03/12/2011 - BLESSED DISCOMFORT

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I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

II Corinthians 2:13

Because of a brother in Christ, Paul felt so uncomfortable that he left Troas where a door had been opened to him in the Lord and departed towards Macedonia. But why did he feel that way? Could Titus have been more important than the door open for him? Or was it God Himself who was guiding that apostle? If it was, why, after opening the door to Paul, would He let the apostle to be so restless in his spirit to the point of leaving that place?

Then Paul said he praised God because He always led His servants in triumph (verse 14). My brother, follow God\’s guidelines and you will see that the Lord opens doors in Him that operate everywhere. The restlessness of spirit can actually be a direction from the Lord. Actually, oftentimes the discomfort comes from Him, but it occurs so that we can be in the position to which He has appointed us.

Besides that experience, Paul had yet a similar one: in the city of Philippi, the apostle and his group went out together to the river to pray every day. When they were on their way, a slave girl who was a fortune teller met them and despite being possessed by an evil spirit she revealed that they were servants of the Most High. One day, Paul was so deeply stirred by the Spirit of God that he ordered the demon to leave that girl in the Name of Jesus (Acts 16:16-18). This is one of the ways with which the Lord uses His people. Sometimes we are disturbed by (with?) someone who we see for the first time – or who we have known for ages – but who is under a temptation. When this happens we must follow the guidance from on High and do for that person what the Lord tells us to do: In some cases, He wants us to pray, and in others He wants us to preach His Word.

God always gives us rest but sometimes He can lead us to some spiritual discomfort. When this occurs, all we have to do is to fulfill His will. In the 1980s there was a big earthquake in Mexico City which caused the death of hundreds of people. At the time, many Christians said that suddenly they had felt discomfort and left their homes, flocking the streets. Right after that there was an earthquake and the buildings collapsed. Perhaps others had experienced the same sensation, but because they thought it was nothing special they remained in the same place and as a result they are no longer here to tell us what happened to them.

My brethren, always do the Lord’s will. Many sponsors of the Faith Show testify of how God dealt with them in order for them to start sponsoring the Work. Some refused the divine touch for months, but when they decided to obey Him they attained the blessings for which they had been praying for so many years! The Almighty will never say anything that is not necessary; after all, everything He reveals to us has an eternal purpose. So never despise the Word of God, for he who acts in this way will perish! 

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares