2 Corinthians 1:8-10

P 3245 Press on and find His heart.

/ DVH

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. ON HIM we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. 

The Apostle Paul lived his life totally filled with the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us that the Spirit of God personally took Paul into the Lord’s confidence — he was in Heavenly revelation school for three years, and then he took another expanded course, outside of the other apostles. That lasted for fourteen years. During that time he watched God do amazing things.This verse shows us that Paul knew that everything that happened in his life was a possibility for change and transformation. He knew God IS in charge.

In the above scripture Paul uses words like – pressures, ability to endure, despaired of life itself, and we thought we might die. However, in spite of those emotive words, he can still see the benefit in all that hardship and trouble. Those things were allowed by God Himself, to teach them that they couldn’t rely on themselves, but only on the Lord … What a way to look at the twists and turns in this life!  Even if death threatens me, I still know that God has a plan! That’s a good thing to remember.

Learning to stand when stuff happens all around you, is a God-given, God-directed, God-supported skill. We are n-e-v-e-r alone, Jesus won’t leave us. So we grab our faith with both hands, give everything about our circumstances to Him, then HANG ON!! Like a limpet clings to a rock in the face of the endless pounding waves, we need to let the enemy’s constant nagging pounding at us, strengthen our grip on the Lord. And if you feel you can’t even hold on … and we’ve all been there! Remember JESUS is the rock we cling to. Nobody can pry us free from Him, we can ask for His help. No matter how dire the situation is, attach your faith to His goodness.

Many people believe for the answer to their prayers. I prefer to believe that I am going to see His goodness in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13). I have found two things happen when I do that – one is that I get to peace quickly now I’ve put Father God in charge of my situation. And the second is this, no matter what happens, I know I will see His goodness in my circumstances. This is to my advantage. If I pray about what I want, I will  receive – because He is good! But when I pray to understand and see His goodness, I will learn more about my Saviour. The active/action form of belief is trusting Him.

This is how we learn to stand in the face of trouble. I was watching a Christian video on Youtube, the other day, and part of it was about the great fire of San Fransisco. In the foreground there was an open bible on the ground, with flames all around it – it was singed at the edges. A stiff breeze was fanning the terrible flames, but at the same time, that breeze turned a page in the bible. It hit me so hard in my spirit, that when everything crumbles around us, we need to do whatever God tells us to do, and then we turn the page. 

That’s what ‘having done all stand ’ means. It doesn’t mean we stand about like statues, it means we proactively stand, listening, and we do whatever He tells us to do. But we keep on believing to see His goodness in the land of the living. That’s a great focus – we focus on the One Who knows everything and nothing is impossible to Him. Then, whenever fear, or anger, or anything else tries to distract or disrupt our assurance that He loves and wants what is best for us, we can cast it aside.

Ask the Holy Spirit for a scripture to stand on, and then hang on … the ride could be longer than we hope, or even bumpy – but God’s got you, He won’t let you down or let you go. Let’s look at this kind of faith in Matthew 8:8-10.“The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. “

We can’t afford to miss what Jesus wants to teach us, by focussing on immediate responses, answers or actions. Yes, the pain is awful. Yes, we aren’t even sure we can bear it – but underneath everything else is always the Everlasting Arms. At the very least our sense of failure or panic shows where our faith is not helping us.At worst, we have been robbed by the thief. Go get those things back, and don’t ask – demand. 

We’ve all been given ‘a measure of faith.’ That means you and I have ENOUGH for whatever we have to face.Hold tight to this knowledge. This centurion recognised who Jesus was, and instantly understood that this was a Man he could trust. He called Jesus “Lord” on sight. Don’t just settle for the answer you want, press on to capture His heart. Bye. 👋

P 3025 The three “C’s.”

/ DVH

“So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfil His designed purpose.” Romans 8:28 TPT. 

Paul was convinced about what he says here. He looked at his life – including the floggings, beating with sticks,  shipwrecks, and physical violence. The imprisonment, as well as the persecution by various groups of people – some of them supposedly Christian. Plus the people who ignored his good advice because they had a better idea…  and he came to a conclusion. His conclusion was that “everything works together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

God wants to transform the difficulties we experience into something meaningful and good, for His kingdom’s sake. We simply need to hang on in there believing in His goodness.‘The trying of our faith produces patience but we have to LET patience have her perfect work in us.’James 1:3-4. There’s that little word that gives everyone the pip! LET. Allow. Permit…Yield! Allow patience to do a number on you. Permit it to stretch you, let it teach you, and allow it to transform the way you think and act. That is what yielding looks like. WE are the boss of our thoughts  … and just like we won’t permit pornographic thoughts to occupy our minds – we refuse to LET impatience take over. We ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and hang on.. to Him.!!!

The Apostle Paul was not only convinced, he was convinced continually! That is actually the only way we can be changed. We choose to hold onto the fact that God will work our present circumstances out for our good. Continually! This spiritual stand happens over and over and over again! Christianity is a progressive pushing forward into more of what we already have been given. And sometimes there is no ‘exit’ to be seen — there is only the minute by minute pushing through how we feel, to grab hold of what God has said. This creates trust in Who He is. We lean on Him, persevering with the situation, waiting for His patience, and seeking after the love that never alters.

Stuff happened to Paul over and over again. There was a whole lot of ugly stuff in 40+ years of ministry. That’s an average of 6 rotten testing events a year! He paid a high price to evangelise, as well as minister what God told him to write … Paul once wrote that he “despaired of life itself.” Well you would, wouldn’t you? His life was no picnic, but I bet he has never given it another thought since he arrived in heaven!!

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us,..” 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.

Paul knew how to suffer, but he did not do it lying down. He grabbed hold of the hope that God had what He needed and wanted to give it to Him. He believed in the goodness of God Himself. If we take the time to consult our feelings about this scripture in Romans, it might seem inaccurate, utterly impossible. Nobody feels like pushing against a seemingly immovable object. But what if I told you that if you press in just one more time that object will move? I think you’d convince yourself to take a big breath and push one more time! It’s just like birthing babies, but, with His help, we are birthing and raising good fruit!

That’s what continually convincing yourself of God’s supreme power and goodness does – it draws you into a conclusion! Almighty God can’t fail us, His goodness always wins! There are some unresolved things in my life that I may not see this month, or this year, but I know that He will do them – whether I am still here or not. I do not believe those things simply because I prayed —I believe it because HE SAID SO in the book. I’m always convinced of His goodness as I continually read His book. We ain’t seen nothing yet! The best place to be in a battle is on the front line. WHY? You get to be the first to see the enemy turn tail and run… that’s why!

 Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:12: “This is why I suffer as I do. Still, I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day [when I stand before Him].”

I am learning to be convinced continually, and that exercise led me to this conclusion – the Lord is worth it all. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. In order to be convinced, I need to continually revise my belief in His goodness every single time something unexpected occurs, and then I keep reinforcing my belief that God cannot fail me. That’s the best conclusion! Life surely does happen but God has a plan!! Bye. 👋