Reformed. Christianity. Evangelism. Modern Culture.
We many times moan and whinge when things do not go right. We grit our teeth at God when we see a maze before our eyes. Have you ever thought of the sovereignty of God? Have you ever understood the mind of God? May this testimony of John Farese be an encouragement. Crippled for most of his life but profoundly sober in his understanding of God’s sovereignty and scripture:
Would our understanding of God remain the same if He didnt lead us through hard times? God brings sufferings, persecutions, trials that our faith in Him may grow and be strong. Beloved of God:
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 ESV)
A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 
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I am humbled beyond belief and speechless.
Me too. What a wonderful man of God
So So So INCREDIBLY humbled by this. I never want to complain about anything ever again!
There you go.
Where is God when we suffer you ask ? God is in the same place he was when His Son suffered died on that cross some 2000 years ago on His throne.
The same place I might add when a person asks about some loved one whom has passed on to eternity… on His throne.
I ask you is it your God and your King on that throne ?
Are you sure of your salvation that when you pass to eternity that its the one whom you follow that sits on that throne .
You can be repent of your sins . Examine your standing in the Faith and see . Use the mirror of the 10 commandments on your life to see if you are what you claim you are . Are you broken and contrite of heart in your sins . As a believer are you in forever anguish as David said my sins are forever before me.
I say read scripture for if you are not then you are complacent in you life. You don’t hunger after one pleases the Father.
If Sin is not a battle in your life in many aspects I say too you .. do you have truly the heart of the Son of God in you.
Examine yourself to see you are in the Faith . Have you broken Gods law . The Law is good if used Lawfully. And how do you use it lawfully ? use it as it was given as a school master to lead us to Christ.
Then and only then can you find Biblical repentance to find on your own you cant repent how you must but with prayer to Christ he can do that perfect work in repenting of your sin.
Then brother or Sister your heart is able to me turned from a heart of stone to Christ giving you a heart of flesh to freely receive Grace.
Now with your heart of flesh that new creature in Christ can you can see how exceedingly sinful sin really is and be now living a life pleasing to the Father.
The knowledge of Sin is what brings you closer to Christ increases your Faith gives the Fear of God that you will have real pains in not wanting to fail and walk after the sin in this world.
Examine the Story of the woman at the well see how Christ relates to her in the natural first , brings he to conviction to her Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. then he has prepared her heart to receive saving Grace. Then and only then reveals to Her who He really is.
We need to follow His footsteps be as He down do what pleases the Father . Then we will have true converts soldiers for Christ ready to lay down there lives for there friends.
Be a labor not a layabout
Be a servant not a pew warmer
Put the passion you have in a hobby into a thing more beautiful . seeking to have the lost saved . If you could go on for ours talking about that car you love how much more should you be able to go on in talking about Christ and who He was.
Learn to share the Gospel in 3 minutes the waiting time in a Que. In 1 hr to a group of young people . 3hrs to a gathering of already so called believers to be able to challenge the mind to break the heart to convert the Soul.
If you cannot why not ? If you don’t why not ? look for strength for the one who can give you Christ in all things it can be done.
1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Do you clearly see it is Hard to do but do it all the same. Remember failure to do so Biblical will in uncertain terms lead others to stand with the same fears before a wrathful God on that day. Don’t be the preacher of a false Gospel leading many to go in through the wide gate but lead them to the narrow gate.
May God break your hearts with what breaks his that ye shall be workers for Him and not Luke warm that on that day he will spew out of His mouth.
I say in my strength examine yourself . Be sure of what you believe a work man need not be ashamed of his tools.
Id rather be humble now and serve than be humbled and cast out .
Make your calling election sure. Live each day like it was your last cause some day it will be you can be sure of that.
Think of this before you go. Christ stands before you and says “what on earth have you done for me lately ?”
Even So Lord Come Lord Come .
I can say this for my calling election is sure but there are many whom can`t truly pray that for the know deep down they have something wrong in the Walk.
Be sure and Know sure . Rather than leave it do it do it now . Better now than on that day of Judgement.
I pray…
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Cant and have you ever thought of when you pray that ? Are you without doubt that If you prayed that and it did Come would you be ready ?
Make it sure.
I pray.
Even so Lord Come . Amen
Reblogged this on The Truth Corner and commented:
This is one of the most humbling testimonies I have ever heard. God is not just sovereign during the times of blessings, but also during the times of pain & suffering.