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GOOD NEWS Letters & SERIES Teachings>
2010, THE YEAR OF THE GREAT AMEN--JESUS!
January 22, 2010
2010, the Year of the GREAT AMEN--JESUS!
By: Pastor Abraham Bascon
Well...Praise the Lord it is 2010! A brand new year! For some folks, the challenges of 2009 took a good part of them; sometimes, even taking them to an extreme! Sometimes folks would not get a good night's rest because of certain trials and tribulations that they were going through. So, many folks find themselves taking their sufferings from 2009, and they are bringing them into 2010, along with whatever "new" troubles that they will be facing in the new year! But, let us NOT welcome these future trials and tribulations in an attitude of despair; but, let us count it ALL JOY as
JAMES 1:2 tells us! Yes, "Count it ALL JOY!"
2010 will bring new challenges, new trials, tribulations and new blessings too! But, we can Praise God that: God NEVER changes! HEBREWS 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever! And, keep in mind that it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie! (HEB. 6:18)
God knows what is in store for us for all eternity, and we can face ALL things through Christ who strengthens us! (Philp. 4:13)
Let 2010 be the year of the GREAT AMEN--JESUS!!
JOHN 16:33- "These things I have spoken unto YOU, that IN ME YE might have PEACE. In the world YE SHALL have TRIBULATION: but be of GOOD CHEER; I have OVERCOME the world." Here, and in JOHN 14, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Here in JOHN 16:33, He is actually saying:
If the world DOES NOT like you -- no big deal!
It is natural for the world to have that attitude toward you! YOU can EXPECT to have tribulation in this present age!
But, because JESUS has ALREADY OVERCOME the world, WE, being
IN CHRIST, and who are hated by the world, have also OVERCOME the world!
Jesus tells us in JOHN 10:10-"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY." This word ABUNDANT means: advantage. The "ADVANTAGEOUS LIFE!"
No matter what trials or tribulations we face, we have the knowledge, peace and victory IN CHRIST who strengthens us!
And, Jesus says: "I" have "ALREADY" OVERCOME the world!
I myself, have experienced many sufferings also. But, stick with the Lord! Have some "STICKABILITY!" And, STAY in the WORD OF GOD! You will NOT be alone! GOD is there! He is IMMANUEL, meaning: God with us! We will NEVER be alone! Through ALL of our troubles, God knows and understands us!
What we read in JOHN 16:33- is what defines us! It is what a Christian is all about! ALL believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will experience SUFFERINGS!
We have to trust that we are NOT alone! The WHOLE Body of Christ is going through trials and tribulations; and they hurt!
But these are the trials and sorrows that we experience as Christians!
The world also has it's share of worldly problems. Problems such as: abusive marriages, divorces, domestic violence, kid's problems etc... Even some of the same problems that Christians go through for being followers of Christ.
This tribulation in JOHN 16:33,(suffering for being a Christian), is what Jesus is saying that Christians SHALL experience! Therefore, if we had NOT suffered because of our faith in Christ, we need to 'examine'ourselves to see "if" we are "true" disciples of Christ; because, tribulation is something that Christians SHALL experience for Jesus' Name sake!
Now...Don't mix this up with something like: getting fired from your job etc.. For the type of tribulation I am speaking of, has to do with you being a Christian. If there is no "religious prejudice" at your job; and, you get laid off, well, It's probably due to company reasons or the economy etc..
In JOHN 16:33-, this type of tribulation that is spoken of here, is SUFFERING for CHRIST!
1PETER 5:8-9- Tells us to be steadfast in our faith. This is the same "suffering' as with the brotherhood! (other Christians) 1Pe 5:9 -"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1Pe 5:10- "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, (not for just two minutes; but, for a while), and because you are a Christian, through that
“suffering,” God will make you PERFECT (spiritually mature), STABLISH, STRENGTHEN and SETTLE you." The sufferings will make you a spiritual grown-up!! This is the MENTALITY that WE need to have as Christians!
This is something GOOD that will come out of our sufferings! The world might reject you; but, when you suffer again, you will have the STRENGTH to continue on!
You might say: "I thought the Abundant Life was a victorious life!" Yes, it is a victorious life! God can do ANYTHING! God can take a curse and change it to a BLESSING! That's why JAMES says: "Count it ALL JOY when these various trials come YOUR way!
The First Century saints went about and preached the Word; and teaching the things that Jesus taught them! And, as a result, there were "miraculous" healings, signs and wonders that took place! Upon seeing and hearing of this, the local officials apprehended the apostles for doing the work of God. If we were in that situation, we would probably feel that we were cursed; and, that it probably wasn't worth being a Christian! But the Word of God says: GOD WILL deliver His People! Even if it has to be "miraculously!"
In ACTS 5:17-42 - When the apostles were punished for preaching the Word of God, they were put into prison. And, God sent an angel! And, the angel set them FREE! Now, the apostles could have downplayed their preaching for a while; but, the following morning, they were back out there preaching the Name of Jesus! So again, they got arrested for doing the work of the Lord! They were brought before the council of elders. In Acts 5:29- Peter and the apostles spoke up: "We ought to obey God rather than men." They spoke out for the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon hearing these things that the apostles spoke, the elders were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them. In Acts 5:34-"Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;...(in other words, to let them go). Gamaliel explained:
Acts 5:38- "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: Acts 5:39 - But if it be of God, ye CANNOT overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
Acts 5:40 - And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should NOT speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go." But in Acts 5:41- And the apostles departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were COUNTED WORTHY to SUFFER shame for His (Jesus') Name. Acts 5:42- And DAILY in the temple, and in EVERY house, they CEASED NOT to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
The apostles suffered trials, sorrows and even physical beatings for Christ! Yet, this was the type of attitude and conviction they had!! They knew that JESUS was IMMANUEL! That He was GOD! They knew that God was going to deliver them!! They said that they would rather obey the voice of God; rather than of men!! They were'nt afraid, no matter what the consequences would be!!
In 2TIMOTHY 3:10- Paul writes: "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience..” 2Ti 3:11- “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto ME at Antioch,at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them ALL the Lord delivered me. ”
2Ti 3:12- Yea, and ALL that WILL live GODLY in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution." Apostle Paul says: God delivered him from ALL the sufferings that he was experiencing because he was preaching the Lord's Word! Yes, we are ASSURED in the Word of God that WE WILL SUFFER persecutions; but, we must have the same mentality as the Apostles had! They knew that God was delivering them from ALL persecutions! And, God can do the same for US!! Who knows who might be saved by God using YOU, even if you went to prison?!! With God, a curse can be turned into a BLESSING!!
Rom 8:16-"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Rom 8:17- And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we SUFFER with him, that we may be also GLORIFIED together.
Rom 8:18- For I reckon that the SUFFERINGS of this PRESENT time are NOT WORTHY to be compared with the GLORY which shall be revealed in US!" This is what takes place when we SUFFER with Christ! If we DON'T SUFFER with Christ, HOW can we say that we are children of God? (Good question to think about!) HOW can we say that we are “joint-heirs” with Christ?
(Think about it!)
So, DON'T misunderstand God's Word! The Abundant Life is a victorious, prosperous life! But, at the same time, we can SUFFER for our 'conviction' for Christ! SUFFERING for God is part of the Advantageous Life! Now... you might ask: "What about receiving blessings from God?" Answer: Don't you worry, God takes care of the birds; how much MORE will he take care of US?! He will supply ALL things according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus! (Phil. 4:19)
Now..."IF" SUFFERING for Christ's sake has been absent from YOUR life, pray that in 2010, that you will have YOUR share of SUFFERINGS for Christ! You will be a 'co-heir' with Christ!
Rom 8:17- "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we SUFFER with him, that we may be also GLORIFIED together. Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the SUFFERINGS of this PRESENT time are NOT worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in US." The SUFFERINGS that we experience in this life, CANNOT compare with the GLORY that we SHALL experience with Christ! Many folks would probably like to be a heir of someone like Bill Gates. But let me assure you that GOD is MUCH BIGGER and MUCH RICHER!! Remember: The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof!! (Psalm 24:1)
So, this is what we should be saying for THIS new year....
"In 2010...Do it AGAIN and AGAIN LORD!!"
That we SUFFER for Christ!! After all, it's ALL about Him!!
Let it be ALL ABOUT JESUS!! AMEN and AMEN!!
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