What if the crisis and tribulations were not from Satan, but rather from God? What if “prosperity gospel” and the prosperity of the Gospel are two oposing ideas? One of man, other from God.
The church was pure and triumphant in the time of crisis and persecution that Satan lost. The final times we are living are the times we live comfortable, persecution free. What if that’s the Satan’s desire and his tactic, to prolong his days is giving us prosperity and peace, and God’s tactics in order to purify His church is to send persecutions?
- My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
- Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
- Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
- That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
"might be found ... at the appearing of Jesus Christ"
We can expect that manifold temptations will come to try our faith, right before Christ’s appearing
Early Church Scattered
- And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
- And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
- As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
- Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Paul takes pleasure in persecutions
What are the results of persecution?
- And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
In order to God’s strength be made perfect in us, we need a dependance on God, not on our own strength. For this reason infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distress have a beneficial effect.
- But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
- So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
- And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Positive effect of the bonds in Christ, is encouragement to others to speak with boldness the Gospel without fear.
- And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
- And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
- And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Apostles of Christ take glory in tribulations. They do not shrink away from it, because they know that the tribulations worketh patience → experience → hope → unashamed of the Gospel → freely sharing of the love of God.
- Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
- But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
- If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Fiery trials are the standard standard part of the Christian curriculum. Suffering for Christ’s sake is something we should desire, and take with gladness.
- If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
- But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
- Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
- For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
- Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Chastening is for our profit, a necessary ingredient to receive holiness.