Are your tests more difficult if you are spiritually strong?
Why would God punish those who are strong?
Additional Details
Puffin: Dito, really I do get it.
THE BATTLE AXE: The Head And Not The Tail? (10/21/2013)—All believers are cautioned that suffering is a common experience for those following Christ (see 2nd Timothy 3: 1-12, 1st Peter 4: 12-19 and Titus 2: 11-13, KJV). Even so, believers in Christ are the head, and not the tail. Men may become unfit for sacred service through hardships, indebtedness, the loss of financial stability, and poverty. Similarly, men become unfit to fulfill their divine anointing through avarice, covetousness, gluttony, greediness, stinginess, and wastefulness. Emotional and psychological challenges and obstacles that arise may become permanently implanted totally disrupting the believer’s balance, clarity, discernment, spiritual focus, and peace of mind. A believer, who is visible, is provided with every necessary tool to successfully demonstrate the active presence of unseen Spirit. As priests and kings, believers may serve as stewards and those who must manage money; however, the tool of money is to ensure political and social independence (we say, religious liberty), rather than ease, ostentation, pretension and self-indulgence. More than this, money permits giving and other recognizable material expressions of concern, affection and respect (see Deuteronomy 28: 1-14, Romans 6: 16-22, Philippians 4: 11-13, KJV).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16: 10-15, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: On Testing GOD (06/20/2013); GOD Grants License? (06/21/2013); The Spirit is Willing (10/20/2012); Spirit Matter (10/21/2012); Blessings, Curses and Woes (10/03/2012); After We Die? (10/04/2012); Struggling? (05/11/2012); Through Much Tribulation (05/12/2012)
“Mysterious”, your question calls forth a full blown book, however, here are a few points many Christian believers will find useful:
Tests (we say, temptation) are not punishments. Correctly understood, tests are (1) assessments to clarify and show us our needs, and the genuine level of our commitment as well as to further draw created beings and living creatures to GOD, (2) demonstrations and displays of divine power from the spirit content that resides in those serving as agents of GOD, (3) events to reveal divine anointing and sacred presence, and (4) trials wherein a person must exercise spirit lessons, powers, and skills in order to fully internalize them, and make them continuous and permanent aspects in their living.
As with final judgment, temptations to examine and edify believers are not focused only upon such features as attitudes, behavior, conduct, endurance, patience, and stamina so much as upon their spirit substance. Strength of spirit is paramount in place of force, physical prowess, and vigor. Inseparable aspects of divine person should appear such as faith, forbearance, forgiveness, gratitude, holiness, joy, longsuffering, righteousness, truthfulness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, many times the tests a believer endures are a source for their growth and strength that otherwise would not come into their experience. They acquire insights, skills, and understandings that fit them for greater accomplishments, and for higher levels of ministry to others. The test is needed to make them strong.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Grow in grace
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment