"Faithful Amid This World of Hardships"

The Holy Word of Elohim (G-d) is wholly sufficient within that each of us given unto redemption or still yet lost and through His Word each shall endure trials which are solely theirs that they may strengthen the faith and foundations of faithful dependability upon the promises of Yehoshua, our Lord and Redeemer. What is it we may we glean from amid our struggles?

All through each of our trials, tribulations and enduring suffrage, there remains nothing unusual in suffering for the cause of faith “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – {2 Timotios/2 Timothy 3:12} So then “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of G-d resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” – {1 Petros/1 Peter 4:12-14}.

We understand that through their testimony what Petros (Simon/Peter) and (Saul) Paul are conveying amid their steeled faith in saying that everyone who lives a godly life in our Ha’ Moshiach (The Annointed One) shall be tested, persecuted and tested again; so, do not believe it is personal prosecution or suffrage which is unique to you alone. The great surprise would be that if you are a Believer and have never suffered for our Yehoshua’s (Jesus’) sake. If you have never been persecuted for the sake our Yehoshua, you then might wish to take a closer notice to find if you have truly accepted the immeasurable gift of forgiveness, redemption and His glorious blessings of eternal life everlasting.

Gilded with blessings are those who find endurance of faith amidst their persecution; Petros announced that most people could comprehend is that the person who is persecuted for righteousness's sake knows the spiritual glory of Elohim which rests upon them. We may actually receive a blessing from Elohei Chasdi (The G-d of my kindness) amidst our persecutions. But how can this be so we may ask? It is as “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of G-d resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” – {1 Petros/1 Peter 4:14}.

This the great blessing which fails to come to mind for many; even as the proclaimers of righteousness and faith fail to recognize in their day to day engagement of life among so very many distractions. Y’shua has told us clearly and without ambiguity

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see G-d. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of G-d. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (con't)

“Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is G-d's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.” (Con't)

"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – {Matityahu/Matthew 5:3-48}.

"Oh be grateful and joyous, be glad in the blessed great reward awaiting you in heaven because “they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – {Matityahu/Matthew 5:12}

The greatest lesson of importance here is that we are blessed by Elohei Mishpat (the G-d of Justice) as we are insulted and scorned, reviled and have disparaging evil spoken of us. We must rejoice as we are in the greatest of company among the loving faithful who have walked this path before us, that is of course to say the path of teachings of Yehoshua Ha’ Moshiach (Jesus, The Annointed One) taught through prophets, including Yehoshua's very own cousin, John the Baptist, the last of the Tanakh prophets of whom foretold of the coming of Ha' Moshiach (The Annointed One). In that we are persecuted for Yehoshua's sake, we then know then we walk among His grace!

in the matter of withstanding of tribulations and of trials, we each endure the sufferings of life upon this mortal coil, even those who are yet to be reborn in faith and brought to be made anew in the purification of their transgressions through the blessed Baptismal waters, though those who come to the great saving of faith within Yehoshua must expect the doubtless onslaught of trials testing our metal to bring us to stand in a steeled faith. Trials which do not show us our strength of faith are of great importance too as they reveal our weakness which must be addressed so we may remain fully faithful. Ya'akov (James) had grown quite familiar with trials. He suffered his trials just as all of the apostles did as every one of them had given the ultimate sacrifice in their faith. Only the Apostle Yochanan (John) was not martyred, yet he suffered imprisoned upon the Isle of Patmos as well as having worked in the mines until his death even though amazingly he had managed to scribe the Book of Hhazon/Revelation or Book of Vision.

Ya'akov (James) has written “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which G-d has promised to those who love Him” – {Ya'aqov/James 1:12} Ya'akov (James) says that a “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” – {2 Timotios/2 Timothy 4:8}

The gifting of trials reveals both the faithful and the wolves: “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – {Matityahu/Matthew 13:18-23}

The fall of capitulation amid temptation may come to even the most faithful: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” – (Yochanan I/1 John 2:19}.

Saul (Paul) understood amid the end times there would be the speration of the sheep and the goats; “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”- {Timotios I/1 Timothy 4:1}. Those who hear and head the Word of Elohim though yet have no footing nor rooting in faith themselves shall immediately fall away, others shall permit the woes of the world of man (amid tribulations) to choke out the Word of Elohim and it find a great barrenness of fruit, while still yet others shall endure until “tribulation and persecution arises on account of the word” and they shall “endure [only] for a while,” but then fall away. This in fullness illustrates that they had never truly accepted the fulness of salvation and so their impending trials may prove whether their faith is genuine in heart or merely superficial. – {Markos/Mark 4:17}

For it is that amidst tribulations where the fullness of the Faithful are found: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” – {Romi' 'im/ Romans 12:12 } As each of the trials and tribulations reveal the depth of our character and illuminating who are in faith and who has not truly accepted redemption, Saul (Paul) tells the Church of Rome to “be patient in tribulation” and the way to do this is to “be constant in prayer.” We measure our walk with Yehoshua by how greatly we prioritize the time we devote to prayer and the study scripture. The more frequently we do both, the greater we shall exercise patience amid tribulations and the less we do, the less patience shall be present.

If it is that we neglect either of these two, then we most certainly will not “rejoice in hope” but rather be plunged into the darkness of despair. We are aware we are not alone in trials, tests, and tribulations as “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but G-d is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”- {1 Qorinti 'im/1 Corinthians 10:13}. Ha' Moshiach declares “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – {Yochanan/John 16:33}

The cause of where Ben Elohim (the Son of G-d) instructs His disciples as He instructs the faithful of today, is that among these things within His written Word may be found that we “may have peace [because] in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; [Yehoshua] has overcome the world.” Yehoshua had never claimed that in the world you “might” have tribulation, but rather that you “will” have tribulation. Prepare for these eventualities, expect them, be patient amid them, and be in constant prayer as trials will come if they haven’t already. Petros (Simon/Peter) too knows all about this as he died a martyr’s death having been hung on a ruggedly hewn tree upside down and it is so that before his death he scribed “But the G-d 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.” – {1 Petros/1 Peter 5:10}. Petros (Simon/Peter) also knew that his suffering would be coming as he scribed “And after you have suffered” rather than “if you suffer.”

All of us who remain steeled in faith shall surely suffer from persecutions and endure trials and find many tribulations as we belong to Ha’ Moshiach. The Psalmist Dauid (David) scribed that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” – {Tehillim/Psalm 34:19}. Dauid informed us that there will be many, not just a few, so expect it and “be constant in prayer.” And as Yehoshua declared…. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” - (Yochanan/John 15:18-20)

In that we remain steadfast in our vigilance upon The Way (path) of faithfulness and righteousness and stand firm in great and steeled faith, His truest Redemption of we lowly transgressors remains amongst the greatest reward of His love, grace and mercies,

Pastor Mark