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Recent Posts
- The Biblical Teaching on Tithes
- The Old and New Priesthood
- Authorial Intent
- King David – the Good and the Bad
- David – A Better King
- Saul – The King who Failed
- When Life Gets Tough
- Guard Your Heart
- Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks
- A Song of Ascent – Psalm 126
- God’s Imputed Righteousness
- A Song of Ascents – Psalm 123
- They Will Suffer for Your Unfaithfulness
- Seek Your Servant – Psalm 119:169-176
- Biblical Meditation
- The Christmas Holiday
- Establish Our Footsteps – Psalm 119:129-136
- No Distractions
- Theological Categories of God’s Justice
- God’s Word Sustains Us – Psalm 119:89-96
- Being the Good Boss
- Chasing After Donkeys
- Choosing the Faithful Way – Psalm 119:25-32
- Social Justice from a Biblical Perspective
- When God Gives Us a Test
- God’s Grace is Sufficient
- How to Deal with Jealousy
- When God Uses Evil Actions for His Good
- Alexander the Coppersmith
- Submission to Authority – Part III
- Submission to Authority – Part II
- Submission to Authority – Part I
- The Faithfulness of the Lord
- The Choice of Blessing or Cursing
- Twelve Ways to Deal with a Bad Boss
- The Wrath of God
- Babylonianism
- Contrasting Good and Bad Leaders
- Faith or Regeneration – Which Comes First?
- What is the Church?
- A Brief Analysis of the Millennial Kingdom
- A Brief Analysis of Israel in History and Prophecy
- The Lord is My Shepherd – Psalm 23
- Not of Works
- Reasons why we obey God
- A Commitment of the Heart
- When God Said “Do Not Pray”
- The Basics of Prayer
- The Meaning of Sin
- Treating Others with Dignity
Category Archives: Suffering & Persecution
David – A Better King
David was a good king who reigned in Israel from roughly 1010 to 970 B.C. David’s life was intermingled with Saul, Israel’s first king, who failed to walk with God and do His will. David was better than Saul. He was better because he was a man of faith, and faith always pleases the Lord (Heb 11:6). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Leadership, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged A man after God's own heart, David, David and Goliath, David cared for his father's flock, David fled from Saul for fifteen years, David kills a lion and a bear, David was a better king than Saul, David was better than Saul, David would not kill Saul, David's rise to kingship, King David, Saul tried to kill David, Sin and mental decline, The Lord's anointed
1 Comment
When Life Gets Tough
When life gets tough, sometimes God reassures and comforts us (Psa 23:4; 2 Cor 1:3-5; 2 Th 2:16-17), sometimes we comfort each other (Eph 6:22; 1 Th 4:18), and sometimes we comfort ourselves with His Word (Psa 119:50, 52; Lam 3:21-23). But there are times in Scripture when God does not give comfort—at least not in the way we might expect—but informs His people that things will get worse, and that they need to prepare themselves for the challenges and suffering ahead (Matt 10:16, 23; John 15:20; 16:1-2; Acts 9:15-16; 20:22-23). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Faith in trials, how can you compete with horses?, How to handle difficulties, If you have run with footmen, Jeremiah 12, Jeremiah 12:1-6, Jeremiah 12:5, Jeremiah walked with God, Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah, Living by faith, looking to God, running the Christian race, spiritual sensitivities, The problem of evil, Troubles are a part of life, When life gets tough, When we have nowhere to look but God
3 Comments
Choosing the Faithful Way – Psalm 119:25-32
In Psalm 119:25-32, the psalmist expressed himself as one who faced great distress and who cried out to the Lord for strength. Though faced with conflict, he committed himself to pursue God and to run in His ways. His desire was to have enhanced knowledge of God’s Word, which would strengthen his soul and increase his capacity for righteous living. The benefit was a soul set free to run with God and a knowledge and capacity to do His will. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Psalms, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Believers struggle with depression, Choosing the faithful way, depression, faithful obedience, Personal revival, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:25-32, Revive me according to your word, seeking strength from God, what does it mean to run with God?, what does it mean to walk with God?
6 Comments
When God Gives Us a Test
God tests His people. It’s a fact that is repeated throughout Scripture (Exo 16:4; 20:20; Deu 13:3; Jud 3:1-2; Isa 48:10). He tests us with difficult situations in order to humble us, so that we will not look to ourselves for strength, but to Him. In the end, the test reveals that it is God who provides for us. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Each day has enough trouble of its own, Faith for today, Faith for tomorrow, Jehovah Jireh, Learning to trust in God, Seek first His kingdom, Seek the Lord, The Lord will provide, The purpose of testing, the value of suffering, The value of testing, When Abraham offered Isaac, When God gives us a test, Why did God test Abraham?, Why does God test His people?, Why does the Lord test us?, Yahweh Yireh
6 Comments
Alexander the Coppersmith
There are times when it’s necessary to specifically name a person as hostile in order to warn others to avoid unnecessary harm. This was true of the apostle Paul, who warned his friend, Timothy, about a man named Alexander. Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Alexander the Coppersmith, avoiding people who cause trouble, Avoiding trouble, God will repay, God will repay those who hurt us, Guard yourself from others who want to hurt you, Is it ok to name people and their faults?, Never seek retaliation, Never take your own revenge, Protect yourself from people who want to hurt you, When to avoid trouble, When to guard yourself from others
1 Comment
Submission to Authority – Part III
Christians will, at times, suffer unjustly at the hands of those whom God has placed in authority over us, like the suffering Hagar experienced at the hand of Sarai. And, the harsh or immoral character of leaders should never dictate our response; rather, we should be governed by God’s Word, as we look to Christ as our example of unjust suffering. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged 1 Peter 2:18, Abram and Sarai and Hagar, Genesis 16, Jesus as our example of submitting to authority, Living by faith under a harsh boss, Should I submit to my boss when he's a jerk?, Should we submit to abusive authority?, Should we submit to harsh leaders?, Submission to authority, Submitting to the boss, The conception of Ishmael, When should we say "no" to authority?, Why did God make Hagar submit to Sarai?
4 Comments
Submission to Authority – Part II
Rebellion against God’s authority started with Satan, an angelic creature who, at an unspecified time, led an angelic revolt against God and created a kingdom of darkness. Afterward, God created Adam and Eve to serve under His authority, as mediatorial administrators who cared for the earth. However, God permitted Satan to tempt Adam and Eve to rebel against His authority, and when they agreed to follow Satan, his kingdom of darkness was expanded and he became the temporary ruler of this world. According to God’s wise plan and sovereign will, He sent His Son into the world and the Son added humanity to Himself, lived an absolutely righteous life in obedience to His Father and went to the cross and died for sinful humanity. At the cross, Jesus reclaimed this world and pronounced judgment and sentencing for Satan, who will eventually be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Until that time, Satan continues as a subversive living in God’s world, and he has many followers who are used by him to subvert God’s will on earth. These enemies of God seek to infiltrate governmental systems and command people—both saved and lost—to disobey God. Though Christians are commanded to obey human leaders, we can never obey a command that is contrary to God’s will. Continue reading
Posted in Angels & Demons, Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Adam and Eve rebelled against God, Adam and Eve submitted to Satan, Civil disobedience, God intended Adam and Eve to rule over the earth, God is always sovereign, God permits Satan to act, God permits Satan to tempt His people, God's sovereignty, Good end evil coexist, Is Satan the god of this age?, Is Satan the god of this world?, Is Satan the ruler of this world?, Is there a time when Christians disobey authority?, Jesus reclaimed the world, Satan convinced Adam and Eve to rebel against God's authority, Satan has planted subversives in the world, Satan is the god of this age, Satan is the god of this world, Satan led an angelic revolt in heaven, Satan rebelled against God's authority, Satan's world system, Submission to authority, the fall of Satan, The parable of the wheat and the tares, When did Satan fall?, When should the Christian refuse to obey authority?, Why does good and evil coexist?
4 Comments
Submission to Authority – Part I
God is the supreme Ruler of His creation, and He has established human governmental authorities to promote law and order. This means He has delegated authority to persons and groups who serve as administrative overseers to others. As Christians, we are commanded to submit to those in authority over us, whether it is the president, state governors, local city officials, police officers, employers, parents, teachers, etc. Failure to submit to human authority is regarded as failure to submit to God, Who has placed those persons over us. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged 1 Peter 2:13-14, Biblical examples of submission to authority, Christian citizenship, God delegates authority, God is the supreme ruler over creation, hupotasso, Pray of those in authority, Romans 13:1, Should believers submit to human authority?, Submission to authority, Submit to authority, what does it mean to submit to authority?, What does the Bible say about submission to authority?, when can the believer say no to authority?
4 Comments
The Faithfulness of the Lord
The strength of the believer is in God, as we trust His Word, believing He will sustain us as we face life’s difficulties. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Spirituality, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged a fortiori rationale, Christian victory, Do not trust in man, Faith in God, faith in God's Word, God is faithful, God's faithfulness, God's loyal followers, People fail, The faithfulness of the Lor, Trust in the Lord, Trust the Lord in the trial, Victory in life, Victory in life comes from the Lord, Wait on the Lord
10 Comments
The Lord is My Shepherd – Psalm 23
The 23rd psalm is known and appreciated by many, but it belongs personally only to those who call God their shepherd. It is a song of David’s confidence in God who faithfully provides for him. David pictures God as a shepherd who guides, provides, and protects (vss. 1-4), and as a dinner host who nourishes and refreshes His guest (vs. 5-6). One gets the impression that David wrote this psalm at a time when he was experiencing hardship (perhaps when he was fleeing in the wilderness from Absalom). The psalm reveals a confidence in David’s soul, no doubt the result of his relationship with God and his trust in the LORD’s goodness and loyal-love. Whatever threat David was facing, he could rely on God’s goodness and lovingkindness, and David knew the end of his life would be “in the house of the LORD forever” (vs. 6). Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Christian Theology, Living by Faith, Psalms, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged A psalm of David, David as shepherd, David killed the bear, David killed the lion, faith in troubling times, God as our Shepherd, God as Shepherd, God is with me, God's love and goodness, God's loyal love, God's shepherds feed His people, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, I will fear no evil, Jesus is the good Shepherd, Jesus is the great Shepherd, Lie down in green pastures, Psalm 23, Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, the 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, The meaning of chesed, The name of the LORD, the name of YHWH, The valley of the shadow of death, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, Your rod and staff comfort me
12 Comments
God Wrestled With Jacob
God blesses and disciplines. He comforts and corrects. He meddles in our affairs. He never leaves us alone. Why should He? He loves us too much to leave us where we are. He wants the best in … Continue reading
The Apostle Paul – Chosen to Suffer for Christ
Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both … Continue reading
Posted in Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Acts 9, Christian suffering, Damascus road, Paul's salvation experience, Paul's thorn in the flesh, suffering, suffering for Christ, the conversion of Paul, the conversion of Saul, the Damascus road experience, the suffering of the righteous, why do the righteous suffer
11 Comments
The House of Mourning
“The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure” (Eccl. 7:4). Continue reading
Posted in Death, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Christian suffering, death, Ecclesiastes 7:2-4, facing sorrow, how do we handle death?, learning from sorrow, learning from suffering, mourning, suffering, suffering and death, suffering and depression, The House of Mourning, the purpose of sorrow, weeping, why do the righteous suffer
6 Comments
O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head! – Anne Ross Cousin
O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head! Our load was laid on Thee; Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead – To bear all ill for me. A victim led, Thy blood was shed; Now there’s no load for me. Death … Continue reading
The Lord’s Day of Vengeance
Many in the world today look to gods and religions that are ultimately no greater than those who support them. Sadly, many who defend them often resort to violence when their theological presuppositions are threatened. Unlike those who feel … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Worldview, Prophecy, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Christian suffering, God's wrath, suffering, the Day of Vengeance, the Day of Vengeance is coming, The Lord's Day of Vengeance, the prosperity of the wicked, the suffering of the righteous, when the wicked prosper, why do evil men prosper, why do the righteous suffer, why do the wicked prosper, wicked prosper
1 Comment
God Allows Suffering
A truth of Scripture is that living by faith may result in great blessing, and other times may result in great suffering. The believer is not to concern himself with the end result of either blessing or suffering, but … Continue reading
A Theological Look at Suffering
Everyone suffers. It’s not really a question of who will and who won’t, but how much and how often? Most people want to know why they suffer, if there’s any purpose to suffering, or if there’s anything they … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged A look at suffering, do Christians suffer?, suffering, the prosperity of the wicked, the suffering of the righteous, what does the Bible say about suffering?, when the wicked prosper, why do Christians suffer?, why do evil men prosper, why do innocent people suffer?, why does God allow suffering?
3 Comments
Suffering and Depression
Suffering touches us all. It moves and shapes us in ways we never imagine. It breaks us down and builds us up, but it never leaves us where it finds us. In Scripture we learn that God’s power is magnified in our weaknesses and that suffering reveals our true state as weak creatures who need the Lord in our lives for strength and guidance (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Continue reading
Posted in Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Biblical examples of suffering, Biblical suffering, Christian depression, Christian suffering, depression, do Christians get depressed? why do Christians suffer, do Christians suffer?, From womb to tomb, suffering, suffering and depression, the suffering of Jeremiah, The suffering of Job, the suffering of the righteous, what does the Bible say about depression, what does the Bible say about suffering?, why do the righteous suffer, why do we suffer
8 Comments
Early Church Persecutions
Persecution is the suffering or pressure, mental, moral, or physical, which authorities, individuals, or crowds inflict on others, especially for opinions or beliefs, with a view to their subjection by recantation, silencing, or, as a last resort, execution. (G. W. … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Inspirational Writings, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Christian martyrs, Christian persecutions, Christian suffering, church persecution, Early church persecutions, martyr, martyrdom, persecution of Christians, persecution of Christians in the early church, persecution of the church, suffering for Christ, what does it mean to be a Christian martyr, why do the righteous suffer
8 Comments
The Value of Suffering
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope … Continue reading
The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53
It is in the understanding of the suffering and death of Christ that the sinner appreciates God’s great love and the price that was paid for his salvation. Christ suffered in place of the sinner, bearing the … Continue reading →