FAITH: THE BELIEVERS’ LIFELINE IN TROUBLE
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. And to you who are troubled rest with us… (Acts 27:18-25; 2Thessalonians 1:7).
That was the Great Apostle Paul in trouble on the high Sea, as they made their journey to Rome. The trouble was so extreme to the extent that Luke, the omniscient narrator, to borrow from literary lexicon, stated that all hope of their being saved was lost. Things were terribly bad. Yet Paul stood his ground of faith. Brethren that is what we need in trouble.
The life in which we live can be cruel, sometimes. Especially, against those that separated themselves unto the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once a man or woman gives his or her life to Christ, automatically, such a person is declared persona non grata by Satan the Devil, the Prince of this world. Beginning from that moment that decision is taken, if it is genuine and thorough-going, Satan, the Wicked Devil with capital “W”, will let lose all hell against such a determined and diehard decision for Christ. He will make so much trouble that, if care is not taken, the believer will doubt the genuineness of the decision he has taken.
In fact, sometimes, his onslaught will be so grievous that it can daze and debilitate, spiritually, the strongest of all Christian warriors. As a Wicked Adversary without any ounce of milk of humankind, he(Satan) launches a very ferocious onslaught against the sincere and submissive believer. Now, how does he do that? Well, his strategies, stratagems and machinations are as varied as they are intriguing. Very, unpredictably, subtle and wicked. If he throws his fiery darts, and the believer withstands, he will introduce his wily, deceptive machinations or devices. So, maliciously, unpredictable.
Now, the questions is, how will the believer overcome? What is the lifeline of the believer when it appears this evil personality is almost having a field in the precious life of truly born again child of God? Well, it is faith, the believer’s lifeline in trouble.
Three things we are looking at:
1. OUR DEVELOPMENT OF FAITH-LIFELINE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND TREPIDATION:
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. And to you who are troubled rest with us… (Mark 11:22; 2Thessalonians 1:7).
He said,”…to you who are troubled, rest with us. That is what we call faith-rest. The kind of faith that will look at the spiritual storm in the face, and say, blow on, I am dwelling in secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. The faith that will declare like Job, though He slay me, I will still love and trust Him who first loved me and shed His sinless blood for me. This is the kind of faith that will confess like Jonah in Jonah chapter 2:4,”…although,” I paraphrase,” I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
Meanwhile, folks , did you know our natural tendency during trouble? It is to be overwhelmed by trepidation or extreme fear. But, not Paul. He said,” I have settled it in my life that, no matter what life will throw at me, I will rest in the power and promises of God. I will dwell, like the songwriter said, in the depth of his mercy that never comes to an end”.
That is the kind of faith, we need, as believers in times of trouble. No matter how troublesome the trouble is, the Lord is saying have faith in God. Also, Paul, the man that saw it all, is saying, out of experience, “Rest with us in troubles”.
2. OUR DEPLOYMENT OF FAITH-LIFELINE IN TIMES OF TRIBULATION AND TEMPEST:
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace (peace and rest of faith), in the world ye shall tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).
Friends , if you worry to death over your tribulations, as a born again believer, you are just wasting your precious time and killing yourself,by instalments . The Lord said, “Be of good cheer”. How can you assume that attitude when you are in the Prison of Herod that has just killed James? It will take strong faith in the Lord. How do you relax and continue with your Bible reading or message preparation, as a minister of God, when it is overwhelmingly evident that the malicious Syrians have laid siege against you. I am telling you it will take strong faith. Dear, it is this faith that we need in every circumstances. Even if we are dying, let us die in this faith.
3. OUR DOMINION THROUGH FAITH LIFE-LINE IN TIMES OF TRAVAIL AND TORMENT:
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Rom.8:22, 23).
Truth be told, sometimes, Satan, the believers’ Adversary will bring psychological, even physical torment, against the genuinely born again child of God. Note, it is not possession. Travail and torment. Have you, as a sincere child of God, been in a situation where a challenge you never imagined or envisaged appears from the Blue and hit you like a Thunderbolt? You are wondering, what have I done to deserve all these? And, unfortunately, they are coming in deluge, torrent and quick succession. No breather, at all.
Now, that is when to develop, deploy and dominate through the faith lifeline. It is not a time to throw in the sponge. It is, rather, a time to pick up the gauntlet. A time to strengthen our faith, knowing fully well, that the same affliction are accomplished or experienced by our brethren in all ages.We just brace up and take the challenges in strides.Never correlating them,nor personaizing them.Just taking them as one of those things that happen those who are privileged to be alive.
As I round off this write up, dear friend, I want to challenge you not to give up. No matter what. Just rest with us and make sure you are a child of God, we are going to win the day, by the grace and mercy of the Almighty God. May God help us all in Jesus name,Amen.God bless you abundantly
