TRIBULATION


     This subject is very misunderstood by many. There are all
kind of answers and excuses for it. But really what does it do
to us or on the other side for us ?  This is a very important
question, for if satan can confuse us it can cost us a whole
bunch of victory and happiness. After all that is satan's whole
purpose of being around, defeat and discourage the Christians. 
Cause doubts and lower the level of our effectiveness for Christ.

    What did Paul have to say about this subject. In II Cor 7:4
,5 he says;

         "Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great 
         is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am
         exceeding joyful in all of our TRIBULATION. For when
         we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had NO rest,
         but we were troubled on every side;without were 
         fightings, within were fears."

At the first glance one might think Paul had some kind of look    
into the future. For what he describes "no rest", "troubled on
every side", "without were fightings" and "within were fears"
Isn't this much the same as we face everyday ? Doesn't there seem
to be no end of the problems we face ?  Don't all of us from time
to time experience fear ?  But right before all of this Paul also
makes a statement which might make many think he had too much sun 
or something; "I am exceeding joyful in ALL of our tribulations"
Paul is actually saying he enjoys all of this. In the simplest of
terms there is gotta be a reason. The question is WHAT ?
      
    In the next verse is part of that reason II Cor 7:6;

         "Nevertheless God, that comforted those that are
          cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus."

Paul saw the comfort of God coming. Why some time can't we see 
it? Is it because we are to wrapped up in the problems, that we 
just don't take time to look ? The problems and the comfort were
forecasted by the Lord in John 16:33

         "These things I have spoken unto you, that IN ME 
         YOU MIGHT HAVE PEACE. In THE WORLD ye shall HAVE
         tribulation: BUT be of good cheer; I have over
         come the world"

Hey we say "This is great". But when the problems and troubles 
come we forget this. This allows satan to rob us of even what
joy we could have in these things. After all WHY does these 
things have to take place at all ? Paul answers this question in
Rom 5:1-6   
         "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
         with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also
         we have access by faith into this grace wherein we       
         stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And
         not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, know-
         ing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
         experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not
         ashamed ; BECAUSE the love of God is shed abroad in
         our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us
         For when we were yet without strength in due time 
         Christ died for the ungodly."



Lets consider this for a bit. Jesus said He has overcome the 
world. Paul states the blessing's of tribulation: "patience",
"experience" and  "hope". Many times we don't see this for we
are far to busy trying to figure out "Why me Lord" ideas in our
head. The devil's main objective in doing these things is to
get OUR eyes of of the Lord, and God's main reason in allowing
it to happen is to show us our lack of strength without Christ.
When is the hardest time to glory in the Lord ? He also permits
it to happen so that we will grow. Sometimes this is the only 
way we manage to grow.

         What we really need to do is simply this, keep our eyes
on Jesus and not try to figure out why all these things are tak- 
ing place. The devil is not going to give up. The world is only
going to change for the worse. In our short lifetimes and the
trouble and sufferings we have compared to the glory we will
experience with Him makes our problems very small. We need to
hear the words of Paul as directed by the Holy Spirit


         "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?
         shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
         or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword ? As
         it is written, For THY SAKE we are killed all day
         long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
         Nay, in ALL OF THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
         THROUGH HIM THAT LOVE US


    Christian, put your eyes on Him, claim the glory that is 
your's even during the darkest hour. Don't allow the devil to 
rob you of what is your's in Him. His perfect Love castest out
fear. Rejoice with Paul in our tribulations.