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#Post#: 3728--------------------------------------------------
Affliction.
By: Runner Date: February 15, 2013, 10:27 pm
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"Weeping may endure for a night, bu joy cometh in the morning."
Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more Nah
1:12
Both OT quotes....I saw this quote below and wondered, Does God
afflict or send affliction this side of the cross?
There is a limit to affliction. God sends it, and removes it. Do
you sigh and say, “When will the end be?” Let us quietly wait
and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He cometh. Our
Father takes away the rod when His design in using it is fully
served.
I have plenty of bodily affliction, but I never think that God
'sent it'!!
I do believe in the law of sowing and reaping.
I do believe that God will 'use' pain and sorrow for our good
and our maturing.
I know it says.. Hebrews 5:8
Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things
which He suffered
I can see both sides...the above quote in maroon doesn't sit
well with me.
#Post#: 3729--------------------------------------------------
Re: Affliction.
By: Kerry Date: February 15, 2013, 10:56 pm
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My take on it is I think it's a difficulty with language. Having
the right ideas about God is important and faith in His
Perfection -- we should never read the Bible in a way that says
God is imperfect like men, even if the language looks that way.
The Bible often seems to use language to describe things from
the way people feel. We know that God doesn't hate anyone; but
the Bible says God hated Esau. To me, that means Esau felt the
way he would feel if a malicious person hated him. God avoided
him because that was what was best for Esau at the time -- but I
can see how that could make Esau feel hated.
If someone causes us a problem, we can feel afflicted; and often
we'd be right to think the other person had malice and that's
why we had the problem. If God "afflicts" us, we may feel the
same way we would if a human made it happen; but God's motive is
not malicious like the human's when he afflicts us.
#Post#: 3730--------------------------------------------------
Re: Affliction.
By: George Date: February 15, 2013, 10:57 pm
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Good to see you active on the boards today Helen. As far as
Naham I don't think that this is referring to all of mankind.
11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against
the Lord, a wicked counsellor.
12 Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many,
yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through.
Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
It appears to be speaking about a specific group that imagines
evil against the Lord, a type of wicked counsellor. I don't know
exactly who this refers to; but I don't think it refers to one
seeking to become one with the Father.
Here is a scripture that may be a bit more uplifting that is in
my opinion is directed more toward those who seek to become one
with the Father.
Romans 8:26
King James Version (KJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know
not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered.
#Post#: 3732--------------------------------------------------
Re: Affliction.
By: Runner Date: February 15, 2013, 11:37 pm
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2 Cor. 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers
of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in
labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge,
by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love
unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the
armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By
honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as
deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown , and yet well known ; as
dying , and, behold , we live ; as chastened , and not killed ;
10 As sorrowful , yet alway rejoicing ; as poor, yet making many
rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
I thought just now , how much the above must have worked 'gold'
into Paul's inner man!
Who can even guess at how much of a debt we owe to suffering and
pain?
If it wasn't for them I wonder how much e would have grown in
our Christian life.
Where would faith be without trial to test it.... or patience,
with nothing to hope for.. or experience, without tribulation to
develop it?
I find I am beginning to change my mind about such things. I am
getting a tiny glimpse of why Paul could joyfully "rejoice in
his tribulation."
#Post#: 3734--------------------------------------------------
Re: Affliction.
By: James Date: February 16, 2013, 6:58 am
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Quote from Helen-: But in all things approving ourselves as the
ministers of God,
A minister of God has to show he can "Take the rough with the
smooth". While things go well it is easy to believe that God
loves us.........more so it is easy to believe we are 100% on
fire for God and moving in the centre of his will, all the while
forgetting Ecc8:11Because sentence against an evil work is not
executed speedily, this verse does warn one to not judge by the
apparent current situation of life.
Can we smile when things are not going well, when we have been
sick for a year or two, when we have prayed and prayed for a
loved one without any seeming answer. Paul understands
affliction, more than that he knows how to use it to his
advantage.
Today I read this from C.H.S
February 16
MORNING
“I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be
content.”
- Philippians 4:11
These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity
of man. “Ill weeds grow apace.” Covetousness, discontent, and
murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We
need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally
enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need
not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any
education. But the precious things of the earth must be
cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if
we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the
gardener’s care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of
heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will
not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can
produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and
watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has
sown in us. Paul says, “I have learned ... to be content;” as
much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him
some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No
doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down.
And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, “I have
learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,” he
was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave-a
poor prisoner shut up in Nero’s dungeon at Rome. We might well
be willing to endure Paul’s infirmities, and share the cold
dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his
good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented
with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power
that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired
gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that
murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in
the College of Content.
#Post#: 3738--------------------------------------------------
Re: Affliction.
By: Runner Date: February 16, 2013, 11:16 am
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Excellent Spurgeon quote. He always hits the nail.
Your quote:-Can we smile when things are not going well, when we
have been sick for a year or two, when we have prayed and prayed
for a loved one without any seeming answer. Paul understands
affliction, more than that he knows how to use it to his
advantage.
I guess that is really it isn't it? And to 'live there'
habitually. ( it is the going in and out that pulls us down)
I wonder how much of a debt do we owe to pain and affliction. We
could not be who we are without it. How much they have taught
us, yet I cannot always embrace them as Paul did!
Thinking of Martha, Mary and Lazarus...( the delay) We know that
Love permits pain.
"For our light affliction, which is but for 'a moment', worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"
Amen! I am not at the place to say " Bring it on ".....but I am
slowly seeing it's value.
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