DONT BE PERPLEXED
PERSISITENT PERPLEXITY SHALL NOT PERPLEX YOUDear Disciple,
I am writing this piece as an encouragement to some of you who may be going through some perplexity at this time and also because every one of us has gone through it or will go through it sometime, as a basis of preparation. One thing that is sure is whatever you are going through now; this also will come to an end, because the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off. Amen.
Now what then is Perplexity?A tangled, involved, or confused condition or situation.
So, there you are. If by any means you have been tangled, involved in, or confused with a condition or situation, and you are not finding ways out, and you are beginning to be frustrated and confused and discouraged, this piece is for you. I feel led to speak to you through this piece.
I will be basing my writing on the experience that Paul so much analysed in 2Cor 11:24-26; and the conclusion that God came to, with him… my grace is sufficient for you and 2Cor 12; 9 what we xtians call the thorn of grace.
I won’t quote the passage; I want you to take time to read it yourself.
There are different Kinds of Perplexity (Persistent Perplexity):
1. Perplexity of weakness: This one may be physical (when you just feel tired. Yes that one that you felt this morning when, you just don’t want to stand from your bed, and even though you are not sick, but you just don’t feel like doing anything…state of weariness. If anybody asks you, you can’t lay your hand on it. Some come to me and say Pastor I am just tired of everything, and I ask them, what in particular you are tired of, they say; we don’t Know, we are just fed up…and then they begin to cry…that is a perplexity of weakness.
There can also be an emotional, social, mental or spiritual perplexity. For the emotional, you just see yourself crying/weeping for no reason, you just feel sensitive, if anyone says anything around you; I mean one word is just bound to touch that nerve, before we say Jack Robinson, you have gone so emotional…this may be for many reasons, it could be money, spousal problem, issue of the state of your health, your ambition, your career, ministry, past hurt or generally you may just feel you are not moving on at the pace that you have mapped for yourself. It can also be spiritual, and mental. If you are going through mental and spiritual problems, nobody knows what they are, and you yourself cannot identify what the problems are, you just know that these consequences are not just right, and you feel all bloated and irritated and irrational in your actions…said or unsaid(allow me). They are beyond you and above you. They are spiritual.
The good news is, wherever you feel weak, go to God, His grace is sufficient for you. Just like Paul faced it and Christ faced it in the Garden of Gethsemane, and had victory, it is certain that you will have victory in Jesus Name. Another thing that you also need to recognize and appreciate is that this kind of weakness can bring us into deeper dimension with God in our Christian walk. Consider it all joy when you fall into diverse kinds of trials.
2. Perplexity of Rejection; 2Cor 11:26 Paul also felt this. He was rejected by both Jews and non-Jews. This is particularly painful where the acceptance of our friends and associates grow thin; where you feel everybody and everything is against you. I initially thought this only apply to some of us in England, either based on race, ethnicity etc, but just imagine in your own country where you are the so-called first class citizen. Now they have rejected you in that job, they have turned that promise of contrast down, they have refused to accept your products, and that house that you thought you got, they have said no. Not only can that, your spouse, friends and relatives also reject you. Yea, it’s painful…very painful. I say this to you…take joy, because Moses, Noah and their likes were also rejected, but they triumphed. I see such times as times of learning, times that you don’t in a capital manner rely on man or woman. DON’T DEPEND ON THE PRAISE AND SUPPORT OF MAN, SEEK ONLY AFTER THE APPROVAL OF GOD. Very good lesson. Don’t ever, because God is the only one who is our rock, our security and stability. He will surely give you the perfect fellowship.
3. The Perplexity of Persecution: This one is a classic. It’s a problem for us xtians. You don’t want to compromise your stand; you want to be known as a xtian, and with integrity and honour. You don’t want to bribe, do anything under-hand, and if you don’t, you are been persecuted, and it has reached a crescendo, and you feel discouraged. How about that refusal of friendship with an unbeliever; or the upturned nose of one who balks at our belief; or neighbors who tempt us to anger just to watch us react. All sorts that bring all sores! Be rest assured, they did worse things to Daniel, and the three Jewish boys (allow me not to mention their names). They got victory, and they got it with promotion. Ah, God will promote you as you resist the devil. Amen. One day, we will reign, and also on earth.
4. Perplexity of Hardship: Finally, he faced hardship. Imagine all those beatings and work without earthly and monetary reward. You know about the Difficulties of life that cause us discomfort, poverty, pain, unrealized or thwarted expectations. It involves calamity, extreme misfortunes or disasters that bring misery see Joseph, how he suffered over that 20 years. You are also feeling unrewarded, in your ministry, career, profession, employment and business. In fact your spouse is pilling it on, and you feel so bad and looked up to Jesus today and say: when would this hardship come to an end. Take a cue from Joseph, and believe God for a good reward and a good result. I see you coming out of that situation, and coming into that position. The wicked shall not win.
Let me end by quoting one of my best verses. It’s found in Psalm 145: verses 16-20…I will paraphraseHe opens his hands and satisfy the desire of every living creature
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, Glorious in all his works;
The Lord is near to those who call him, those who call him in truth
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him, he will hear their cry and save them
He will preserve those who love him, and the wicked he will destroy their works
I will praise the name of the lord, and all flesh shall praise his name for ever. Amen.
I am writing this piece as an encouragement to some of you who may be going through some perplexity at this time and also because every one of us has gone through it or will go through it sometime, as a basis of preparation. One thing that is sure is whatever you are going through now; this also will come to an end, because the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off. Amen.
Now what then is Perplexity?A tangled, involved, or confused condition or situation.
So, there you are. If by any means you have been tangled, involved in, or confused with a condition or situation, and you are not finding ways out, and you are beginning to be frustrated and confused and discouraged, this piece is for you. I feel led to speak to you through this piece.
I will be basing my writing on the experience that Paul so much analysed in 2Cor 11:24-26; and the conclusion that God came to, with him… my grace is sufficient for you and 2Cor 12; 9 what we xtians call the thorn of grace.
I won’t quote the passage; I want you to take time to read it yourself.
There are different Kinds of Perplexity (Persistent Perplexity):
1. Perplexity of weakness: This one may be physical (when you just feel tired. Yes that one that you felt this morning when, you just don’t want to stand from your bed, and even though you are not sick, but you just don’t feel like doing anything…state of weariness. If anybody asks you, you can’t lay your hand on it. Some come to me and say Pastor I am just tired of everything, and I ask them, what in particular you are tired of, they say; we don’t Know, we are just fed up…and then they begin to cry…that is a perplexity of weakness.
There can also be an emotional, social, mental or spiritual perplexity. For the emotional, you just see yourself crying/weeping for no reason, you just feel sensitive, if anyone says anything around you; I mean one word is just bound to touch that nerve, before we say Jack Robinson, you have gone so emotional…this may be for many reasons, it could be money, spousal problem, issue of the state of your health, your ambition, your career, ministry, past hurt or generally you may just feel you are not moving on at the pace that you have mapped for yourself. It can also be spiritual, and mental. If you are going through mental and spiritual problems, nobody knows what they are, and you yourself cannot identify what the problems are, you just know that these consequences are not just right, and you feel all bloated and irritated and irrational in your actions…said or unsaid(allow me). They are beyond you and above you. They are spiritual.
The good news is, wherever you feel weak, go to God, His grace is sufficient for you. Just like Paul faced it and Christ faced it in the Garden of Gethsemane, and had victory, it is certain that you will have victory in Jesus Name. Another thing that you also need to recognize and appreciate is that this kind of weakness can bring us into deeper dimension with God in our Christian walk. Consider it all joy when you fall into diverse kinds of trials.
2. Perplexity of Rejection; 2Cor 11:26 Paul also felt this. He was rejected by both Jews and non-Jews. This is particularly painful where the acceptance of our friends and associates grow thin; where you feel everybody and everything is against you. I initially thought this only apply to some of us in England, either based on race, ethnicity etc, but just imagine in your own country where you are the so-called first class citizen. Now they have rejected you in that job, they have turned that promise of contrast down, they have refused to accept your products, and that house that you thought you got, they have said no. Not only can that, your spouse, friends and relatives also reject you. Yea, it’s painful…very painful. I say this to you…take joy, because Moses, Noah and their likes were also rejected, but they triumphed. I see such times as times of learning, times that you don’t in a capital manner rely on man or woman. DON’T DEPEND ON THE PRAISE AND SUPPORT OF MAN, SEEK ONLY AFTER THE APPROVAL OF GOD. Very good lesson. Don’t ever, because God is the only one who is our rock, our security and stability. He will surely give you the perfect fellowship.
3. The Perplexity of Persecution: This one is a classic. It’s a problem for us xtians. You don’t want to compromise your stand; you want to be known as a xtian, and with integrity and honour. You don’t want to bribe, do anything under-hand, and if you don’t, you are been persecuted, and it has reached a crescendo, and you feel discouraged. How about that refusal of friendship with an unbeliever; or the upturned nose of one who balks at our belief; or neighbors who tempt us to anger just to watch us react. All sorts that bring all sores! Be rest assured, they did worse things to Daniel, and the three Jewish boys (allow me not to mention their names). They got victory, and they got it with promotion. Ah, God will promote you as you resist the devil. Amen. One day, we will reign, and also on earth.
4. Perplexity of Hardship: Finally, he faced hardship. Imagine all those beatings and work without earthly and monetary reward. You know about the Difficulties of life that cause us discomfort, poverty, pain, unrealized or thwarted expectations. It involves calamity, extreme misfortunes or disasters that bring misery see Joseph, how he suffered over that 20 years. You are also feeling unrewarded, in your ministry, career, profession, employment and business. In fact your spouse is pilling it on, and you feel so bad and looked up to Jesus today and say: when would this hardship come to an end. Take a cue from Joseph, and believe God for a good reward and a good result. I see you coming out of that situation, and coming into that position. The wicked shall not win.
Let me end by quoting one of my best verses. It’s found in Psalm 145: verses 16-20…I will paraphraseHe opens his hands and satisfy the desire of every living creature
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, Glorious in all his works;
The Lord is near to those who call him, those who call him in truth
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him, he will hear their cry and save them
He will preserve those who love him, and the wicked he will destroy their works
I will praise the name of the lord, and all flesh shall praise his name for ever. Amen.
Pastor, I can not but agree with the above, especially about....all of them actually, but there comes a time when you are so perplexed that to pray is very challenging, but you know deep down that it is only God that can see you out of this, but at that particular time, its a struggle, and really you know what the bible says, you have heard it over and over again, but what you are faced with at that particular time...hey, you just cannot reconcile it with Gods promises and assurances...or would you say that is impossible if you are a sound christian, so you should not be tossed to and fro with the issues of life...like the bible says! Ronke
ReplyDeleteRonke
ReplyDeleteYou are right. I guess at occassions like that, we know who God is. If we are able to decipher God, and have everything our way and no pressure no waiting no hassle I think we will be too laid back. I guess we need to know that WE ARE SOLDIERS in the army of God, and we should not expect that we will have everything. For example, the British army generals have been asking for more troops and helicopters in the afghanistan war, but they are not been given just like that, if this is a better analogy, but, God comes in times of need, hardly in times of want.What we need to ensure is that we are not perplexed whilst waiting for God to meet our need.
Cheers
God bless