Read: 1 Samuel 30
In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men, having been rejected in their bid to fight with Achish for the Philistines, return to Ziklag. Upon arrival they discover the city has been taken by the Amalekites and burned. Their wives and children had been taken captive and all of their possessions looted. In verse 4, the Bible says they lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep.
It didn’t take long for their grief to become rage. They became angry, not at the Amalekites, but at David their leader, and even began to speak of stoning him. In verse 6, we see that David was greatly distressed by the attitude of the people toward him, and by their grief for their lost loved ones.
But verse 6 also shows us why David was a leader. Facing the same grief they did, and more, David turned to the Lord. He sought comfort from God, encouraging himself in the one who had always preserved and protected him. He then sought the Lord’s will concerning the next step. God instructed David to follow after the Amalekites and recover the lost family members and goods. David did so, and God blessed, enabling them to snatch victory from the jaws of an apparently crushing defeat.
No matter your station, there is a lesson to be learned. God allows trials and difficulties into our lives not to destroy us, but to strengthen us. David faced difficulties from without and within, yet he did not abandon himself to despair. He turned to the only true source of strength, comfort and wisdom. As a result, David learned again his dependence on God, a dependence that would serve him well as King of Israel.
For everyone, troubles, trials, burdens and problems are part of life. For the Christian, they are like huge neon signs flashing out a single message, “PRAY, PRAY, PRAY”.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
In Flaming Fire
March 11
Read: 2 Thessalonians 1
The church at Thessalonica was a persecuted church. This is clear from in verses 4-6 where the church is described as enduring persecutions and tribulations, suffering, and troubled. The exact source of the trouble is not described, but clearly all was not well in Mudville (or Thessalonica).
Paul chooses to comfort the church by reminding them God would ultimately bring those who troubled them to an accounting. He says, “It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.” He then tells them of when the final judgement will occur, saying in verses 7-9:
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
The Thessalonian believers are to draw comfort and patience from the knowledge that God will judge their persecutors. And what a judgement! Jesus will come with His angels in flaming fire to judge those that do not know God and have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are to be banished from the Lord’s presence and glory into a place of eternal destruction.
Jesus also mentioned this place while he ministered on earth. In fact, he mentioned it many times. In Mark 9 he referred to a place called hell, where “the fire is not quenched.” Matthew 25:41 tells of a place described as “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” The parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16 tells that the rich man “died, and was buried, and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.”
Paul intended for the Thessalonian believers to draw comfort from the fact God was going to judge their tormentors by sentencing them to hell. Hell and its punishment are facts, facts that not only comfort but send terror into our hearts as well. Did you notice who was destined for hell? It is a place for those who “know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Anyone who has not come to Christ in repentance and faith, who has not trusted him for forgiveness of sins, is going to spend eternity in the fires of hell.
Christian friend, do you know anyone who is destined for hell? Of course you do. And you hold the key that can unlock the door to heaven. The precious story of the sinless life, substitutionary death, atoning blood, and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation, and you have it, and they will go to hell without it. C’mon, folks, let’s share.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
Read: 2 Thessalonians 1
The church at Thessalonica was a persecuted church. This is clear from in verses 4-6 where the church is described as enduring persecutions and tribulations, suffering, and troubled. The exact source of the trouble is not described, but clearly all was not well in Mudville (or Thessalonica).
Paul chooses to comfort the church by reminding them God would ultimately bring those who troubled them to an accounting. He says, “It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.” He then tells them of when the final judgement will occur, saying in verses 7-9:
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
The Thessalonian believers are to draw comfort and patience from the knowledge that God will judge their persecutors. And what a judgement! Jesus will come with His angels in flaming fire to judge those that do not know God and have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are to be banished from the Lord’s presence and glory into a place of eternal destruction.
Jesus also mentioned this place while he ministered on earth. In fact, he mentioned it many times. In Mark 9 he referred to a place called hell, where “the fire is not quenched.” Matthew 25:41 tells of a place described as “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” The parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16 tells that the rich man “died, and was buried, and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.”
Paul intended for the Thessalonian believers to draw comfort from the fact God was going to judge their tormentors by sentencing them to hell. Hell and its punishment are facts, facts that not only comfort but send terror into our hearts as well. Did you notice who was destined for hell? It is a place for those who “know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Anyone who has not come to Christ in repentance and faith, who has not trusted him for forgiveness of sins, is going to spend eternity in the fires of hell.
Christian friend, do you know anyone who is destined for hell? Of course you do. And you hold the key that can unlock the door to heaven. The precious story of the sinless life, substitutionary death, atoning blood, and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation, and you have it, and they will go to hell without it. C’mon, folks, let’s share.
Just a servant,
Bro. Tom
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