TSIYON NEWS

Do you remember the Hee Haw TV show? It was a country variety show that ran for more than 20 years, from 1969 to 1992. Obviously, people liked the down-home humor and country music combo, and many came back every week to see it. In one memorable skit from that show Archie Campbell and Roy Clark do a bit in which Archie tells a story and Roy Clark responds with either “that’s good” or “that’s bad” - then Archie retorts back with the opposite, explaining why.

 

 I call that skit "That's good - No, that's bad." You could also call it "That's bad - No, that's good." So which is it, bad or good? For me, the whole point of the skit is that things happen in each of our lives that seem bad, but later we see as good, and visa versa. The truth is, when events happen in the lives of most people, they don't really know for sure whether those events are ultimately bad or good in the outworking of their lives. Really, it is a matter of perspective. Their perspective on the given event plays a role in how they respond to such event, shaping their future from that point.

 

Followers of Messiah face the same sorts of complexity in their lives as do unbelievers. However, the difference is that His true disciples can rightly view both obvious blessings and obvious trials with the same positive perspective. Why? Because the Word says this about them:

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

This truth is life-changing for every believer who fully receives it. For the true disciple of Messiah, EVERYTHING that happens in their life IS GOOD!

 

Wait a minute. What about the "bad" stuff? The ridicule, the losses, even physical maladies and troubles of every kind? I'm not saying that those things are not painful, upsetting, or even catastrophic whenever they happen. We want to be real here, and real means acknowledging experiential fact. None of those trials feels good, and we all want to avoid them if possible. Even Yeshua, on contemplating the trials before Him, said to His Father in Heaven: 

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)

Not surprisingly, this is the perfect response to impending events we would rather not experience. Ask to be released from them, while also being determined to accept them from Him if they prove to be the will of the Father. Such a request may result in certain trials being removed from your path. However, if such trials are not removed, be steadfast in walking out the Divine will, knowing there is a good and necessary purpose in those trials, that will work out good for you in the end.

 

Actually, that's where I'm at right now. I'm a soldier, at war with "spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." In August of 2023 I was struck and wounded in my body by the enemy, and it almost killed me. As it is I was hospitalized for most of the time thereafter, fighting for my life, until I finally was able to return home in November. Even then, when I returned home I was unable to walk on my own and needed a wheelchair to get around. As you can see in the pictures, I am still doing rehab now, which will continue for some time to come.

 

That's all pretty bad, right? - No, that's good! Let me explain why.

Romans 8:28 above assures me that all of this will work out for my good.

 

Then, we have this:

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Messiah; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:16-17)

Suffering with Messiah is good, since it confirms that the child of God is a joint heir with Messiah in His Kingdom! In other words, Messiah suffered to win the victory in the war against all evil, and we must do the same with Him as heirs of the Kingdom. The above passage is followed up with this comment, showing what a great trade-off this is for us:

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us." (Romans 8:18)

Surely, reigning in the Eternal Kingdom with Messiah far outweighs any sufferings in this life that we must endure for the sake of the Kingdom. All such sufferings are small indeed by comparison with so great a reward!

 

Yeshua's brother and leader of the early believers, James the Just, gives us yet another reason why we should welcome various trials, saying:

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

When trials emerge "count it all joy" James says. Really? Yes, really. Because the trials that your loving Father allows into your life build up holy character in you! It is your inner man that is of the greatest importance to your Father in Heaven. He must allow "various trials" to come into your life to perfect you, to draw forth the image of His Son from you.

 

We all know the trials of the righteous man, Job. He saw those trials like this:

"But he knows the way that I take.
When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps.
I have kept his way, and not turned aside.
I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips.
I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my food." (Job 23:10-12)

When the trials came Job was ready, because he lived his life in obedience. Not only that, but Job says "He knows the way that I take." In other words, YHWH was not allowing the trials to see if Job could pass them, since He already knew that Job would. The trials were allowed so that Job could give an answer to the accusations of the devil, proving the devil wrong. In the process, not only did Job endure through the trials, but even better, those trials produced in him a testimony that still encourages believers to this day! Such a testimony is a precious treasure in the Kingdom, because it is everlasting.

 

Sometimes, as with Job, YHWH allows trials to come into the lives of leaders and examples among His people, to answer the devil, that their testimony can build up the body of believers around them. All that Messiah suffered when He was on earth falls into this category. None of it was for Him. All of it was for us, according to the Father's will. Therefore, we should not be surprised when we are called upon to suffer for the sake of His people. Yeshua put it this way:

"For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." (John 13:15-17)

This brings me to tonight's meeting. I know you will enjoy tonight's live stream panel broadcast featuring Abby and Abby's Top Pick Tsiyon Message From The Gospel Of John. The leadership example of Yeshua will be closely examined, with an eye on how we can walk that out in our own lives. That's tonight at 8 PM, Central Time, at Tsiyon.Net on our live stream. Tell your friends to see this on popular video platforms using the search term T S I Y O N. A lot of spiritual training is packed into this truth, so be sure to come and benefit from it.

 

In His Name,

 

Eliyahu

Tsiyon.Org

 

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