Does Tribulation mean Tension?

Part 4

In October of 2022, I published the following post. I am re-publishing it now in light of what is transpiring in our nation and throughout the other nations of the world.

Does tribulation Mean Tension?

Answer: Of course it does! Now what?

In the post, Habakkuk’s Headlines, it concluded with Jesus’ words spoken to His disciples in the upper room. Jesus said, (John 16:33, NKJV), “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus statement summarizes His words spoken to His disciples in the upper room prior to His arrest the night He was betrayed.

His arrest would accelerate the tension that His ministry had created between Himself and the religious Jewish leaders.

In human terms, Jesus was walking a path of no return. He had been walking that pathway since His Incarnation. That pathway would lead Him to Calvary. There He would be crucified on a cross. On that cross He would die, be put into a grave, and that grave would have a large stone rolled across its entrance so that His body would be sealed in the grave. In essence His life and ministry is over.

But, His death, burial, and a sealed tomb, would not, and could not terminate His life. In actuality, all of this, would only create the framework from which Jesus would be resurrected from the dead just as He had said. Matthew 17:22-23, NKJV, “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”

What had transpired during His years of ministry had been a succession of events that caused a growing of tension that was fraught with trials and temptations. His tribulation was great; but His resurrection was glorious.

Hear the Word of the Lord. Hebrews 12:1-2,(NKJV), “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:3-4 NKJV, continues, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Your have not yet resisted to blood shed, striving against sin.”

For fear that we become complacent in our walk with the Lord, Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 4:12-19 NKJV, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part His glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murdered, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

Question: Are we ready for what is coming?

Let us reflect upon these words found in Hebrews 13:10-16, (NKJV). “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him (where?) outside the camp, (for what purpose) bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (inserts mine)

This is the type of lifestyle we are to be living as believers in Christ Jesus. This lifestyle is not a religious organization. It is the Body of Christ functioning by the Spirit of God, according to Word of God, of Whom Christ is the Head.

Are we prepared to “bear His reproach”? meaning am I willing to be disgraced for the name of Christ, to be joined to His sufferings.

Change is coming. Our religious endeavors are going to shaken and judged; and we are going to have to leave the camp(of religion) and join ourselves to Jesus outside the religious camp. (insert mine) (Hebrews 13:13)

This will cause upheaval and misunderstanding. But it a necessary change that is coming to the church.

Prior to the Passover week when Jesus was crucified, He had raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus is coming to raise His Church from the dead. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul written to the believers in Ephesus. Ephesians 5:8-21 (NKJV).

“For you were once darkness, but NOW you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for what makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” (emphasis mine)

Between the raising of Lazarus from the dead and Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover the religious leaders had “plotted to put Him to death”. (John 11:53, NKJV).

We know that Christ’s death was planned from eternity passed before the foundation of the world. See Ephesians 1:3-14. Verse 3, NKJV, says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…(vs 7), In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”.

Question: Is there tension in the world? in our nation? in our family relationships? Absolutely. As Jesus faced His crucifixion, He was totally aware of the tension, tribulation, and trial He was going to personally face. What other conclusion could we assume based upon what He said in John 16:32-33, (NKJV).

“Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

These words were spoken to His disciples the night in which He was betrayed. As we have remembered He was arrested, then mocked and ridiculed, questioned by Pilate, sentenced to death, and subsequently crucified. When the tensions, tribulations, and trials come, how will you react to the pressure of the moment? Will you scatter as the disciples did? will you deny Christ as Peter did? or will you overcome in the hour of your tribulation, trouble, and suffering?

Prior to His betrayal, Jesus had taken His disciples to the garden of Gethsemane. There He asked Peter, James, and John to come with Him to the place where He wanted to pray. The other disciples He left behind in the garden. He asked Peter, James, and John to wait for Him as He went to His place of prayer. There the Lord poured out His soul to the Father. There we witness the Son of Man crying out to His Heavenly Father asking if the cup that He was being asked to drink could be removed; but Jesus knew that it was not a matter of what He wanted or willed to have happen, but what was the Father’s will for Him. Three times He petitioned the His Father, and three times, He resigned Himself to His Father’s will, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42, NKJV)

But what about the disciples, especially Peter, James, and John? Did they watch as Jesus had asked them? No, they slept. Is the Church watching, or is it asleep? It is time for the Church to wake up, and be the Church. The Lord is coming to awaken, stir, shake, and judge His Church, as necessary, to prepare His Church in these last days, for the propagation of the Gospel.

Read Matthew 24:4-51. Matthew 24: 12-14, NKJV, says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (emphasis mine).

It’s time. Change is coming.

The prophet Isaiah said to God’s people, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:1-3, NKJV)

Revelation 12:10-12 (NKJV), “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (emphasis mine)

I John 5:4-5, (NKJV), For whatever is born of God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

As tribulation in our nation and the world increases, the tension that is created will increase too. B.U.T. (Believer Understand This), in Christ, we can be of good cheer. Why? Because Jesus said, “I have overcome the world” and we too overcome because as believers we are in Him.

Arise and shine, Church!

Be encouraged with these words. Jesus said, John 14:27-28 (NKJV).

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither, let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.”

As the words of the song says, “There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God. A place where sin can not molest, Near to the heart of God. O, Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God, Hold us who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.” [Composer: Cleveland B. McAfee (1866-1944)]

Let us press into the Lord as we embrace for the coming tension amidst the unprecedented unrest.

In the midst of the unrest, we find rest and refuge in Christ.

blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

end of Part 4

TBC