Here and Now:
I have been feeling stressed, sad, broken, defiled, taken for granted, violated, and all the negative things that a person feels because of the evil in this world. I felt anxious, scared, insecure and unloved by the environment that was supposed to be a safe space for me. Since last night I have been crying out to GOD to help me, help me to survive and overcome this evil world. But then GOD's word comforts me today that is why I write what I have been receiving from GOD.
SOAP
Scriptures
Amos 6
English Standard Version
Woe to Those at Ease in Zion
1 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,
the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!
2 Timothy 2
English Standard Version
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a] who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.
English Standard Version
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a] who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.
Observation
The WORD in Amos 6 speaks to me in which it says: “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria.... I believe it applies to all who are living at ease in this world because they are depending their security on mountains of the world, the mountain of wealth, the mountain of power, the mountain of money. Even though I live in a mountain that ought to make me feel secure and at ease but I am very insecure in it because the mountain I live troubles my soul. And so this word is parallel to the WORD in 2 Timothy 2:3 To share in the suffering of CHRIST because as long as we are in this world, the Saints of GOD suffer all kinds of tribulation and affliction in their souls because this world defies GOD and we who are one in GOD feel troubled in this world who defies the GOD we love.
Application
It is okay to be troubled, it is okay to not feel comfortable, to feel afflicted and to feel uneasy because as a child of GOD we should be carrying the heart of GOD, and not feel comfortable in a place that defies GOD. This WORD encourages me, because it explains all that I am feeling. It explains all the pain, and affliction and suffering of my heart. Just as the soul of Lot (nephew of Abraham) was troubled everyday by what he was experiencing in Sodom and Gomorrah, emphasized in 2 Peter 2:8 (KJV), "For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds." As a child and follower of GOD, I ought to share the same suffering, and therefore I should rejoice even though I am troubled and vexed in this world, just as the WORD commands us in James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If you are an obedient child of GOD then you are a Saint, and Saints always suffer persecution because the darkness in this world, hates the light in you.
Prayers
Dear FATHER,
Make me strong, steadfast and immovable in this evil world. Help me to accept that suffering is normal for true followers of JESUS and enable me to overcome the tribulations of this world by YOUR grace and HOLY SPIRIT within me that empowers me and makes me who YOU have called me to be - a winner, an overcomer, victorious warrior more than a conqueror!
In the Name of YESHUA, JESUS the KING, AMEN!
