Encouragement

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God uses wounded people to heal. It is one thing to minister from your knowledge of God’s word, but it is quite another thing when in addition to your knowledge of His word, you can identify with the people you minister to because you’ve been ‘there’.
Whatever we go through in life is for a purpose. God uses our messes to bring messages of hope. ‘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.’Rom.8:28

Moses knew he was called of God to deliver his people. He was very zealous and murdered an Egyptian in defence of an Israelite. And when he discovered that it was about to be public knowledge, he fled for his life. He languished in the desert tending sheep until when he was eighty years of age; and when he had mellowed, God said it was time for his ministry to begin. He had written himself off he thought it was all over but God gave him a new beginning. He went on to be used to bring the Israelites out of the house of bondage- fulfilling his calling in life in spite of the set backs. Even as the leader of the Israelites his authority was challenged many times by his people but he interceded for them when God wanted to deal ruthlessly with those who challenged him. He came to have a testimony that he was the humblest man at that time. (Ex2:11-014,- 3, -14, -17:3)

Paul was zealous, killing the people of God in the name of God. He had zeal without knowledge and was destroying the Church until Jesus arrested him on the road to Damascus.

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Acts 9:4
Later God told Ananias that he was a chosen vessel and would suffer greatly for his sake and suffer did he.

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Undoubtedly Paul suffered greatly according to the word of the Lord. His suffering included ship-wrecked, beaten with rod , imprisoned, forced to fast, let down a city wall as like a cargo, maligned etc.etc.
'Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Cor.12:1)
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.(2Cor.6:5-10)
Little wonder God used him to bring wonderful revelations to the early Church and to us. His thirteen best sellers are still best sellers today.

Daniel and his friends had to be exiled and conspired against. Daniel’s friends were thrown into the fiery burning furnace, but they stood their ground- refusing to compromise their values and belief. Through their commitment, God was glorified and the king’s decree was changed as a result. (Dan3) Similarly Daniel stood his ground praying as usual even when a decree had been passed that no one should pray to another God for a period. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. God protected him and proved that He could protect His own in any circumstances. God was glorified and Daniel was promoted. ( Dan.6)

Jeremiah was thrown into dungeons because he was bringing the word of the Lord to his people. God had earlier told Jeremiah he would be opposed yet He sent him and encouraged him to stand regardless of the opposition.(Jer.1:4-10, -26, 37,38)

Joseph suffered greatly, firstly in the hands of his jealous brothers who out of envy threw him into the pit because of his big dreams. Later they sold him into slavery and cooked up a story that he had been killed by an animal. Joseph later ended up in Egypt but remained faithful to God, even excelling wherever he went regardless of the hardships. He was maligned and imprisoned for what he did not do. His dream seemed a pipe dream, pie in the sky, a figment of his imagination. But at the appointed time God proved him true. He was released from prison and became the prime minister of Egypt. In this position he was able to administer the economy of Egypt in the time of plenty and famine. His brothers came in search of grain in Egypt and rather than revenge their abuse, Joseph forgave them and took care of them- bruised and used to the glory of God. Gen. (Gen.37, 39, 40,41, 50:20)

We may never know all the stories of those used by God, but if we care to research, we will discover that those who have been mightily used have been bruised in some way or another. If we suffer with Him then we will also reign with Him.

God wants to use every one of us, but are we ready to pay the price? If we bailout of the bruising or pruning process then we cannot be used or our use becomes limited to the extent that we yield to His loving but bruising hands. Those He loves, chastises, and that chastisement could take any form.
Are you ready to be bruised to be used?


2006©Fenny West


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