Acts 14:22 confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.
Romans 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.
James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Persecution and serious trials were regular fare for the early followers of Messiah. Apostle Paul who was stoned and left for dead [Acts 14:19] was not exaggerating when he affirmed, "Through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God."
Yeshua's mandate was to make disciples, and a careful study of discipleship in the NT suggests the difficulty of the narrow way (Greek: "thlibo": narrow, afflicted, distressed) [Matthew 7:14]. Many passages and examples in scripture support an expectation of trial and testing for true saints. Paul elsewhere affirms that "All who desire to live a godly life in Messiah Jesus will be persecuted; [2 Timothy 3:12].
Psalm 11:5 explicitly states that LORD tests the righteous. Persecution and trials are intended to increase and purify our faith and improve our character. A friend shares this proverb: "Why do bad things happen to good people? To make them better!" If Yeshua was made perfect through suffering [Hebrews 2:10] and we are his children, joint-heirs with Him, if we suffer with Him, we can expect to be glorified with Him.
Rejoice in the tough times, the seasons of rejection and heartache. Trials prepare us for glory. Yeshua is preparing His bride who will be like Him, made perfect through suffering. God will give you power to endure what your natural man deems impossible. And He will deliver you in due time. But not before His beauty rests upon you.
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The testing of Abraham’s faith was repeated by YHVH throughout the patriarch’s entire life. The tests grew greater as his life advanced, and through every one, whether Abraham passed or not, YHVH proved Himself to be his friend over and over again. Every test or “trial” involved a serious challenge or threat in which Abraham had to trust that the LORD knew what He was doing, asking, or requiring, and that His goodness and faithfulness were unquestionably reliable.
While I was in the States, I read several stories about Ronald Reagan that made me appreciate him as a person and as a leader. But one amusing story really caught my attention and made me smile. When he was a young man, Reagan worked at a radio station and sometimes played records of sermons. His shift at the station was a one-man operation and so, on occasion, Ron would set the record playing and then sneak out for a cup of coffee. One day he got a call while he was at the coffee shop from the station’s owner, ordering him back to the station, and then … he received his termination notice. He’d returned to the station finding the record skipping at a particular point in the sermon…
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