06 / 28 / 08
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Have you ever heard the saying:

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?

Well, some of you may agree with me in saying that God must love the lemonade I make, because He seems to be giving some of us an awful lot of lemons in this life!

So, what is your struggle in life? Is it me, or does it seem that the more we follow in the footsteps of the Master, the more suffering, hardships, and lemons we seem to encounter? To many, it doesn’t make sense. There are even churches which teach that “to know God means blessings” (They then claim that blessings are wealth, health and a life of ease). What is the truth? We are told that men will surround themselves with what their flesh wants to hear in 2 Timothy 4:3 … “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”.

Let us examine some of these doctrines which people’s itching ears want to hear:

- “IF we are truly saved and have enough faith, God shows His delight by giving us wealth and financial success” This false teaching has been around even since New Testament times. Paul even wrote to Timothy about such preachers: “… who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6:5) Our flesh does not like living week to week on a limited paycheck. Our flesh does not like the financial stress we are under. We look at those worshipping in those mega-churches where the Pastor has it all together (it seems) and that is what our flesh loves and craves. The fact is, wealth is one of the desires of this world. I mean, we can’t take it with us when we die, can we? Many will even twist a verse to satisfy this craving. The fact is, it is usually the pursuit of money that takes us away from both God and family. (Many will try to make up this lost time in their pursuit for wealth by going on a great vacation week with the family or that hour on Sunday for God). I am here to tell you, if you are suffering financially and love and serve God, do not consider yourself cursed if you are not like those who may be prospering. “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed– and men praise you when you prosper” (Psalm 49:16-19).

- “IF we are truly saved and have enough faith, and are “full of the Spirit”, we should be totally healthy and without pain.” Do not get me wrong, God DOES heal and God DOES protect (as well as allow us to have money for His purposes), but He also allows His children to suffer in the flesh. (We need look no further than the Master Himself, as well as those who followed Him). So, to have a doctrine that says that a person must not be pleasing God or does not have the “fullness of the Spirit” if he or she is in pain or suffering … is, itself, painful to hear! What a lie and a deceiving doctrine of demons! To those suffering in the flesh while trusting in God for their salvation and imitating His Son’s Love for both man AND God … Keep up the fight and do not be deceived! (You are in good company)

1.) Can you imagine being the man in the following verse? Blind all his life and considered as being punished by God all this life. In actuality, though, God made Him blind for HIS purpose!! John 9:1-3 … “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Yeshua (Jesus), ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’” Did you see that? They thought that the man’s blindness was due to sin. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want friends like that!
2.) Psalm 119:71 … “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” We have to admit, it is when we suffer or go without that we TRULY seek what pleases the Lord. No doubt, our sufferings are used to bring us closer to God and to submit to His authority. It is NOT up to us to judge anyone else’s sufferings … let them figure it out, and do not accuse them of not pleasing God.
3.) Even our Savior was considered to have been stricken by His Father and smitten by Him. “Surely, God would not allow such discomfort … or would He?” “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.”. (Isaiah 53:3-4)

Just like the blind man’s accuser, many people are apt to judge and accuse others: “Oh, did you hear about John? He just had an accident and ruined his brand new car. Funny, it happened the day after he skipped church to go to that party – well, God is just!” Flee from such false doctrines of demons! None of us need friends like that, either. Here is a note of comfort to those who have accidents and mishaps in life … you, too, are in good company!!

1.) Job had just lost all his wealth and chastised His wife for thinking that God was punishing him, “He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10)
2.) We need look no farther than Paul, himself. He was obedient to God and STILL had difficulties (I am not talking about being put in jail for Christ or stoning for Christ … but accidents): 2 Corinthians 11:25-27 … “… three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (I don’t think that Paul would agree with the above false doctrines!)

Can you see these false doctrines have developed out of our desire to satisfy the flesh? Because of these false doctrines, I have heard people who have come to know the Lord cry out, “WHY LORD?” because they were going through sufferings or hardships of the flesh. “WHY Lord? Why am I being punished for following you? I have been practicing to love like your Son did. I am practicing to obey like your Son, but my life seems to have better before I gave it to you.” Can you see the deception? The question for all of us is: Are we following the Lord with all our heart in order to gain in the flesh? We must not look upon our flesh to see if God is pleased, or that we are “full of the Spirit”. Instead, do we have the fruit of the Spirit (wealth, health and a life of ease is NOT listed among the fruit!). We must surround ourselves with people who will bring us comfort, not judge our pain, and keep us focused on the sanctification that comes through faith in the Son of God.

“Psssst. Hey! Look at John over there. He must be a Christian, for I saw him come forth at a rally accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. See how he is wealthy and living at ease, now? Look at him. Surely you must want a life like his, right? Well, then follow God like he does.” DO NOT BE DECIEVED!! Satan is enticing our flesh! People are not saved by saying mere words. We must stay focused and keep reminding ourselves of the truth. We must not look back to what our flesh HAD, but what our soul gains. Otherwise, we are not fit for the kingdom of God as Luke 9:62 tells us, “Yeshua (Jesus) replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’”. Don’t look back. Your flesh desires the life you once had when it was a slave to sin. Endure the hardships and surround yourself with people who keep you focused and can remind you of the prize to come. Just like a soldier who enlists in the armed forces and has counted the cost of losing his old lifestyle, so too a child of God. By serving the King in HIS army, we give up the rights of our flesh … we cannot forget this. We do NOT follow God in order to gain in our flesh! The suffering we accepted is the hardship that 2 Timothy 2:3-4 claims, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer.” A true worshipper has counted the cost of serving God. The cost? His or her life. What more can we give God than our lives? We can’t give Him wealth (enough donations) or enough missionary work (Our time) to pay Him back for His grace. This is why He tells us the cost: “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33) People do not like this kind of teaching and it is this teaching that many will flee from because their flesh is in control. We must ask ourselves, are we pleasing our flesh or God? .

Below are verses of encouragement for those who are suffering in their flesh. Take comfort, for you are not alone. We need only look at those who came before us! They all had the same complaint … “Why do I go through what the wicked are supposed to go through?”

“You are always righteous, O YHVH, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” (Jeremiah 12:1)

“Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? … They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.” (Job 21:7 and 13)

“In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness … There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 7:15 and 8:14)

“But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape. Then those who feared YHVH talked with each other (like we are doing now), and YHVH listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written (He will not forget) in his presence concerning those who feared YHVH and honored his name. ‘They will be mine,’ says YHVH Almighty, ‘in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.’” (Malachi 3:15-18)

Talk about faith! No, soldier, this is not about this world but the one that we are fighting for … then next: “Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they may gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was NOT worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. They were ALL commended for their faith.” (Hebrews 11:35-39)

“Rather, as SERVANTS of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger … (2 Corinthians 6:4-5)

LAST THOUGHTS:

Wow, I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling better about my hardships in the flesh after reading those last two passages. How about you, are you feeling any better? Let us continue to persevere through the power of His Holy Spirit living in us. Let us rely on His strength to get us through each trial; each suffering. Let us also learn from them. In ALL situations we must rejoice, though, for we know He is using these things to train us up to be faithful and obedient and to shine forth His joy to a dying world! A world that may soon be shaken to its foundations and need someone to turn to for an answer. Rejoice in the Lord greatly and allow others to see your weakness turned around by God’s strength! HE has promised that He will “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Just something to think about as this flesh struggles to accept its loss of control! I still don’t like lemonade, but I am getting used to it!