HIGHER-FIRE digest 386

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Greetings to all my brothers and sisters in the Lord:

I was all set to jump right in and reply to "the other Dave" re his 
explanations about Paul's thorn in the flesh and Job's trials but 
Brother Tim and Brother Bassett and Brother Stephen Hall so ably 
supported what I would have said that I will just sit back and enjoy 
the discussion.  Thank you, brethren!!!

I wonder, though, if I could add my support to those who wish to 
discuss issues and interpretations of scripture without involving 
personalities or slamming organizations. As an example, I consider SuprDave as
 much my brother as I do Brother Bassett - and I very much appreciate 
Brother Bassett's input into Higher-Fire.  In other words, I need to 
be able to sit back and take a close look at the good and not so good 
in what Dave is proposing in the so-called prosperity doctrine without castigating
Dave personally.  Calling people names and treating what they believe in a 
disrespectful way is not where it is at in the family of God. 

Personally,  I always find that it helps me, in discussions where it is possible for 
tempers to flare, to remember that we still do see through a glass 
darkly (according to 1 Corinthians 13.) A little humility goes a long 
way, brothers and sisters -- and it is pleasing to the Lord too.

Getting back to my previous letter, I have to apologise to Brother 
Tyler. I was not aware that he wished that this debate to end when I 
posted it or I may have written it in a different way. Actually I 
agree with brother Tyler. I would like to see the discussion on why 
saints suffer continue but I would like to remove it from what a 
particular organization may or may not believe. This discussion is 
too important to many suffering saints who may be in the midst of a 
severe trial right now.  To them may I say that there is no reference 
in the book of Job to suggest that Job ever knew what was going on 
between God and Satan while he was undergoing his trial. Hang in 
there and put your faith in a God who knows exactly what He is doing, 
even if you don't. 

He will surely deliver when the time is right but in the meantime, I want to 
challenge you to let the world see how a Christian can live for God 
even when things are going wrong. Look the devil square in the face without 
flinching and sing with all your heart that grand old hymn "It is well, it is well 
with my soul".

Remember that your suffering is not necessarily your fault or due to 
something wrong in your life. God does not want Christians to live 
for Him just when everything is going right.  You become a more 
effective witness to a lost world when you can still live for God 
when you are reaching up to touch bottom. Incidentally for those of 
you immersed in the discussion about prophecy, doesn't it say in 
Daniel that there will come a time when the antichrist for a short 
period will wear out the saints? Any discussion about this????????

God bless you all

Pastor JD "now that has a ring to it" Ward