OF TRIALS AND TROUBLES (5th part)
Judas and his 30 pieces of silver
Judas means ‘praise’ (of Jehovah). In all our trials the Spirit of God is always there to encourage us to victory, only if we will acknowledge His presence with songs of praises. Did he not hear, “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born” [Matthew 26:24]. He chose the trajectory of destructive failure for himself! Ask the rich man, from under whose table Lazarus used to pick crumbles, if he would have loved or expected a better treatment if he were to be in Lazarus’ shoes and Lazarus were to be him. We, each and every one of us, know what good thing should be done; the truth is we are so apathetic when it comes to the facilitation of the alleviation of the quandary fellow beings get entangled. This rich man is the architect of his after-life traumatic experience.
“If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”
Woman with the issue of blood acknowledged the fact that she was faced with a problematic situation. Yes, she had been to too many places. Yes, she had spent all she had to professional and unconventional health practitioners to no avail. This woman with an unprecedented health issue was able to apprehend another possibility. “Yes”, she told herself, “it’s quite surmountable, this trial”. When all avenues prove abortive, there is yet the Jesus untapped solution. She heard of Jesus, we all do; it is just that we discountenance this one great solution to all problematic issues of earthly life. The woman said what only faith prods man to an eventual achievement, “For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole” [Matthew 9:21].
Trials are meant to prove who we truly are and what is achievable. She made a connectivity with the sinless, last Adam. This is the very first step in anyone’s quest to being an overcomer. When she came to Jesus she did not listen to discordant faithless input of the evil adversary. The Mosaic Law disallows a menstrous woman coming face to face with a man of God not to mention an audacious physical connectivity. Faith is an enabling tool that gets you the right words of doing business with the LORD God. I do not know how messy any trial can be, but I tell you, although I am not a female, it will be difficult to see a more harrowing disturbance to what this woman went through. 12 is the number of Jesus. The blood that issued from her represents the captivity of man’s sinful nature. None can save from the Satanic entrapment of sin save Jesus, the Author of life. Be wise, reach out to the Deliverer!
Paul, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, comparing scripture with scripture (1Corinthians 2:13)
Whether you want to do good things or you are already on the path of righteousness, you will definitely face daunting challenges. You can remain undaunted like Paul of Tarsus, that great apostle, evangelist and Church planter of all time. Hear him in 2Corinthians 11:24-31. 24) “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29) Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not”. One day Paul, in his farewell message, wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: v8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2Timothy 4:7-8. The word ‘fought’, in the Greek is agōnizomai (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee): ‘to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something)’. His fight was legally fought in that he said, “I have kept the faith”. Do things according to the word of God. You will succeed. Amen!
Was the Lord Jesus spared?
Jesus was not spared. He came to His own whom He had created, promised Abraham to protect, led from Egypt with great power. Even when your closest ones are against you, keep looking at Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The word ‘author’ is archēgos (ar-khay-gos’): ‘a chief leader’. And ‘finisher’ is: teleiōtēs (tel-i-o-tace’): ‘a completer, that is, consummater’. Jesus is your Chief Leader in every good deed. HE is the Completer of all the well intentioned struggles we encounter. This is why HE came to our world: to identify Himself with our trials and troubles. We are, for this reason, overcomers. Amen! (Concluded)
Read the 4th part here.
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