Thematic Bible: Afflictions made beneficial
Thematic Bible
Afflictions made beneficial » In furthering the gospel
But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison.
Now the people who were scattered by the persecution that started because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began proclaiming the Lord Jesus even to the Hellenistic Jews. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually caused the gospel to advance.
Because of it I am experiencing trouble, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. However, God's word is not chained.
At my first trial no one came to my defense. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be held against them! However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles could hear it. I was rescued out of a lion's mouth.
Afflictions made beneficial » In leading us to seek God in prayer
The Israelis cried out to the LORD, because of his 900 iron chariots. Jabin oppressed the Israelis forcefully for twenty years.
"I've certainly heard Ephraim shuddering with grief as they said, "You have disciplined me, and I'm disciplined like an untrained calf. Restore me, and let me return, for you are the LORD my God.
The LORD did what he planned. He carried out his threat. Just as he commanded long ago, he has torn down without pity; He let the enemy boast about you and has exalted the power of your enemies. Cry out from your heart to the Lord, wall of fair Zion! Let your tears run down like a river day and night. Allow yourself no rest, and don't stop crying. Get up and cry aloud in the night, at the beginning of every hour. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord! Lift up your hands toward him for the lives of your children, who are fainting away at every street corner.
Therefore I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I even I will tear them to pieces, and then I will leave. I will take them away, and there will be no rescue. "I will leave and go back to my place until they admit their offense and seek my face. When affliction comes to them, they will eagerly seek me."
Afflictions made beneficial » In humbling us
He humbled you, causing you to be hungry, yet he fed you with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that human beings are not to live by food alone instead human beings are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
and fed you in the desert with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, to humble and test you so that things go well with you later.
"I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for a sacrificial temple to me. Whenever I close the skies so there is no rain, or whenever I command locusts to lay waste to the land, or whenever I send epidemics among my people, when my people humble themselves the ones who are called by my name and pray, seek me, and turn away from their evil practices, I myself will listen from heaven, I will pardon their sins, and I will restore their land.
Afflictions made beneficial » In leading us to confession of sin
My sin I acknowledged to you; my iniquity I did not hide. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave the guilt of my sin! Interlude
Then the people approached Moses and admitted, "We've sinned by speaking against the LORD and you. Pray to the LORD, that he'll remove the serpents from us." So Moses prayed in behalf of the people.
For I acknowledge my transgression; my sin remains continuously before me.
Indeed, in iniquity I was brought forth; in sin my mother conceived me.
Afflictions made beneficial » In exercising our patience
What good does it do if, when you sin, you patiently receive punishment for it? But if you suffer for doing good and receive it patiently, you have God's approval.
I waited expectantly for the LORD, and he took notice of me and heard my cry.
Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Afflictions made beneficial » In testing and exhibiting our sincerity
Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I'll come out like gold.
For you, God, tested us, to purify us like fine silver.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold but the LORD assays hearts.
Afflictions made beneficial » In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God
A righteous person will have many troubles, but the LORD will deliver him from them all. God protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.
In every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies. read more.
While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies.
While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies.
Afflictions made beneficial » In teaching us the will of God
It was for my good that I was humbled; so that I would learn your statutes.
My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me searches for you. For when your judgments come upon the earth, the world's inhabitants learn righteousness.
The voice of the LORD cries out to the city wisdom fears your name: "Heed the rod, and the one who prepared it!
Afflictions made beneficial » In promoting the glory of God
As he was walking along, he observed a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that caused him to be born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that God's work might be revealed in him.
So the sisters sent word to Jesus and told him, "Lord, the one whom you love is ill."
Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep. "Truly, I tell you emphatically, when you were young, you would fasten your belt and go wherever you liked. But when you get old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you don't want to go." Now he said this to show by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus told him, "Keep following me."
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Israel
Be convinced in your heart that as a father disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
He humbled you, causing you to be hungry, yet he fed you with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that human beings are not to live by food alone instead human beings are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Joseph
"I'm your brother Joseph, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt!" he told them. "But don't be distressed or angry at yourselves because you sold me here, because God sent me ahead of you all in order to deliver us.
God sent me ahead of you to keep you alive on the earth, and to save you all in a magnificent way. As a result, it wasn't you who sent me here, but God himself! He established me as a father-figure to Pharaoh himself! I'm in charge of his entire palace and ruler over the entire land of Egypt.
Afflictions made beneficial » In rendering us fruitful in good works
He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit.
For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » hezekiah
But Hezekiah's response wasn't commensurate with what had been done for him because he was arrogant in heart, so wrath came upon him, upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself while he was arrogant in heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him in this. As a result, the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during Hezekiah's lifetime.
Afflictions made beneficial » In turning us to God
In your distress, when all these things happen to you in days to come and you return to the LORD your God, then you will hear his voice. For God is compassionate. The LORD your God won't fail you. He won't destroy you or forget the covenant that he confirmed with your ancestors."
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Manasseh
But when he was in trouble, he sought the face of the LORD his God, humbled himself magnificently before the God of his ancestors,
Afflictions made beneficial » In purifying us
It's better to attend a funeral than to attend a banquet, for everyone dies eventually, and the living will take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.
Afflictions made beneficial » In trying our faith and obedience
Sometime later, God tested Abraham. He called out to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am!" he answered. God said, "Please take your son, your unique son whom you love Isaac and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him as a burnt offering there on one of the mountains that I will point out to you."
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
"We're all guilty because of what we did to our brother!" they told each other. "We kept on watching his suffering while he pleaded with us! We're in this mess because we wouldn't listen!"
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Josiah
because your heart was sensitive, and you humbled yourself in the LORD's presence when you heard what I had to say against this place and against its inhabitants that they would become a desolation and a curse and you have torn your clothes and cried out before me, be assured that I have truly heard you,' declares the LORD.
Afflictions made beneficial » In keeping us from again departing from God
"Has anyone ever really told God, "I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore. What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Prodigal son
Then his son told him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.'
Afflictions made beneficial » In convincing us of sin
"If they're bound in chains, caught in ropes of affliction, he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Jonah
"As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to you in your holy Temple.
Related Topics
- Acknowledge, Sin
- Afflicted Saints, Examples Of
- Afflictions
- Afflictions, Benefits Of
- Beneficial Affliction In Furthering The Gospel
- Beneficial Afflictions For Humility
- Chastisement
- Christ's Disciples Will Suffer
- Conviction Of Sin
- Endurance