What does God require of us to make sure that we overcome when surrounded by difficulties? Knowing what God promises, do we take Him for granted, and are we earnestly prepared for what is just ahead of us?
Michael Link
Ask And You Shall Receive
If you were granted three wishes, which ones would you choose? Would many of those wishes actually come true, and would they be in accordance with God’s Will?
Our Thorn in the Flesh
We all go through pain and suffering, some more than others, and when we go through it personally, it can be quite debilitating. It affects us physically; our energy, appetite, and our ability to function properly, thereby impacting our work. It affects us mentally, impairing our concentration, our moods, our behavior. It’s a challenge and a part of life. Yet, we find ways to cope with it, no matter the severity, big or small.
However, completely ignoring it is inadvisable. Even something as small as a physical thorn in the flesh, if not taken care of, can lead to more serious problems. A very simple thing to do, but one that can easily be forgotten, is prayer. God hears all prayers and especially many prayers. Our prayer requests are helpful as we all pray together as one big family, pleading to God to intervene on all our behalf, for we are all praying on behalf of the individual who is in need.
Another crucial step, which should be the first step, is asking for anointing from one of God’s ministers with the laying on of hands with oil, which symbolizes God’s Holy Spirit – the power of God. Having faith that God will intervene is absolutely necessary. And no matter the outcome, also know that it is all in God’s hands and according to His Will.
Paul is a prime example. He prayed to God three times to remove the pain he was suffering from (2 Corinthians 12:8). God did not heal him for a reason. Instead of removing his ailment, God gave Paul more overwhelming humility and love, and more compensating strength for he responded by saying: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul learned that God’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9).
What exactly his thorn in the flesh was is not specifically mentioned, yet he knew that this suffering was necessary to continue doing what God wanted him to do. Things may have been much different if he had been in perfect health. Perhaps the urgency and purpose that God desired from him would not have been fulfilled in the same way that Paul carried them out.
As the Nelson Study Bible states, “Paul believed he was suffering the afflictions God wanted him to endure. Instead of facing his difficulties with dread, Paul saw his troubles as a time of joy… because they were producing an eternal reward…”
Just as Paul, we are not perfect, but we must be growing in perfection through suffering. And just as Christ suffered, so must we. Peter also tells us in 1 Peter 4:16 that “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
He further says in 1 Peter 4:1-2, “Therefore, since Christ suffered FOR US in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for HE WHO HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HAS CEASED FROM SIN, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” This is talking about US since Christ never sinned, and suffering as a Christian or follower of Christ should motivate us to stop sinning.
Christ suffered FOR US, and our suffering is also for the purpose of helping others. If one member suffers, ALL the members suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). We suffer so that we can understand what it is like, enabling us to feel the pain of those who are suffering. When we go through suffering, God comforts us in many different ways, so that we, in turn, can comfort others in their suffering with the same comfort we ourselves received from God.
Whatever our particular “thorn in the flesh” may be, God knows all about it and will take care of us, according to His purpose, ensuring that we ultimately succeed—if we allow Him to.
Do the Opposite
Because of ignorance and uncertainty, thinking that “the law” has been done away with, we have what we have today: people doing as they please, keeping holidays which are not from God, abusing their bodies in ways which are shameful in God’s eyes, giving into sin and deceit, and forsaking God’s specific commands on how to live a Godly life. What does the Bible actually say when it comes to “the law” and in what way are we to do the opposite from what the world in general justifies in their own eyes?
The Bible Is No Amendment
The Bible is perfect, incapable of being wrong, the unchanging Word of God, and therefore, it cannot be altered or improved upon by human beings. This is what the phrase “the Bible is no amendment” signifies. The principles and contents of the Bible are from a perfect God and are not subject to human error or the need for correction; it does not need to “change to the times” or adapt to changing societal views. If something appears to be an “error” or out of step with modern thinking, the flaw is in the human perspective, not the biblical text itself. People, therefore, should change to follow God’s Word, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. We are surrounded by a society that thinks it has all the answers, believes it is correct in its own mindset, and considers what it believes to be the right way. We see this everywhere; we witness it constantly. Everybody has their own opinion, which they are entitled to, but that doesn’t mean that every opinion that one has is correct.
This is a dissimilarity with human law since this concept is often contrasted with documents like the U.S. Constitution, which clearly includes an amendment process, acknowledging its human origin and the need for potential changes over time (e.g., the 27 Amendments). In essence, “no amendment” emphasizes the Bible’s authority as a final and complete revelation that is not open to human modification.
Many have their own set of beliefs, being convinced for the most part that what they believe is the Truth. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different kinds of “truths” in this world at this time. There is only one Truth, which is the Bible! We are familiar with many who believe in their own religious ideas, who don’t believe what we do, who do things completely contrary to what we do. Can we prove it from the Bible? That should always be the question.
Others don’t understand what we are doing, and yet they plan on celebrating something unbiblical and pagan, thereby replacing what God commands to keep! They may think that what we do is strange, but what they do is false, and God warns against those who try to amend His words. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).
On average, the Bible is over 1000 pages long and yet that is evidently not enough for many denominations in the world, as they add to the Bible with their own “prophetic” ideas, their own understanding, and at the same time they think it’s too many pages as they take away from the Bible what they consider “irrelevant” claiming what doesn’t apply anymore, since Christ, they think, came to do away with the Law, for example. But again, God makes it clear that we are not to add or take away from His Word and that His commandments are to be kept (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). Christ echoed the same in the New Testament in Matthew 5:17-19, making clear that He did not come to do away with the Law, but to magnify it.
The Bible concludes with a warning for everyone in Revelation 22:18-19. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life [better: Tree of Life], from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Can it be clearer? We need to continue in the pursuit of perfection. Despite what many may say about us when we are challenged to compromise our faith and beliefs, we need to stay strong and consistent in what God teaches us through His Word, the Bible.
God is with us, He knows what’s best, and He expects us to put our faith in Him, without doubt, which is easy to say, hard to do, but not impossible. Let us not take away from what God has instructed us to do, but rather apply what is written in these pages, thereby making sure that we will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God (2 Thessalonians 1:5).
…Into the Light
In a world ruled by Satan, how are we to remove ourselves from the darkness that surrounds us and into the light, following the example of Jesus Christ?
Humble Ourselves
In Matthew 5, Christ discusses the beatitudes, beginning with the importance of being humble in verse 3. To be in the Kingdom of God, we MUST have a spirit of humility, also defined as a lowliness of mind, which is an attitude expressed from the heart, not just an outward behavior. One may be able to fool everyone else by putting on an outward show of humility, but still have a heart full of pride and arrogance, along with hypocrisy. This is very dangerous because God knows everything, and we can’t hide anything from Him.
The behavior that Christ describes in Matthew 23 about the Pharisees is the opposite of humility, and also the opposite way that Christ lived, for the Pharisees presented themselves hypocritically to be “seen by men” (Matthew 23:1-12).
Christ says that whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If we put ourselves above others, we will be put down. But if we humble ourselves, we will be honored. We are to conduct ourselves in our lives by being a good example, not just to ourselves, but also to God. That is what we ought to be doing. We have to be diligent in all we do, diligently keeping God’s Law, for it is our future that is at stake.
Humbling ourselves is a must, and we are constantly growing in wisdom, learning throughout our lives in how we handle certain situations, especially when it comes to people who have NO knowledge of the Truth. We may be confronted by people in the world who think they know everything, but they are mistaken (1 Corinthians 8:2). True knowledge is linked to humility and a willingness to learn, by loving God and obeying Him, for He reveals to us our understanding.
Our humility is put to the challenge when we are confronted by people who assume what they believe is correct, for example, when someone wishes us a Merry Christmas, when someone expects us to congratulate them because they have just joined the military, or that their baby has been baptized, or that God loves us no matter what we do, etc. Our patience in our responses is also put to the test. In certain instances, silence is the best response, which can prevent worthless arguments. However, when we do respond, we must be wise in our answers (compare Ecclesiastes 3:7; Proverbs 17:28). Additionally, we should pray to God, and He will guide us (compare Luke 12:11).
On the other hand, we don’t want to be going around thinking that we know everything either, persuading people to believe what we do, for example, by going door to door, passing out literature at public places where people don’t ask for it, throwing our pearls before swine by giving our precious knowledge away to those who don’t understand and don’t care (compare Matthew 7:6).
God has a specific requirement from His called-out ones. Our commission is to preach the gospel through our messages, literature and other material, that is accessible on our websites, where anyone has access to it, and those who have an eye will read the literature that is presented, and those who are interested will contact us for more information. We do our part and God does the rest.
Moses is mentioned in the Bible as the most humble person, but there were still times when he didn’t do things that God wanted him to do. And because of that, he wasn’t able to enter the Promised Land. Moses took credit for himself when he struck the rock in the wilderness and water gushed out, and, due to his failure to give glory to God and his doubt that God would provide, he was punished for it (Numbers 20:12).
However, God was with Moses, and Moses saw firsthand how God intervened time and time again. Moses should have remembered that, and that there comes a time when God’s patience runs out. If God has a specific purpose for each of us, which He expects from us, a decision that we also have made to live righteously, to overcome our weaknesses, to come out of the world, then God WILL help us, to be there for us, and He will continue to bless us.
If we choose to disobey by not overcoming our weaknesses, then the time will come when God will have had enough. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:19-20).
This is serious, brethren! We need to make sure that this doesn’t happen to us because it has happened to many others in the Church, and it will continue to happen in the Church of God. We must have our priorities straightened out by glorifying God and by putting Him first in our lives with humility and trusting in Him – in ALL things.
Do we have passion for God and His plan?
Passion is described as an emotion, an intense desire or enthusiasm about something. This can be positive, like a strong desire for God or righteous actions, or negative, like sinful desires or uncontrolled anger. In the New King James Bible, “passion” is used in Romans 7:5 and Galatians 5:24 to describe bodily desires or affections that can lead to sin. In Colossians 3:5, “passion” is mentioned alongside other negative desires, suggesting it refers to inappropriate cravings or lustful appetites.
Different translations of the Bible may use slightly different wording. For example, some translations might use “lust” or “inordinate affection” instead of “passion” in certain verses. In other contexts, “passion” can refer to zeal or fervor, like the desire to see God’s house cleansed (John 2:17).
The meaning of passion as a strong emotion can also be associated with love. It is more than just being happy or excited, but it could be something that we are eager or zealous, energetic, or spirited about; hence, a true passion. When it comes to each one of us personally, we may be passionate about something in our own different way, things that we love and are enthusiastic about. Can people around us recognize what our passions are? Is the love for God’s Law and the Truth our true passion?
David is a great example of someone in the Bible who had a passion for God’s Law, which he elaborates on in Psalm 119 (which he wrote according to tradition) by seeking God “with the whole heart,” delighting in His commandments with devotion, Godly fear, and righteousness.
He also had a passion for building God a temple, but due to his punishment for sin, only his son, Solomon, would be able to do it. “…I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’ …He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day” (1 Chronicles 28:2-7).
David’s advice to Solomon is explained in the following verses 9-10 and in verse 20: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it… Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
To put it in another perspective, husbands and wives should have a passion for each other (compare Ephesians 5:25-33), as they are both one, “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (verse 25).
In the Song of Solomon, the husband and wife (future and present) have a passion for each other. Full of metaphors and imagery, it also pictures Israel as God’s betrothed bride and the Church as the bride of Christ (Hosea 2:19-20). Humanly speaking, our highest fulfillment should be the love we have for each other and especially for our spouse. That same love should be reflected in our spiritual life, in showing our love towards God’s people and Christ’s love for the church. Christ requires, “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”(John 13:34-35).
The Jews in Babylon had a passion to return to Jerusalem. After 70 years of exile, God fulfilled His promise to return His people from captivity to the land of promise (Ezra 2:1-2). The first six chapters have to do with the rebuilding of the temple, led by Zerubbabel, the first return from Babylon, and how Satan interfered by stopping the work for 15 years. God encouraged His people to continue the work of God, and the temple was completed in chapter six. They kept the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread with joy (Ezra 6:19-22).
The second return was with Ezra, described in chapters 7-10, and he was determined to help strengthen the spiritual condition of the people. His passion to seek God obediently is expressed in verse 10 of chapter 7. The third and final return to Jerusalem from Babylon was with Nehemiah. He prayed for his people in Nehemiah, chapter 1. He was sent to Judah and encouraged his people to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, despite opposition from enemies. He continued to do God’s Will and put it all in His hands (6:15-16). He brought captives back, and yet he still had to work with the people and teach them. The task to reestablish and reform the people of God within the rebuilt wall demanded years of his godly life and leadership, just like we need to be reminded continuously what God’s purpose and plan are all about.
As we are also to be faithful servants to our Father, our talents can be used wisely, if we are truly passionate about our task and responsibility, as the parable of the talents explains in Matthew 25:14-29.
Another great example is that of Paul, who had an unwavering passion for God’s Law, proven also through all the sufferings he endured for Christ’s sake (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).
God is very passionate about His plan for mankind. Christ was driven by His task, where He said that He came to fulfill the Work, and as He was dying on the cross, He said that it (His Work, given to Him) was finished (John 19:30).
Passion could also refer to suffering, particularly the suffering of Jesus. Gotquestions.org states that “The word passion is from the Latin pati, which simply means ‘to endure’ or ‘to suffer.’ The term passion of Christ has taken on a technical or semi-technical meaning in theology, referring to the time from Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross—the time of His greatest suffering.”
In the book of Isaiah, much is said about God’s passion for His plan, especially in chapters 46 and 48. Isaiah 53 talks about the “passion” of Christ through all the suffering He had to endure when He was on this earth, for our sake, so WE can be saved. He offered up His life so that we can live for righteousness, but only after repentance (1 Peter 2:24).
We read in Isaiah 53:3-12, in the New International Version:
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering… Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away… For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The Bible concludes with the wonderful plan that God has in store for all of mankind, something that He is truly passionate about, where John describes a vision of “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son’” (Revelation 21:1-7).
There is indeed much revealed in the Bible about passion with its various descriptions. As God has the right kind of passion for His ultimate plan for us, we ought to strive continuously and passionately to improve in strength, zealousness, diligence, love, patience, and in overcoming until Christ returns.
Lead Writer: Michael Link
A Story of Sacrifice
A young man is sent out into the world by his poor parents to seek a better way of life, only to find himself in many trials and tests, until he develops a change of heart by saving the ones he loves. Within this story there are many symbolic principles in relation to the Bible which can be applied personally and/or spiritually in our lives.
Futile Excuses
What are some excuses that we may have said in our lifetime, especially when we were younger, that we have used to persuade ourselves from diligently studying God’s Word and keeping His Sabbaths correctly? What can we learn from the several young individuals in the Bible who obeyed God, and how can we, as children of God, continue to grow spiritually, making sure that we succeed?