“FOREIGNERS WILL COME TO REBUILD YOUR TOWNS, and their kings will serve you. For though I have destroyed you in my anger, I WILL NOW HAVE MERCY ON YOU THROUGH MY GRACE."
Isaiah 60:10 (NLT)
• God chastises His loving children.
- If you are a beloved child of God, He would chastise or discipline you when you erred: "FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES” (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV).
- God dealt with the Israelites in anger because they wondered away from Him. If you stepped out of God's Will, He may allow or permit unpalatable experiences. He, however, promises to have mercy on His erring children: “FOREIGNERS WILL COME TO REBUILD YOUR TOWNS, AND THEIR KINGS WILL SERVE YOU. FOR THOUGH I HAVE DESTROYED YOU IN MY ANGER, I WILL NOW HAVE MERCY ON YOU THROUGH MY GRACE" (Isaiah 60:10 NLT).
- Just like the case of the Israelites, what some believers are passing through is a result of their wrong deeds—disobedience and rebellion.
- God would not be angry forever: "FOR I WILL NOT FIGHT AGAINST YOU FOREVER; I WILL NOT ALWAYS BE ANGRY. IF I WERE, ALL PEOPLE WOULD PASS AWAY—ALL THE SOULS I HAVE MADE" (Isaiah 57:16 NLT).
- Your suffering is over in Jesus' name. The LORD will have mercy on you and restore all you have lost. And whatever has eluded you shall be gotten back in Jesus' name.
• The truth is, when a problem arises, It is usually for a purpose or reason; It is either for a chastisement or trial of faith.
- Even If the problem were to be a trial of faith, It is meant to build you up. God usually allows the challenges of life to train those who are His; about how to deal with the opposition, operations of the devil and his cohorts:
1 NOW THESE ARE THE NATIONS WHICH THE LORD LEFT, THAT HE MIGHT TEST ISRAEL BY THEM, THAT IS, ALL WHO HAD NOT KNOWN ANY OF THE WARS IN CANAAN 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it)" (Judges 3:1,2 NKJV). - The reason why God exposes you to challenges might be to build your spiritual muscles up. Thus, If you are inexperienced and God wanted to use you for a particular purpose or assignment; He would allow or permit the devil to try you or test your ability.
a. God would want to know how strong and how reliable you are, If you are given the assignment.
b. The motives why you are serving Him would want to be known, and the strength or depth of your loyalty.
c. The tests brought your way are meant to strengthen you, empower you, equip you, and open your understanding about your next level of assignment.
BECAUSE the tests permitted would be tailored towards your vision or the assignment God has for you.
YOU might not be allowed or permitted to be tested in the areas which would not be part of your assignment. Thus what you are allowed to undergo are necessary and Important for you and the work that would be assigned to you.
d. Such tests would serve as corrections as well; they would be used to groom you, smoothen the rough edges of your character. It would equally shape you and straighten you up for the task ahead:
3 AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE ALSO GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS, KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE; 4 AND PERSEVERANCE, CHARACTER; AND CHARACTER, HOPE" (Romans 5:3,4 NKJV).
• It is always important to know the reason why you are passing through whatever you are passing through.
- Is the problem which you find yourself in, the result of disobedience or rebellion, or the result of ignorance, or that of lacking in knowledge, Or It is a trial or test of faith?
(i) If it was a result of disobedience, then, you had to repent, ask for God's mercy and you will be forgiven. He promises to forgive If an erring child of His genuinely repented and come back to Him and such is ready to obey and do the needful (2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 John 1:9).
(ii) If it was the result of your ignorance, then, you have to give attention to the Word of God—the Bible. The devil thrives where ignorance reigns or dominates.
(iii) And If the suffering were to be on the test of Faith. You would need to ask for God's Grace to be able to pass through the test without letting Him down.
a. You also in prayers ask that God would open your eyes of understanding to be able to see and learn whatever He might want you to learn through the tests.
b. Usually such tests are always promotional—for advancement or upgrading. They are the tests which usually precede the lifting or promotion of God to another level or phase of an individual's work.
• It is my prayer that you will not fail in Jesus' name.
- You are coming out of that problem triumphantly in Jesus' mighty name.
- Whatever maybe the hold of the enemy, the devil, on your life, such is broken now in Jesus' name.
- As you are reading this piece, If you had one ailment or the other in your body, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. You are healed and made completely whole in Jesus' name.
Peace.
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!