A group gathers under the cover of trees, on rough cut wooden benches. They are in poverty, they are orphans, widows, hungry families, and single people with no futures. They gather under these trees because the time they spend celebrating God, is time they spend that counts for something. They sing, and they listen together. They pray, and lay hands on those in need. This, is a house built on faith. This is the body of faith, of which Christ is the head.
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James 1:12
12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
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A man lost his son, but had the faith to ask for prayer. A child lost her mother, but looked to believers for guidance. A boy lost both his parents in a car accident, and still sought answers from God. Men and women from many nations, shelter orphans, feeding them with faith God will continue to provide. A mother gets kicked out of her home by her daughter, and is told to forgive and love her. All this has crossed my path in the last 48 hours. And in these few examples, faith and a love for the Father is the root of healing and growth.
Perseverance under trial is humbling, real, and painful. People die in trial. People starve. People weep and moan. But these souls continue to have faith. To put God first, in all things. What a trial for a soul born to put themselves and what they desire first. We are nothing like what we were. We fear God, and are humbled because we love him. This world hates us. Because we are awake, are we persevere to remain awake.
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Romans 5:1-5
1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
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Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
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perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
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What is character building to a man who lost his son. Character building is this; to remain faithful, even in long-suffering. Hope placed in God is a way to glorify Him. The Father knows what the man has gone through. The Father knows the man chose to remain faithful. The Father knows the man places his hope for peace upon Him. This man has put God first.
That is character building; Christian style. Amen.
This existence is filled with meaningless things. All of which, replace God. Everything, everything not done in faith, is sin. Because we are to love Him, heart, mind, and soul. There is no relationship we have, or possession, or pride, or achievement that should not be stripped away. Loss and suffering are truly, truly best seen as growing pains. We are humbled before Him. Fear God and you will know him.
A difficult lesson. This path was impossible for us to know without God sacrificing His Son. God let His Son choose to persevere, chose to give us hope, and choose to love us, which was the Father's will. Jesus loved the Father. Jesus set out a path that only the faithful could follow. And he suffered greatly to do so. Jesus became the cornerstone, the head of what is a house of souls willing to suffer any cost to love the Father.
So, ask yourself, does your beliefs honor yourself, or does your beliefs put God first in every way. I tell you this, even the disciples had to give everything away in order to have time where God was first. A time in their lives where nothing stood between them and the Father, except the Son and his petition for them by the authority upon him. I personally was not annointed until I was completely impoverished and starving, having only enough faith to repent and fear for my soul. Now, I look back and see what a truly marvelous gift to be stripped down to nothing actually was. I am loved. So, ask yourself, does your beliefs honor your way, or does your beliefs put God first in every way.
As the faithful gather under the trees, singing and prayer over one another, their faith speaks of a love few offer the Father. Jesus petitions for them. But for those who supply their desires and call on Jesus, he does not know them, for they do not suffer, his spirit is not in them, and they are not of him.
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James 1:9,10
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Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
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But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
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Fear God. Repent. Have faith, persevere.
Put your hope in what you love. I pray it is the Father.
Blessed be the one who listens.
Amen
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