Mature believers will react thankfully to trials and suffering.
 
PERSECUTION CAN CAUSE EITHER GROWTH OR BITTERNESS IN A CHRISTIANS LIFE.
 
RESPONSE DETERMINS THE RESULT. 
 
Paul wrote to encourage the church at Philippi.
 
PHI 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
 
Paul wrote also to encourage the church at Thessalonica.
 
1TH 5:16  Rejoice always,
17  pray without ceasing,
18  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19  Do not quench the Spirit.
20  Do not despise prophecies.
21  Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22  Abstain from every form of evil.
 
Peter wrote to encourage the those of the dispersion.
 
1PE 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
 
God often uses hard times to each good lessons.
 
Have a prosperouse day in the LORD.
 
IHS
 
Pastor Stan Smith

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