“The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike”
God is our refuge and strength
[mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and
well-proved help in trouble.
– Psalm 46:1
In times of trouble, God is calling us to turn to Him. He is “A very present and well-proved help in trouble.”
The message of Christ says,
repent, turn this way.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life….”
– John 14:6
Jesus teaches us that whatever happens to us in our life, we should “Show yourselves to be the children of your Father who is in heaven”. Whatever our need, whoever we are… God is always saying Turn to Me.
Verse 45“[show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven;
for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil
and on those who are good, and
makes the rain fall on the righteous
[those who are morally upright]
and the unrighteous
[the unrepentant,
those who oppose Him]”
– Matthew 5:43-45
When I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to Jesus
Calamities happen to all peoples.
Troubles are like the rain that falls on everyone alike. Sometimes that is why it happened: we are living as a temp in a temporary world – a world cast under God’s curse since The Fall of Man (see Genesis 3).
PIC: storm-threatening. By Nathan Anderson – tnGN20ILW2Q. Unsplash
Another type of trouble, however, can be used of God to stir up our attention to Him. There are many examples in the Bible (Ezekiel 38:18-23, , verse 11 of 1 Corinthians 10:9-14). The world does not believe this, but as Christians, we should read-up and know what the Bible actually has said on this.
Respect God’s Word
We must be careful not to blissfully label every dramatic event as God’s judgement, but at the same time we must respect God’s Word. Learn from what were clearly God’s past dramatic judgements and future prophecies (like Ezekiel 38:18-23).
– Source: God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
Real life historical events …for us to learn from.
Dramatic actions by God in the past are real life historical events for us to learn from. (See verse 11 of 1 Corinthians 10:9-14.)
The Bible clearly states that these following dramatic events were actions by God – because of His great displeasure. Excerpts from God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today:
* King Herod [Agrippa I] in early church days
The King willingly received worship of himself and “did not give God the glory”. See Acts 12:20-24.
* The 50,070 men of Beth-shemesh.
“He struck down 50,070 men among the people” See 1 Samuel 6:19.
* The twenty-three thousand.
“twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell [dead] in a single day!” See 1 Corinthians 10:8.
* Ananias, with his wife Sapphira in early church days
Both Sapphira and Ananias “fell down suddenly and died.” They willfully lied and embezzeled from the Lord, and “put the Spirit of the Lord to the test”, so God chose to make an example of them, causing them to fall dead suddenly. See Acts 5:1-12.
* Careless and unworthy participation in communion
Partaking of communion, participating without a repentant heart, or without repentance when you are in active sin, or having an attitude “without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ” (v30). See 1 Corinthians 11:18-34. “Many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death]”.
– Source: God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
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* George Washington Saved from death. A recent real history example: https://x.com/lakemonstercl1/status/1894004183059108086?s=51
Disbedience brought death… for some
If our troubles come because of our sinfulness, Paul writes that God wants to lead us to repentance. His purpose is to bring us back to Him, leaving our sin behind.
He disciplines His children – like a good Father.
“For [godly] sorrow
that is in accord with the will of God
produces a repentance
without regret,
leading to salvation…”
– 2 Corinthians 7:7-10.
7 …He told us about your longing [for us], your mourning [over sin], …I see that the letter hurt you, though only for a little while— 9 yet I am glad now, not because you were hurt and made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance [and you turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that you might not suffer loss in anything on our account. 10 For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death.
See also: 1 Corinthians 11:18-34.
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Hebrews 12:11 …trained by it
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].
– 1 Corinthians 10: verse 5
“…God was not well-pleased with [c]most of them, for they were scattered along the ground in the wilderness [because their lack of self-control led to disobedience which led to death]….”
What we humans do today,
and tomorrow,
and the next day –
can greatly offend God,
and sometimes
God will dramatically
show His displeasure
through dramatic events on earth,
even in today’s end days.
– Source: God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
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God is our refuge and strength. Are you turning to God?
The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, and
the One who rescues me;
My God,
my rock and strength
in whom I trust
and take refuge;
My shield,
and the horn of my salvation,
my high tower—
my stronghold…
– Psalm 18:2
God is our refuge and strength
[mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and
well-proved help in trouble.
– Psalm 46:1
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,
7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times.
That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]
– 1 Peter 5:6-9
“I press on
toward the goal
to win the [heavenly] prize
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature
[pursuing spiritual perfection]
should have this attitude….”
– Philippians 3:14-15
“as an example and warning”
Be warned. What we do, day-in and day-out, can affect us later, big time. He loves us – so He disciplines us.
“Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
– Verse of 11 of 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
FOR MORE:
In times of trouble – God is calling us to turn to Him for help. Whatever our need, God is always saying Turn to Me. Of course not all times of trouble are from the Lord. But Scripture does teach us that God sometimes brings us difficult experiences in order to cause us to turn to Him (1 Corinthians 10:11-13).
__________
When I find myself in times of trouble – I turn to Jesus
God still shows His displeasure dramatically – even today
* George Washington Saved from death. A recent real history example: https://x.com/lakemonstercl1/status/1894004183059108086?s=51
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold…
– Psalm 18:2
Living through our tunnel of sorrows
When I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to Jesus
This Hope we have – and what this hope does
God as Man – the short version
Being a Temp in our temporary tent
The discipline of the Lord in one link…Proverbs 3:11, 1 Corinthians 11:32, Hebrews 12:5
Psalm 51 type repentance and salvation Excerpt: Salvation requires sincerity and truth. According to Psalm 51: verses 6 and 17.
6 Behold, you delight in truth
in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom
in the secret heart.
17 The sacrifices of God
are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy on me,[a] O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight
Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on
“Through dark hallways” Toby Keith was leaning on his faith
Trophimus I left sick at Miletus
Can you really see what’s going on in the world?
Do not fear, I will help you, says our Shepherd.
God takes care of sinners Excerpt: We all sin. The allurements of the enemies of our soul entrap us with sin, saying, go that way.
The message of Christ says,
repent, turn this way.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life….”
– John 14:6
About the End Times…a growing series
50 Reasons why we are living in the End Times | by David Reagan
Five big time events coming soon
Did You Spot the Blasphemous Super Bowl Commercial That Mocked God and the Bible? 
“The first things” (our time now) of Revelation 21:4
“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the [a]former order of things has passed away.”
Why all my pain and sorrow, my sickness and worries?
14 [a]Yet you do not know [the least thing]
[b]about what may happen
in your life tomorrow.
[What is secure in your life?]
You are merely a vapor
[like a puff of smoke or
a wisp of steam from a cooking pot]
that is visible for a little while
and then vanishes [into thin air].
– James 4:14 Amplified Bible
Practicing Sin – Not Following Christ
Double-minded means both loving Jesus AND loving a different gospel
What God asks of us in the Bible
“and He
will wipe away
every tear from their eyes;
and there will no longer be
any death;
there will no longer be
any mourning, or crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.”
– Revelation 21:4
Salvation in Christ is beyond huge
Your “New Leaf”…once you have repented
Romans 2:12; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:9 (Three verses in one window)
The Rich, Young Ruler: Matthew 19:16-26; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-34
Why we never lose our salvation in Christ
Romans 8:15 “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[b]Abba! Father!”
Don´t Let It …Excerpt: Life is a series of choices. What you choose is up to you.
-
- Choosing to follow Jesus is a choice.
- Choosing to reject Jesus is a choice.
- Choosing to sin is a choice.
- Choosing to obey Jesus is a choice.
Your basic choice on earth is to choose or reject Jesus. Jesus said, “You must be born again.” That is your choice to make. Have you accepted Jesus? Been born again?
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Hebrews 12:11 …trained by it
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].
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