11/05/23 TRIALS FROM LOVED ONES

11/05/23 TRIALS FROM LOVED ONES

Though it is tragic, it is not a strange thing that a believer's enemy comes from the ranks of his own family.
Matthew 10:34-39
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.

Make no mistake, God wants families to be in unity, to be of one mind, to be loving. But since some people will not believe Christ, will not believe in the salvific work of Christ, will not surrender to and obey Christ, then those people will be enemies to their family members who trust and follow Christ.

As always, it is a "love" issue. Those who love the world and the things of the world, and those who love pleasure, more than God, and those who love money and power and self, do not love God. Those who do not love God with their whole heart and love their neighbor as they love themselves will not be in agreement with those who love Christ; they will be opposed to their own family members who follow Christ.
As God tells us, we must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

Consider these passages which address our relationship with, "the faith." The phrase, "the faith," refers to the truths of salvation and the body of beliefs which God has revealed in His word.

Whatever, "the faith," is, we are to embrace it and continue in it.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

God's plan is for churches to be established in, "the faith."
Acts 16:5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Christian must receive those who are weak in, "the faith."
Romans 14:1
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

We must stand and be strong in, "the faith."
1 Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

We must make certain that we are in, "the faith."
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Continuing in, "the faith" is a deliberate choice for stability.
Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Walking (continuing) in, "the faith" results in victorious living.
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

God requires His servants to be, sound in, "the faith."
Titus 1:13
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Total trust and consistent obedience are essential to living constantly in, "the faith," which results in heart purity, righteous living, loyalty to, "the faith."
1 Peter 5:7-11
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.