Being Faithful During Tribulation

Faithful during Tribulation

Matthew 5:11-12

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you

Focus: Be Faithful in tribulation

Happy are you when people insult you- persecute you and lie about you because of Jesus. Rejoice and be glad- our reward is great in heaven- the prophets were treated the same way before us

So how many of you are happy when someone inflicted pain or insult on you? Not sure about you but I usually am not rejoicing when people insult me- or lie about me- in reality it upsets me.

When was the last time you praised God for going through a trial or tribulation- not so much fun those trials however the word says to be faithful to Him.

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life

In your afflictions Jesus sees it he knows what you are going through- he knows your pain

-      Michele you have no idea what trial I am going through- I lost my job, my family has issues, I have health issues- you know what I probably do not know – however I have been through my own trials- and I know being faithful to God and serving Him was the only way that it got me through those trials-  2011 was a year of trials for me My son would threaten me hurt me wish I was dead he was very volatile – the first 5 months of the year I had to admit my son to a residential facility in which I had no control over and had to leave him there 24/7- I thought my world had crumbled- I felt a lone and abandoned- and no one understood what I was going through- I felt defeated as a mom- however I did not leave serving God and reading His word and praying- although I could have - yet when I served Him and was faithful during those 5months my God strengthened me- healed my son from his past-brought us closer together as a family and God brought him home a month early. And just when Marcus was brought home a month later I lost my mom unexpectedly- totally rocked my world- I am sure many of you have lost someone close to you- there is just something about losing your mom that hits you like a lead balloon- another trial to go through with dealing with my emotions and again working through Marcus emotions in regards to it- he had never lost a family member- but yet through it all remained faithful to serving God and trusting him- yes I took some time off just to regroup but got right back in it – never stopped praying never stop seeking answers- through my trials it brought me closer- it brought me to want to help others more so that may go through things I have been through-

-      Not saying this past year was easy as pie- cause it was not it tested me brought me to my knees many times- I was angry at times but never at God- but because I knew he held me close – Did I praise God when Marcus went away yes yes I did- why cause he was getting the help in which God provided- Did I praise God for my mom dying -  I did not praise  him for her dying but I did praise him that she was not suffering anymore-

Michele I could never be faithful in my walk with God if trials came my way I fall apart and fall away- Why would you fall away from a God who could have easily have jumped from the cross- Do you think it was easy for Him to suffer the pain and trials he did for you on the cross- it was painful he was insulted he was made fun of he was spit on he was tortured-  yet he remained faithful to you – You were on His mind –when he took the insults the ridicule the pain- You were in His heart when hung on that cross.

What it takes to be faithful

1.    Prayer- and praise

a.     Pray in all circumstances- pray through-

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

Psalm 17:6

 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer

Psalm 66:19-20

 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

How amazing is it that God hears us and listens to us – How amazing it that he loves us

2.    Be accountable-

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend

a.     Someone knows you are going through something make sure that they hold you accountable and work through it with Him

b.    Allow them to listen allow them to be there- I know this is hard I speak from experience of thinking I can do it all by myself

3.    Stay involved- and help others

Ephesians 4:29

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen

Even though going through trials I did take some time off of what I was involved in- but when I got back involved it was very therapeutic – my trials were not gone- my son was still in residential care but I was able to focus on God’s work and not my trials

When my mom passed away I took a couple of weeks off- and let me tell you this was very hard for me to get back into teaching – or being involved at all- Sundays for a very long time were difficult cause I associated moms death with Sundays cause that was the day she died. But when I got back into teaching Sunday School and teaching the kids the pain began to diminish-and my trial began to fade I was helping others learn the word -

4.    Know you are not alone- Jesus disciples went through persecution and ridicule and yet were faithful- Job was faithful and the reward was great for Job-Jesus was faithful to you

James 5:11

11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Matthew 19:27-30

27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Stay Faithful during tribulations and trials- when you are persecuted your reward will be great – your reward will be eternal.