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Everything Happens for a Reason ??

By: Sylvia Huffnagle

Everything Happens for a Reason

Everything happens for a reason--have you ever heard someone say that? It appears to me that people usually use that as an explanation for why some adverse event or condition occurred in their life. And it appears to me that they mean that God calls the shots and so whatever happens to us--He did it for some good reason. If that’s what they are saying--that only works for someone who is following Jesus wholeheartedly.

Let’s look at what God says are usually the reasons unwelcome things happen to us.

Deut. 30:15-16: See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deut. 30:17-18: But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

Deut. 30:19-20: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Job 34:10-11: Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Ps. 107:17-22: Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

Prov. 27:12: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Jer. 5:23-35: But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

Jer. 17:10: I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Matt. 4:4: It is written, [Deut. 8:3 ] Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (How many are living this way, yet they blame their troubles and lack on God.)

Matt. 9:29: Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Mt:17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Many things could be warded off with faith. Many needs could be met with faith.)

Lk. 17:19: And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (With the God kind of faith we could receive a lot more of the good things that God has provided.)

Rom. 8:28-29: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Many things happen to us because of our ignorance--we need to learn more about how things work in God’s kingdom. And some things happen to us because death to our lower nature seems to most often be accomplished through suffering. But this suffering is either because we or someone who affects our lives made wrong choices or it is suffering for the gospel’s sake. It is never because of a choice on God‘s part--that’s what I’m trying to get across here.)

Jms. 1:3-8: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (This scripture is to acknowledge that there is some truth to the statement that I’m challenging. There is trouble for Christians, but the person needs to ask God what the reason is, not just shrug and have an attitude of, “Oh well, God has His reasons.”)

Rom. 5:2-5: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (God can use trouble to our advantage.)

Rom. 8:28-29: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

II Cor. 6:3-10: Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (A list of some of the bad things that may happen to a Christian for the gospel’s sake.)

Galatians 6:7-9: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Eph. 6:11-18: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (This is to avoid troubles.)

Col. 1:11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

II Thess. 1:4: So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: (There is persecutions and tribulations to go through for a myriad of reasons--all of them brought on by somebody’s choice other than God’s.)

Heb. 6:12: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (God uses our trying times to develop our patience and perfect our faith.)

Heb. 10:36: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (These patient scriptures are to assure the one who is on the right course that his/her day of deliverance is on the way.)

Heb. 12:1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Jms. 1:3: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jms. 1:4: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Heb. 12:6-7: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Chastening is one reason and it is for correction.)

I Pet. 4:1-2: Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

I Pet. 4:12: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Rev. 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev. 3:19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

© Sylvia Huffnagle

Article Source: http://christian-topics.info

The Holy bible and The Holy Spirit

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