5 Ways God Uses Problems [shared by Angeline]

5 Ways God Uses Problems

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you - depending on how you respond to them.

Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

 

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.

Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." Proverbs 20:30 

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.

People are like tea bags...if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot ever water! Has God tested your faith with a problem What do problems reveal about you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.

Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something...health, money, a relationship... by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws." Psalm 119:71-72

 

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.

A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good... Genesis 50:20

 

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.

Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

 

 

Here's the point:

God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it.

But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.

"Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way."

Only Jesus, the living water, can fill up our bottles [shared by Qingling]

Our lives are like bottles. Inside each bottle we are blessed abundantly with big precious jewels God has given to us. ( our talents,family,friends etc)

There are spaces btw these jewels when they are placed in the bottle. We then tend to focus on these spaces. Try to fill them up with more material things, recognition from the world and momentary pleasures.

But then we fail to realise we've been fill up our bottles with worthless sand. And in between the sand and jewels, there are still air spaces. Holes in our lives which may not be so visible to others, but we know it's there.

Only Jesus, the living water, can fill up our bottles. and only then, can we really know there are no more holes/spaces in our lives.


I just hope that one day, i can all give up the things of the world I hold so dearly to and focus on what is most impt. [QingLing]

Why be Baptised [shared by Angeline]

 

What is the importance of Christian baptism?  

 

For Christians, baptism represents the believer following Christ into His death, burial, and resurrection. The symbolism is perfect and filled with deep meaning. In baptism, the eyes are closed, the hands are folded, and breath is suspended as in death — if only for a moment. Then comes burial in the water; then resurrection from the watery grave to a new life in Christ. When raised from the water, the eyes open and breathing begins again. It’s a likeness of the resurrection.

The great difference between Christianity and every other religion is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In these three acts, all that God desires to do for us is made possible.

To keep these three vital acts alive in the minds of Christians until the end of time, the Lord instituted baptism by immersion as a memorial. No other form of baptism can possibly meet the symbolism discussed in Romans 6:4-6.
 
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--



The Bible says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). This is pretty powerful evidence that we all Christians need to be baptized.


However, not that some have given their lives to Jesus, but they couldn’t get baptized because of the circumstances of prison or bad health. Think about thief on the cross; he wasn’t baptized, but Jesus guaranteed he would be in heaven after the resurrection. So if a person wants to be baptized but isn’t able to, it isn’t an obstacle to their salvation. The Lord is merciful.

But if you are a Christian, it is important to make a commitment to be baptized.




Peter repeats this instruction to be baptisedat the beginning of the Christian Church (See Acts 2:38[15])
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells his disciples of the
importance of baptism at the end of the gospels of Mark and Matthew, in His last words before He ascended into heaven. ('have 'See Matthew 28:18[13], Mark 16:16[14])

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Baptism is a public symbol of personal repentance toward God.


(See Acts 2:38[26], Matthew 3:11[27], Acts 19:4[28], 1 Peter3:21[29])

38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Paul taught that

water baptism was our way of identifying with the death of Jesus Christ. (See Romans 6:4[16], Colossians 2:12[17])

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.


Those who were baptised justified God, ie: agreed/verified that He is right -- and those who rejected baptism rejected God's plan (See Luke 7:29-30[25]):
 
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)


The Bible water baptism was always done by full immersion. (See Matthew 3:16[34], John 3:23[35], Acts 8:38[36])

Water baptism in The Bible should be done as soon as possible after a person had repented

. (See Acts 22:16[33])


16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

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I prayed that these words will add to your understanding reasons for baptism, removing any obstacles that you will have and filling you the courage and determination to be baptised so that you can lead a new life under His umbrella, where your old self to be crucified with Jesus! Amen…

Poem [shared by Sylvia]

 

Sometimes we must be hurt in order to grow,
We must fall in order to know,
We must lose in order to gain,
Some lessons are learned best only thru pain,
Sometimes our vision clears,
Only after our eyes r washed with tears,
Sometimes we have to be broken ,
So we can be tender,
Sick, so that we can rest n think better,
On things more important than work or fun,
Trip near death, so we can assess how we have run,
Sometimes we have to suffer lack,
So we can know God's provisions.
Feel another 's pain,
So we can have a sense of mission

So take heart, my friend,
If u don't understand today,
Instead of grumbling, ask God what HE means to say,
In order to learn , u must endure
And learn to see the bigger picture,
In order to grow, u must stand,
Look beyond the hurt, to God's loving hand
That takes what is good
And gives what is best

And on this blessed thought: rest.
As your anxious heart , with questions: wait.
God's hand only gives , what His loving heart dictates

The Biblical reason for Baptism [shared by Su Li]

The Biblical reason for Baptism -

 

As followers of JESUS we would want to follow HIS example and also wot HE tells us to do. HE insisted to be Baptized before HE began HIS Ministry of 3 years. HE was water-baptized by John the baptist. In Matthew 28:18 JESUS says to make disciples and baptize them in the name of THE FATHER ,SON and HOLY SPIRIT. So it's an essential part of the package!

 

Then in Corinthians and other places, the 'Special-ness' and significance of Baptism is explained - in this sacrament, we somehow also 'die' to our 'old-self' with Christ and are RAISED to NEW LIFE with Christ as we immerge from the waters of baptism - like a NEW CREATION with a NEW HEART and NEW SPIRIT within us...and somehow (thru Jesus!)

this is MORE THAN just a symbolic act!