How to win over Persecution and Temptation
-Pastor Abdul Mabud
Chowdhury.
26.03.2015.
Introduction:
In
many occasions such persecutions and temptations come on us that we should keep
strong patience. In many occasions, problems come from our family, church and
friends. In those situations, how shall we win over those problems? So, we will
have to know the ways of victory.
James
1:2-4.
Here,James
has asked 5 questions regarding ‘How to win over persecutions &
temptations’, which are as follows :
1.During the period of temptation,
what kind of attitude should be maintained?
Cheerfulness: When a temptation comes,is the cheerfulness exit in
us? Though it is hard, still in our practical life cheerfulness should be
maintained.
Persecutions come to us through two
ways :
a)Emotion: Many times emotions are visible. Jameshere says,
emotions should not be increased if something happens outside.
b) Attitude: Philippians 2:1-2 verses – Paul says, the attitude that
Christ had, should be existed in our life. The attitude of Jesus Christ had –
to serve and to be a servant. Though He was powerful, still He became a nurse
and a servant. Likewise James said, let us we accept temptations with joy. The
reverse of joy is bitterness. And those who expressesbitterness; they cannot
understand the joy of God.
Job:In the Bible we see that so much suffering and so many
temptations came in the life of Job. He lost all of his wealth, lost his sons
and also lost all of his friends and relatives. Still he did not express his
bitterness towards God; rather, despite all of oppositions, he was in a stage
of rejoicing.
Definition
of Persecution:
Ø Persecutions mature and help to growth of spiritual
life.
Ø Persecutions ensure the belief.
Ø He who understand that persecutions help to grow the
spiritual life, he can rejoice in his persecutions.
Ø Persecutions help to grow the dependency on God.
2. When persecutions come in life?
Any time persecution may come in
life. Because persecutionsare part of our life. Therefore, there is no reason
to be astonished for persecutions. But we will have to be careful and prepared
for it. God has prepared us for the everlasting eras through Jesus Christ. We
can remember Jesus during the period of our persecution. What did He do during
His temptation? He accepted all His persecutions
joyfully up to the last moment of His death (Hebrews 12:3).
3. How persecutions come?
Through many ways persecutions may
come on us. James did not produce us a list for that. Still in scriptures we
may see many of it’s instances, such as - in the life of Abraham, David, etc.
So, persecution is going with
experience of our life.
4. What are the purposes of coming persecutions?
God has approved persecutions in
our life so that through these we may learn about patience and determinationto run
forward.
Judge Samson : He had
his strength in his hairs (Judges, chapters 13 to 16). You will see in the
Bible that during the period of temptation, he had a little patience. In
chapter 14 : 10-19 verses says, he had to give 30 pairs of clothes to 30
Philistines.In the chapter 16 we see, he married a lady named Delilah, and as a
result he died.
Jacob’s son Joseph : He was a
great leader. God trained him in several ways; God started to train him from
his youth age. He had patience in his life during the period of temptation. He
waited with patience even when he was in jail. As the last result, he became
the chief governor of Egypt. It was possible because he used to stay firm with
patience and would depend on God. God wants that we too become like Joseph.
5. What God wants to do in our life at the end of persecutions?
The Epistle of James says in 1:4, so that we become
perfect and complete, and it is His final aim and plan in our life.
In every church, there are some immature members,
those who are not growing in Jesus. It was same in the first church of
Christians also. Therefore, passing our life through persecutions, at the end
we shall become perfect and shall grow high in our spiritual life.
Conclusion : 1 Corinthians 3 : 1-2; Ephesians 4 : 14;
In above mentioned places, it is written - in faith
you are like a child, and it should be kept in our mind that God cannot use a
child in the field of expansion of His kingdom.
Several temptations will
come in our life; but we will have to keep our patience so that our life become
perfect and matured. When we shall proceed forward with patience, then God will
be able to work in our life. Jesus Christ did not advised us to run an easy
life, but to bear His cross, though it is hard but there is real joy.
Two genuine practical things:
a) When persecutions will come on us, not being annoyed on God, we will
have to take decision to rejoice.
b) During the period of persecutions, we will have to ask our God – what we can learn
through those persecutions.
We will
have to pray to our Lord so that we may stand firm during the period of persecutions (need to read 2 Corinthians 1 : 3-4).
Amen.