November 2015

Following Jesus 148

Martin Luther said that Christians face three enemies: —the world, the flesh, and the devil. Obviously, these foes are interrelated. 

 

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” - 2 Corinthians 11:14 

Martin Luther said that Christians face three enemies: —the world, the flesh, and the devil. Obviously, these foes are interrelated. 

First, our flesh—the remaining tendency in our lives to sin; Romans 7:13-25. 

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 147

What should be our prayers as we face difficulties? This leads the believer to the discipline of joy. Vs. 5-8.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8 ESV)

What should be our prayers as we face difficulties? This leads the believer to the discipline of joy. Vs. 5-8. 

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 146

What should be our prayers as we face difficulties? This leads the believer to the discipline of joy. Vs. 5-8.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8 ESV)

What should be our prayers as we face difficulties? This leads the believer to the discipline of joy. Vs. 5-8. 

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 145

What should be our prayers as we face difficulties? This leads the believer to the discipline of joy. Vs. 5-8.

Blog #2015-90

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8 ESV)

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 144

What is God’s goal in difficulties? It is the completeness of joy – vs. 4. “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

 

Blog #2015-89

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV).

What is God’s goal in difficulties? It is the completeness of joy – vs. 4. “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 143

What is the reason James gives for the believer to be joyful? Our Understanding of Difficulties: The Reason for Joy is found in vs. 3. “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

 

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV).

What is the reason James gives for the believer to be joyful? Our Understanding of Difficulties: The Reason for Joy is found in vs. 3. “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 142

We concluding our previous article with some samplings from Scripture regarding trials. Here are a few more.

Blog #2015-87

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV).

We concluding our previous article with some samplings from Scripture regarding trials. Here are a few more. 

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 141

The word “trials” comes from the Greek word Πειρασμός (periasmos). It means to test someone or something. To know by experience. To prove the worth of someone. To see if someone or something is sound. The difficulties God allows for the proving and strengthening of our faith. Are trials something Christians (followers of Christ) should expect? Yes!

 

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 140

Simply put, the truth we must understand is that “life is hard, but God is good.” 

 

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

Simply put, the truth we must understand is that “life is hard, but God is good.” 

What should our attitude and perspective be as we make our long and difficult climb up the Hill of Difficulty? Let’s turn of James 1:1-8. It is here that we not only see Scripture acknowledge the reality of difficulties for the Christian, but also our response to them. Let’s see what God has to say about difficulties. 

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 139

AS John Bunyan’s allegory continues, in the immediate aftermath of God’s delivering Christian from his great and heavy burden, and Christian’s encounter with the three shining ones (God the Father; God the Son; God the Holy Spirit), Christian is filled with the joy of his salvation. 

 

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

AS John Bunyan’s allegory continues, in the immediate aftermath of God’s delivering Christian from his great and heavy burden, and Christian’s encounter with the three shining ones (God the Father; God the Son; God the Holy Spirit), Christian is filled with the joy of his salvation. 

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.