Thematic Bible: Afflictions made beneficial
Thematic Bible
Afflictions made beneficial » In furthering the gospel
But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one but Jews. But there were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene among them who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks too, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:
for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God's message is not imprisoned!
At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me -- may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion's mouth!
Afflictions made beneficial » In leading us to seek God in prayer
The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, because Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, and he cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
I have indeed heard the people of Israel say mournfully, 'We were like a calf untrained to the yoke. You disciplined us and we learned from it. Let us come back to you and we will do so, for you are the Lord our God.
(Ayin) The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his promise that he threatened long ago: He has overthrown you without mercy and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you; he has exalted your adversaries' power. (Tsade) Cry out from your heart to the Lord, O wall of Daughter Zion! Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long! Do not rest; do not let your tears stop! (Qof) Get up! Cry out in the night when the night watches start! Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord! Lift up your hands to him for your children's lives; they are fainting at every street corner.
I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear them to pieces, then I will carry them off, and no one will be able to rescue them! Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.
Afflictions made beneficial » In humbling us
So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord's mouth.
fed you in the desert with manna (which your ancestors had never before known) so that he might by humbling you test you and eventually bring good to you.
When I close up the sky so that it doesn't rain, or command locusts to devour the land's vegetation, or send a plague among my people, if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Afflictions made beneficial » In leading us to confession of sin
Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, "I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord." And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)
Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he would take away the snakes from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.
Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.
Afflictions made beneficial » In exercising our patience
For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
For the music director; By David, a psalm. I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help.
Not only this, but we also rejoice in 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
But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.
For you, O God, tested us; you purified us like refined silver.
The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the Lord tests hearts.
Afflictions made beneficial » In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God
The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. read more.
For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.
For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.
Afflictions made beneficial » In teaching us the will of God
It was good for me to suffer, so that I might learn your statutes.
I look for you during the night, my spirit within me seeks you at dawn, for when your judgments come upon the earth, those who live in the world learn about justice.
Listen! The Lord is calling to the city! It is wise to respect your authority, O Lord! Listen, O nation, and those assembled in the city!
Afflictions made beneficial » In promoting the glory of God
Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him.
So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, look, the one you love is sick."
I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go." (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, "Follow me."
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Israel
Be keenly aware that just as a parent disciplines his child, the Lord your God disciplines you.
So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord's mouth.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Joseph
Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!
God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Afflictions made beneficial » In rendering us fruitful in good works
He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.
For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » hezekiah
But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him, as well as Judah and Jerusalem. But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the Lord was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiah's reign.
Afflictions made beneficial » In turning us to God
In your distress when all these things happen to you in the latter days, if you return to the Lord your God and obey him (for he is a merciful God), he will not let you down or destroy you, for he cannot forget the covenant with your ancestors that he confirmed by oath to them.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Manasseh
In his pain Manasseh asked the Lord his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.
Afflictions made beneficial » In purifying us
It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.
Afflictions made beneficial » In trying our faith and obedience
Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am!" Abraham replied. God said, "Take your son -- your only son, whom you love, Isaac -- and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you."
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
They said to one other, "Surely we're being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!"
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Josiah
You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,' says the Lord.
Afflictions made beneficial » In keeping us from again departing from God
"Has anyone said to God, 'I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more. Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.'
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Prodigal son
Then his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
Afflictions made beneficial » In convincing us of sin
But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction, then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly.
Afflictions made beneficial » Exemplified » Jonah
When my life was ebbing away, I called out to the Lord, and my prayer came to 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