05/03/2024
My devotional reading by E.M. Bounds today was titled "Trouble Has No Power" and he said this about life's challenges: "Good and bad alike experience trouble. Trouble is no evidence whatsoever of divine displeasure." As Christians we have heard this many times and from a number of sources, and we know it to be true, but if we are not careful and seek God as we should we might find that the world’s troubles can distract us from our spiritual resolve. If we are not careful then we will allow the world to place itself between us and our prayer closet, and Satan will use our earthly troubles and circumstances in an attempt to encourage fear, and to discourage our deep abiding love and belief in God, and Jesus Christ. Satan has no power over us as believers that we can’t overcome by holding firm to God’s Word, and knowing that His Son Jesus has taken our sin from us, and conquered death. Is our relationship with the divine secure in our faith, and belief in Christ?
“For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”
Hebrews 12:18
Then Bounds concluded with this thought:
"Trouble has no power in itself to interfere with the relationship to a saint of God." – E.M. Bounds
The bible gives us many examples of trouble befalling righteous men; not the least of which is the story of Job which every pastor uses as an example. So if we believe this (and it is scriptural) then what does this mean to us personally? Do we gather strength from other verses as well?
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:44-45 KJV
If we stop and contemplate trouble and trials, we will come to the conclusion that although both good and bad people experience them, the difference lies in how we as righteous men and women deal with these challenges. In Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus teaches us that we should handle our problems in a Godly manner... Because we are the children of our Heavenly Father.
The beatitudes are full of wisdom as to how we should face trouble in our lives, from looking towards the kingdom of heaven even though we are poor in spirit, to rejoicing and looking for heavenly reward even when we are persecuted, because the prophets were also persecuted, and finally to love our enemies.
The bad in this world will handle their problems in a very different manner... They will take and steal when they are in need, they will lie when faced with a disadvantage, and they will kill when confronted by harm.
Unfortunately there are many in our society who view the behaviors of the bad as being not only acceptable but also good. They interpret cruelty as strength, lying as a strategy, and stealing as survival. These are not the ways of the righteous nor of the God who causes the sun to rise over both good and bad. God will one day judge us both... which do we choose?
Today when we pray, let's ask God for His help in dealing with our troubles; let's recall the Word of God when we are praying and struggling to find solutions to our many problems, and let's praise Him for keeping us upright even as the evil that surrounds us seeks to knock us down. Our behavior should not be dictated by this world, but ruled by heavenly decree, and when that is so we can rest assured that God will guide and protect us in every situation.
A few years ago, following an afternoon prayer meeting in preparation for praying during the National Day of Prayer Service here in the United States, I wrote the following…
How Sweet the Voice (Poem)
By Rich Forbes
How bitter the moan of the spirit filled with guilt and remorse.
How sweet the voice that carries the prayers of those who suffer.
How full the tears that fall on folded hands for those who mourn.
How joyous the shout of the jubilant who prays past sin.
How smooth the skin of prayer's fruit which returns to waiting lips.
How great our God who bends to hear the pleas of the broken.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who being like us has become our High Priest, and leads us through the trials and tribulations of this world. Thank you for your Holy Word and its power to strengthen us when we face fear, that by speaking it, it will conquer Satan’s temptations in the spiritual war that rages about us. Teach us to use your Word as Jesus did to combat temptation, and Lord embolden us in our prayers as we pray to you against the powers of darkness. Help us Lord God to pray for those who are bad, and for our enemies, that they might come to know Jesus as their Savior, and thus be transformed from our adversaries into our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let your Holy Spirit guide us in our prayers as we pray for the souls of all those who come against us, and seek to destroy us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy are you who loved us enough to send your Son Jesus to live, die, and be resurrected that we would be redeemed, and be freed from sin and death. Your grace has saved us and glorified you Father, so teach us to pray for those men who don’t know what they are doing so that they will turn their faces towards Jesus, and come to believe in you. Save them as you have saved us. Give them hope in the troubles of the world just as you give us hope. Allow them to experience your peace and joy in their times of trouble as we do, for this is the day that you have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it… even in the face of the frightening storms that shake the earth beneath our feet. Praised be your name Father, now and forevermore, and all glory be yours for all eternity.
“Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”
Hebrews 12:14-18
Rich Forbes