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My life is my life and I will not trade it for anything except Christ, even saying that I still ask for strength on a daily basis to live by it. Life itself is a roller coaster with fluctuating emotions such as pain, agony, victory, defeat, so on and so forth. However, I believe it is the uncertain situations in life that shape us into the individuals we are today and are to become. Basically, what I am trying to say is, your past can shape and influence the future in a major way. My real name in translation means “Born in Wealth.” I was born in Lagos, Nigeria in the year of the Dragon and as far as I can remember, it’s been a bumpy ride. Growing up in Nigeria was intense and a bit tedious, for lack of better words. It is a “No padi for jungle” time zone, with the motto of “Shine your eye,” which pretty much adds up to "every man for himself." It is a place where everyone wants to go to heaven, however, no one wants to die to get there. Growing up as a child, I learned a lot through folktales and such. I remember sitting by the burning firewood at night listening to my grandmother's stories of enlightenment. These stories had morals that shaped my thinking and mentality today.

Thursday, 13 March 2014

TRIALS

What trials are you facing in life right now?
Maybe it’s a financial challenge. Or maybe you have stuff going on in your marriage or at work. Perhaps you’re grappling with emotional issues… or some familiar sin… or an issue of illness… or maybe something’s going on with your kids or grandkids.
Whatever stress or challenge you’re facing today, I want to know that ….

·         Everything has a purpose for good for those that love the Lord, better yet

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
It all starts with Romans 12:2, which says,
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The first step in dealing with the challenges you may be facing is not to be conformed to this world.
The word conformed literally means to be squeezed into a mold. And that’s the problem with many Christians today. They have allowed their thinking about trials in their business, their ministry, and their personal lives to be conformed to the way this world thinks. They’ve been contained. They’ve been squeezed into a mold.
The result is they’ve never lived that large, expansive, broad, expressive life that God wants them to live.

#1

Deuteronomy 13

"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'--which you have not known--'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

      ·         Trials come to test the strength of our faith

·         we grow from faith to faith so therefore The stronger my faith the more useful I am to God 
#2       In the case of Job

Job 42

Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' 5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."
·         Trials come to humble us

·         Trials come to show us that we are not spiritually stronger than we think

·         Job survived a period of trials for 140 yrs ( Displayed submissive patience)

·         Trials come to wean us from earthly things – The kindness of the Lord brings repentance

·         Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

·         Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


#3

Romans 8

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.


·         Trials come to encourage to an eternal hope

·         Trials come to prepare you for heavenly experiences

·         Trials come to open your eyes to the spiritual realm


#4

Deuteronomy 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

·         Trials come to reveal what we really love

·         1st commandment – you shall have no other God before me


#5

Philippians 2:1-3  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  (Esteem mean respect, high regards, appreciate)

Psalms 63:3 Because your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

Hebrews 5:1-4 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You."

·         Trials come to teach us to value the blessing of God

·         Trials teaches us the blessing of obedience

·         Trials come to remind us we can depend on God only , to trust his solely

#6

Luke 22

Hebrews 4

·         Suffering in your trials, come to enable us to assist others in their suffering

#7

·         Trials comes to develop endowing strength FOR GREATER USEFULLNESS

A SOLDIERSWORTH IS NOT KNOWN IN A TIME OF PEACE…..

·         We need to exercise our spiritual muscles
·         As Christians we need resistance to grow

·         James 1:2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

·         James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

1.       Without trials you cannot grow as a Christian

2.       Without trials there wouldn’t be a need or desire for the Lord

3.       Trials are very necessary as a Christian

4.       Remember James 1:2-3 – Count it all JOY when you fall into various trials….

 
TO GOD BE THE GLORY ........
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