How NOT to give up, when problems and trials are all around II

ByMācītājs Rufus Adžiboije Reading Time: 3 minutes

I am glad to welcome each one of you to „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”!

Yesterday we started talking about how not to give up, when problems and trials are all around us. Today we are going to continue about it and I would like to share with you where we can find the strength for it.

In order for us not to give up when dealing with hardships and challenges we must know that problems are a common thing and a part of life. Nobody is secured against them no matter how big your love for God is. If you think that you are the only one with problems and the others don’t have any, then you set yourself up for failure. Here is what the Word of God says about it: «Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter» (1 Peter, 4: 12-16).

The Bible clearly talks about temptations, sorrows and suffering being a regular part of life and not to be considered as something strange. You mustn’t wonder why these things come into your life. In Paul’s letter to Timothy it says, «…persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me in Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all them Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution» (2 Timothy, 3: 11-12).

As you see, Paul did not consider it strange when different afflictions, persecutions, hardships and slandering happened to him. He knew that all these things are common so he prepared for them. It is no surprise that in all these afflictions Paul could speak of victory, «… out of them all the Lord delivered me».

If a person understands that temptations are inevitable, then he begins to arm himself with all the necessary weapons that help him to overcome these temptations. God is obliged to give victory to such a person. That is why Paul reminds his spiritual son Timothy about the fact that afflictions and temptations are inevitable and it is necessary for a person to prepare himself to overcome these temptations.

Today God desires to remind every one of us that hardships and tests are inevitable in this world and in the life of every person so that we can prepare ourselves and be ready to overcome them. I wish you to win many victories in this life.

God bless you!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

Similar Posts

  • You have been created, redeemed and restored! You were born twice!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 5 minutes
    We are not only created by God, we are also reworked or recreated by Jesus Christ. We are talking about the opportunity available to sinful people because Christ has come into this world. This is exactly what the letter to Ephesians says:«You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.» (Ephesians 2:1-10).

  • We have to strengthen our spirit

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    The Bible states «A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?» (Proverbs 18:14). Satan wants to hit our spirit via hardships, trials and problems. When your spirit is strengthened, you can overcome any kind of weakness, get through all kind of hardships and trials. So how can we strengthen our spirit? God´s word and His promises strengthen our spirit and overcome weakness and sufferings. In order to not give up, we need to learn how to lean on the word of God and His promises – fully and unconditionally. We have to learn God´s faithfulness and realise that God will never forsake us unless we abandon Him ourselves.

  • In order for us to do the works of Jesus, we must ask for it in prayer!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    «Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son» (John, 14:12-13).When Jesus Himself says ‘most assuredly’, it means He wants us to pay attention. These two verses are connected. Jesus says that we can do the works that Jesus did and even more, if we pray. Jesus tried to tell His disciples that He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth and that He will represent them in heaven, because He will be sitting with Him on the heavenly throne. Jesus told His disciples that they should ask in His name and that He would do what they ask so that His Father would be glorified.

  • Definitely write down the vision you receive from God!

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    First of all, you need a revelation from God. Learning to recognise the voice of your Heavenly Father and getting to know Him as your best friend is vitally important. God is willing to give you wisdom, understanding and revelation in every sphere of your life. Though, when a revelation and wisdom are received from God, you have to write them down in whole. Then it becomes a spring of life, that gives breathe to you and brings hope that releases faith and trust on God in you.To write something down means to record the vision a paper. We have to put it down clearly, the way it makes sense to us later. Thus, we can bring our vision into reality, so that we can expect it and put our hopes upon. This is one of the methods how to cling with the vision together and dedicate yourself to fulfil it. Prophet Habakkuk reminds us about the importance of writing down the vision you have received from God.

  • Do you know that you are not all you could be yet?

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him”In the above passage, Jesus saw two brothers trying to catch fish by the sea side and immediately recognized that they have a better destiny, so He instructed them to follow Him. This word of God to you today is this: Follow me and I will make you.Do you know that you are not all you could be yet? Only the Lord knows who you are created to be and He wants to make you become who you are really created to be. That is why He said “I will make you”.

  • Nobody will be able to harm you if you know God’s voice and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    The Bible also states that everything God does endures forever. Nobody is able to destroy or cancel what God makes and builds. For this reason nobody was able to harm Jesus before the appointed time, when Jesus Himself gave up His soul. Jesus was protected by God the Father because he followed the leading and the guidance of the Father.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *