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Christian Suffering – Rick Bagwell
Tag: SUFFER
NEITHER FEARFUL NOR SELF-SUFFICIENT PART I
I JOHN 4:18 – THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT PERFECT IN LOVE.
FEAR MEANS DREAD, AND TORMENT MEANS TO SUFFER UNBAREABLE PAIN OR PUNISHMENT.
FEAR IS A TORMENT OF THE MIND. GOD REVEALED TO ME THAT FEAR AND WORRY ARE THE WORST THINGS WITH WHICH HIS MINISTERS HAVE TO DEAL. IT CAN PARALIZE. THIS COULD BE EMOTIONALLY OR PHYSICALLY. BOTH CAN BRING ON MANY DISEASES.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF FEAR AND DISEASE ARE PHENOMINAL.
WHAT WE CALL STAGE FRIEGHT, IS JUST AS REVELANT IN MINISTERS AS IT HAS EVER BEEN IN ANY PUBLIC SPEAKER.
ONE OF THE GREATEST RADIO VOICES OF THE PAST, C.M. WARD, WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS. HE SAID, MANY TIMES BRFORE HE WAS TO SPEAK, HE WOULD SIT IN THE WAITING AREA, AND ASK GOD TO RAPTURE OUT THE CHURCH RIGHT THEN, SO HE WOULDN’T HAVE TO SPEAK.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON OF ALL THE FRIGHTS IN THE LIFE OF A MINISTER; AND EVEN IN BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
BUT I FEEL THE MOST DAMAGING KIND OF FEAR IS THE FEAR OF FAILURE. TO FAIL, MEANS TO BE WANTING. THOSE WITH ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY, GET INTO FEAR. MOSTLY, BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR MINDS OFF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS; AND ON THEIR WEAKNESS.
PSALM 89:33,34 – NEVERTHELESS MY LOVINGKINDNESS WILL I NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL.
MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK, NOR ALTER THE THING THAT IS GONE OUT OF MY LIPS.
WHOM GOD CALLS, HE EQUIPS!! HE GIVES US ALL THE TOOLS WE NEEP TO PERFORM IN OUR CALLING.
IF WE COULD ONLY UNDERSTAND —NO!, WE CAN’T DO IT, BUT GOD THROUGH US CAN!
I USED TO SPEAK AT OTHER CHURCHES ON OCCASIONS. BUT LATER ON, I BEGAN TO FEEL THE STRESS OF MINISTRY, AND SAID TO MYSELF, “I’LL JUST SUPPORT MY HUSBAND IN HIS CALLING, AND LET HIM DO THE PREACHING.” I STILL MINISTERED TO PEOPLE AND TAUGHT CLASSES AND BIBLE STUDY, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO WHAT I CALLED ‘MINISTERING OUT, I WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT, AND LEFT IT TO MY HUSBAND.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? ALL THE DOORS CLOSED FOR ME.
I WAS WAS LOOKING AT MY ABILITY, NOT WHAT GOD COULD DO THROUGH ME. FEAR OF FAILURE HAD SET-IN. I WOULD BE ANOINTED AT ONE SERVICE, AND WOULD BE WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME I WOULDN’T BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF MY “COMFORT-ZONE”. I WAS STILL DEPENDING ON MYSELF AND SOMEHOW I GOT MY EYES OFF THE COVENANT I HAD WITH GOD.
DEUTERONOMY 31:6 – BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE, FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEM: FOR THE LORD THY GOD, HE IT IS THAT DOETH GOOD WITH THEE; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.
LUKE 22:32 – I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT…
FEAR AND FAITH ARE OPPOSITE. I DIDN’T REALLY SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH WHAT I WAS DOING. I WAS STILL AS BUSY AS EVER.
I BEGAN SOME YEARS AGO TO JOURNAL. I WOULD WRITE DOWN MY PRAYERSTO GOD, AND HE BAGAN TO SPEAK TO ME. HE WOULD TELL ME HE WANTED TO TAKE ME TO A NEW LEVEL WITH HIM. I WAS TO DEPEND ON HIM. I REALIZED I HAD LET FEAR AND WORRY, AND MY DELIVERY, KEEP ME FORM DOING WHAT HE WANTED OF ME. I WAS SO ASHAMED AND REPENTANT.
HE STARTED WITH A RADIO PROGRAM, “WOMAN OF GOD,” THEN, WRITING AND PUBLISHING THE SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE, AND MINISTERING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE IN CHURCHES AND PRISONS.
I FOUND OUT, ALL I NEED TO DO IS PREPARE, AND TRUST HIM TO OPEN DOORS. HE GIVES ME THE MESSAGES. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SPEAK WHAT HE GIVES ME, AND MOVE WHEN HE MOVES. HIS MESSAGE FOR THE HOUR IS ALL HE REQUIRES ME TO SPEAK.
I PRAY, SEEK HIM, AND SOMETIMES FAST, AND HE SHOWS UP, AND THERE IS A DEMONSTRATION OF HIS POWER: FOR HE KNOWS THOSE WHO WILL HEAR, AND HE KNOWS HOW TO REACH EACH PERSON.
THERE IS ALSO A WARNING THAT COMES WITH THE MINISTRY THAT SHOULD BE COVERED, AND THAT IS SELF-SIFFICIENTCY. WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS IN PART II.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
THE GREAT ESCAPE.
I know, from one of our last messages, Wilderness Experience: where Jesus revealed to us; when He went through those temptations, he did this for us. Again, what the Father revealed to me today, is a revelation, I am likely never to forget.
When we get to the place, of complete surrender to God and His plans and purposes for our lives, we never again have to be troubled about anything. There is great freedom that comes with this level of our walk with Him. The Lord said to me, “I will take you to the place of escape for every temptation. I prepared this for you, when Jesus was in the temptation wilderness with Satan. Now, you understand how I did it. I gave My people the way of escape. This was My purpose for this great experience of Jesus. Nothing can take you under. I have prepared the way of escape.”
I always knew after I read the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13, that God will make a way of escape; but I didn’t completely understand how the escape would come.
1 Corinthians 10:13 —- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation wilderness,also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Studying this verse an comparing it with Mark 1:13a let’s read it —- And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;…
Comparing these two, together, began to bring light to me: Jesus’ temptations; and our temptations.
Finding other references, that relate or connect, is also important for the full understanding of this great truth, or any other subject in the Bible: comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:10).
Hebrews 2:3a —-How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…
Escape means = to evade, or slip away from.
Temptation means = a testing designed to strengthen, or corrupt.
2 Peter 2:9a —- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,…
Temptation is withstood, through our trust in the faithfulness of God.
God has undertaken to defend, and deliver His servants, whether it is daily temptations, or the Great Tribulation period of the last days.
We all need to escape both.
Look at Luke 21:36 —- Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Jesus prepared the way of escape, but we can see in this verse we also have something to do: We are told to watch and pray.
This would go for any kind of escape we might need.
When Jesus was tempted in the Judean wilderness, He warded off every thrust by the power of the Scriptures.
God encourages us to call on Him in the day of trial.
The sentry or soldier, doesn’t advance or move forward, to meet the approaching enemy: he falls back, and gives warning to the commander.
So, when we are tempted, we should call upon our God.
It’s the difference in being strengthened, or corrupted.
temptation When God strengthens us, we just slip away from the temptation.
Joseph was given strength, by God, to do this very thing.
Most all Christians know this story, but for those who are listening who don’t, and those who would love to be refreshed, turn with me to Genesis 39:6b —- And Joseph was a godly person, and well favored.
Verse 7-9 —- And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house (or trusts me with everything in his house) and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Look at verses 10-12 —- And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her, to lie with her, or to be with her.
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went in to the house to do his business; and there was none of the men in the house there within.
And she caught him by his garment, saying lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out (he got out of there).
We know from the next verses, he escaped this temptation, but she lied on him, and his master, Potifhar, sent him to prison; but we also know God was with him, and even used him in prison.
Verse 21 —- But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Verse 23 —- The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made to prosper.
As time went by, Joseph began to interpret dreams.
interpret,butler,One morning, Pharaoh awoke from a dream that troubled him, (Genesis 41:7,8) and the chief butler told Pharaoh, that Joseph could interpret it.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and in verse 16, we read —- And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not dream,in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh shared his dream of which Joseph interpreted and verse 39 reads —- And pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet (or discerning) and wise as thou art.
Joseph showed himself not only to be a man of integrity no matter the cost, he showed himself to be a man who sought God.
My friend, sometimes when we escape temptation, the result is: trouble with man; but we can depend on peace with God. Obedience, and peace with God, are worth the stand we take. In the end, we win every time.
Verse 40 —- Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
We see Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken down to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard, under Pharaoh; promoted by God’s favor to the second to Pharaoh.
My friend, only God, can give this kind of favor, that a man could come from a servant, to the second to a king, in approximately fourteen years.
Most of Joseph’s life was filled with troubles and trials, but he remained faithful to God, and completely trusted God.
He followed God’s plan and purpose for his life.
If you are going through a time of testing or temptation, my advice to you is, stand strong in you conviction of what is truth, and keep your heart and mind toward God.
Now, there are sins of disobedience that can cause us to fail to escape the judgment of God. We will take these last few minutes, and go over some of the Scriptures that cover failure to escape:
HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Proverbs 19:5 —- A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Shall not escape what?
Revelation 21:8 —- But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
All liars are eternally separated from God.
IF WE GET INTO DARKNESS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 —- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
IF WE NEGLECT OUR SALVATION WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Hebrews 2:1-4 —- Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip.
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
How shall we escape, if we neglect (or disregard) so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.
IF WE JUDGE OTHERS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Romans 2:1-3 —- Therefore thou art inexcuseable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest (or criticizes anyone): for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(a question) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God?
Or we could say, Do you think God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too?
God is saying,— There is no excuse for you, whoever you are, that criticizes anyone for doing something you are doing yourself. When you are condemning them, you are condemning yourself. And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these.
RIGHT REVELATION WRONG UNDERSTANDING
MATT 16:13-26 WHEN JESUS CAME INTO THE COASTS OF CAESAREA PHILLIPPI, HE ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I THE SON OF MAN AM?
AND THEY SAID, SOME SAY THAT THOU ART JOHN THE BAPTIST: SOME, ELIAS; AND OTHERS, JEREMIAS, OR ONE OF THE PROPHETS.
HE SAITH UNTO THEM, BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?
AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, BLESSED ART THOU SIMON BARJONA: FOR FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE, THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.
AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.
THEN CHARGED HE HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY SOULD TELL NO MAN THAT HE WAS JESUS CHRIST.
FROM THAT TIME FORTH BEGAN JESUS TO SHEW UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, HOW THAT HE MUST GO UNTO JERUSALEM, AND SUFFER MANY THINGS OF THE ELDERS AND CHEIF PRIEST AND SCRIBES, AND BE KILLED, AND RAISED AGAIN THE THIRD DAY.
THEN PETER TOOK HIM, AND BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM, SAYING, BE IT FAR FROM THEE, LORD: THIS SHALL NOT BE UNTO ME
BUT HE TURNED, AND SAID UNTO PETER, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: THOU ART AN OFFENCE UNTO ME: FOR THOU SAVOUREST NOT THE THINGS THAT BE OF GOD, BUT THOSE THAT BE OF MEN.
THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME , LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME
FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT: AND WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT.
FOR WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL? OR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?
PETER WAS GIVEN A REVELATION OF WHO JESUS WAS BUT HE DID NOT UNDERSTADING OF THE CROSS.
PETER WANTED SALVATION WITHOUT A CROSS.
TODAY A SELF GOSPEL IS BEING PREACHED, ITS ALL ABOUT MAN, AND WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR US.
ITS A GOSPEL WITHOUT SACRIFICE, ITS A GOSPEL WITHOUT A CROSS.
THE CROSS IS AN OFFENSE, IT REPRESENTS DEATH TO OUR WILL, IT REPRESENTS DEATH TO OUR FLESH.
DOES GOD CARE ABOUT OUR NEEDS, OUR DESIRES? YES HE DOES, HE HAS A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF US.
MATT 6:33 SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS : SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
IF WE SURRENDER OUR LIFE TO CHRIST AND TAKE UP OUR CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW HIM, HE ACCEPTS THE RESPONSABILITY OF TAKING CARE OF US.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, WHAT JESUS DID THROUGH THE CROSS IS ALL ABOUT US, BUT THE MOMENT WE ACCEPT THE WORK OF THE CROSS, ITS ALL ABOUT HIM.
OUR LIVES BELONG TO HIM, PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAID SOMETHING I SHALL NEVER FORGET, ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU? BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY?
WHEN WE BECOME A CHRISTAIN, OUR QUESTION SHOULD BE, JESUS, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
WHEN WE COME TO THE CROSS, THERE IS SOME SUFFERING. WE IN THE USA REALLY FACE LITTLE PERSECUTION. FOR SOME ONE TO COME TO JESUS IN MANY NATIONS THERE IS MUCH SUFFERING. I ADMIRE THESE PEOPLE VERY MUCH.
WE NEED REVIVAL IN AMERICA, A REVIVAL OF PUTTING THE LORD FIRST IN OUR LIVES.
A REVIVAL THAT ONCE AGAIN FILLS THE CHURCHES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE REPENTING OF THEIR SELF LOVE AND TURNING THAT LOVE TO THE LORD.
REVIVAL BEGINS WITH SELF BEING CRUCIFIED.
WHAT A JOY IT IS TO BE CLOSE TO GOD, WHAT A BLESSING TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE EVER DAY.
FELLOWSHIPING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I AM PENTECOSTAL, AND I PRAY IN TONGUES A LOT, I LISTEN TO ALL KINDS OF WORSHIP MUSIC AND SINGING.
WE CAN CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT DRAWS GOD’S PRESENCE, IN THAT ATMOSPHERE I GAIN THE STRENGTH TO DIE DAILY.
MY FLESH OR MY OWN SELFISH DESIRES DISAPPEAR IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF HIS PRESENCE, THE OLD MAN DIES AGAIN AND THE NEW MAN STEPS FORWARD.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO SAY, JESUS THY KINGDOM COME THY WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE. I ACCEPT YOUR WILL IN MY LIFE.
PLEASE DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE ON SELF, GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN HIS KINGDOM FOR YOU, SEEK HIM AND YOU WILL FIND IT.
DON’T GO TO HEAVEN AS A TREE STUMP, CARRY SO FRUIT WITH YOU.
