Affluence vs Affliction

“But the more they afflicted them,

the more they multiplied

 and the more they spread out,”

Exodus 1:12

There is this amazing thing about the people of God, we grow in and through persecution. We may not like to admit it, we may not enjoy being in the midst of it, yet when we look back we cannot deny it.

Acts 8:1-8 tells us of the beginning of a great persecution against the church. This persecution began with the intentions of destroying and ending the message of the church, which was and is the gospel of God, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Once again the words of Joseph should ring in our ears, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...”(Genesis 50:20).

This new king who arose in Egypt persecuted the children of Israel in hope of destroying them, overpowering them, controlling them, but the more he afflicted them the more God blessed them. This truth is just not for us as a whole, but it also pertains to each of us individually. The old saying that “it is in the valley that we grow”

When do you spend the most time in prayer? Is it when life is good or is it when life is not so good? I think quite possibly Satan might have finally figured something out here in these last days. After all these years of trying to destroy the gospel of God and those who carry and spread the Way of salvation through persecution I think quite possibly the serpent of old has realized that affluence works much better than affliction.

I think he has realized if he can keep us appeased and happy, enraptured with the pleasures of the flesh, not wanting for any necessity of life, surrounded with comfort and entertainment, then he can control us.

I believe he finally has figured out that pain just causes us to look up and out for our one, true, living God, but it is pleasure that keeps us focused on ourselves and leaves us desiring to be our own god. Can you see this being played out in our world today? Can you see it being played out in your own heart? Oh precious one do not be deceived!

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come .

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money,

boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents,

ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips,

without self control, brutal, haters of good,

treacherous, reckless, conceited,

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;

Avoid such men as these.

 2 Timothy 3:1-4

Oh Father,

Help me to not fall prey to the enemy's schemes. Oh Father keep my eyes opened and my ears attentive to Your Holy Spirit. Help me oh God to pay close attention to You and Your Word. My Jesus help me to keep my eyes focused on You and the glory of Your kingdom. Let me not get caught up in the pleasures of this world. Forgive me, my God, for when I have lost focus and gotten caught up in building my own kingdom instead of Yours. Help me to lay aside every encumbrance and sin that so easily entangles me (Hebrews 12:1). Oh Father, might my heart see affluence as affliction and may the disease of apathy stay far from me. Oh Father, help me to remember that I lay not my treasures up on this earth where moth and rust destroy but my treasure is You. My treasure is Jesus Christ. My treasure is the crown that I will lay at my Saviors feet when face to face we finally meet!

My Jesus it is in Your name I pray,

Amen