Suffering and God’s will

"Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful creator, while continuing to do good." ((1 Peter 4: 19)

Sometimes, it is God's will for us to suffer. The reason could be to share in the sufferings of Christ for our own salvation and that of the world. I have heard some radio and television evangelists proclaim that it is never God's will for us to suffer. This posture is a great disservice to the truth of the Bible.

How do we know that a particular suffering is God's will for us? The answer is simple. When we look for internal evidence from the Bible, we see two good examples:

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ was confronted with awful suffering. His human nature dreaded it. He prayed to God: If this is your will, save me from this suffering. But if it is not, then I am prepared to go through it. We know that it was God's will for Him to suffer the crucifixion.

St. Paul the Apostle was tormented by a painful suffering that he called 'a thorn in the flesh." Three times he prayed for healing. On the third occasion, he got an answer from Christ: "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 2:9)

When we have prayed earnestly about a particular suffering and tried all we can legitimately to lift it but can't, we know that the suffering is from God. St. Peter advises us in 1 Peter 4: 19 that when this is the case to "entrust ourselves to a faithful creator." This means to surrender the situation entirely to God.

 

Watch and Pray

"For the time has come for judgment to begin with household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4: 17)

Judgment will begin with the household of God. Judgment will begin with the Church.

Testing may begin from the family. Be prepared. Trials, temptations and troubles will begin within the family, from within the Christian Churches. Be prepared. Be sober. Watch and pray.

Reviled for the name of Christ

"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you." (1 Peter 4: 14)

Long-suffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Long-suffering, that is patience is the unmistakable sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a soul. Other fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

While some of the fruits of the Holy Spirit can be counterfeited, long-suffering cannot be faked. Paul said that while signs and wonders follow the apostle, long-suffering is the unmistakable sign of the apostle.

O Holy Spirit, O Spirit of glory, grant me abundance of long-suffering.

Joys and sorrows in the life of Christ

"But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:13)

The sufferings of Christ constitute a type and shadow of Christian experience. There is simply a divine necessity that every Christian must share in these sufferings. Christ's life is the model for the life of every Christian. The life of Christ is made up of patterns of joy and sufferings. These patterns are types and shadows of our own joys and sufferings. The cross leads to the crown. The trial leads to joyful testimony. This is a spiritual imperative.

When we suffer with Christ, we can then shout with joy when His glory is revealed. No birth pang, no joy of nursing.

St Agnes whose feast is January 21^st suffered deprivation and martyrdom for the sake of Christ. Today she is enjoying her crown and glory in heaven. Her life is still remembered and celebrated throughout the world. Many churches and schools are named after her. The young girls who were her contemporaries who chose a different life style and lived worldly life enjoyed this dulce vita for maybe 80 years or less. Where are these girls today? What are their names? Who remembers them?

Fiery ordeal

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange is happening to you." (1 Peter 4: 12)

Sufferings of all types, whether delays, obstacles, disappointments, sickness, joblessness should not come as a surprise to Christians. Yet they do. Christians who are still eaglets and immature in the word of God have not come to perceive that every day is a day of battle for the Christian. The good thing about the battle is that if we persevere, the outcome is always victory.

The Spirit in the Old Testament

Below are some instances of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. The common denominator is that people are chosen, called and anointed for service in the community by the Holy Spirit.

"Moses went out and told the people what Yahweh had said. Then he collected seventy of the people's elders and stationed them round the Tent. Yahweh descended in the cloud. He spoke to him and took some of the spirit which is on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied – but only once. (Numbers 11: 24 25)

"The Israelites wept for Moses on the plains of Moab for thirty days. The days of weeping for the mourning rites of Moses came to an end. Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him, and him the Israelites obeyed, carrying out the order which Yahweh had given to Moses." (Deuteronomy 34: 8-9)

"And the Spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon around; he sounded the horn and Abiezer rallied behind him." (Judges 6: 34)

"The Spirit of Yahweh was on Jephthah, who crossed Gilead and Manasseh, crossed by way of Mizpah in Gilead, and from Mizpah in Gilead crossed into Ammonite territory." (Judges 11: 29)

"The Spirit of Yahweh will then seize on you, and you will go into ecstasy with them, and be changed into another man. When these signs have occurred, act as occasion serves, for God is with you." (1 Samuel 10: 6-8)

"From there, they came to Gibeah; and there was a group of prophets coming to meet him! The Spirit of God seized on him and he fell into ecstasy with them. Seeing him prophesying with the prophets, all the people who had known him previously said to one another…. Is Saul one of the prophets too?" (1 Samuel10: 10)

"Yahweh said, 'Get up and anoint him: he is the one!' At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him, surrounded by his brothers; and the spirit of Yahweh seized on David from that day onwards." (1 Samuel 16: 13)

"Now the Spirit of Yahweh had withdrawn from Saul, and an evil spirit of Yahweh afflicted him with terrors." (1 Samuel 16: 14)

"News was then brought to David, 'The Philistines are besieging Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.' David consulted Yahweh, ' Shall I go and fight these Philistines?' Yahweh replied to David, 'Go and fight the Philistines and save Keilah." (1 Samuel 23:2)

"The Spirit of Yahweh speaks through me, his word is on my tongue; the God of Jacob has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me…" (2 Samuel 23: 2)

 

 

 

 

The Holy Spirit the Master Craftsman

"Yahweh then spoke to Moses and said, 'Look, I have singled out Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, knowledge and skill in every kind of craft…" (Exodus 31: 1-3)

• Spirit and wisdom
  
• Spirit and knowledge
  
• Spirit and skill
  

God chooses, God calls and God anoints.

Others who were called and anointed:

• Moses
  
• Joshua
  
• Gibeon
  
• Samson
  
• Samuel
  
• David
  

Each of the above is called to a different mission but the call and the anointing is from the same Spirit. Bezalel was endowed by the Spirit for the service of the community.

In my work of website and graphic designing, I depend entirely on the Holy Spirit. When I come upon an intractable problem, I lay down my tools and turn to the Holy Spirit in prayer. He has never failed me. The best job I have done is through the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit gives life

"It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." (John 6: 63)

• Spirit and life
  
• Spirit/flesh
  
• Spirit and the word
  

How does the Spirit give life? The Holy Spirit gives life to the word of God. He supplies the meaning and vitality in the word. He shows us how to apply the word in our life. He recalls the word to our mind when we need it most. Without the Spirit, the Bible would be literature. I need the Spirit to know the truth in the word of God.

In the Eucharist, the Spirit uses the word of Jesus at the last supper, which is known as the words of consecration to make ordinary bread and wine into the life-giving flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. The Spirit in deed gives life. The flesh has nothing to add.

Spirit of truth

"I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now.

However when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come." (John 16: 12-14)

• Spirit of truth
  
• Spirit and truth
  
• Spirit and revelation
  
• Spirit and memory
  

John 16: 12-14 is an incredible promise to a man whose purpose in life is to learn and share the truth. The Holy Spirit will be my teacher. He will teach me everything I need to know about Jesus.

How will the Spirit minister teaching to me? The word of God is the primary source. Apart from the word of God, the sacred liturgy of the Church especially the Eucharist is a key resource. I think it was St. Thomas Aquinas who said that he learned a great deal of his theology from the Mass. I feel the same way. The Holy Spirit will teach me everything that I need to know for my ministry in the Bible and the teachings of the Church about Jesus.

The Spirit will give me an insatiable appetite for truth and learning. I have great hunger to learn everything I can about Christ.

The Spirit will use selected books and biographies to teach me about Jesus. Below are some of my patron saints who have been taught about Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit:

• Augustine
  
• John Chrysostom
  
• Peter Canisius
  
• Louis de Monfort
  
• Josemaria
  
• Therese of Lisieux
  
• Stephen
  
• John Henry Newman
  

Spirit explores everything

"What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, what the mind of man cannot visualize; all that God has prepared for those who love him, to us though, God has given revelation through the Spirit, for the Spirit explores the depth of everything, even the depths of God. After all, is there anyone who knows the qualities of anyone except his own spirit, within him; and in the same way, nobody knows the qualities of God except the Spirit of God. Now, the Spirit we have received is not the spirit of the world but God's own Spirit, so that we may understand the lavish gifts God has given us. And these are what we speak of, not in terms learnt from human philosophy, but in terms learnt from the Spirit, fitting spiritual language to spiritual things. The natural man has no room for the gifts of God's Spirit; to him they are folly; he cannot recognize them, because their value can be assessed by anybody else. For: who has ever known the mind of the Lord? Who has ever been his adviser? But we are those who have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2: 9-16)

Key words/phrases:

Mind of Christ/mind of man

Revelation through the Spirit/Spirit and revelation

The Spirit explores the depth of everything, even the depths of God.

Spirit knows the qualities of God

God's own Spirit/spirit of the world

Spirit's wisdom/ human philosophy

Fitting spiritual language to spiritual things

Spiritual person/natural person

 

Spirit – The Seal of God

"It is God who gives us, with you, a sure place in Christ and has both anointed us and marked us with his seal, giving us as pledge the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1: 21)

The Holy Spirit is truly the seal of God. His presence and anointing in our lives are so convincing that only a person as blind as a rock could fail to notice this. Yet sadly, there are many who do not notice or care for the Person of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity. They think that when it comes to religion, minimum is the best. But they do not hesitate to accumulate all the money and honor they could. How sad! How unfortunate!

God gave us the Holy Spirit to remind us at all times that He is in us, with us and for us. When new discoveries in science begin to make me question the foundation of my faith, it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that puts an end to the proud ideas that dare to question the knowledge of God. It is like a man after using the GPS navigation system for many years suddenly begin to doubt if the system that has faithfully guided him in his travels is nothing more than a useless toy.

It is the Holy Spirit that has given us a sure place in Christ. His active presence in us is a concrete proof that all God's promises are Yes and Amen. Trust in the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of Yahweh

"The spirit of the Yahweh is on me for Yahweh has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the news to the afflicted, to soothe the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, release to those in prison, to proclaim the year of favor from Yahweh and day of vengeance from our God, to comfort all who mourn…" (Isaiah 61: 1-2)

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on disciples of Jesus is one of the most tangible and most cherished gifts of Jesus Christ to His Church. Christians of every denomination speaks of the effects of the Holy Spirit on their lives in the same language. He is a strong influence for good. He is a constant helper and companion. He is the always reliable ally in crisis.

For me, He is the source of all inspiration and power. Without Him, I can do nothing. With Him, I believe that nothing shall be impossible for me.

Isaiah foretold of the impact of the Holy Spirit on the ministry of Jesus Christ. We see the fulfillment of this prophecy in the teaching and actions of Jesus right from His Baptism in the Jordan. What the Spirit did in Jesus He can do in us if we allow Him. But how can we surrender fully to the Holy Spirit so that He can accomplish God's purpose in our lives? It is said that "Desire maketh a man." Everything depends on how much we desire to see God's purpose accomplished in our lives. If we desire it more than a drowning man for air, we shall be lead to the means of fulfilling the desire. The means is no other than the Holy Spirit.

Two types of spirits

"We are from God; whoever recognizes God listens to us; anyone who is not from God refuses to listen to us. This is how we can distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood." (1 John 4: 6)

Jesus says: "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. " (John 10: 27)

There are two types of spirits – spirit of truth who dwells in the children of God and the spirit of falsehood who dwells in those who have rejected Jesus.

God stamped his DNA in every person created in His image and likeness. But only those who are born again are children of God. The children of God listen to the voice of their shepherd and recognize it. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Those who are not children of God do not have the spirit of truth living in them.

 

Test the spirits

"Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh be longs to God,

and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world." (1 John 4: 1-3)

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

So by their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7: 15-20)

"The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments.

Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:

whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as he lived." (1 John 2: 3-6)

 

 

I love your law

"The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces."

"(Psalm 119: 72).

How do we know for certain that God's word is more precious than silver and gold? God's word transforms ordinary humans into extraordinary beings. There are abundant proofs from the lives of many people. Their heroic lives had been recognized and many of them canonized as saints. The proof also comes from the lives of dedicated Christians living among us. These individuals have the courage to test the life-changing principles in the Bible and confirm that they work. Their highly successful lives and achievements bear testimony to the power of God's word. God's word contains many promises each of which is may be worth more than silver and gold, depending on our needs.

To discover the gold and silver in the word of God, read it as a personal letter. Read the word in order to act on its principles and so obtain what it promises.

How Apply the Word of God to your Problem:

• Define the problem.
  
• . State two or more key words that are contained in your problem.
  
• Get a Bible Concordance and list all the references to your keywords.
  
• Take your Bible and write out all the references that bear directly on the problem.
  
• Focus on a number of texts that apply directly to you.
  
• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply the scripture.
  

The last step is critical: Understand what the scripture is saying to your actual situation. If you are not satisfied with the answer that you are getting, keep working on it until you are enlightened.

Believe the Bible text that God has revealed as answer to your problem. Belief may not come automatically. Like Peter, you can say again and again: "Lord I believe; increase my faith."

When you get a clear idea on concrete steps to take to solve your problem, act without hesitation. If you are not sure, wait until you get this clear signal. This is the most important step. "Faith that is firm is also patient." (Isaiah 28:16)

• I believe in prayer
  
• I believe in the word of God
  
• I believe in miracles
  
• I leave the rest to God
  

Wisdom will bestow a graceful garland on your head

"The first principle of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; at the cost of all you have, acquire understanding! Hold her close, and she will make you great; embrace her, and she will be your pride; she will provide a graceful garland for your head, bestow a crown of honor on you." (Proverbs 4: 7-9)

My pursuit of wisdom took me to self-development literature, philosophy, theology and history. After many years of seeking wisdom from second-hand sources, I was pointed to the fountain of wisdom: the Bible.

Roger Crawford in his book, How High Can You Bounce? , writes: "Resilient people realize that it's impossible to see the full value of adversity until it is behind us. Understanding and wisdom come after an event, not before." Wisdom can come during an event if one feeds himself with a daily portion of the word of God.

Wisdom and the Cross

St Francis de Sales writes: "The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity, the cross He now presents to you from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it is not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, and taken one last glance at you and your courage - has sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all merciful love of God."

More Scriptures on Wisdom

• "Blessed are those who have discovered wisdom, those who have acquired understanding! Gaining her is more rewarding than silver, her yield is more valuable than gold. She is beyond the price of pearls, nothing you could covet is her equal. In her right hand is length of days; in her left hand, riches and honor. Her ways are filled with delight, her paths all lead to contentment. She is a tree of life for those who hold her fast, those who cling to her live happy lives." (Proverbs 3: 13-18)
  
• "Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. (Psalm 119:66)
  
• "And now my children listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways. Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it. Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keep watch at my portals. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favor of Yahweh; but whoever misses me harms himself, all who hate me are in love with death." (Proverbs 9: 32-36)
  
• "The blessing of Yahweh is what brings riches, to this, hard toil has nothing to add." (Proverbs 11: 22)
  
• "For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers" (Proverbs 11: 14)
  
• "A sudden fortune will dwindle away, accumulation little by little is the way to riches." (Proverbs 13: 11)
  
• "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, desire fulfilled is a tree of life." (Proverbs 13:12)
  
• "In the fear of Yahweh is powerful security; for his children he is a refuge." (Proverbs 14:26)
  
• "Better to have a little and with it fear of Yahweh than immense wealth and with it anxiety." (Proverbs 15:16)
  
• "Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die: keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, grant me only my share of food, for fear that, surrounded by plenty, I should fall away and say, 'Yahweh - who is Yahweh?' or else, in destitution, take to stealing and profane the name of my God."(Proverbs 30: 7-9)
  
• "For Yahweh himself is giver of wisdom, from his mouth issue knowledge and understanding. He reserves his advice for the honest, a shield to those whose ways are sound; he stands guard over the path of equity."(Proverbs 2: 6-8)
  
• "Trust wholeheartedly in Yahweh, put no faith in your own perception; acknowledge him in every course you take, and he will see that your paths are smooth."(Proverbs 3:5-6)
  
• "My child do not scorn correction from Yahweh, do not resent his reproof; for Yahweh reproves those he love, as a father the child whom he loves."(Proverbs 3: 11-120
  

We destroy false arguments

"The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strong-holds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)New Jerusalem Bible.

God gave us in His word a powerful weapon. With this weapon, we can destroy strong-holds, false arguments and pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God. How do we use God's word as a weapon in spiritual warfare? Jesus told us to make His word our home if we want to be His disciples. Only trained disciples can participate in the war. When the word is in our hearts and on our lips, the Holy Spirit will inspire us when and what to use. Jesus Christ must reign on the internet. Below are links to some Christian sites on the web. Write, publish and blog.

St. Vincent de Paul

"Come you whom my Father has blessed....For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me" (Matthew 25: 34-36)

St Vincent de Paul was born in 1580. As a priest, he devoted his life to the care of the poor and the sick in Paris. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Missions, the Sisters of Charity. He found also orphanages, and hospitals. The Lord opened the hearts of wealthy women to support his work. A charity bearing his name, St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in his name in Paris in 1833 and this society is active in most countries of the world today. St Vincent de Paul died in 1660 and his feast day is September 27. St Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charitable societies and hospital workers.

What I love about this saint is his absolute trust in God's providence. He learned this secret after many years in the ministry.

What is in 10?

What is in 10?

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten girls who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise "(Matthew 25: 1-2).

"Or suppose a woman who had ten silver coins loses one of them - what does she do?" (Luke 15:8)

"As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease " (Luke 17: 11-120.

The number Ten has always fascinated me. There are ten fingers and ten toes. There are Ten Commandments. Robert Schuller's , in his book, TOUGH TIMES DO NOT LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO teaches how to count to ten and win. My dream is to write a Blog on each of the ideas below:

My top 10 Scriptures
My top 10 Saints
My top 10 Spiritual books
My top 10 Bible characters
My top 10 reasons for hope

My top 10 tricks of the Devil
My top 10 journeys
My top 10 inspirational writers
My top 10 holidays
My top 10 historical events

 

St. Therese

"The Lord nurtured and taught her; he guarded her as the apple of his eye. As the eagle spreads its wings to carry its young, he bore her on his shoulders. The Lord alone was her leader"(Deut 32: 10-12)

St Therese of the Child Jesus was born in Alencon, France in 1873. As a young girl, she entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux, where she developed rapidly into a spiritual adult. She burned these words of Jesus into her heart: "Unless you change and become like little children, says the Lord, you shall not enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 18:3) St Therese of the Child Jesus modeled her life to that of the little child of Matthew 18:3. This explains her popularity and immense appeal to countless devotees all over the world. She died on September 30, 1897. Her feast day is the 1st of October.

Quotes from St Theresa

"The Doctor of doctors teaches us without the sound of words. I have never heard Him speak, and yet I know He is within my soul. Every moment He is guiding and inspiring me, and, just at the moment I need them, `lights' till then unseen are granted me. Most often it is not at prayer that they come but while I go about my daily duties" ("The Story of a Soul", Chapter 8).