When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety.
A.W. Tozer
A.W. Tozer
Know Why It's Happening
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This is something very important to remember for all of us. I am going through a personal storm right now and I have gone through many different kinds of storms but this particular storm is a kind I hate the most and is the most devastating to me and it seems to be popping up in my life more and more and lasting longer and longer. I often times need to remind myself of this and when I do though the storm is not yet over there is a kind of peace that comes with it.
A book that I just finished was helpful to me, "How Does Sanctification Work?" By David Powlison.
It might be a helpful addition to what you are experiencing in your life.
So... Apparently Tozer believed:
God "giving you cancer" makes you more Christlike? How?
God "allowing you to be raped" makes you more Christlike? How?
God "causing (or allowing) your daughter to be killed in a car wreck" makes you to be more Christlike? How?
People need to stop blaming, or assigning ultimate responsibility to, God for things the devil does.
John 10:
10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy...
Luke 4:
5) And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6) And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Acts 10:
38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Heb 2: (ESV)
14) Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
1 Pet 5:
8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 John 5: (NIV)
19) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
I will never understand why anyone decides to adopt the Calvinist understanding of "the Sovereignty of God": "Everything that happens is God's will".
I know that many on this forum are dyed in the wool Calvinists, but I hope SOMEONE can think things through a little bit...
God loves us!
I'm fully aware that God chastens those He loves, but those things above are not chastening. They are acts of the devil, our enemy.
The NIV is far more accurate:
Rom 8:
28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Hopefully people can see the tremendous difference in those two translations. All things do NOT always work together for good, but God is always working for the good of those who love Him.
I wouldn't say everything that happens to you is to make you Christlike. Not denying God's sovereignty, but we must consider that while God may work all things together for our good, what you suggest is that all of it was granted by God.
For example, temptation comes your way. Do you thank God for it? It makes you stronger, to resist it, and be Christ-like. However, God's word says to let no man say, "God has tempted me", for He tempts no one with evil (James 1:13). So while what you're saying sounds right, and to a degree it is (in that God will glorify Himself through what you're experiencing by being merciful), we have to consider that not all things are God's will. His will is to be surrendered to, and believed in, to be taken hold of by faith.
Don't just accept the circumstances that you're in, as if it is the only option. Lean upon the Lord, let Him give you deliverance. The promises of God in Christ Jesus are "Yes" and "Amen."
For example, temptation comes your way. Do you thank God for it? It makes you stronger, to resist it, and be Christ-like. However, God's word says to let no man say, "God has tempted me", for He tempts no one with evil (James 1:13). So while what you're saying sounds right, and to a degree it is (in that God will glorify Himself through what you're experiencing by being merciful), we have to consider that not all things are God's will. His will is to be surrendered to, and believed in, to be taken hold of by faith.
Don't just accept the circumstances that you're in, as if it is the only option. Lean upon the Lord, let Him give you deliverance. The promises of God in Christ Jesus are "Yes" and "Amen."
Seems like you misparaphrased it and hopefully you can see the tremendous difference when you misparaphrase.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(Rom 8:28)
...you have to add the whole sentence..'for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.'
OK. You can even add it to both translations. Doesn't change a thing:
The difference is "all things work together for good" vs "in all things God works for the good".
There is a big difference in those two translations.
Because He is righteous and just, no, I do not agree. God is bound by His word, and the way He set things up. Dominion of this world was initially given to Adam and Eve. When they sinned, that dominion was transferred to the devil.
God didn't give her cancer but he did allow it and it's true not everything makes you more Christ like but it can make you more Christ like. All my life I have known suffering sadness and feeling unloved and not worth the time of day to anyone I have been through severe abuse starvation being drugged by my parents cancer and my entire life I have had so many health issues and my body is as time goes by getting worse and worse from the effects of all my life's suffering. God didn't cause any of this but he allowed it and looking back I don't question why he did because through all kinds of of horrific suffering I know what real pain is and am able to understand connect and help others who also have known these sufferings.
If one has a teachable heart then even the worst curses that the devil throws at us can in fact be the greatest blessing, just through my sufferings alone God has used me and my life's tragic story to encourage help and strengthen others. any kind unfairness or suffering I go through I see it as just another way for God to use me to connect to others, the strange thing is it wasn't through the good things in life that he has used me so vastly it was through all the bad things. We humans for one reason or another connect to each other in suffering than in any other way.
2 Corinthians 1:2-7 (Amen brother... Amen!!!)
[SUP]2 [/SUP]Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
No, God gave dominion to man. Satan rules by influencing man, usually without man's knowledge. God is in the process of purging His universe of evil. Without experiencing evil, we would never know about the dark side of matters. The whole world is dysfunctional, even when men have good intentions.
I myself was born to a widow 28 years old. She had married my father when he was in his late 50s. Ours was his second family. With his health being bad there was no way for him to raise this second family. I was the youngest of 4. Only 2 of us made it to adulthood. I had a sister and brother both die of horrific accidents. I watched my brother burn to death at 5 years old, I was 3. We live in a cruel world, but God know what we have to endure and He does work it for good.
Correct. (Gen 1:26-28)
Satan rules because when Adam and Eve sinned, dominion of this world was transferred to him (Luke 4:5-6). He is the god of this world. (2 Cor 4:4). The whole world is under his control (1 John 5:19).
That will happen, but it has not happened yet. The Bible says things will get worse and worse.
Scripture?
Generally true.
I'm very sorry for all your experiences, and yes, God does know the things we endure.
But not everything does work out for good. What was good, either for you or especially your brother, in you watching him burn to death at 5 years old? And God is certainly not responsible for many of the things we go through in this world.
Free will has created moral evil and natural evil. But if your committed to God He can take away whatever pain you’re experiencing and draw something good from it.
No, God gave dominion to man. Satan rules by influencing man, usually without man's knowledge. God is in the process of purging His universe of evil. Without experiencing evil, we would never know about the dark side of matters. The whole world is dysfunctional, even when men have good intentions.
I myself was born to a widow 28 years old. She had married my father when he was in his late 50s. Ours was his second family. With his health being bad there was no way for him to raise this second family. I was the youngest of 4. Only 2 of us made it to adulthood. I had a sister and brother both die of horrific accidents. I watched my brother burn to death at 5 years old, I was 3. We live in a cruel world, but God know what we have to endure and He does work it for good.
Thank you for your post Deade, I'm so glad you have come to know the Lord.
I won't nit pick the point as 'all things work for the good' because "God works out all things for the good'. That's a given.
I agree with you, but we should all be aware that it is with stipulation. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. " (Romans 8:28)