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Struggle
Someone wrote to me stating: Christianity is not a struggle for me but a vitalizing part of spirituality and growing closeness to GOD.
Here are some passages that tell me that Christianity is a struggle.
And Jesus answered and said to them, See to it that no one misleads you.5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many.6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.9 Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name.10 And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another.11 And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people^s love will grow cold.13 But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. Matthew 24:4 to 14 (NASB)
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, They are My people, And they will say, The LORD is my God. Zecharia 13:9 (NASB)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6 and 7 (NIV)
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:10 to 18 (KJV)
12 Fight the good fight of faith; 1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 1 I SOLEMNLY charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 2 Timothy 3:16 4:7 (NASB)
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: My son, do not make light of the Lord^s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:4 to 11 (NIV)
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:18 to 25 (NASB)
In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldlyminded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 18 to 21
This is straight from the word of God. Where do you get your ideas?
Let us not forget the martyrs and the hardships of those who brought us the Word of God.
Although we have been through a period in the western world of very few martyrs times will change and the decision to be a Christian may mean a short human life. It is a struggle to even decide in some cases. The Bible talks a great deal on this subject. I have only brought up some of the passages that came to mind in the last couple of days.
2007 Jacques Gauvin
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