The Lord Stood By Me

“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:17-18)

Beloved,

Have you ever felt alone? Deserted? Abandoned? During Paul’s first trial he was deserted by his closest friends and left alone. He was probably tempted to become bitter and angry at his situation. He was probably tempted to resent his friends for not being there for him when he needed them most. We all probably have been tempted with similar thoughts when others have not cared for us well in the midst of our trials. 

            Although it would have been completely natural for Paul to feel bitter at his friend’s desertion, Paul knew that he was never really alone. He writes, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” Beloved, the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. As the Lord stood by Paul and strengthen him, the Lord will also stand by us and strengthen us during our season of desertion. Our Lord was forsaken on the cross so that we would never be forsaken. We will be persecuted, but we will never be forsaken (2 Cor. 4:9). The Lord’s presence should be a constant reminder that He will sustain us to the end (1 Cor. 1:9). He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion. We should take comfort that Lord will always be with us.

            We should also take comfort to know that God will be using our trials for his own purposes. Notice that Paul gave the reason for why he was deserted when he says, “so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” God was using his trials for the advancement of the gospel.  God will use your trials to bring glory to His name. We do not have to understand how God is moving to know that God is moving.

            Beloved, hold on to those great twin truths: God will always stand by you and God always has a purpose in our trials. Whatever you are facing today know that God will bring you safely into his heavenly kingdom. He will stand with and work for you!! He who called you is faithful; he will surely do it (1 Thess. 5:24).

Be Steadfast Under Trials

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Beloved,

The Supreme Court voted to legalize same-sex marriage this past week. The decision was the culmination of the moral revolution that has occurred in recent years. Although the decision may be disheartening, it was not surprising. The decision was not surprising to God and should not be surprising to us.

After being stoned and left for dead in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to the city encouraging the disciples and urging them to continue in the faith, saying that, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22) As the apostles encouraged the saints of the 1^st century, I encourage you to continue in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Supreme Court decision has not changed our mission to carry the gospel to all the nations for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The challenge facing us in America is whether we are going to embrace suffering or embrace the new cultural ideology. The fiery trial is coming upon the church to test us. We should not be surprised, but we should rejoice in Christ sufferings. It is a privilege not only to believe in Jesus, but to suffer for him. Will we stand the test?  Will we stand for Christ?

God is working in the midst of the moral decay of our country. We may not like the decision of Supreme Court, but we now have the opportunity to reveal our allegiance to King Jesus. God will use this court ruling to purify the church and glorify his name. God is never surprised by the world’s rejection of him or his people. He not only is not surprised, but has promised it. No teacher is greater than his master.

The church will be tested. We will be asked to capitulate to the world. We will be asked to go with the cultural flow. We will be asked to deny God’s Word. We will be asked, but we must never deviate from our allegiance to the Lord Jesus. Our kingdom is not of this world and our kingdom cannot be shaken.  “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)