⌦ † Isaiah 39:20 ⌫⌧⌧⌧⌦ † 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ⌫ I suppose that the title of these two discussions might be somewhat troubling to you and yet there are things that we must understand about trusting God and His Word or we can find ourselves spiritually confused and even doubtful toward God.

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Let it be clear in your mind and hearts that pure and true faith doesn’t make you safe but it does save you—these things are not the same. We will look at that today.

It is needed and right to exert yourself to grow to the place where you have an indomitable faith and trust in both the Person of God and in what His written Word says—a place where nothing can shake your faith but it must be faith that is under-girded in humility.

In the fine print (of sorts) of our believing faith we must know in our hearts the kind of things that we will cover in today’s discussion about our asking prayers and all other expectations of God because He is God. When significant needs or other troubles arise against us, we are to pray and let God be God in His timing and answers to such things.

It is wisdom to know these two things Regarding a pure and true faith in God, it is wisdom to know these two things today And to be at peace with them regarding our faith in God: 1. The Lord uses hardships, troubles, setbacks, failures, and even bodily afflictions to help us spiritually grow; a sincere faith does not keep us safe from them ever happening to us. Most of these things He doesn’t send but in the course of life just happen, and for many He allows them to happen—while other things He arranges for our instruction. Most of us have lots of needed changes to wean us off our old ways, to renew our minds in righteousness, and to toughen-up our ability to endure hard things that are still ahead in our lives. Therefore, if we pray against these things, if we ask God and expect Him to relieve us from them, we will be at least disappointed when things do not change. This is a danger to our being able to stand by faith in the future, especially when the devil looks on and sees an opportunity to make fun of our faith in God (related story on audio).

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† 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation (the proving of [your faith or strength], experience of evil, adversity) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted (tested, disciplined; from root word meaning a trial) above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape (to go out or through), that ye may be able to bear (bear from underneath, undergo the hardship) it.

† Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked (told a fault, admonished) of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (trains, educates, disciplines), and scourgeth (whips [spanks]) every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

† Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. . . 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

† Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. . .

It is wisdom to know these two things Regarding a pure and true faith in God, it is wisdom to know these two things today And to be at peace with them regarding our faith in God: 2. Now getting to the fact of our discussion’s title, our genuine faith in God by Jesus secures our forgiveness and cleansing from sin and the promise of eternal life—to be sure! Such faith saves us from eternal torment and separation from God but oftentimes a prayer of faith does not keep us safe from trouble or deliver us from severe hardships, terrible persecution, or even physical death. The Word of God has many examples of this being true and we will look at several. First, please note this in your mind and heart: My purpose is not to discourage your faith in God but to square it up with a trust in Him that no matter what happens to us, we do not fail in our faith in God.

What are several examples of believers full of faith and trust in God but with an outcome that is not what we’d call “having a good day”? Or worse, of such saints, were any of them killed while standing firm in faith? Let’s look:

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† Luke 21: [Jesus said:] 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

† John 16: [Jesus said:] 1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. . . 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. . .

† Acts 7:54 When they heard these things [from Stephen], they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. . . 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings (to menace) and slaughter (slay, murder) against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. . . 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

† 2 Corinthians 11:23 [“Regarding the other apostles, as a Hebrew, an Israelite”:] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

† Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they [believers] shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

† Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Denying the Lord: Matt. 10:33, 2 Tim. 2:12) 2:12 [to] Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

† Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they [“they” is us!] overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony (report, martyrdom); and they loved not their lives unto the death.

† 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

† John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. . .

Especially as believers living in the prophesied “last days”, we must realize that many of us will not die of natural causes but at the hands of evil men. We are to pray for the help and protection of God while believing that He has our lives in His hand.

There will be times when we will face great challenges to some aspect of our well-being and the Lord will miraculously put a stop to them († Mk 11:20-24). There will be other times when hard situations will arise that He will walk through the trouble with us and we will come out the other side in victory († 1 Cor. 10:13).

But for some of us, there will come the God-ordained and a one-time gift offering to God, and that is our martyrdom on behalf of another or for our faith and the glory of the eternal Sovereign († Jn 15:13, † Rev. 2:10, 13).

In sure and true faith we must know that it is our privilege to pray and believe for God’s help in any circumstance knowing that He has heard our prayer and will answer according to the blueprint of our individual lives that He is working to. Sure and true faith does not presume upon God!

In summary, as you now know about praying and our other expectations about God, the answer may be how we expected it, or help comes but not in the way we thought it would, or we must endure some things with merely His companionship, or we might just be among the ones called to give our lives as a testimony of our love for God.

In that case, you can be assured that He will be by your or my side through the final minutes of our earthly lives and will likely Personally greet you or me as we step into the eternal realm of God.

To that end, our faith saves us but it is never said that it will keep us safe from needed training, trouble, persecution, or the appointed time of our death.

Brothers and sisters of the faith, let God be God in all the unsavory conditions of your lives and do not lose faith because He doesn’t handle things that way we hoped He would.

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† Psalm 56:1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

† Matthew 19:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

† Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

† 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Have faith in God, in what He is and can do, in His power and promises, and in His Word; live each day according to these things and you will not falter or fail in your faith.

Faith Doesn’t Make You Safe ~ but ~ It Does Save You!

Oh, and do not forget the attitude and expression of praise for answered prayer—even if the answer is “No, my child.”

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~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word^© ... For Today~

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