No. 1504: Trials and difficulties as a Christian are God-willing, and in accordance with what God Himself says we as believers will experience!

No. 1504:
Trials and difficulties as a Christian are God-willing, and in accordance with what God Himself says we as believers will experience!

I think Ole Brumm has a nice attitude to things, "Yes, thank you both!"
That the Norwegian state helps people who have voluntarily joined a terrorist organization such as ISIL. It's good when the options were so bad to not help!

But that the same state opposes me and us as a family is unnecessary. Such discrimination is evil.

They could have played well with us, unfortunately they have chosen an aggressive and simple path. This can neither be defended nor understood; it only shows that many times terrorists and criminals are actually stronger than law-abiding and productive citizens. It's like God's Word says, this world is in the dark.



James 1 2 Take heed for joy, my brethren, when you come in all kinds of temptations, 3 knowing that the trial of your faith is patience; 4 But patience must lead to perfect work, that you may be perfect and whole, and lack nothing.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has stood his test, he shall receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

The basic text reads freely and briefly:

2 Enjoy only the difficulties you encounter.
3 Then testing your faith creates and produces endurance.
4 And let this endurance characterize you so that when the difficulties come, you can be perfect and complete, and lack nothing.
12 Blessed is the man who endured, for when he is tested, he will receive the resurrection crown that God gives to those whom he has found worthy and he loves.

As believers in the year 2020 here in Norway and Europe, we are far too well used and can withstand very few times.
Unfortunately, I've been there when God has allowed things to get in my way.
Then I have not been able to stand up and oppose what will adversely affect me.
It also affected my family and others. Simply suffered defeat.
Scripture speaks of this many places, here is a suitable scripture.

Word. 24. 10 If thou art discouraged in the day of affliction, thy power is poor.

Must give an example of how weak I once was, which just shows where I am today. Then it has been a process and way that I have gone!

We had come out of it when we had bought an apartment when prices were at a peak in the winter of 1988/89.
In 93 we sold at a loss, but we did not need this when we could rent it out and rent another apartment.
What did we do, or rather I said when it was I who controlled this.
Contrary to what was obviously the best and correct.
This later arranged God for the best, but so I could have continued to tell and explain that one is not taught to live as a believer one day.
The fact is that it takes years - yes, a lifetime!

What we go through as believers - is the will of God in the sense that God allows. The reason why he allows and lets things happen can be for several reasons. But we as believers should act and be different, and thank the Lord in all circumstances. This is what Scripture says.

1 Thess. 5. 18 thanks for everything! for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus unto you.

The basic text states freely the following:
In any case, thank you, for what happens to you is according to God's will with you in Jesus Christ.

In other words, we should never complain, be angry, angry, tired or take back with the same coin, this is the word of God.

King David got into trouble, where he could both retire. Yes, even took the life of his enemy when he was King and had thousands of men under him.

2 Sam. 16. 5 And when king David came to Bahurim, there came out from there a man related to the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera; he was cursing 6 and throwing stones at David and all King David's servants, while all the people and all the bravest warriors went with him, both on the right and the left. 7 And Shimei bound him, saying, Away, thou, thy blood-dog, thy riddle. 8 And the LORD brought again upon thee all the blood that was moved in the house of Saul, he in whose stead thou wast king, and the LORD hath given the kingdom to thy son Absalom; behold, now you are in the misfortune you have deserved; for a bloodhound you are. 9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and hit his head! 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? When he banners, and when the Lord has said to him, Ban David! - who dares say: Why did you do that? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who is gone out of my life, standeth after me; how much more then this Benjaminite! Just let him curse! For the Lord has commanded him. 12 May the Lord look to me in my distress, so that the Lord gives me happiness in return for the curse that has struck me today. 13 And David and his men went by the way, and Shimei went up into the valley by the side of him, and he went and fled, and he cast out dotted with stones and sand as he walked there with him.

What did King David do here? We read that Sime'i, Gera's son, cursed King David in the worst, and made strong accusations that now he got back for what he had been like. The claim he made must have been very hurtful and painful to David. But how did he react? We read further here in the books of Samuel.

2 Sam. 19. 15 Then the king set out on his way back, and came to Jordan. Then Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king and lead him over the Jordan. 16 And Benjamin the son of Shimei, the son of Gera, of Bahurim, went down, and went down with the men of Judah to meet King David; sons and twenty servants; and they hurried over Jordan before the king. 18 And the ferry went over the river to carry the king's house over, and to his disposal in all things. But Shimei the son of Gera fell to the king when he went over Jordan; 19 And he said unto the king, Lord, count me not my bread, nor remember how thy servant did it in the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem. The king must not let it go to heart! 20 For thy servant knoweth that I have sinned; but behold, today I am the first of all Joseph's houses to come down here to meet my lord the king. 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei slay his life, he that hath cursed the anointed of the Lord? 22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be my adversaries? Should any man in Israel die today? I know that I have become king of Israel today. 23 And the king said to Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king swore to him.

Here came Sime'i, Gera's son, with a very dubious prayer for grace. What did David do then? After all, he completely overlooked and allowed God to take care of things. King David would go ahead and spend time and energy on completely different things. That is what must also be our focus and desire, move on with God - always!

This Simei, son of Gera, died at the hand of King Solomon. This is also a very interesting and instructive section of God's Word, which I will briefly mention.
This Shimei, son of Gera, was granted "grace" by Solomon to dwell in Jerusalem, but was not allowed to leave. As in some form of house arrest. This he broke and had to make good with life. He got back for what he sowed, but several years later.

1 Kings 2. 39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei escaped to the king of Gath, Achish the son of Maacah; and it was reported to Shimei, Thy servants are in Gath. 40 Then Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Achish in Gath to seek his servants; Then Shimei went there and brought his servants back from Gath. 41 But Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned. 42 And the king sent messengers unto Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not swear by the LORD, and say unto thee, Surely thou shalt know that on the day thou goest out and goest to another place, shalt thou die? And you answered: That's right what you say; I've heard it. 43 Then why did you not obey the oath sworn by the Lord, and the commandment I gave you? 44 And the king said unto Shimei, Thou knowest all the evil that thy heart knoweth that thou hast done unto my father David; and the LORD now bringeth back thy wickedness upon thy own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall stand before the Lord for ever. 46 And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out, and smote him, and he died. And the kingdom was safe and secure in Solomon's hand.

We do not need revenge on anyone, before or since we get their verdict and finally!

Final Comment:

The basic text freely and briefly states the following in Jacob's letter 1:
2 Enjoy only the difficulties you encounter.
3 Then testing your faith creates and produces endurance.
4 And let this endurance characterize you so that when the difficulties come, you can be perfect and complete, and lack nothing.
12 Blessed is the man who endured, for when he is tested, he will receive the resurrection crown that God gives to those whom he has found worthy and he loves.

As believers, we sometimes live among Gentiles who live, walk, and love darkness. Then we have to count on attacks from the enemy, but we must remain standing after winning and overcoming everything.

Here from my Bible commentaries Ephesians 6. 10 Finally: Be strong in the Lord, in His mighty power!

Then Paul jumps from the human and natural part to the spiritual. But all this goes together. God's Word encourages us to become strong and overcome. We become that by obeying the word of God and putting on His mighty power. Even in GT there were powerful promises to be obedient which we find among other things. in Deuteronomy 28, how much more in the new covenant!

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can withstand the devil's insidious attacks.

Here we will put on the full armor of God. What it is and includes comes in the next e versene. We will not only wear some parts of the armor, but the whole armor. But there are so many believers who never come out or go out in the spirit struggle that this is something they can't quite relate to. It is only when one has been in a fight that one realizes how important and vital this is. If you have been in a fight and suffered defeat, then you will do everything you can to not suffer defeat in the next fight!

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist the evil day and stand after overcoming everything.

Therefore, the apostle urges believers to put on the full armor of God so that they can resist the evil day (v. 13). The days are different. Some days we look back with joy, others we would rather forget. We do not know anything about the days to come, but from experience, some will be good others evil. We should note that the Devil is a strategist and would like to find a day when we feel everything is difficult and heavy, then he comes with his cunning and temptation to try to lead us to fall.
Particularly evil days for God's people are times of persecution. In our day, many in the world are being persecuted for their Christian faith, and the world is experiencing more martyrs than ever in history. The time of persecution will culminate in the coming of the Antichrist and the great tribulation. Therefore, it is important that we put on the full armor of God so that we can stand.
(quote at the end.)

What do we as believers need? What position should and should we be in?

The apostle Paul says the following "so that you can resist the evil day and stand after overcoming everything."

Yes, after everything that comes against us, we are both to stand, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Room. 8. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels nor powers, nor what is now nor what is to come, nor any power, 39 neither height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall separate us from the love of God. in Christ Jesus our Lord.