Our Haters Can Be A Blessing

"The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions.  Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.  While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.  He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd.  When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.  The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains.  Then he asked who he was and what he had done."  Acts 21:30-33 (NIV)

Because of his preaching and teaching, the Apostle Paul had angered some of the Jewish leaders so much that they stirred up a crowd of Jews against him.  They had seized him and were beating him with the intent of killing him.  The commander of the Roman troops was responsible for keeping order within the city.  When he heard about the riot, he took some troops to the scene to restore order.  To control the crowd he arrested Paul.

In those days, Christians were hated by the Roman leaders and by the Jewish leaders. So basically, one enemy saved him from another enemy.  We need to recognize that God can use our enemies and our haters to be a blessing to us, in spite of their feelings and intentions towards us.  The Lord can make our enemies our footstool.  (Psalms 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:30, Luke 20:43, Acts 2:38, Hebrews 1:13, & Hebrews 10:13)   Our blessings can come from what seem to be some strange places.

We Will Be Tested

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith; of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire; may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter told the scattered Christians who were being persecuted by the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders, that for a little while they would have to suffer. However, the suffering, trials, and tribulations were part of a process that would test their faith and make them stronger, better Christians, just as gold is refined and purified by fire.

Today we can be assured that we will have troubles and that they will come in many forms, family, relationships, employment, finances, sickness, and the death of loved ones. We need to know that our troubles are temporary, they will only last for a season. We need to understand that our troubles, trials, and tribulations are only tests of our faith to see if we will persevere or give up. Finally, we need to remember that we will triumph over our troubles if we keep the faith. Jesus has already overcome the world and if we believe we will also overcome. (1 John 5:4) If we keep the faith, we are on our way to hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant ..." (Matthew 25:23) "We've come this far by faith..." don't give up now.

Trust In The Lord And Not In Man

"Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught ... My heart is in anguish within me ... Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me ... If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God ... But I call to God, and The Lord saves me ... men who never change their ways and have no fear of God. My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. Cast your cares on The Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you." Psalms 55:1-23 (NIV) Shortened

This psalm of David is one of his prayers. He prayed this prayer when he was being attacked from without and from within, and even some of his friends had turned on him.

Not only are we suffering from the attacks and disappointments from others, but our thoughts and emotions are negative and out of control. This psalm of David advises us to pray when things seem to be going wrong. David also warns us to watch out for our "so-called" friends. We expect attacks from our enemies, but not from our "friends." These "friends" will attack us, usually verbally, and break promises made to us that they never really intended to keep. They are smooth talkers, but they have malice in their hearts. Trust in The Lord, for only He can protect and sustain us.

It Is All Good Because It Is All For Our Good

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Here James basically repeats the lesson taught in Romans chapter 8, verse 28, that all things work together for the good of those who love The Lord. James uses different words saying count it all as joy when you go through trials. Dealing with trials is what matures and completes us.

Like it or not, storms, trials, and bad times are necessary for our growth and development. Just as plants do not develop a strong root foundation when the water and nutrients that they need are readily available on the surface. The roots of plants grow deeper into the earth during dry and hard times. Persevering during the trials and storms of life cause us to strengthen our foundation by testing our faith. Although the bad times are not fun or easy to deal with, we are better off for having gone through them. We should consider the trials that we endure training and preparation for future rewards. They are the precursors to good things. So, trials and tests are, in fact, good things themselves. So, as we go through life, we should count it all as joy.

Are You Built On Solid Rock Or Shifting Sand?

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Our house, our religious life, will be tested and judged. Only those whose house is on the foundation of belief in and obedience to The Word of God will stand through the tests of life and the judgement. Just going to church once in a while or once a week is not enough. We need to believe, read, and live The Word of God.

The rock is The Word of God. The shifting sand is human opinion and the doctrines of man. Is your foundation built upon the solid rock or on shifting sand?

Trial Of Our Faith

Just as our works will be judged in a trial by fire, so will our faith also be judged in a trial by fire.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious that of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ ..." 1 Peter 1:7

Whereas our works will undergo a trial by fire on that final day of judgement, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, our faith will be tested frequently while we yet live. The question is, do we maintain our faith in Christ while we are going through various trials and troubles in this life.

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations..." 1 Peter 1:6

The tests (... temptations ...) of our faith shall be varied (... manifold ...), grievous (... heaviness ...), and temporary (... for a season ...), but not sufficient to cause us to loose our Christian joy (... greatly rejoice ...).

So, don't worry about whatever it is that you are going through, it's only a test.