Faith In Afflictions

To us as believers Afflictions are to Prove our Salvation which is from God, because It's one thing to talk about Salvation but it's another thing to Demonstrate your Salvation which forms the evidence of your Faith. Apostle Paul is advising us in the below Scripture to keep on our Faith and let nothing Frighten our stand with God.

Philippians 1:27-29

27"Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;" 28"and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God." 29"Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,"

The gospel carries the power of God that we can't just talk about but live to Demonstrate it meaning there is a level of endurance that a man of Faith attains until you wonder if they are real human beings, this is now the real demonstration of the power of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, not just Miracles.

It does not matter how bad the situation can be to an extent of abandoning your Faith, but if you can walk through that situation keeping on your Faith to the end then you are counted worthy in the Kingdom. Paul commended the Thessalonians of their increasing Faith even in afflictions. Such saints are worthy to boast about.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

3"We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,"

4"so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure."

HOW TO PROVE YOUR FAITH IN AFFLICTION:

1. That You can still Preach/Share the word of God with much Power and Assurance while in Affliction.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

1"For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain,"

2"but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict."

2. That you can still receive the word of God with the Joy of the Holy Spirit.

In Affliction the Lord shall not leave you on your own, He will send Comforters of Faith, to encourage you to keep on holding unto the lord, even though sometime we may feel like those comforters don't understand what you feel or going through but don't let your Faith break. Apostle Paul still uses The church at thessalonica to encourage us.

1 Thessalonians 1:6

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,"

(Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3) Paul sends Timothy to Comfort the saints in their Faith.

TAKE-HOME NOTE:

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it nothing but joy, my [b]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

In Affliction , it's the time you will realize those gaps that are in Your Faith that you Profess. If you Claim to be Patient, you will know if it's Part of your Faith during Afflictions, if you claim to be kind, it's in Affliction that you will know your level of Kindness, if you claim to be gentle to people , it's in Affliction you will test your Faith on this. Apostle Paul kept on praying for the Saints at Thessalonica that their Faith may be complete lacking nothing.

1 Thessalonians 3:10

"night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith".