pastor's article 02-16-25

Have you ever been in a place that is full of temptations and/or trials and thought to yourself, this is a blessing from the Lord? Probably not. We are accustomed to praying that God would deliver us from temptation and therefore think this means that God should keep us isolated from them. Not so. The Bible teaches us that God allows temptation into our life that we might be stronger and more able to bring honor and glory to His name. Trials and temptations are often used of God to prune us and make us more productive for the Father. Early on in ministry, I would often leave deacons meetings, surgeries, or visits from bitter and angry church members thinking that God had forsaken me. Every time I endured harsh criticism or unexplainable sickness and trials, I thought I was either being chastised for something that I didn’t even know I had done, or that people were so out of God’s will that He had no control over them. I have now come to understand that God used a lot of people in my life to help mature me in my faith. Some were people who loved on me and encouraged me; others were people who didn’t love me so much and thought it was their calling to keep me humble and broken. Looking back, I see that God has used both groups of people in my life to shape me and make me what He wants me to be. Look at how Paul explained this in Philippians, chapter 1: “12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”
The bottom line is - God is willing to let us suffer to grow for the furtherance of the Gospel and to bring honor and glory to His name.
Pastor,
Rev. Wayne Marcus