Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the second step of spiritual ascension, repentance.
It is written in Matthew 5.4: ” Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” If we cry about our sins, we will be comforted. It is therefore essential to renounce sin in order to escape afflictions. And it is about those who cry because of their misery, as well as those who suffer from the miserable situation of the people of God. And the need for repentance leads to comfort and even to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We spoke extensively about repentance on August 12, when we insisted that the kingdom of heaven was near. In particular, we mentioned that Jesus himself preached on the closeness of the kingdom in Mark 1:15: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” And he preached the gospel of the Kingdom, as written in Matthew 4.23:” Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people”. These were achievements that would bring them to repent.
To be in affliction is to be in tears, pain and especially in need of comfort. That is why distress is part of human experience, and we note this through the following verses: Deut 4.30 ”When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him.’’; Mat 24.21 ‘’For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.’’ Jn 16.33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Act 14.22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Rom 5.3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
1 Thessalonians 3.4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
Rev 2: 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 7.14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
But what are the divine methods used to test humans :
- asking them great sacrifices: Gen 22: 1-2 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
(Exo 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning”).
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- leading them to a difficult path: Deut 8.2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deut 13.3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.)
- giving them the opportunity to choose: 1 Kings 3.5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”(In relation to Hezekiah: 2 Ch. 32.31: But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. Psa 17.3 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.)
- offering them difficult tasks: Jn 6.5-6 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
- allowing men to suffer when they are faithful: Paul and Silas: Act 16: 23-24 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. After being bludgeoned, they threw them into prison, recommending to the jailer to keep them safe. 24 And the jailer, having received this command, threw them into the inner prison, and put the vines on them.
Ec 7.2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. Jon 2.3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. Zec 13.9 This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’
2 Cor 4: 17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Heb 12.11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
As for divine comfort, it is given by:
- the God of all consolation: 2 Cor 1: 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
- the rod and staff of God: Psa 23.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
- the promises of God: Psa 119: 50,76 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Jesus Christ: John 14.27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Phi 2.1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
While human comfort is given by:
- Husbands: Genesis 24.67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
2 Sam 12.24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went to her and lay with her. She bore a son, whom he called Solomon, and who was beloved of the LORD.
- the children: Genesis 37. 33-35 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
- Friends Job 2.11-13 11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
- the prophets: Isaiah 40: 1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
1 Cor 14.3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
- The preachers: Isaiah 61: 1-2 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
2 Cor 1,4-6 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
1 Thes 2.11-12 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
All Christians: 2 Cor 2.6-7 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
Col. 4.11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
The affliction of the righteous leads to happiness:
Psa 94.12 Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law;
James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
1 P 3.14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.”
1 P 4.14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
In the end, it is good to go through the afflictions i order to be able to climb the other steps of spiritual ascension that lead to the temple of truth. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhorts us all to have a life worthy of the Lord, even though tribulations may be on the way. For afflictions often turn into blessings. So, to be able to go through, the trials show that the choice to walk by faith is a good decision for the glory of Almighty God. Our prayers strengthen you all in this matter.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to revert on your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing next week on the third step of the spiritual ascension which is gentleness.
May the Lord Almighty bless you in abundance.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of armies..