Trials Archives - By This Verse

OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES BY FAITH IN CHRIST

June 10, 2021June 9, 2021 by Jun P. Espina

True Christianity is about struggle or warfare “against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness.” (Eph. 6:12) This paper, “Overcoming Adversities by the Power of God,” deals with trials and sufferings God crushes to preserve the born-again follower of Christ. How to fight demonic forces without understanding the devil’s schemes from God’s viewpoint? The apostle Paul said we must “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Eph. 6:16) Peter also said: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 1:5) It is Christianity 101. It is overcoming adversities by the power of God since the devil seeks to tempt and victimize Christ’s people.

Overcoming Adversities by the Power of God

June 10, 2021June 6, 2021 by Jun P. Espina

From the world’s view, this thesis is false because the top in the list of people who get persecution or death are always Christians. In the U.S., for example, the believers of Jesus are viewed as bigots, having a mental disorder, and intolerant. The problem is that most of those attacking Christianity are themselves, bigots, having a mental disorder, and intolerant. There is so much hypocrisy in society but born-again Christianity is simply based on the truth, who is Christ.

Trusting God Sincerely & Taking Refuge in Him

March 24, 2021June 7, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

In Psalm 34:8, we find God continually inviting us to His boundless love and grace. “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Making God your shelter in this life has an added incentive of blessedness. The “Lord is good” if you will just decide to “taste and see” the experience. Sincerely trusting God and taking refuge in Him by faith open the door of Heaven’s blessings. This inwardness we venture to call as faith experience only starts to develop after hearing and meditating upon God’s blessed promises. “For this reason,” wrote the apostle Paul, “we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” (1 Thess 2:13) Sincerely trusting God, therefore, is only possible if you hear the Word of God and it begins to perform “its work in you who believe.”

Real Peace of Mind and Heart: Possible Only in Christ

February 10, 2020June 3, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

How to have real peace of mind and heart? The Bible teaches two kinds of peace. One is given by the world; the other, by Christ Jesus. “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.” The natural man tends to seek after the real peace of this world. His surest formula to have the tranquility of mind and soul is to have a whirl with friends. Or, sometimes he would choose to waste his energy in mountain climbing or travels to attain real peace hopefully.

Annoyingly Persistent Prayer is What God Requires

February 12, 2020May 14, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

Of an annoyingly persistent prayer: Who can do it? David’s prayer to God for the recovery of his sick son with Bathsheba is one biblical example of a persistent prayer. The Bible stated that the child “was very sick. David, therefore, inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them.” (2 Sam. 12:1b-17) Only the real believers can do such agonizingly persistent prayer!

Facing Trials in the Power of Abraham’s Faith

February 15, 2020March 25, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

We are facing trials every once in a while as part of our unsinkable imperfections in this life. Earth is not the dreamland; suicide, therefore, is abnormal and committed by those experiencing mental illness known as depression. God’s parting words for Adam were not a happy anticipation of a life away from paradise. Now, we swallow the pill as children of Adam, the sinner. There are ordeals, tons of them in this domain. Facing trials head-on, like struggling with cancer or kidney disorder, is the only rational option available to each one of us. But we can only resist the fear associated with any form of adversity by faith in the promises of God.