdom about affliction is for a Christian to check what exactly caused the trouble. May be disobedience to heavenly vision or calling of God, it may be for kingdom sake or confirmation of righteousness. In all, remember they are for a short season. The end result is usually a far weigh of Glory. For disobedience, repentance and turning back to God is not negotiable. Praising God through it all is the key to unlock the chains of affliction to secure freedom.
http://selfsameglobal.blogspot.com/2018/01/affliction-two-way-confirmation-of.html
and http://selfsameglobal.blogspot.com.ng/2018/01/affliction-of-righteous.html
We shall be studying about the trouble that the righteous encountered as a result of disobedience unto God. A believer is no longer in charge of his life decisions. The moment we are declared dead to sin and awakened to righteousness by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, we turned to servants of righteousness. Our waymaker; compass for the journey, the Holy Spirit will take over; leading us through to heaven.
It become major error for Christian to assume control by dictating to God whatever he preferred above doing the will of God. This action was made equal to witchcraft practice. When God see Christian that manipulate, distort or outrightly disobeyed instructions, he is seen as a witch of which the scripture says, such should not live. The instructions we are bound to follow may be so unconventional, not convenient and demanding such that even those who are established in faith may sometimes be in webs of disobedience. The development of young converts is usually characterized with struggle of self will against God's. Choice of our own ways rather than following the direction of success by the Holy Spirit. Affliction are allowed at such time to teach Christian the obedience of Christ. The moment we eventually yield to total control by the Spirit of God, the trouble shall seize and blessings of obedience will become evidence.
The Lord spoke to Jonah son of Amittai: “Nineveh is a big city. I have heard about the many evil things the people are doing there. So go there and tell them to stop doing such evil things.” But Jonah tried to run away from the Lord. He went to Joppa and found a boat that was going to the faraway city of Tarshish. Jonah paid money for the trip and went on the boat. He wanted to travel with the people on this boat to Tarshish and run away from the Lord. Then the men said to Jonah, “It is your fault that this terrible thing is happening to us. Tell us, what have you done? What is your job? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?” Jonah said to the men, “I know I did wrong—that is why the storm came on the sea. So throw me into the sea, and the sea will become calm.”
Jonah 1:1-3, 8, 12 ERV.
The account of Jonah according to scripture portrayed a righteous man who used every possible means to avoid specific assignment given by God. He knew God will show mercy on the people of the land against his personal desire. He created new path for himself. For every child of God who choose wrong part out of disobedience, the weapon designed for their restoration is affliction. He that the Lord loves will always be fortunate for divine chastisement. Continuous prosperity contrary to the purpose of God is an evidence of backsliding and rejection by God. The complexity of this situation is that people around you may also be endangered by your action. The solution is simply to turn back to God.
While Jonah was in the stomach of the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God. He said, “I was in very bad trouble. I called to the Lord for help, and he answered me. I was deep in the grave. I cried to you, and you heard my voice. “You threw me into the sea. Your powerful waves splashed over me. I went down, down into the deep sea. The water was all around me. Then I thought, ‘Now I must go where you cannot see me,’ but I continued looking to your holy Temple for help. “The seawater closed over me. The water covered my mouth, and I could not breathe. I went down, down into the deep sea. Seaweed wrapped around my head. I was at the bottom of the sea, the place where the mountains begin. I thought I was locked in this prison forever, but the Lord my God took me out of my grave. God, you gave me life again! “My soul gave up all hope, but then I remembered the Lord. I prayed to you, and you heard my prayers in your holy Temple.
Jonah 2:1-7 ERV
The moment God handled Jonah, he was trained for obedience by affliction. Abraham was delayed from attaining fullness because of partial obedience. He struggled with the pain of denied promise until Lot was separated from him. Deuteronomy chapter 28 explain in detail the blessedness of obedience and equally the suffering of disobedience. Isreal became partaker of all Egypt curses whenever they defiled God's injunctions. In same manner Christian provoked curses whenever we defile God. There are so many ways desires of the flesh had led to separation from God. The narrow part seems too narrow to contain our ambition, wealth and fame. Thus many have wilfully forsake the Lord. But mercy of God to some manifest in pruning that may be painful.
The wisdom about affliction is for a Christian to check what exactly caused the trouble. May be disobedience to heavenly vision or calling of God, it may be for kingdom sake or confirmation of righteousness. In all, remember they are for a short season. The end result is usually a far weigh of Glory. For disobedience, repentance and turning back to God is not negotiable. Praising God through it all is the key to unlock the chains of affliction to secure freedom.
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