How God deals with his people
- A reflection of the teaching by Alan Tee ( my district leader) @ NTU TR122
Man will face temptations , tests and trials in his life , but how does one deals with it?
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The key takeaway points :
1. To be a good Christian, overcome temptations
2. To be a better Christian, pass tests
3. To the best Christian, go through trials successfully
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A. Temptations- Do not love the world
Temptations appeal to your sinful nature............
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. ( 1 John 2 :15-17)
A1 : Appetite ie cravings
A2 : Covetousness ie wanting what others what
A3 : Pride ie boasting of one has or does
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Ed : Upon reflection , I realised that I am very guilty and had succumbed to all 3 types of temptations in recent months. I have failed to watch my heart, to guard myself...
God, I pray for your forgiveness, did I do not want to and will not, live in my past regrets and wrongdoings, that I will be be forward looking and live NOW, drawing strength from you, that I will guard myself against temptations, and to exercise self control, that I will always check my motives for doing what I am doing.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful : he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it ( 1 Corinthian 10 :13 )
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B. Tests
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthian 3 : 10-15 )
Tests appeal to and reveal your Christian convictions....
B1 : God allow it to happen
B2: Man tests man..ie testing by spiritual authority
B3 : Man test himself .. ie self test
..."Sometimes you dont really know why you are doing something until a test comes along and it reveals your heart's true desire .... "
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C. Trials
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance.4 Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ( James 1:2-4)
Blessed is the man who perserveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him ( James
Trials appeals to the HIGHER GOOD in you..
Trials are very unsettling....
"Trials does not answer why? when? what? "
- one may never understand why one is undergoing trials at that moment in time, maybe when it is over, as one reflects, one is able to see that everything links and happens for a reason
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
But maybe the trial will last til the very end, til one dies, but rest assured God is faithful, he will answer you why you have to endure this trial when you meet him face to face.
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Ed : What are the temptations.testing.trials that I am facing in my life right NOW?
1.Temptations that I am facing
- My appetite ( I am always hungry...literally...)
- My desire to go mountain trekking
- My desire to go travelling ( Tibet, Mongolia, New Zealand)
- My desire for intimacy???? ( As feedbacked by my shepherd)
2. Testings that I am under going/ have undergone recently
- Do I read the bible consistently, daily?
- Do I spent quiet time with God, pray to God regularly?
- Do I guard my own heart?
- Do I trust God to provide for my needs ?
- Do I trust God in my decision to let go of the relationship and move on?
- DO I trust God in all circumstances?
- Do I go out of my comfort zone, to love the people around me , to be geniuinely interested in their lives?
3. Trials that I am enduring ( are these really trials?)
- Forgiving myself and letting go of my past wrongdoings/sins Vs moving on
- Letting go of a relationship and moving on???
- Overcoming my pride?????
- Fulfilling my full potential in academics ???
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son
