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Post by John on Jul 19, 2022 18:48:31 GMT -5
One of the biggest mistakes we can make in this life is to judge a man or woman's righteousness by how many troubles they have. It is easy to look at a brother or sister that is sick and think within us that it is chastisement because of secret sin. It is easy to see a man or woman with financial problems or that even may die early and think they must be some terrible sinner, because God will not let his servants ever endure hardships without a reason. That is how Job's friends looked at him. They assumed that when he was enduring terrible hardships, beyond what most have ever known, it was God judging him for secret sins. It never dawned on them that it was his righteous lifestyle that got Satan's attention to where he was determined to get him to fall.
The Bible says of Job in Job 1:1 "THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." That is quite a testimony, and as most would think, Job had been very blessed, until one fateful day when the devil came to prove to God that Job was only serving Him because he was so blessed. If he lost everything, Job would curse God and turn from him." Thus, a sort of fight for Job's soul began.
Satan took just about everything Job had. He took Job's possessions, killed his children, and took Job's health to where Job's whole body was covered in sores. It got so bad, his own wife suggested Job just curse God and die, which many believe means commit suicide. Job would have none of that. Job responded to his wife by saying in Job 2:10, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."
When it was all said and done, we know that God blesses Job's latter end more than his beginning because he never turned his back on God, and I have no doubt that Job has been dwelling in the joys of the LORD for thousands of years. If you are going through hardships, or know someone who is, do not assume the worst. It may just be that they are walking so close to God, the devil is seeking their destruction. Yes, God does chastise his children when they sin, but I feel like that when that is happening, we know in our heart that we are not where we should be. Job knew he had been living upright before God. Let's be careful when it comes to judging others based solely on circumstances, as it can become sin to us, as it was to what Job called his miserable comforters.
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Post by watchful on Jul 20, 2022 6:18:21 GMT -5
Sanctification is an ongoing work in our hearts, even though sin is not imputed to us. The heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it. We've had the bath, but still need to have our feet washed periodically or maybe regularly would be more to the point. Jesus said in this world we would have tribulation, but fear not because He has overcome the world. He chastises who He loves as sons and if we are without chastisement we are not His children. Even our fruitful branches are pruned so that they will be more fruitful.
Under the Law.....sickness, disease, demonic oppression, financial woes, etc, were all considered to be curses as a result of sins......when Jesus came and began healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and casting out demons etc, it was to the old covenant Jews a sign and ministry of God's forgiveness. Or maybe more accurate to say a nullifying of the Law, it's ordinances and curses. Sin is not imputed where there is no Law, and we are not under Law.
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Post by John on Jul 20, 2022 8:09:28 GMT -5
Sanctification is an ongoing work in our hearts, even though sin is not imputed to us. The heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it. We've had the bath, but still need to have our feet washed periodically or maybe regularly would be more to the point. Jesus said in this world we would have tribulation, but fear not because He has overcome the world. He chastises who He loves as sons and if we are without chastisement we are not His children. Even our fruitful branches are pruned so that they will be more fruitful. Under the Law.....sickness, disease, demonic oppression, financial woes, etc, were all considered to be curses as a result of sins......when Jesus came and began healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and casting out demons etc, it was to the old covenant Jews a sign and ministry of God's forgiveness. Or maybe more accurate to say a nullifying of the Law, it's ordinances and curses. Sin is not imputed where there is no Law, and we are not under Law. In some ways, the 2 covenants were similar. Under the old, if you sinned, but didn't know it, when it was revealed to you, a sacrifice had to be offered. You weren't cast away for a mistake. Under the New Testament, if you sin by mistake, it is under the blood, but when you realize you sinned, you must confess it. Of course, without Jesus dying on the cross, no sacrifices would matter. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin, just provide a covering. There are different reasons bad things happen to people. It can be chastisement, but not always. I think that if we ask God the reason, if it is correction, he will let us know.
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Post by watchful on Jul 20, 2022 16:34:22 GMT -5
We're not God....agree it's not for us to judge another's suffering. Paul the apostle suffered more than many, as did the other apostles. I think there can be many reasons for suffering in the life of a believer, some of it is even intercessory, but I believe in the end it's all purgative (purifying/sanctifying), for our ultimate good.
1Pe 4:12-19 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Jhn 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Luk 13:1-5 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
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Post by John on Jul 21, 2022 17:52:16 GMT -5
I am glad you brought up the man blind from birth, because he crossed my mind. All those years he was blind and people thought it was because of sin by him or his parents, but it was so God could be magnified in healing him. If he hadn't been born blind, we never would have heard of him.
I saw a video of this preacher born with no arms or legs, and of course he would rather be normal, but he said his handicap opened doors to preach in the most unlikely places, even communist countries. God knows what he is doing.
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