Advancing Through Adversity

[Bro. Bill]

Deuteronomy 4:7
There are many people who get stuck in life’s hard spots, too scared or too bitter to move through the difficulty. Instead, these folks wait for the Lord to remove the trial, and yet He doesn’t always work that way. But God wants His children to trust Him so they can advance through their adversity.

The way that a person responds to hardship reveals his or her true character. And tough situations are the times when God’s children most need to match actions to words. It’s easy to say, “I trust the Lord” or “My God is faithful” when life is good. But unless believers recognize that He is sovereign even in adversity, they may be tempted to complain and seek pity. Christians who trust in the Lord’s faithfulness and supremacy will steadfastly focus on Him and as a result will see their anxiety and doubt subside.

In order to conquer adversity, we must begin moving through it. Even though we may not know what God’s purpose is, it’s essential for a suffering believer to surrender to His will. We certainly won’t like the pain, and we’ll definitely want the situation to change—fast. But giving the Lord free rein allows Him to mature our faith, conform us to the likeness of His Son, and fulfill His unique plan for our lives.

Surrendering does not seem like a way to advance anywhere. But in reality, we’re just handing over the controls to God and saying, “You guide me where You want me to go.” Doing so requires a lot of trust, but we serve a Lord who is worthy of our faith and confidence.

Have A Blessed Day!
Dr. Stanly

[Lowe]

Thanks.

[axisbuck24]

Thank you and a wonderful reminder

[LWolken]

Deuteronomy speaks of the past, present and future. It begins by saying..

Deu 4:1
Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD , the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Notice "O Israel" It does not read O the Jews. This is very important because we are the ones who God scatters among the heathens later in verse 27. All believers are included in the the audience which is the mixed multitude, the who so evers that choose to believe in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Deu 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

This is a very prophetic statement because the Jews (House of Juda) added to Gods laws, known as "traditions of man" Jesus did not come to do away with Himself when he challenged the laws of the saducees and pharisees He was challenging the man made laws they had added. Now for us Christians, well we subtracted the laws. We say that our father made two sets of rules, one for the older son and no rules for the younger son. (This is the parable of the prodigal son).

Deu 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

We are commanded to "keep" or guard them and do them. Our nations laws were founded on these laws. The laws we have today are a result of the "Mayflower Compact" we are so blessed today that these wise individuals choose Gods way to build a nation. At the same time we can see how quickley the adversary is destroying it. These were our wisedom and understanding just like they were for those who lived in the kingdom until we both turned our backs on them.


Deu 4:23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.

Deu 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen(gentiles, nations), whither the LORD shall lead you.

This is where we are today! We are in this land today as a result of our fathers, fathers disobedience to God's laws. They broke the covenant. This physical division occus in 1 Kings 10-11 where Solomon took many wives of other pagan nations and through lust caused him to worship false gods. His son Rehoboam made not one but TWO golden calves!

Deu 4:29-30 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress(tribilation) and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return (repent)to the LORD your God and obey him.

Believers are already seeing this tribulation today. Our country is headed in the wrong direction. We continue to remove God's laws and replace them with man's laws. We will reach a point where persecution is unbearable and will cry out to Him repenting of sins. Repent means to return, return to what we ask? Return to His laws, His ways or more properly described His instructions. We are to seek Him with all our heart. When we ask Jesus into our heart what we are really saying is we want the laws in our heart since Jesus is the law. Not just to hear them but to do them! Jesus is the instruction, the way the truth and the life! Jesus is the word of God(John 1:14) God spoke these instructions to Moses. Jesus is Gods voice.


John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.


I hope this helps clarify the reading in Deuteronomy today. Believers live in very challenging times today we are facing more and more obstacles and the only way to navigate them is with Gods word aka Jesus. Things will get worse but the good news is He will not fosake us.

Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God(Jesus) is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

[VorTexan]

Thanks Bill.

[NibletGillispie]

Thanks Bother Bill