1. Being grateful is God’s will for us: «In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you»(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Doing the will of God is very important for us because it gives us assurance in God and makes God’s grace and favour available for us.
1. Use the spiritual weapons God has given you: «Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God» (Ephesians, 6:10-17).
In order to determine whether we are being disciplined by God or we are dealing with the attack of the enemy, first we must ask ourselves some questions:
§ What circumstances do I find myself in? (see Colossians, 3:17)
o Am I where God wants to see me?
Do you often experience different hardships? Are you facing trouble everywhere you go? It can either be a spiritual attack or you are being disciplined by God Himself. How can you distinguish what exactly is going on with you? Let’s try to answer this question.
A believer must learn to see the difference between spiritual warfare and God’s discipline. In different life situations we must firmly know whether we are disciplined by God or we are dealing with a spiritual attack that requires of us to get engaged in spiritual warfare.
If we listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that is communicated through the people God sends to us to correct us and repent of our sins, then He stops all the judgments. But, if we continue in our stubbornness and resist Him, God allows more trouble in our lives in order to show us that there are spiritual problems in us that we need to resolve. If after that we still resist Him and refuse to humble ourselves before Him, then He increases penalties. God does that because He loves us and does not want any of His children to perish.
1) If we are disobedient to God, He first convicts us through the Holy Spirit.
According to the Gospel of John, conviction of sin is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit to us:
«And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment» (John, 16:8).
«Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honoured» (Proverbs, 13:18).
We can see once again that financial difficulties in the lives of these people were not sent by God; they were the result of them rejecting the teaching and instruction of the Lord.
1. God uses His Word, the Bible to discipline us.
Do you have some separate time to read and personally study God’s Word? Do you study the Word together with other believers? Do you listen regularly to the preaching of the Word? All these issues are very important, since it is the Holy Scripture that God uses to speak to us. Through the Word God corrects us and gives us important instruction concerning the way we should live. God sees and know how we live. God knows all of our hidden desires and thoughts, and He wants to correct us through His Word.
«For if we judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world» (1 Corinthians, 11:31-32).
So God chastises His children not for His own pleasure, but for our correction and for us to participate in His holiness. God does that in order for us to bring forth the peaceful fruit of righteousness and not to be condemned with the world.
§ To provide for us assurance and safety. Through discipline God desires to give His children exhortation: «And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons…» (Hebrews, 12:5).
