OUR LIGHT AFFLICTIONS "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9
In being a New Testament Christian, we must suffer for our Lord because He suffered for us. Therefore, we should serve the Lord because He will help us to overcome our light afflictions in this life.
Learn the following truth because your life is valuable.
THE ASSURANCE OF OUR AFFLICTION "Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Hebrews 5:8-9
I. We will have some tribulations in this life because of our own created nature of life. "Man who is born of a woman is of a few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." Job 14:1-2
Now, this seems to be a brief biography of created man because we will have our trials and tribulations in this life. Therefore, we will have some hardships in this life because we have a physical body which has the curse of physical death pronounced upon it.
II. We will have some afflictions in life because of our own redeemed nature of life. "Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12
Now, this is a brief biography of a redeemed man, who is a New Testament Christian, because the Devil is trying to devour us. Therefore, we will have some hardships in this life because the Devil is trying to overcome us, and win our souls.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR AFFLICTION "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you prefect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10
I. Our afflictions will help us to be humble because we can become inflated with pride and ignorance. "And lest I (Paul) should be exalted above measure (become inflated with pride) through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a throne in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me (to keep me humble), lest I should be exalted above measure (become highminded). For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ' sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
II. Our afflictions can help us to be obedient because we can forget the Lord our God. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn the statues." Psalms 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." Psalms 119:71
III. Our afflictions does work for our good because God is working for our good. "Though our outward man (our physical body) perish, yet the inward man (the Soul and Spirit) is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but that the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
THE BLESSINGS OF OUR AFFLICTION "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" (God does work through the all things of life for our good). Romans 8"28 "For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13
I. Our afflictions will work patience because we will wait for the Lord our God to deliver us. "We glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience." Romans 5:3 "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James 5:10-11
II. Our afflictions can produce peaceable fruits because they will help us to draw nearer to the Lord our God. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Hebrews 12:11
III. Our afflictions will bring Divine Comfort because God will comfort those who are in trouble. "Who (God) comforteth us in all of our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Corinthians 1:4
Now, God comforts us in all of our tribulations. Therefore, we are able to comfort others because it is the comfort of God which is being reflected through us.
THE CONCLUSION I. We can endure our light afflictions of life because we in being a New Testament Christian have been created and redeemed by three Heavenly Persons (Personalities or Beings) who equally are called the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and who are called Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that in this world we can become like Them. Equality signifies that those three Heavenly Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer are equal in power, rule and authority in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life because They equally possess the same Divine Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of life.
II. The Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two ranked Persons because those three Lord God Persons, who were called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, equally made Themselves to work and rule in the Title Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our Redeemer. Rank would mean that the Father would be the first Person in power, rule and authority; the Son (Jesus) would be the second Person in power, rule and authority; whereas the Holy Spirit would be the third Person in power, rule and authority.
III. The Lord God and Christ the Lord are the two Title Names in which three Heavenly Persons who equally are working and ruling in matters of our own creation and redemption of life because we in being a New Testament Christian been created and redeemed by three equal Persons who are called the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and who are called Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that in that world which is to come we can become equal (having power, rule and authority) with Them.
A. We in being a New Testament Christian will become equal with those three Spiritual Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in our Heavenly Home we will equally possess heir Spiritual Personage of life which will be a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit in reference to our own individual nature of life. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23 "It is sown a nature body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1 Corinthians 15:44 "Who (our Lord) shall change our vile body (our fleshly body), that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body (His Spiritual Body), according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Philippians 3:21 "And as we have borne the image of the earthy (the earthy man who possesses a physical body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (the Spiritual Person who has a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit). 1 Corinthians 15:49 This means that we will be a Spiritual Person who possesses a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit in our Heavenly Home because these are the Spiritual Characteristics of a Spiritual Person.
B. We in being a New Testament Christian will become equal with those three Divine Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in our Heavenly Home we will equally possess Their Divine Powers of life in reference to our own individual being of life. "If we suffer, we shall also reign (rule) with him (the Lord our God). If we deny him, he also will deny us." 2 Timothy 2:12 "To him that overcometh (the forces of evil) will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Revelation 3:21 "And to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." Revelation 2:26-27 "And they shall reign (rule) for ever and ever" (over the powers of Satan). Revelation 22:5 This means that we will be Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent in our Heavenly Home because these are the Divine Powers of a Divine Person.
C. We in being a New Testament Christian will become equal with those three Divine Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in our Heavenly Home we will equally possess Their Divine Nature of life in matters of our own individual nature of life. "It is written in your law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scriptures can not be broken." John 10:34-35 "God has given unto us many exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4 "Him that overcometh (the powers of Satan) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelation 3:12 "Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Ephesians 3:15 This means that we will be eternal, impartial, self-existing, glorious, accessible, monotheistical, divine, visible, perfect, immutable, spiritual and immortal in our Heavenly Home because these are the Divine Traits of a Divine Person.
D. We in being a New Testament Christian will become equal with those three Divine Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in our Heavenly Home we will equally possess Their Divine Attributes of life in reference to our own individual being of life. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48 "Be ye also merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Luke 6:36 "He that overcometh (the powers of sin), the same shall be clothed in white raiment (having his Divine Attributes Perfected): and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angles." Revelation 3:5 "For there shall in no wise enter into it (the Heavenly City) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelation 21:27 This means that we will be lovable, holy, merciful, faithful, just, righteous, good, jealous, truthful, longsuffering, unchangeable and gracious in our Heavenly Home because these are the Divine Attributes of a Divine Person.E. We in being a New Testament Christian will become equal with those three Divine Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because we are heirs of God and joint-heirs (equal heirs) with Christ in matters of our own creation and redemption of life. "The Spirit (the Holy Spirit) Himself beareth witness with our spirit (our character: our personality), that we are the children of God (by creation and by regeneration): And If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs (equal heirs) with Christ." Romans 8:16-17 This means that in our Heavenly Home all Divine Persons will be equal in power, rule and authority.
F. We in being a New Testament Christian will become equal with those three Divine Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in our Heavenly Home we will equally possess Their Heavenly Immortality of life in reference to our own individual nature of life. "Which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: Who only hath immortality (the Lord in all of His Power and Glory only has immortality, but the Lord has promised to give unto us those same Spiritual Blessings of Immortality), dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:15-16 "To them (the Christians) who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." Romans 2:7 This means that we will be a deathless Person in our Heavenly Home because a Heavenly Person can not die in a physical or in a Spiritual Way.1). We in being a New Testament Christian can become all that God will ever be because we can become the fullness of God in our Heavenly Home. Paul prayed that, "Ye (Christians) might be filled with all the fullness (the completeness) of God." Ephesians 3:19
2). We in being a New Testament Christian will become all that God is in the way of Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of life because God must become all and in all. Paul said that we will be presented to God in heaven so that "God (the Spiritual Nature of God) may be all (to each Person who has been saved) and in all" (of each Person that is saved). 1 Corinthians 15:28
"Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Ephesians 3:15 Please get others to read this article so that they can learn more about the Divine Blessings of their own immortality of life because their life is precious.
May the Lord bless you and give you wisdom so that you can learn more about the Spiritual Blessings of your own divine nature of life because your life is priceless.
