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“The Good News About Hard Times”

Pasture Scott said that his “True Vision of Ministry” is found in Luke 1:17 to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

In the news accounts of the last weeks we find a cry for a ‘new world order.’

The president of Iran predicts the fall of the U S.

Russia is once again rising to prominence.

Financial institutions around the globe are failing right and left and are depending on government for support.

People’s life savings are disappearing.

But through all of this we avert panic by remembering what Hebrews 12:28 says – “… we receive a kingdom (reign of Christ) that cannot be shaken…”

In Acts 14 the account is of Paul and Barnabas establishing churches in several places but was not completely accepted by some of the people. In one town Paul was even stoned to death and dragged outside the city.  But Paul was revived by the Lord and even went back in that same town again.

The reason that Paul and Barnabas were unafraid was recounted in verse 22: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

It’s hard for us to visualize going through tribulations but that may be what we will face in the near future. For some that will be devastation but for those who are Christ’s, it will mean blessing.

The Virtues of Godly Suffering are:

            Redemptive   - God sends people into suffering to redeem souls.

            Required       - Suffering is a requirement for understanding their role in the kingdom

            Rewarded      - Persecution and suffering for “the sake of the kingdom” is rewarded by God.

                                    See Matthew 5: 10 – 12.