If We Don’t Learn To Be Patient And Trust God When Everything Look Dark We Will Have No Anchor During Our Days Of Adversity Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Heb. 6:19) The Anchor Holds - https://youtube/watch?v=Rxbju9ymtuQ Some of us see the difficulties of life insurmountable. We sometimes feel as if the trials of life are going to crush out every single ounce of energy out of our lives. But this morning the Lord is reminding us that it’s the trials that bring us close to Jesus. It’s the trials that will refine our characters and make us into pure gold. Through the difficulties of this life we learn to trust in God with all our heart. God uses these trials to reveal to us the areas of our character that are weak and in need to strengthening. He also shows us areas of our character that need to be totally eradicated. So instead of complaining about the difficult circumstances of our lives, let us ask God to help us to do like Paul. In Phil. 4:11 Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Notice very carefully that Paul did not arrive at a position of contentment overnight. Paul learnt to be content. Paul had to go through experiences which taught him how to be content even when there are trials in his live. God wants to teach us the same lesson. But we must be patient. We must continue to trust in God with all our heart. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Tim. 6:6 that “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” So this type of contentment that Paul is talking about doesn’t come through our own effort. Godliness must be part of our lives. In other words God must be in control of our lives.. then this type of contentment will become a reality. In 1 Cor. 10:13 the Apostle Paul also said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” So this contentment is achievable because God will never place upon us any trial that will crush us once we remain in connection with Him. Notice carefully that with the help of God, a way of escape will be found so that we can bear the pressure of the trial. So my friend; let us continue to trust in God will all our heart knowing that He will gives us the strength to bear during our trials. There is no problem too big that our Almighty God cannot solve. Let us continue to put our trust in Jesus today and hold on to Him as our anchor,. Our ship of life will never go adrift once we are holding unto the sure foundation, Jesus Christ. The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his own good, nor solely for the benefit of succeeding generations; but it was also for the instruction of the sinless intelligences of heaven and of other worlds. The field of the controversy between Christ and Satan--the field on which the plan of redemption is wrought out--is the lesson book of the universe. Because Abraham had shown a lack of faith in Gods promises, Satan had accused him before the angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the covenant, and as unworthy of its blessings. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation. Heavenly beings were witnesses of the scene as the faith of Abraham and the submission of Isaac were tested. The trial was far more severe than that which had been brought upon Adam. Compliance with the prohibition laid upon our first parents involved no suffering, but the command to Abraham demanded the most agonizing sacrifice. All heaven beheld with wonder and admiration Abrahams unfaltering obedience. All heaven applauded his fidelity. Satans accusations were shown to be false. God declared to His servant, Now I know that thou fearest God [notwithstanding Satans charges], seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me. Gods covenant, confirmed to Abraham by an oath before the intelligences of other worlds, testified that obedience will be rewarded. It had been difficult even for the angels to grasp the mystery of redemption--to comprehend that the Commander of heaven, the Son of God, must die for guilty man. When the command was given to Abraham to offer up his son, the interest of all heavenly beings was enlisted. With intense earnestness they watched each step in the fulfillment of this command. When to Isaacs question, Where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Abraham made answer, God will provide Himself a lamb; and when the fathers hand was stayed as he was about to slay his son, and the ram which God had provided was offered in the place of Isaac--then light was shed upon the mystery of redemption, and even the angels understood more clearly the wonderful provision that God had made for mans salvation. 1 Peter 1:12. (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 155, 156 – Ellen G. White)
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 11:19:38 +0000