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OBSG Series 14 - The Role of Challenges in the life of a Believer

1 Peter 1:6-7 A lot of believers run away from challenges and are so scared to face one.  If only we know the relevance of challenges to our christian life, we will be glad to go through the fire each time there is one right in front of us...Praise the LORD of HOST!
As believers, we are not suppose to run away from challenges or blame GOD each time we are going through one, because challenges are meant to either correct us, promote us or help us understand the mind of GOD better towards us.
Let me share with us some very peculiar instances from the scriptures of those who went through challenges and came out victorious.

Job (the book of Job): Job was a man who loved GOD so much that he was extremely cautious not to offend GOD, but Job had one big weakness, FEAR! Job was always afraid of the unknown until he was faced with the challenges of overcoming his greatest weakness, fear.  Job did not only overcome his weakness at the end, GOD increased him 100 fold and his relationship with GOD became stronger than it was before his challenge...Praise the LORD!

Jonah (the book of Jonah): Jonah was sent by GOD to Nineveh, the capital City of Assyria to preach the word and warn the people to repent, least they will be destroyed, but Jonah refused to go because he wanted the Assyrians to perish since they were fighting the children of Israel as at that time and killing them in their numbers.  What Jonah knew and didn't want to accept was the fact that GOD is a merciful GOD and chooses whoever HE wishes to save.  So he decided to run away to Tarshish, but unfortunately for him, GOD was waiting to teach him a lesson and correct him.  He wasn't only in the belly of a sea-monster for three days, he also went through hardship in Nineveh, until he obeyed GOD's command to preach to the people of Nineveh!

David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17): David was a man who loved GOD and was a shepherd, tendering to his father's sheep in the wilderness. GOD wanted to announce David to the entire Israel and prepare him ahead for his great mission of becoming the king of Israel as prophesied and anointed by prophet Samuel.  GOD used the war between the Philistines and the Israelite's to announce David, by giving him victory over Goliath, the giant who had caused Israel to lose so many soldiers in the battlefield.

Joseph (Genesis 37 - 50): Joseph was the son of Israel, the man know as Jacob, the brother of Esau, sons of Isaac.  Joseph was destined to become a great man and a ruler, a star that will shine above his brothers in the family.  Joseph was loved by his father but hated by his brothers because he was meant to do greater things than them. So in their hatred and anger caused by jealousy, they sold him off to slave traders and sent him away to Egypt to slave and die in a strange land.  Joseph went through a lot of challenges in Egypt, but at the appointed time, GOD made him a prime minister in a strange land and indeed fulfilled destiny...Praise the LORD!

Apostle Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-40): Apostle Paul and Silas were put in prison for preaching the word of GOD, but in the midst of their challenges, they rejoiced and blessed the name of the LORD to the point that GOD was moved to break the chains that held them bound in prison and broke the prison doors for their sake, but they did not run away because though they were free, they knew they had to finish their mission. That singular act of the apostles saved the life of the prison keeper and his entire household and brought them to CHRIST, praise the LORD of HOST!

JESUS CHRIST (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John): JESUS our savior and redeemer, went through the greatest challenge of all, HE never gave up but stayed to the end, and then HE gave us victory by making an open show of the devil and his host of demons, defeated them and came back to life victorious from the pit of hell and the grave after 3 days (Colossians 2:15)...HALLELUJAH!!!

Whenever you are going through challenges as a believer, do not be dismayed, just know that GOD is taking you through the fire so you can be refined, praise the LORD! Everyone who wishes to attain some certain level of higher heights in life both spiritually and physically must be ready to go through challenges fit for that which they seek...your ability to go through these challenges unbroken, will determine the result you will get at the end. Instead of grumbling and complaining when you are going through challenges like most of us do, sit down and find out where you have made mistakes, what you need to fix, what you are not doing right, etc., so you don't miss your blessings after the storm.  Henceforth, do not think that it is strange for you to go through challenges as a believer, it is mandatory and compulsory for different purposes, praise the LORD!
Prayer: FATHER give us the grace, courage and strength to go though challenges henceforth and come out victorious in JESUS name, Amen.
Please feel free to send us e-mail at obsgonline@gmail.com, we are interested in your Christian life and growth in CHRIST. GOD Bless You.

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