Sorrow into joy

​

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Life in the Spirit   CURRENT TV SERIES All Things New Part 2

“He is not here, but has risen!”  --Luke 24:6 Have you ever gone through a personal struggle and wondered, “Where is Jesus? Sometimes, especially in the midst of a crisis, you and I might think that Jesus has utterly disappeared. Well, the disciples certainly felt this way just after Jesus’ death on the cross. He had promised to never leave them or forsake them, but now it seemed as though he was gone forever. And things took an ever stranger twist. Some of the women went to the tomb to anoint his body, but when they reached the tomb, the found the stone rolled away, and Jesus’ body was gone! This was overwhelming news to the disciples. First, he was dead, and now his body was missing! But while they were lamenting, two men in shining garments declared to them, “He is not here, but has risen!” Now you and I may know the great hope residing in those words, but the disciples were utterly bewildered. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wonder long. Soon, a gloriously risen Jesus came to them personally and proved that he was alive! And Jesus turned sorrow into celebration. Often in the face of hardship and discouragement you may wonder, “Where is Jesus? Where did he go?” Well, I assure you that he is there! The Scripture says to seek him and you will find him! Let Jesus come to you personally and show you that he lives.   JESUS TURNED SORROW INTO CELEBRATION!

Fiery Trials

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
1 Peter 4:12-14

When Peter was inspired to write on the subject of persecution, trials, and faith being challenged, he was not talking about theory. Peter’s faith had faced a trial the night before Jesus was crucified, and he had failed the test. He had also experienced great suffering first hand—being beaten, jailed, and threatened with execution. Many of his fellow disciples lost their lives because of their faithful witness and testimony, and Peter himself would eventually be crucified.
The appearance of hardships, trials, and even persecution in our lives should not come as a surprise to us. The popular notion that the Christian life is meant to be easy and that we should expect to only receive blessings leaves people poorly prepared when difficulty does come. The Bible instead tells us that if we are committed to doing right, we should expect to experience difficulties and challenges. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
The thing that sustains us through trials and testing is our faith that God is still in control. Though we are often surprised by what happens, God never is. As someone once said, “All of our fiery trials are Father-filtered.” When we remember that God is in control even when things go wrong according to our expectation and understanding, we are reminded to keep our faith in Him.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

No trial ever comes into your life that has not first passed through the hands of your loving Father in Heaven.