Please watch the video introduction to my message here:
We all have experienced roadblocks in our life.
Have you had a difficult relationship that makes you hesitant to enter another one? Or an upbringing that taught you not to trust people? Or maybe you fear failure, so you always play it safe.
These examples are only a few of the multitude of emotional roadblocks we have to deal with. How do we grow past them? How do we become strong so that these negative influences do not control us? I hate feeling like a victim, don’t you? I am sure you feel the same way. We want to become a “victor,” which is exactly what Christ wants. We must learn to see life through the truth of scripture. That makes us a victor. The first step towards that is understanding that the love that our Savior has for us is what enables us to conquer. How many soldiers endured such hardness in prison camps because of the love their wives had for them? It’s what kept them alive. How much more should our Savior’s love keep us moving forward!
Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Romans 8:31-32
What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things (that are for our spiritual good, not a new house or a Porsche).
Therefore the real question is, do you believe that God loves you? Without abiding and seeking Him
it will be hard to feel or sense His love, though these verses are absolutely true. I would tape these verses to your bathroom mirror and read them while shaving, putting on your makeup, or brushing your hair. We need to get these truths into us. What does John 3:16 say…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.” It was God’s love for us that sent His son to die on our behalf. How can we not trust Him?
Therefore until we get past this first hurdle that God loves us, roadblocks will continue to appear and set us back.
Once we believe and know His love, we can begin to move forward. The next challenge is also tough, but it is sent to purge us from the values of the world.
Romans 8:30
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy of being compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Therefore instead of self-pity, which is a huge roadblock, this verse teaches us that present-day hardships do not compare to the glory that will be revealed in us. Eternity is a very long time. Too many of us make now our reality without offsetting it with an Eternal perspective. If we start living as sons and daughters of The Lord and put our hope in Him, we will gain the courage and endurance to keep moving forward in this life as victors.
The suffering Paul endured in his life for Christ was a lot. Fox’s Book of Martyrs is a book every serious believer should read at least once. It will give you a profound appreciation for the roots of our faith; what others went through to preserve it. Now it is up to us to pass it on. “Raw Christianity” cares nothing for religious restrictions, observances, or beliefs that cannot be anchored in scripture. It has nothing to do with which church we attend. It has everything to do with submitting to God’s will.
Through the centuries proclaiming Christ has cost believers beatings, imprisonment, and their lives. I wonder, if it became illegal to be a Christian (as is currently being experienced by believers in communist & Muslim countries), what would happen? Would a church of 500 “professing believers” be whittled down to 100, or would it grow to 900? Pray to be counted among the faithful.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
From a Biblical definition, this is the root of what it means to be blessed. Receiving this truth is what makes us a victor regardless of the circumstances. What good is it to have all one can have in this life, reach the top, and find emptiness? This happens to many of the wealthy and famous, so drug abuse and debauchery are prevalent among them. There can be no substitute for experiencing God’s love. No amount of “the good” life can compare.
As believers, our lives should not be entangled with the values of this world. Materialism, status, or anything that is a prize to the world is an impostor and a false substitute for the life our Father wants to give us.
Seriously, how can one improve on having the Holy Spirit of God fill you? This is the very definition of LIFE. Sadly, this might not “float your boat” AS YET, but hopefully, as you mature in your faith and take a few hard knocks from life (unfortunately, that’s how we learn), this statement will bring you comfort and joy as it does me. When too much of the world dwells in us, we are like the seed thrown into the weeds (the parable of the sower that Jesus told).
Matthew 13:7-8
And some (seed) fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, (with the germinated seedlings) and choked them:
But other (seeds) fell into good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
By holding onto the world’s values, we cannot fully appreciate what God is offering. Don’t worry; God knows how to change the human heart. If you truly want to be more Christ-like, then ask Him. Ask Him to give you a love for His Bible which will give you the strength to say no to your flesh and yes to Him, making you an obedient “son or daughter. There’s a great prayer that King David prayed and all serious believers since.
Psalms 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
And then we have God’s promises for sanctification.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and your idols, will I cleanse — you (the purpose of the Cross).
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away — the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh (make this your prayer, Lord you said…).
And I will put — my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in — my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
This is the role of the Holy Spirit. We all experience the need for approval. What better way than to have the Lord stamp His seal on our souls? When God created man, man was fully formed but lay lifeless until the Holy Spirit breathed life into him. This proves that we are spiritual first, then person, then flesh. However, ever since man sinned, our being changed. Our spirit (union with Christ died), our carnal nature ruled, and our person became governed by it. Consequently, we are plagued by such a strong need for purpose and meaning because of God’s absence in our life. By becoming born again, we return back to our created form, but it’s a fight against our carnal nature.
Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (living soul, not being).
Therefore man’s life was originally in the spirit, not in the blood as we are today. Imagine the vacuum in man’s soul when the Holy Spirit departed. God had to recreate man’s life with his blood. It is no wonder why blood and its sacrifice have been such a big deal both in our faith as well as in pagan rituals. For us, it speaks of forgiveness, hence the yearly sacrifice of a spotless lamb for the forgiveness of our sin, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate and final atonement for man. For the pagan faiths, which often involved human sacrifice, it was blasphemy against God’s prize creation or animal sacrifice to idols, demonic deities that ruled over those cultures (e.g., Aztecs, Mayans, or the Incas as recent examples in history.)
After the fall, Adan and Eve, for the first time, saw themselves without God’s glory covering them. They saw their flesh. They were naked. To us being naked is to be without clothes. To them, it was without God’s glory.
Genesis 3:9-10
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And he said, I heard — thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.
**All the insecurities of fear, self-conscience, self-hatred, jealousies, envy, pride, emptiness, hatred, etc., all of the evils that plague man come flooding in because of their disobedience, and when we disobey the Lord, we enter into satan’s realm (1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…”).
We are alive because God breathed His Life into us, and we became a living soul. Forgetting how we were created, do we turn to our carnal appetites to satisfy our spiritual need? We need to think soundly, understanding that our true inward need is still spiritual. We can only be truly satisfied by the Lord. He’s our Maker, and the proof of that is the struggle to find significance apart from Him.
We must return to Him, or if we are Born Again, then enjoy Him by having regular Bible studies. In doing so, every other relationship will, with time and maturity, be prioritized correctly. So, say goodbye to toxic relationships or relationships that use us, and we let them because our inward need is so great. Christ’s love for us will change that, and we will find as we mature, we will have the strength and inward confidence to say no to toxic relationships and yes to the ones God provides. Start to feel good about yourself, in your own skin. This is the goal of our Heavenly Father when we allow Him to love us just as we are.
Psalms 1 (Psalm of David)
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
This is literally a step-by-step “formula” for curing all that ails us. What is good for our souls is also healthy for our bodies. Now, as you read the following verses, ask yourself if Paul and Silas were any less blessed than King David, who wrote Psalm 1. Remember, being blessed is not circumstantial; that’s our definition as human beings. It’s all based on favorable circumstances.
However, as believers in Christ, to be blessed is positional, not circumstantial. As His son or daughter by Grace, nothing could be better. To have God Almighty as our Father and experience His love for us is wonderful. Without trial and problems, which represents the darkness, clouds, and storms in our lives, His guidance would not be appreciated. It’s the contrast between Pharoah at Israel’s back coming with chariots to kill and capture back the Israelites and with the Red Sea in front, trapped. Then through the course of just one night, the Red Sea is parted, providing a way to escape. Paul and Silas experienced this. They had no idea that the Lord would cause an earthquake; they just felt honored to suffer for their Lord.
Acts 16:16-19
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most-high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers (accusing them…)
Acts 16:21-24
And teach customs that are not lawful for us to receive or to observe, being Romans.
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Did Paul and Silas do something wrong? Is this still the blessed life we read of in Psalm 1? Would we feel blessed if we underwent this kind of persecution, or would we think that God had abandoned us? I can almost hear Job’s friends, or maybe some modern-day believers accusing us of doing something wrong or not doing enough good deeds.
Acts 16:25-28
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed (however many were there where they were all free).
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
The jailer would have killed himself, but Paul stopped him; why? With the jailer dead, Paul and Silas could have easily escaped along with the rest of the prisoners. Who are these guys who would sing praises to God amid bleeding and painful wounds, locked in stocks and not escape, when God Himself provided their freedom? Are they delirious from the pain, or is there something we are not seeing? Paul and Silas valued the life of the jailer above their own. What has happened to this caliber of faith? Our culture’s prosperity has taken the heart of our faith from us. Materialism breeds selfishness, where we put ourselves first. What would it be worth if we were to assign a monetary amount to this kind of rock-solid faith? Could it even be calculated?
At times “good fortune” does befall us. We find extra money and say it must be the blessing of the Lord instead of turning it in. And why don’t we? We say, “oh they will just keep it for themselves, so I might as well keep it.” We fail to see that it is not about the money but who the money reveals who we are. Are we living for ourselves or the Lord? If it’s for the Lord, He seeks absolute integrity in all areas of life. We see Paul and Silas being so faithful to the Lord that even in pain they praise Him.
Paul and Silas were hurting from their whippings. Usually when we are in pain, we let everyone around us know it, and if we don’t do that, we are at least grumpy. They were neither, and their concern was not for themselves but for the jailer. Could we endure beatings for Him and then sing because our life is still blessed?
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Does our suffering change the truth of these verses? Our life has seasons, seasons of testing, and seasons of blessings, yet it all serves to make us men or women of God. The manufacturing of tempered steel is the process of extreme heating and cooling, making it stronger. This is required for beams that span bridges or make skyscrapers. The steel must be tempered to withstand the strain it will undergo. As we persevere, steel is being put into our souls. Just as our souls (our structure) undergo life, we are “heated and cooled” (trials and blessings) to the end that we become able and strong. Our structure, unlike the bridge or skyscraper, is Eternal. Our faith brings us closer to Him (which is His goal) and makes us a stronger witness of His Life in us, which should be our goal.
The problem we have is our culture’s mindset toward suffering. If we are struggling, having hassles, in pain, or having problems at work, something must be wrong; we can’t be blessed. Now, if we are being stupid and making poor choices, we are bringing it on ourselves, but if we are living for Christ, then we ARE blessed even though times are tough. We must break away from the American philosophy that says suffering is bad or that we did something wrong. Just like Job’s friends wrongly accused him of sinning because of his suffering. Jesus says…
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We are blessed because suffering is the stamp that the Spirit of God is upon us, working righteousness through suffering. Suffering also causes us to focus more intently on our daily decisions and cast out anything with no eternal value. We are pushed into making the right choices; who will we live for? Will our decisions be based on instant gratification or something more long-term, our flesh or the Kingdom? If we choose wisely, then choosing the Kingdom is a great trade-off; the infinite and its glorious beauty for the finite that will end.
Here are some cool promises:
Deuteronomy 28:9
The LORD shall establish thee a holy people unto himself( this is what God has always wanted), as he hath sworn unto thee if thou shalt keep — the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
Deuteronomy 28:13-14
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearkens unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command — thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
We don’t have gods of wood and stone; no, we are much more sophisticated. Our gods come in money, steel cars, homes, and flesh. The more you walk with Christ, the more you realize how much the values of this life are just illusions. Promises of happiness and contentment are fleeting. Our needs are spiritual and can only be satisfied by Christ. Once you gain your “spiritual sight,” you begin to see the illusion that humanity is under. Something that we may be going through right now may hurt, but if it causes me to see the truth by praying more and searching out promises in God’s Word (like I just shared), then is it really hurting me? It is helping to drive God’s Word deeper inside of me and drive worldly values out of me, giving me my spiritual sight.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and song, (e.g., Paul and Silas), and He has become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation ( in my soul), ….and I will exalt him.
Exodus 15:26
If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for — I am the LORD that healeth thee.
I think it’s time that we take our Christian Faith and our Savior seriously. He makes many promises to us, read Duet. 28.
My favorite passage on trusting God is found in Daniel.
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar ( the world ruler at the time), we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
If it be so, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
I’ve shared this verse before and what I love about their faith is whether God acts on their behalf or not, they will not bow. God is free to do what He will do, but my response to a situation is not based on The Lord saving me or making my life easier; it’s based on the fact that He is worthy of my allegiance. We must become like these young men and like Job. That is why these men saw Christ in the fire, and Job was so praised by God. Their devotion to God was not based on favorable circumstances; the circumstances did not add or take away from their devotion to God. Amen.
1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you?
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Can we become like these men? Not having the Holy Spirit or being born again, their fear and respect of God are amazing.
Amen
Father,
Make us tempered sons and daughters who can bear the weight of life’s trials and hardship and hold Your Glory and display it with humility and praise. Make Your church, your Bride, beautiful and battle ready, I pray.
Amen
Thank you,
Arthur
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