Consider It All Joy

Breaking News:  The market just crashed, ISIS has taken over the world, your car was just stolen, and scammers have helped themselves to your life savings, but consider it all joy…  How does that work for you?  It seems that the insurmountable world is so far stacked against us that this verse of scripture is almost unrealistic in our lives today.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Jam 1:2-4 NAS)

Shalom and overcoming

Near the time of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) arrest he spent quality time with his disciples and explained things for them to understand.  One of those things he explained was to expect tribulation in this world.  When we read in John from chapter 14 to 16 we see the reassuring things that our Messiah spoke to them, thus encouraging them during the coming trials this world would offer.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (Joh 16:33 NAS)

It was made clear to them, and to us, that we are to have peace or as he would have said out of his own mouth, shalom.  During this time, the disciples finally understood all the things from the life of Jesus (Yeshua) which they witnessed was to reveal to them that the one true Messiah had indeed come.  In keeping within Yeshua’s character, he comforted them with the simple statement, take courage, I have overcome the world.  These words are for us as well, as our redeemer has overcome thus giving us the ability to do the same, even during the toughest times of trials and tribulations we face today.

Working for your good

Behind the scenes, not perceived by our eyes, things are working in a different manner.  Battles are taking place in the heavenly realm by mighty warriors protecting, moving about, chasing the darkness away  that wants to destroy us.  Great powers of goodness are preventing the darkness’ moves to disrupt us.  However, in this realm we do have power and the first application of that power is to understand and rightly apply the Word of YHVH (God).

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28 KJV)

It can be of great comfort, when it looks like the wheels are coming off the wagon while the Indians are circling, that what we see here and now is working to do something for our own good.  We should think back in our lives at the many times we thought there was no way out and then look at where we are today.  Even if we are in the midst of a battle, there are times to look upon and understand that there is a lesson in this mess.

I know in my own life that when things went terribly wrong, they worked out to make me a stronger servant of our Father.  Things I have learned from failures have now become strengths to draw upon and bring up to speed in their battles.  I also see the times where I followed my own plan and acted before the right time and paid severe consequences for this decision.  But even these times have taught me I had better wait upon God (YHVH).

Greatness is in you

Brothers and sisters, we are not alone in this battle.  Look to Daniel who prayed and his prayer was immediately answered and yet he faced the trials and tribulations of this world for 21 days while the darkness fought to keep the message from being delivered.  Yet, Daniel persevered and was blessed.  He knew what John knew many years beforehand.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1Jo 4:4 NAS)

Our bodies as temples are the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and the Messiah within us.  So unless you are heading to the store without your body, then He has you covered.  Sometimes we forget we are are the children of THE king, YHVH (God).  As those children were are heirs to the kingdom as well as princes and princesses representing the one who created all things.  It is high time that we take up our position and understand the authority we walk in.

Fear not the hidden things

The things we don’t not see, we discern using spiritual discernment and wisdom provided by our heavenly Father.  We are not to fear those unseen things but are to take courage because the one who has provided your redemption has overcome those dark powers.  We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of POWER and of love and of a SOUND MIND. (1Ti 1:7).  Remember what Jesus (Yeshua) said about hidden things:

“Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. (Mat 10:26 NAS)

So understand, the sinister plans of those around us will be revealed.  Wisdom then sets in to allow us to understand the hidden things revealed.  Those plotting against us have no chance if we wait upon the LORD (YHVH) for answers and direction.  How many times in our lives have we suddenly taken a different way home for no known reason?  Maybe something was planned to harm us and HE moved us out-of-the-way.

A recipe to keep from stumbling

Again, we are not left as orphans, but have the wisdom of those from the past and the very spoken words of the Almighty at our disposal.  There is a ‘not so secret’ recipe we can follow during the times of tribulation and actually at all times.  The recipe?

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:5-8 NKJ)

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:10-11 NKJ)

Brothers and sisters, rest assured that, if we are following the recipe above and the instructions of obedience, our blessing is on it’s way.  We don’t know the time it will arrive, but it always comes to those who love YHVH (God) and are obedient to Him.  Read Deuteronomy 28 to get the understanding of our blessings through obedience.  Remove the curses by practicing the Gospel which is repentance and then move into obedience.  But most of all, consider it all joy.

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