Tribulation

To everyone who has begun their walk on the narrow path, only to find some form of resistance. After thinking the rest of your life would run smoothly, and you'd get everything you wanted in life because you gave yourself to christ. You were mislead.

Some of you may need to be told, or at least reminded, of why you face trials, temptations, persecution, mockery, harder pulls towards things that are worldly and hated by God.

It is through these trials that our endurance is strengthened, it is only through learning to keep our eyes on christ when all around us is swirling in turmoil, and learning how to come to our knees and ask for strength from the one who gives without measure to all who ask truly.

It is not the words of the prayer that do anything for you, for if you simply speak the prayer and expect something to happen then it will be useless to you.

In asking for things of righteousness, such as strength to overcome adversity. Guidance in the word on how to proceed. (Not in asking God if it's ok to put your shoes on or things like that which you should be able to judge by yourself)

Or asking for help for a neighbor in need (neighbor doesn't mean someone who lives next to you)

Only if you yourself are unable to offer them aid as we are all called to do, and call to God when it is truly above our ability.

Ask him in christs name to guard you and strengthen you to push through temptation, because we are taught many times that it is never of our own strength that we move forward. But only in relying on the strength given from God through true belief in our Lord and savior. And in forgiveness given by his blood alone and not anything we can do to make amends.

Or the various other things to ask for in pertaining to leading a righteous life, full of overwhelming love, kindness, Gentleness (not in accepting sins of others but helping them to see the light of the truth if they would hear it)

In these things are the fruits of the holy spirit within you that you received when you beleived fully in Jesus Christ and accepted him with the true faith and the will to obey him.

Some of you have given me great JOY! In hearing how the spirit spoke to you in what to do. Through a pull to the heart or conviction within yourself.

It is in heeding that feeling that we strengthen our bond with the spirit, and in denying things that feed the fleshly desires trying to overtake us when we walk with him.

Always be examining yourself to make sure you walk according to him.

For if you judge yourself in following the whole of the truth in the word, then you need not fear being judged.

Judge righteously and in a way that leads to repentance and a fasting that kills the fleshly desires within you.

Ask without doubting that if it is in righteousness, you will and have received it.

And don't ask for your own selfish desires as the false teachers and false prophets on YouTube and social media would have you do.

If you ask for your own self then you will not receive, but be rebuked. And told to turn back.

James 1:1-27

We were not told to expect a carefree life while we live here on earth. To live to the spirit after dying to the flesh is to be at constant war with the flesh inside of us.

It is only in these trials and tribulations of varying degrees that we can grow endurance.

It isn't that God wants suffering or delights in pain.

But rather so that we learn to rely on him. And that in persevering through the tribulations of the evils in this world, being mockery, anger, persecution, and other evils.

Which if you are his then you will experience persecution.

In an unfailing faith in the full truth of the gospel in its entirety. Not bending that perfect teaching to the wills.of the world, regardless of its source.

To what extent should I be prepared for?..,

To the extent of Job...Where even if you lose everything, your family. Friends. Home and All...You praise God for the breath in your body. And pray knowing that his Grsce Will Supply your need if you have but faith of a mustard seed in the Lord our God.

<1> James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. <2> My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, <3> knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. <4> But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. <5> If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. <6> But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. <7> For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; <8> he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. <9> Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, <10> but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. <11> For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. <12> Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. <13> Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. <14> But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. <15> Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. <16> Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. <17> Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. <18> Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.<19> So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; <20> for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. <21> Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. <22> But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. <23> For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; <24> for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. <25> But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. <26> If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. <27> Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

As is shown also in James 4:1-10

<1> Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? <2> You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. <3> You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. <4> Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. <5> Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? <6> But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." <7> Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. <8> Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. <9> Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. <10> Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

If you make yourself a friend to the world in order to avoid tribulation or scorning for following Christ or yet believing and refusing that which the world upholds and calls sacred, but God calls the same appalling and sin, then you reject his teachings, and only if done by ignorance or weakness can it be forgiven. All that are of Christ will suffer tribulations and persecutions for following him, and to be in agreement with the world is to be at Odds with God...

Trials and Tribulations, as was said before, help us to strengthen in endurance. How can we know that our faith is genuine faith if we are never tested? We are told to love our enemies, so how do we know that we love them if we are never in peril because of them, or if we are in such agreement with the world that none see us as enemies but in the darkness with them?

Our faith is shown by Trials and Tribulations which is testing to see if we will continue to walk as God has taught us through the Lord, regardless of what we are going through. As was said many times through the new covenant. From The beginning.

Matthew 13:18-23

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Truly following Christ brings tribulation and persecution from the world, because it cannot stand what is his. The Doctrine of christ is to bring salt to the world with its corrupt nature, that those with eyes that God bid to open and ears that he made to hear, might turn from their sins and repent, and to bring it of Love for them as God has loved you. The world hates that which is his...

Matthew 10:16-33

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless[a] as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house [b]Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [c]hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a [d]copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

If you sit in agreement with those who willingly walk in sin, and encourage them to continue under the feigned idea that you are being "supportive" or "a good friend" in encouraging them to continue towards an everlasting death, then you walk contrary to Christ and reject his teachings as Israel ever did.

And you do so to avoid persecution, or have been so blinded by the world and Sectarian doctrine that you forget that which Christ has taught...Or knowing most Denominations you were never taught in the first place. The multitude of them teach to not only avoid tribulation but avoid the subject as if it were the plague, and gently brush off any who ask, or label them as schizmatic or divisive. As if you are forbidden to ask anything of the word outside of their doctrine.

Tribulation and trials are our right baptism and to be endured our whole life long, for none who follow will be without the salt of the word on their tongue in whatever someone speaks to them about. And will answer according to the word rather than by their own wit.

John 7:1-9

7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the [a]Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not [b]yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

It is only through many tribulations that we Enter into the kingdom of Heaven, Which is the right understanding of the Gospel and to walk therein, For no single follower nor prophet of the old testament or any who truly sought to follow God in those days, walked without walking through many trials, And always with God at their hand.

We see many Memes and posts these days on Social media of all kinds, saying that God walks with us through our trials. Never have I seen one that that explains what that really means or what its trying to quote. Entering the kingdom through trials was taught even at the beginning when the apostles began walking and spreading the word.

Acts 14:21-23

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed

Our tribulation while we follow and walk with Christ within us in this life, is as temporal as this life is. But to those who walk in wickedness and will not hear the truth when they are told, but choose to walk towards darkness and refuse the light of the Gospel of peace and truth, their troubles and tribulations will be everlasting on the day of judgement. It is only through constant prayer and love shown (according to the word not the world) that God may open their eyes and Love can be kindled within them. Remember it is the doers of the law that will be justified not the hearers...

So boast in your tribulations and that which Christ has wrought within you to righteousness, give thanks that you were counted worthy to suffer for his name.

Romans 5:1-5

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

This is not some excuse to act as the hypocrites do, running into peoples faces yelling "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Praise his name!" Acting unbalanced and serving only to alienate people from god. Not only do these ones not do the work of God but they hinder it and act against it. Many who stand on street corners screaming bible verses at people even after being attacked and rejected, and record themselves doing so, only to get praise from everyone else for doing their "Good works". As if they think constantly badgering people with the word in any way accounts as some good work.

Even Christ left towns where they would not hear him, and could not even heal in those places but very few people, and likewise the apostles were told to wipe the dust from their feet as testament towards those who rejected them and the Gospel. Not to continue after being thrown out or attacked. Showing that they do this only for recognition by others, in feigned holiness.

1 peter 2:19-25

19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [a]us, leaving [b]us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [c]stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and [d]Overseer of your souls.

The word Tribulation refers to that of being tested, in various distresses in order to hone your faith and strengthen your trust and hope in Christ and the life to come. To teach you not to fall away at ever slight stumble in this life, but to grasp all the harder to the eternal life offered to all those who are baptized and believe.

Revelations 2:8-11

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and [a]tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest[b] evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with [c]tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who [d]believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

It is only by our patient endurance of Trials and Tribulations that come of following Christ that we are heirs with him. If you are taught or under the impression that to follow is simply to go to church once a week and sing a few songs and knew a few psalms, go to bake sales, etc. Then you have been taught falsely, you have been taught Comfortable Christianity, which unfortunately will lead many to death and damnation...

But if you see now what the Word shows plainly, and desire in your heart to truly follow, and God wills that your eyes be open to this truth, and you repent.

Then you will be saved and purified as silver that is held in the hottest part of the flame.

and will enter the kingdom and begin to understand it truly.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,[a] Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

May the Lord be with you in all your trials, and may you ask for understanding from him who gives abundantly to all who ask. If you seek him truly he will reveal himself to you.

All Glory to the Father, and praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ, and strength be with you through the holy spirit. Amen