Matthew 10:32-39 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mark 8:36-38 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.-------
As much as I would love to have world peace, I know that this isn't, at this present age, what the gospel is given to us for. It's not to have peace in the world or a trouble free life. It's to have peace with God.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Every Christian will go through some form of tribulation, trouble or trials. Not all things will go smooth sailing, maybe for some of us, we'll have a life full of trouble but if we have peace with God, then He gives us the strength to go through every single one of them.
So if someone preaches to you and tells you God wants you to have your best life now or a purpose driven life or how to have good self-esteem in our faith... that's not what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches.It teaches that we may have our worst life now, maybe as you walk with God those around you may believe you have no relevant purpose to society, self-denial.
2 Timothy 3:10-12 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Holiness is what it's all about. Giving up on what we want to accomplish for us, and finding out what God wants to accomplish in us.
Some of us have tried so hard to follow God and maybe are discouraged. Maybe we feel like, "God why am I so sinful? Why did you save me? I'm not strong enough to endure... "
And the truth is not that we have gotten weaker, but in a sense we have come to realize just how weak we are without Jesus.
It shows a repentant heart. And from my experience feeling discouraged at times, it's better to have a heart that recognizes sins and weaknesses with a willingness to keep pushing, than to accept it as something we'll never get over and give in to it.
I encourage you, even if you have to fast and pray in the week, just get closer to God. We've all been so preoccupied with so many other things, so lets just run to Him, and unload the burdens we may have been to proud to admit even to ourselves. It may just be that God will have to break some of us to realize just how useless we are without Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:12-16 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 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. 14 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. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Jesus went through hardships, the apostles went through hardships, the first time believers went through it too, so we really shouldn't be surprised when it happens to us.
So in your tough times, make sure you have peace with God. It's not about world peace. The world is passing away one day, you know?
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
