Day 80: SOMETHING HAS GOT TO COME OUT OF THIS! — Pastor Bryant
Today’s Reading
Acts 28 – Romans 14
There is a universal law of cause and effect that all of us rest under in the earth. Every action is going to produce a reaction. Seemingly, the children of God act oblivious to this rule. Bishop Rudolph Mckissick shared while preaching in the Bahamas last week that we want the presents from God but we shun the process. As you go through your day just about everything, you touch and encounter a process that no doubt has to be painful. The orange juice you drank this morning came out of oranges being crushed. The coffee from Starbucks began as coffee beans that were grinded and then subjected to intense heat. The diamonds you wear began as coal but had to endure immense pressure in order to get its shine on. I dare not even go into what you’re going to eat today at the risk of many of you becoming instant vegetarians!
Paul in Romans chapter 5 attempts to hold our hands at the doctor’s office knowing that the needle is coming from behind the doctor’s back. But if we remain steady for the shot, we won’t go into shock! The things he expounds in relationship to the process and promise of cause and effect aren’t popular in the western world church culture because we want the gain without the pain, a resurrection without a crucifixion. In verse 3 he says, rejoice in your suffering. Quite a difficult task if you ask me but nonetheless, when you are suffering as many of us are today, its not just about the bill, the health concern, the family matter, the oppressive job, but rejoice in it knowing something’s coming out of it you. You are not suffering for nothing! You are rejoicing because your suffering is teaching you endurance. You are stronger now because of things that you have been through. Now you have a greater tolerance for pain and problems than you used to. Things that would have crippled you before don’t have the same impact because you now know how to endure.
In verse 4 of chapter 5, Paul gives us the insight that the process is far from over in that one step. Endurance is going to turn into something else—character. Your reputation is what people think of you in public, your character is who you are in private. God isn’t interested in our reputation but in our character. What impresses people matters not to the Master. Who are you when nobody is looking? What would you do and what decisions will you make if you know you won’t get caught? What kind of Christian are you behind closed doors? Once you have character it produces hope. That then says to us you can’t have hope if you have no character. Barack Obama is an awesome prototype of the audacity of hope. His character is impeccable which makes him globally acceptable. He already won the candidacy of character. After the breaking news with John Edwards last week, its all the more glaring to know the only issue the media and the Republicans could find on Barack Obama was statements by his former pastor! For a black man in his forties that’s huge! Verse 5 is an insurance policy that seals that the process is worth it all; your hope won’t allow you to be put to shame. You will not be embarrassed, humiliated or lose faith not because of your perfection but because of your hope.
Today as you are reading this and you feel as if you are going through something that’s killing you. Pause and ask your self: what am I getting out of this? Jesus went through something similar while on the cross. All that pain he endured was to perfect the process of grace, to know that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
As we approach the last days of reading through the Bible, I pray that your early morning and late night readings were not in vain. I pray in earnest that like me you are getting a lot out of this!
Early this morning I was talking to a friend who is being challenged by life issues. Every day may not be a good day, but every day is a day for God to work all things together for your good. After you have prayed rest in God’s presence to have your spirit restored, be careful not to rush out of His presence where you will receive peace and assurance to equip you to handle the storms of life. Regardless of what you hear or see that is contrary to God’s will don’t be deterred from following through on His last instruction to you.
I had to learn to intensify my prayers and increase my worship when the conflict seemed to be defeating me. During those seasons in my life I knew I had to stand when my emotions were starting to get the best of me, yet I never doubted God.
Three weeks ago I decided to go to bed without praying about a situation that only God could change. I don’t believe I was sleep for 15 minutes before the Lord showed me the plan of the Satan. In the dream I became furious; I literally snatched the key to my future that the devil reached for and shut the door on the plan of the Satan. When I woke up I called a friend to share what the end result would have been had I not taken action. After sharing, I hung up the phone to strategically pray and experienced the release in the spirit.
We know our trials will make us stronger, so when you don’t feel like praying pray. When you don’t feel like praising God praise. When you don’t feel like worshipping God worship. When you don’t feel like fasting fast. When you feel discouraged encourage yourself in the Word of God. Exercise the authority God has given you in Christ Jesus or Lord. This is spiritual warfare… the flesh will be conquered in a spiritual battle so put on the whole armor of God for assured victory.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
I am getting alot out of this!
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yes i am learning alot but it takes discipline to go that extra mile and say i will get up in the morning and read despite of the day.Every year I look forward to learning more about prayer and the word that we should be experiencing every day. Jesus I thank you for your word today on this beautiful colorful world we live in today cause I experience it for myself everyday.
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THANK YOU PASTOR,
This awesome WORD, and the preaching from last nights Bible study is the Lord's confirmation, that I'm going to get through all that comes against me as PURE GOLD. I know that, only because the LORD(EMMANUEL)is with me; have I come through many hard trials. He absolutely does work out all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose!
BLESS YOU ALL
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That was good food for thought Pastor.
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Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about
to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! Then we can say
Galatians 2:20 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Thank you Pastor Bryant for telling it like it is!!! Oooooooouch!!!
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Oh Hallelujah!! I'm praising him ahead of time for the glory that is about to be revealed!!!!
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12 noon sermon has the glory on it… I can feel the anointing coming though the computer. Pastor you and the congregants are really worshiping God. Good Lord I can’t wait until Sunday to experience God’s presence with the saints. Manifested glory in ET. Thank you Jesus!
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I've received so much from our reading the Bible and it shows every time that God uses me...there has been a work from within that has been occurring that only God can get the credit for...My Character is getting stronger.."I'm Changing"...God is Good
Blessings to All..........
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I am glad to know that my current suffering is not for nothing! There has been so much going on recently that I can nott even believe I'm still standing and trusting. I've been feeling the pain since last year, so I know the gain will be totally mind-blowing!
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Oh what a wonderful review! Today, I told a family member "Don't fret it's are going to be okay, there's something behind this!" Pastor's review caused me to reflect even the more on the importance of stilling yourself before God and inquiring of Him. Only then can you see what's yielded from the crushing. What's so wonderful about the Lord's crushing is that when God crushes you, it drives you closer to Him. That's how you know it's God. After these 90 days I will certainly miss the rich interaction that we as a body of believers have had with the Lord!
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Who am I to think there was not going to be any pain,NO PAIN,NO GAIN. I'm not as half as good as Jesus.He bore pain ,guilt and rejection and shame.
Pain-When he was beaten with a scourge that had pieces of metal,that fell upon his flesh and tore away and exposed his flesh under his skin.He said,I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.A crown of thorns were hung on his head.
Shame-He hung on the cross naked and they mocked him.
Rejection-Felt rejected by God(his Father) About the ninth hour Jesus he cried out with a loud voice saying, Eli,Eli,lama sabachthani? that is "My God,My God,why have thy forsaken Me?
Strength was given to me to believe that I can succeed and achieve anything through the blood of Jesus Christ.One thing about that blood it flows from day to day.It was the blood that washed me,cleansed me,saved me,purged me, delivered me,healed me, and made me whole,filled me.Oh,dont get me to talking about "THE BLOOD"
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.(Romans 8:2)
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Dr. Bryant, God found a way to bring His people into lasting relationship with Himself based on faith in Jesus, and as a result we have certain benefits and blessings. This is the context of Romans chapter 5, because of our justification through faith, we received these benefits:
1. Believers have been justified
2. Believers have peace with God
3. Believers have gained access
4. Believers have been reconciled
I'm renewing my benefit plan, today.
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Dear Dr. Bryant and People of Power:
Ditto "Something has got to come out of this" 90 day journey for our good.
I'd like to share with you part of an instruction Jesus gave his disciples that I found relevant and moving. The following reference is taken from Luke 6:46.
Jesus charged them, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
I'd say this is a grab the collar, back-you-into-the-corner, soul-wrenching query (coming from the Saviour of the world). Consequently, there's been a major shift in me towards more fear of the Lord.
As a consequence, may I share with you several disciplines I hope to gain from reading the Bible in 90 days? I'm hoping the pain involved will not be too great and that you will relate to these also.
1.) A greater commitment to obey God and his anointed.
2.) A greater commitment to UNDERSTAND others rather than give them the quick silent boot treatment.
For understanding another is a virtuous act of intention along with God's grace which is attainable.
3.) A commitment to love my enemies because to do so is to obey the Lord. Because Jesus taught -- that it isn't particularly Christian to love those who are nice, but it's completely Christian to forgive and love those who aren't nice.
Albeit this is as lofty as the 747 jet that flew us down to Miami last week. Nonetheless, if God says to love your enemies, then it's possible. And I want to love.
4.) To maintain faith in the ever-good intentions of God and to not fear (unto paralysis).
For Jesus and the angel of the Lord admonished several times, "Fear not!" For God is always with us.
5.) To be an overcomer like gaining control over time.
Well, Dr. Bryant, brothers and sisters, thank you for your indulgence and your prayers most of all. I'm playing catch up in the reading (since like Calgon, the Freeport adventure took me away -- a little bit).
And now we're in the home stretch -- in the count down to 90 days. I hope everybody is doing well with the reading. We'll have a certicate program coming up pretty soon, too. I know things are getting pretty tight.
I've got a cheat sheet if anybody needs one. (Smile)
God bless you real good now!
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Thank you so much Pastor for your blessed words of wisdom. In my reading of Romans 14:23 "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." (NKJV) The writer of Hebrews reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Whenever God reveals something, He expects us to believe Him and adjust our lives accordingly.
What does this mean? It means we trust Him implicitly for all of our needs because He says He will provide (Phil 4:19). It means we approach crises with the assurance that God will bring good from them (Romans 8:28). It means we overcome anxiety during stressful situations because God instructs us to bring our requests to Him (Phil 4:6). It means we never worry that we are alone because God said He would never leave us or forsake us (Deut 31:6).
It means that, despite what happens in our lives, we will never doubt God's love because He has told us that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3). At times we try to justify our lack of faith! We know what God has promised, but we doubt that He will make a practical difference in our life. We are filled with anxiety and excuse ourselves by saying "I am just a worrier!"
We become bitter during a crisis and reason that "God could not possibly bring anything good out of this pain! We appeal for help from everyone around us when we have a need' then we explain: "I know God can provide for my needs, but I think I should do everything I can, just in case." God calls this faithlessness. Faithlessness is sin. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb 11:6).
Regardless of how hard the crushing, we must continue to trust God that there will be something good coming out of it. That is easier said than done at times, but our faith strengthens as we go through the process step by step, day by day. During those hard, crushing times we have to always keep in mind that God is there with us no matter how hard it seems.
Thanks again Pastor. This is really a blessing.
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Greetings, in the name of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. I have been walking with Christ since age 25 and now 48. I am ashamed to say never have read the bible from cover to cover in this way. I fond it very hard to just read for many reason. Although as I go through my heart o mind opened . The word filled my spirit and open ,my eyes to hidden things in the natural and more so to spiritual relations. Increase of love to look pass my self .Pass people of flesh and see their spirit. To be a conduit for the masters use..I am becoming....
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