Greetings in Jesus name! I trust the each of you have had a blessed ad great July. We are blessed and highly favored. Ain’t God good? I am be young thankful for the blessing he has given me and his mercy that he shows each and every day.
You know, circumstances come our way that we don’t understand and I, myself, question God- WHY?
WHY did this happen, WHY did that happen? We are all guilty of having questions. We know that bad things happen to good people every day. None excluded. We are all affected by the harsh realities of life. We must acknowledge that we, as human beings are not eternal, infinite, or omniscient. We can not expect to fully understand Gods purposes and ways.
The book of Job deals with the issue of why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Job was a righteous man (Job 1:1), yet he suffered in ways that are almost beyond belief. God allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him, and Satan did his worst. What was Job’s reaction? “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him. Ultimately, that should be our reaction as well.
Why do bad things happen to good people? As hard as it is to acknowledge, we must remember that there are no “good” people, in the absolute sense of the word. All of us are tainted by and infected with sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). As Jesus said, “No one is good—except God alone” (Luke 18:19). All of us feel the effects of sin in one way or another. Sometimes it’s our own personal sin; other times, it’s the sins of others. We live in a fallen world, and we experience the effects of the fall. One of those effects is injustice and seemingly senseless suffering.
When wondering why God would allow bad things to happen to good people, it’s also good to consider these four things about the bad things that happen:
1) Bad things may happen to good people in this world, but this world is not the end. Christians have an eternal perspective: “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18). We will have a reward some day, and it will be glorious.
2) Bad things happen to good people, but God uses those bad things for an ultimate, lasting good. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). When Joseph, innocent of wrongdoing, finally came through his horrific sufferings, he was able to see God’s good plan in it all (see Genesis 50:19–21).
3) Bad things happen to good people, but those bad things equip believers for deeper ministry. “Praise be to . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). Those with battle scars can better help those going through the battles.
4) Bad things happen to good people, and the worst things happened to the best Person. Jesus was the only truly Righteous One, yet He suffered more than we can imagine. We follow in His footsteps: “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:20–23). Jesus is no stranger to our pain.
Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite the sinful nature of the people of this world, God still loves us. Jesus loved us enough to die to take the penalty for our sins (Romans 6:23). If we receive Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16; Romans 10:9), we will be forgiven and promised an eternal home in heaven (Romans 8:1).
God allows things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful (Psalm 135:3). Often, bad things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. Instead of doubting God’s goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). We walk by faith, not by sight.
PLEASE JOIN IN PRAYER AND FASTING FOR THE FOLLOWING:
MISSIONS
Rev. Mike and Julie McGhghy Aimers to Costa Rica
RESTORATION
Prodigals
HEALING
- Bro. Fred Bealle total healing
- Bro. Anthony Storey total healing
- Bro. Jeremiah Hayes mother-Tina complete healing
Chaplain Carman Hamby
Bro Michael & Sis Colton Frizzell
Vivian, LA
Pentecostals of Bossier City – Bossier City, LA
Pastor Jerry Dean
Bro Shane & Sis Carrie Hayden
Washington, IN
Victory Community Church – Washington, IN
Pastor Peter Aldrich
Bro Nicholas Smith
Washington, IN
Victory Community Church – Washington, IN
Pastor Peter Aldrich
Bro David & Sis Alicia Locke
Old River – Winfree, TX
Peace Tabernacle – Baytown, TX
Pastor Kenneth Grant
Pastor Gene & Sis Reta Alphin
Lincoln, NE
The Life Church of Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Pastor Gene Alphin
Bro Ken Johnson
Denison, TX
Truth Church – Denison, TX
Pastor Darren Gilbert
Forgive me Lord …
I have sat down and attempted to write this for several days only to have a hindering spirit press against my goal of putting to paper what the Lord laid upon my heart. I pray this softens someone’s heart in what might be a difficult situation.
Forgive Me Lord …. I think for many of us this might have been some of the first words we ever expressed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Coming to the Lord broken, many of our lives upside down looking for a way out of a sinful lifestyle, tired of all the shame and heartaches that plagued us in life. Whatever the reason that drove you to an alter of repentance for the first time I can only imagine that these words would have at some point been expressed.
Our heartfelt desire to be forgiven for the things we had done, the lifestyle we had lived especially for those that weren’t raised in the church like myself and many others within this membership. Given an opportunity to knee before the King of Kings and ask him to forgive us for all the ugly, sinful, hateful acts in our lives and he was faithful and just to not only forgive us of those sins but to wash them away he threw them into a sea of forgetfulness. How grateful we felt for that, to be forgiven and yet it seems we have, at time the inability of forgiving those around us for so much less. Those we feel have offended us one way or another. Whether it be the warranted or manufactured in our own hearts and minds, we need to be careful, after all;
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it. (Jer 17:9)
You see I don’t even know how much the Lord had forgiven me of, many of you know my past, however the Lord knows everything every dark, dirty unmentionable secret within my heart that he has forgiven me of. I am not just talking about the first time but included is every time since. I ask the Lord to search my heart everyday and forgive me of my sins. You see I do not want anything to come between the Lord and myself that would hinder our relationship. I suppose that is why I have a difficult time watching brother next brother both in church, both filled with the Holy Ghost having a fault one to another, the inability to forgive and allowing our foolish pride to hinder asking someone for forgiveness and if forgiveness is asked the inability to in fact do so, after all the Lord did so much more for us.
Jesus Christ hung on a cross so we would not have to, why, so we could humble ourselves and ask him for forgiveness, the first step in the plan of salvation. In addition not everything we repent of and ask for with respect to forgiveness needs to be sinful in nature; sometimes it’s attitudes and actions that need a check and balance. Perhaps a time out could be in order to do a personal inventory and compare those results to the word of God. Were quick to and assured of that the Lord has forgiven us, but has he ?
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.(Matt 5:23,24)
I don’t think there is much wiggle room here in this scripture. It’s pretty much cut and dry. How can I hold ought against my brother and expect the Lord to forgive me. How can I not forgive my brother after all the Lord did for me the only thing I can come up with is pride? To proud to go to a brother who might not even be fully aware of the offense or perhaps is hurting as much as we are only to pray that the gulf between us could be closed, but because were a stiffed neck generation that wound remains open seeping until is becomes infected with hurt, anger, strife, ill will and so much more. The Lord shows us forgiveness everyday should we not in turn show others the same courtly.
Does the Bible not say that we should be Christ like where does that line end, where do we stop being Christ like and become what he hates to see in us? Love one anther as I have loved you,
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (James 5:34,35)
Some might say I can love them but I just don’t like them, it doesn’t really work like that. We need to learn to forgive and forget it’s difficult but is possible. Because my word say;
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matt 19:26)
My Pastor early in my walk told me that earnestly praying for a person that has offended might not affect that individual’s attitude towards me (but it might) but it most certainly helps the way I look at them. I learned a long time ago you can’t earnestly pray for someone and not have it affect your attitude toward him or her. In other words I cannot pray sincerely for someone and not have the Lord soften my heart toward him or her, I have never known it not to work. You may not become best friends but one can walk brother with brother in the sight of Christ.
I closing I want to say if while reading this someone comes to your mind that maybe there is some riff between you. You don’t really know how to take that first step let me say just call them (don’t text) and talk to them from your heart let them know if there is an offense please forgive me. It will take some humility perhaps, especially if you are not at fault. Remember it might not be for them it’s more so for you. At that point in the sight of God you have fulfilled your requirements to make things right. If that individual refuses to acknowledge your attempt to set things straight it’s totally on his head, he will need to answer for that, you will not. You never know he or she might just be waiting for such a call and only eternity will tell whom all that one act might effect for the kingdom of God.
Registration is now open for the 2021 Azusa StreetRiders National Rally in Bossier City, Louisiana October 14-16. Instructions for pre registration- Log onto our website azusastreetriders.com and Click on events, scroll to National Rally and click on view details to register. Make sure to add the lunch/dinner plans you will be attending. Once you complete the registration make sure you receive an email to confirm you have completed the process and payment was received. Please contact me for any questions or if you need help with registration. We look forward to seeing you all at the National Rally!
25.00 Registration includes-Rally pin, Name tag, Business meeting donuts and coffee, Catered lunch for the Saturday business meeting.
God bless, Sis Laureen Theodore ASR International Treasurer
