Common

1 Cor.10:¹³ (Voice) “Any temptation you face will be nothing new. But God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward.”

Do not specialize your problem because it is not special. The challenge is we try to specialize our problems by suggesting that we are being afflicted. God is saying to us today through Paul that we have no excuse, we cannot use our problems as excuses for not serving God. Why are you not serving God?  You cannot use your problems as an excuse for not plugging into God and giving God your best. It is just not attainable.

The word translated ‘prisoner for Christ’ also means prisoner of Christ. Was it Jesus that put Paul in jail? When you are serving God’s purpose in your problem, your problem practically becomes God’s problem and it becomes God’s prerogative to set you free. So, the question is how long are you willing to suffer to fulfill the will of God for your life? There is a call of God for your life. There are things God wants you to do for Him. There are places God wants you to go for Him. There are grounds God wants you to take for Him. How long are you willing to suffer to fulfill that call?

A lady said to God, “Lord, You know that I have been a good girl all these years. So, I am giving You till December to perform, to settle me maritally. After December, I cannot guarantee anything that happens.” The question before us today is, how long are you willing? Sadly, one of the major effects of globalization is the influx of different cultures and this has watered down the gospel. A lot of people think that once you become a Christian, all your problems vanish. But if you have been a Christian long enough, you will know that is not true. God will solve the problems, but God will orchestrate things in such a way that by the time the problems are gone, you are a better and different person.

We should get addicted to being uncomfortable. What is being pushed out there is comfort. It is not that being comfortable is a sin, but do not make it the preoccupation of your life. Do not make your own happiness the preoccupation of your life. Some people claim that the reason they do not go to church is that the church auditorium is too cold, and I am not comfortable. Believe it or not but people actually say that. How can we be worshiping under the sun? It is too hot to come to church. The one that amuses me most is, I did not get good parking, so I went back home.  Paul says, I a prisoner for Jesus Christ; are we going to stand with these same people in heaven?

Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace to endure this light affliction as it is working out a far more exceeding glory in my life and for Your Name sake, in Jesus Name. Amen!