GOD PICKS US UP IN OUR DOWN:

God picks us up in our down

In our age the believers in Jesus Christ are crying because they don't like what they see in the world. There is never a time when the Lord does not hear our prayers but he does not always deliver us right away. God will rescue us in His timing and His way.

Many Christians are down in this world because of everything they see around them but God wants to pick us up. "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." Psalm 34:17.

God may be the author of your persecution. Let me ask you a question. What if God were to tell you your situation is going to get worse but my grace will become even stronger in your spirit? How would you respond? Would you say no way or O.K ?

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12-13. I look at the first sentence of this verse and it is very interesting that the word strange comes up twice.

Every time I hear somebody say," That was strange," confusion is always present. We ask why but the Bible already gives us the answer. We are being tested or as the Bible says ..." The fiery which is to try you" ... 1 Peter 4:12. We are to expect it but why do we put our hope in this world wishing everything will be right?

The Bible teaches that this present world system is beyond redemption. "Beloved, think it not strange" ... so we might as well just program ourselves to expect the trial that is out of the ordinary in our daily routine. We sometimes get so shocked when our life falls apart. We may be doing something right if you know what I mean.

I know this is just the opposite of how our mind works but the Bible actually tells us to rejoice. If we are living for Jesus Christ we are going to be partakers of Christ's sufferings. Some people may be asking, "Do you expect me to be glad?" You may not be at that point yet but as this verse progresses the Bible says ... "When His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

We are not really glad until His glory is revealed. A question may arise, "When does that happen?" I don't like to give a one size fits all answer on this question. For some people it is a lesson on earth but for others this promise is for heaven. I can tell you that our trials especially the deeper ones are to test us on earth but the wideness of our pain goes into eternity as a learning process.

When we are assigned tasks in heaven we will never forget what happened to us on earth until one thousand plus years later after the earthy reign of Jesus Christ. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4.

If we die before the return of Jesus Christ or are raptured we are going to remember our lives when we are in heaven. The way we lived and what we went through will not be erased from our memory. Most Christians think they are just being sifted in their character down here but we are also being trained for our roles in heaven so we can meet the needs of others in eternity.

Then we will be able to give more glory and praise to God in heaven.There are so many passages in the book of Revelation where we see everybody praising God with passion. One of the reasons for this is because of the trials we are assigned to on earth. We remember what we went through and what we learned.

That is why amazing grace how sweat it sounds will be able to just come out with understanding. Just like 1 Peter 4:12-13 says we won't just be glad but exceeding joy will be in our spirit or..." Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5.

If we are going through something one of the best decisions we could ever make is to wait on the Lord. "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31.

Waiting on the Lord and having our strength renewed go hand in hand. Look at the part of the verse that says, ... "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Did you ever see a dedicated Christian just walk through walls everywhere he or she goes no matter what is taking place in his or her life? I have but I don't see it often. When I do they either make lemon into lemonade or when everything is going well they just mount up with wings as eagles.

They have the mind and heart set that they live once and are going to live for Jesus Christ while there is still time on earth. Most are not rich but are very wealthy in the eyes of God. If you are going through a trial the best thing you can do is, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." 1 Peter 5:6.

We have to be patient because God will exalt us in His time. If you are an unbeliever you need to understand that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We should be coming to Jesus Christ the humble way with sincerity now while we are on earth. I hope you make that all important eternal decision to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting the Son of God in your life. If a problem to big or a sin to strong is hurting you pray about the issue and give it over to God.

(9) "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11.

God Bless you,
Bob D.