We have already covered about half of the life of the Church. Sadly, though, the first half was mostly characterized by dark times and troubles. However, the Church, the body of Christ, survived and even thrived through the dark times of history. For this week's forum, write 3 lessons you have learned personally as you reflected on God's providence in the life of His Church.
Lessons about God's providence in the life of his church can't be limited by 3 lessons only however for the sake of obedience here are the lessons:
ReplyDeleteI have learned that God may use human failures for His great purpose to prevail. The Church may not be perfect. It happened to stumble others, destruct life and the like. Failing in this world is inevitable and I am bold to say that I am subject to failure. Does this mean that we should allow circumstances to let us fail for learning to come next? By no means! Nevertheless, we should always have the mechanism to cope up and stand for the next trials to come. Second lesson is that leaders are not perfect as well. In our lesson, we often meet Church leaders who are not doing the will of God. But still God used them for His plans. Third, I learned as history went on, what God wanted to convey to His creation are sifted through the usage of different people and in different circumstances. In our life, we are indeed sharpened as we go on with life. For as long as we are willing to cooperate with Him as He continually transforms us into His image then no doubt that we will be sanctified progressively to be the person He wanted us to be.
yes junjunelai I agree with you Failure can lead a church how to be strong even it is not a perfect church but they are the workmanship in Christ who do the work for God's kingdom.
DeleteI really like what you learned, especially your vocabulary. It was amazing how you understood those lessons. I congratulate you for having that kind of achievement in life's sanctification. And I hope you would enjoy the process.
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DeleteI totally agree to you ate Elai. Humanly speaking, no one is perfect. As a matter of fact, we are bound to fail. But God uses it to bring glory and honor to Him alone. Regardless, He is reminding us to set ourselves to the standard of grace and not perfection. And forever will be grateful for who He is and what He has done in our life. Whereby, He made us righteous before Him by grace through faith in Christ alone.
DeleteEvents in the lives of men is inevitably be mixed up with either good and bad; That is normal, as well as the chance to have something to learn, something to look upon and will offer a new perspetive.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have learned three things as I reflect on God's providence:
I have learned that even in all of those good events, and in the great sorrows and struggles of the church, I can always see and say that there is the constant Divine Intervention. God is always there to preserve events, provided ways and protected the Church- His beloved people. Not just on those times but even today, as I also see to other people's lives as well as to myself, God handpicked me, and never leaves me.
Another thing is that this can be a great example, an encouragement, and a motivation to me, that Yes! We can carry this through, and we can be victorious in our lives!
Lastly, I learned that our history, besides all of its scandalous and shameful deeds in the eyes of God and to men, this is not a story to be ashamed of, but a history, His story worthy to be shared to others! All the praises and glory belongs only to our Sovereign God, the God who was, and is, and will always be working in the hearts of the individuals.
I like how you presented God as constantly intervening with our lives in despite of how bad we feel or the sorrows we had experienced. As I look at how God molded me, I can still freshly remember the events He used to make me the woman that I am now. God works in wondrous and miraculous ways!
DeleteAmen Jonan, God's divine intervention is always there especially when the motivation of the Church is not good anymore and doesnn't align to His will. God's grace is sufficient as we live our Christian life. 😃
DeleteI really like what you learned, especially your vocabulary. It was amazing how you understood those lessons. I congratulate you for having that kind of achievement in life's sanctification. And I hope you would enjoy the process.
DeleteI deeply appreciate your positive outlook in life kuya Jonan especially in the history of church. Despite of all the hardships, unpleasant things done by the Christians as we look back, you have seen God's intervention that He is Sovereign still no matter how ugly and disgusting the moments were. He is able to finish the work He had began in the redemptive history.
DeleteThe lessons that I have learned as I have reflected on God's providence in the life of His Church are as follows: (1) I should be humble and show a life of servanthood in everything that I do; (2) I should be grateful to God for His divine providence and using people to equip, teach, nurture, encourage, support and pray for me along the way; (3) In spite of the changes in Church organization I will support, respect, and obey those who are in authority.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of the circumstances or challenges that comes into my life as I serve God whether in the Church,school or even relationships towards my parents I need to show a life of humility and serving them with a servant heart. Even there are persecutions in a certain situation I will fix my eyes before God and not on the circumstances.
I'm grateful to God because of His divine providence for using people to pray, encourage and supported me along the way because of them I have reach the goal that I have set and to where I am right now.
In spite of the changes of a certain Church organization I will support, respect and obey those who are in authority. Even people will try to discourage me because of the mistakes of the leaders I will still submit to them and support them along the way because I am serving God and not people.
Indeed, God's providence helps us along the way as we continue to serve God and the Church, as well.
Obedience is truly the very best way to show that a person believes. Those who are appointed to be our leaders must not be neglected whether just in a project leader or in any leadership. How you obey leaders reflects your obedience to Christ.
DeleteAmen Elaijah Dumaguit. 😃
DeleteObedience is not earned from man but from God that is why the Bible says if we want to be prosper we will Obey the LORD if we will disobey him curse may it be.
DeleteYou are truly right, ate Dory. We ought to develop the character of humility and gratefulness no matter where we are, what we are doing, and how pleasant or unpleasant the situation is in our life.
DeleteGratefulness to His providence really is something to do everyday. The lessons we had and the discussions we had in class did not really mention the church leaders and people of history as grateful to God for His providence throughout the circumstances that God has brought the church into. It is a fitting act of a believer to be whole-heartedly grateful to the Living God for all that He has done inspite of the good and bad times.
Deletelearning from the history of the Church is really made a great impact in myself and this following a learned so far:
ReplyDeleteGod is in/within the Church-
I learned that God really is in the Church which is the people because he loved his people whom he had choose to and I can see that even in dark ages God preserve them not just the scripture but also the Christians who follow the step and teaching of Faith in Christ.
God protected the Church-
without God's protection faith in Christianity will be fade and not be seen now and be practice. without God's protection there is no preservation happens.
God keeps his promises to the Church-
in the beginning God promise to his people that he will be with them and also God never leave those Christians who stand in the truth even to their last breath of their lives and through this I can see the promise of Jesus that no one can snatch in his hand to those who are in him and believe in him that is why until now we can see group of believers who continue in the faith and grows as a Church a believers of Jesus Christ.
Amen Jesster, God's unconditional love is what binds us and keep going as we serve Him and His people continually.
DeleteSame to you ate Dory and kuya Jesster. Definitely, God is in control of everything and that includes inside and/or outside of our church. As what one of the psalmist said that wherever he goes, he can never hide from God. In regard to, it reminds us that God is present everywhere. Even our deepest secret, He knew.
DeleteThe three lesson that I have learned about God's providence in life are the following:
ReplyDeleteI've learned that part of his providence is to conquer. There was the time that the crusaders won some states were the Muslim lived.They have goal which is to go back to the Holy land. Sometimes in our lives God gives us success in the ministry. We are ministers of Christ and we brought Christianity to all nations. Second lession is, not all the time you succeed, God allow failures in order to learned something from it. He uses our failures to create a big impact to our life and to other people's life. Crusaders also experience failures but it God's will and purpose not to win. Third is God already set His plan of what will happen to our Church History either succession and defeated. If it is really His will it will really prevail. No one can stop His will. This had happened because it His purpose on how he manages, preserves and maintains Christianity. Until now Christianity stands because of God's providence.
Excellent Idea joy!. We cannot twist God's arms in changing his mind or his plans. The only way we can do is to abide in those plans he had set for us. And be thankful that he had preserved the things or people that were used for his glory. Everything has a purpose just what you have said Joy, and I agree again with this even failure has a purpose but it will be meaningless if we will not learn from it and still be thankful and be humble if there is a failure, because it will help us grow.
DeleteI agree Joy and Ayen. No one can change God's plans for His plans and decrees are eternal. If the church faces failures and downfall, then it is in God's plan. He is always in control and He does not allow anything that will "kill" the church for it is His institution.
DeleteI learned that God allowed evil to be experienced by his people in order for them to appreciate his good provision as they live here on earth. I also learned that God may use anyone as an instrument for the growth of his Kingdom, which made me realized that it grows excluding the Christian effort. And I learned that God indeed protects his flocks from the deceiver who's trying to deviate them from the truth. Besides, we Christian leaders, preachers, pastors, and missionaries are still responsible of what we would feed to the church. Hence it must be fresh, clean, and naturally grown, and harvested from the ground of truth.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea Ian, that God indeed protect his flock or his church from the deceiver, who try to destroy his church, and by that i remember what Jesus said, that even the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church, Good point to reflect when you said that we are responsible on what we have feed to the church, it's kind a warning for us preachers to be very careful, in our preaching and teaching in the church, thank you Ian.
DeleteI affirm on what you've implied that God allowed evil in order for man to appreciate God's provision. It is true in the sense that when a man steps towards the way of evil and was able to enter on it, for sure he she would miss God's provision and longs to come back again.
DeleteI really like what you learned ian, especially your vocabulary. It was amazing how you understood those lessons. I congratulate you for having that kind of achievement in life's sanctification. And I hope you would enjoy the process.
DeleteThe church or the body of Christ survived and thrive even in the dark times of the History, and by that learning i was able to reflect on these three things, God is at work, God is faithful,and God is in control.
ReplyDeleteI can say that God is at work because even in those darkest times of the history, we can see the evidence in the present that the Church is still exist, though in that situation we can say that God is not at work because of what we see there is war, slaughter of the Christians, persecutions, and we taught that how the church survive from that difficult stage of history, but one thing why church survive? because there is the God who is at work and cause his Church to survive.
Another lesson i learned is that God is faithful, because he never once live the church alone even in those times, in fact he is faithful to sustain, strengthen, and keep them from the destroyer.
Furthermore, third thing i was reflected too is the truth that God is in control in everything that had happened in the History, God by his divine providence allowed those things to happened in order to show his providence towards his church.
I totally agree with you greg that God is at work and He is faithful and In control. Because if God is not in at work there will no church existing now a days and what happened in those dark times God is in control he allow it to happened but He protect His people and preserve them. And also He is faithful in our lives even we are not faithful to Him. He never change He still care for his people and loved.
DeleteYess, It was not by human works but by the divine one. The reason that church survived through different hardships was because God was the one who controls everything. May this truth be known to every churches.
DeleteThe first thing that I have learned regarding God's providence for his church is that he used some people in order to save it. Though God did not intervened personally, he just used some personalities in order to save his church. This is how God cares for his people. He loves the church so much that even in the worst dilemma that she underwent through, God is looking and taking of her. Another lesson I've learned is that, even though God loves the church, it doesn't mean that she cannot experience any suffering. The proofs to that are the dark ages, the wars and crusades which cause many people to death. The church is bombarded with so much sufferings in those times. For me, those sufferings are just testings of faith if they will really endure and in fact the church have endured until today. Last thing that I've learned regarding God's providence is not just how he saved his people but also how he preserved the truth. Though there were dark times in Christianity, there were situations that would suppose to ruin the truth. There were big tendencies that it might perish because of wars but it didn't or it might be changed because of Islamism but it didn't because God preserve them and we, in this present generation are reaping the truth that was being preserve long time ago.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good story to tell to the church where we belong right now. It might result to having a good grasp on how God preserve his church, how he permitted suffering in order to strengthen the faith of his saints and lastly how he preserve the truth that we are believing right now. It will also serve as an encouragement for us that God is actively working in his people.
I really like what you learned, especially your vocabulary. It was amazing how you understood those lessons. I congratulate you for having that kind of achievement in life's sanctification. And I hope you would enjoy the process.
DeleteThis is right until now. A blessing in disguise, that God'people thrived in thw midts of persecution.
DeleteVery well said John Francis because of the providence of God now we are able to know and have the truth. Also we are able to experience the sustaining grace of how God preserved His people.
DeleteWhat I learned from the lecture and from what has been discussed. I learned as a part of the church that we should defend and treasure the things and reason why our ancestors in faith fought for. Yes they may had been confusion when it comes to doctrine but God has a plan for the church and church is one of the ways that display his power and grace. Truly God fulfilled his saying that the gates of hades cant prevail. Satan cantstop the church because i believed that it is empowered by God and TheHoly Spirit. God preserve his creatures for a reason. We may feel like no purpose at all, but we are wrong, Jesus cared for us if no one. Theres no other friend for us but him.
ReplyDeleteAgree. we need to stand with God and in what we believe in, Fight in the Lords Army, we must never fail as to God has never failed us.
DeleteGod never leave his people in times of sadness and happiness he is always there willing to help his people because he is faithful even though we are not that faithful to him.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned from God's providence in His church is that God us our circumstances in life and people just to save His church. Our life might not be always perfect there will be time that we face a lots of trails and suffering but the good thing God is there helping us to stand and go forward to that situation in life. In that way see how God's providence works in our life that he provide our needs not just in physical but also in every aspect of our life. I also learned that there is no perfect leader because we all fail. But God use those failure to mold a leader for just to fulfill his plan. there is no good or perfect leader among the churches now a days or even before therefore we won't look the mistake that our leaders done because still its parts of God's plan. Lastly I learned that since before God providence was already working in the life of his people. those dark times if God's providence was not there I surely say that there will be no church now a days. God really preserve his people and protect his people because He had a great big plan for them. We can see God's providence not just in the history of the church but we can see it also in our daily life that how God provide the needs of his people.
Amen:)
DeleteAmen, indeed our circumstances is one way God is using to preserve us and the church.
DeleteGod is in control. He makes all things work together for good. He is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Good and bad happened because God allowed it, so that the purpose of Him will be fulfil.
ReplyDeleteThe three lessons that I've learned about the God's providence in His church are: first God is the one who holds the every detail of His creation. God is familiar of His creation, He never leave it. Though the church of Him suffered so much because of the trials and circumstances. But I can really see the hands of the Lord working on the history. He allowed bad people to rule His church so that the people of Him will see how powerful He is that he can able to do possible things that the man cannot do.Second, the God that we served is not made of human hand. Instead, He made human to served Him and worship Him. The Lord is really true to His promised. Remember He promised that, He is our strength and our refuge; a very help in times of need.Third, He is already selected the people whom He planned to used for His purpose. It reminds me that before the creation He already chose us. Thus,the Lord preserved His people and He has already a plan for. Though we cannot understand how He work on it but we can trust the Sovereign Lord of ours.
Indeed, Whatever the circumstances are, or whatever storms may breakthrough still, God is always in control of everything, every events and circumstances in our lives, His providence will never fail, all the more His plans for us.
DeleteThe church’s history is humbling, but quite rejoicing. On its life story, we can learn a lot in different forms or ways. I would only cite 3 specific lessons I’ve learned in the long run of our study in regard to. First off, I’ve learned to continue develop the character of being humble and grateful in every circumstances. Can’t deny, there are times that it would takes sadness to know happiness. It takes absence to value presence, and noise to appreciate silence. In the same manner, it takes hardships, troubles, or trials in our Christian life so that we could know more God and His ways. In addition to, it does help us to be a better version of what God wanted us to be in character, action, and will. Whereby, His great plans and purposes in our life we could fulfill. It takes unpleasant moments for us to realize our need of Him and to outstretch our faith in doing His will.
ReplyDeleteNext is even if it’s quite hard to know, we know how to know things. No matter how overwhelming the situation is, God still allows us to see His ways, intervention in life.
Lastly, I’ve realized how important it is to teach our disciples in the ministry to trust the Bible’s history for its accuracy so they will trust the Bible’s promise for their destiny. Furthermore, they could also avoid the moment of being vulnerable to the appeal of the cultists, who deviate the teachings of God’s Word. They would deeply appreciate God’s Sovereignty of how He had protected and preserved His people and even the Bible that is still widely used today. Truly, unless we learn a lesson, we can never get away from the situation. Right?
I have learned that the working of God concerning His Church, is that, God uses not just all good to let His providence be among His people, It is not always the good reinforcement could mold and make someone or something a better person or a better thing. At some point of our lives, God has given us troubles and difficulties that we may be able to learn and grow as much as we can that even though we fail, we always have a reason to get back up. Another one is that, even though how many times people or the Church would fail God, that even the unfaithfulness and the sins that people commit is at high rate, still the grace, love and mercy of God abounds. Still there is hope in every peoples heart in line with the promise of God concerning His people. The last one is that, The Church will always be in God's care, no matter what, God will always be taking care of His sheep, that even at times, we disobey and we go on our separate way, His rod and staff always brings us back together with Him
ReplyDeleteI agree to you my brother in Christ, that God allows difficulties and troubles so that we will become mature in our Christian life. Even "A thousand times I've failed
DeleteStill your mercy remains
Should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame" as what the song says and I agree in this.And He is the reason why we continue to live in this world, even in those troubles and difficulties we face..
Church history opens my imaginative mind and it brings me back to the ancient times. To know all the information's and a the story behind our churches today creates in me a humble heart, and I can't help myself praising God for His unfathomable works and plan.
ReplyDeleteNo wander God's attributes is that He is omniscient He knows everything that would happen because He is the one who plan about it. He is omnipotent, He is supreme and all powerful above all, no one can stand against God's perfect plan. And He is omnipresent God is all present He is everywhere and no one can hide towards God. In the time of Church history not even single event is out of God's design. As we look back the timeline of Church history it's all about power, authority, war, famine, oppression, persecution of the believers, sufferings, poverty, cruelty, greed, and betrayal. But in the midst of miserable, and chaotic unpleasant situation God accomplishes His will, and He never let the evil plan hinder His works.
The learning's that I have from this is more than a words can express because God is too amazing to be describe from all the things that He has done from the past until now, but one thing for sure what God is trying to influence in our church generation today is that He is immutable and He never changes, up to now He is doing something in our churches until He accomplish His purposes in the present, and in the future as what He has done in the past. Church is the body of Christ, and no one can destroy it even the schemes of darkness for we are His bride.
woow!!! that's good loy you open you imaginative mind:)
DeleteThe first thing that I‘ve learned regarding the providence of God in His church is that God uses and preserved people to tell us the truth of Christianity. Though lots lives had been sacrificed because of this truth still the plan of the Lord prevails. It’s amazing to know that even in the past they experienced dark ages still God sustained and protected His people and because of God’s care for them we will able to know the truth of Christianity and live with it today. It is grateful to know that because of the people who stand and fight for the truth of Christianity we were able to know the reality and where we came from. The second thing I learned is how God unfolding loved saved his people. Though we know that they suffered and persecuted because of their beliefs but still God’s unfolding hand protect him. God loves for the Church is unfailing that even though they experienced dark ages, we can still see how God sustained the church through all the way. God did not just protect and saved the Church, He also preserved the Scripture which is the Word of truth. If we look back to the past, they’ve been fighting because of this and lots of happenings that happens. Scholars from monastery and priest were fighting because of what should be included in the Canon of Scripture because there were some who are trying to deviates the truth but God truth remains because he wants it to be like that and because also of his sustenance to the people that he used. There were wars and arson probably and if we take a look at it carefully probably the Scripture has been damaged and rotten with ashes but God is able to save it for us to know the truth that He want us to tell with His word. The truth that we live and serve us our guidance in our living and lesson that we can learned from the past.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's how amazing God works and folded everything in His hands. Truly enough ate Jo that His unfailing love and grace embraces us always no matter what we do and who we are.
DeleteWe cannot grasp the plan of God way back many years ago. Nevertheless, He never fail to be provident in the church history and He evidently reigns forever in His throne. Changes are continually going on within it and around it or even up until now His majestic plan will always prevail
ReplyDeleteThese are the lessons that contributed in my Christian walk as I reflected His providence from beginning to the end. His purpose that had been established will accomplish whatever He wants. As it teaches me that the truth is worth fighting for. As what our ancestors did before that there having a life of self-sacrifice and we should have this aim also to carry this truth. Whether in season or out of season we must always be ready to defend what we believe in for it is worth defending at all costs. We must guard the treasure which has been entrusted to us. We should take these commands seriously from the very beginning. On the flip side, it also provides us with great encouragement and a warning to be aware in any false teachings and prophets. More than that, it reminds me that we are not alone in facing this battle but as shoulder to shoulder with the other saints who have come before us it makes us stronger and firm. As an army of God we are ought to stand fast in the truth. Thus, the lessons that I’ve learned from this are endless and so much more.
You're right En2x. The commands we take are our guardrails which can provide us as an encouragement at the same time as a warning for us Christians. We must be aware on what we follow in order for us to avoid false teachings and prophets.
DeleteThe lessons that I've learned regarding God's providence in the church are follows; He uses people, He allows circumstances to happen, and He never leaves His people.
ReplyDeleteEverything happens has a purpose, therefore when He used people then, His purposed was to preserved the church until now. Though the leaders were not believers or even knew a little bit about Him, God still used them because it was part of His plan.
Secondly, He allows circumstances to happen. As I recall the history , I can see that people back then experienced the darkest ages. It showed sufferings such like wars, persecution, discrimination and even crusades.
Lastly, He never leaves His own people. He was once who picked them up as leaders so it was also His responsibility to take care of them.
He uses people, He allows circumstances to happen and He never leaves people. These are show as one of the evidences that God really with His people.
truly, ate God will always be by our side. this is not just a comfort to every christian but also a reminder that we must always live our life that constantly and consistently brings glory to God. God is always faithful even if we always fail him. He always forgives and His grace are endless but I hope that with all the circumstances that are happening to us, it will not give us the feeling of complacency and comfort in doing sin. yes, he allows everything to happen but sometimes things happen especially the bad ones because of our own choices and disobedience to His will.
DeleteFirst thing that I have learned from God's providence of His Church is on how He preserved the life of the believers of Christ. I can say that only by God's grace why they survived from the persecutions and killing from the past and even today. We cannot limit God's power in working to His people, He is faithful and just to provide their needs. Personally I testified the providence of God on how He preserve my life from the worldly things.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the forgiveness of God that showed upon His Church. Basically we are not worthy to be called His children because of the things that we've done towards Him. But He is faithful to give forgiveness to His Church because we are love by Him, even how thousands we fail His faithfulness and love still remains to His Church.
Thirdly, the strength that God has given to His Church to persevere from the evil age. Without this provision maybe many people will give up their faith because of the persecution they faced. Even in our daily lives we are so thankful to the Lord for the strength that He has given to us because we can continue to served Him and the people around us.
I personally, can testify the providence of God in my life. Now that it is my last year in BTC I always find myself staring blankly and realizing how far I have gone. I am thankful cause I saw how God helped me in every step of the way. It seems like he gathered all the broken pieces from the my past, folded it, and formed it into a wonderful rose. the same way, like what he did to the church during its dark ages.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing that I learned from this part of history is that God will always take care of those people who belongs to him. We learned in our class that even in the midst of a plague God will always have a way in order to preserve His word and His people. We learned how a dark turned out to be way of letting people know that there is really a God who exist. Despite of all the hunger and even bloody river, God is still at work. He makes every experience of our early church fathers worth it to be remembered, as an evidence of his divine work and provision.
Second thing that I learned is that we can never really put God in a box. what i mean is that His power, and sovereignty are endless. Truly, we cannot measure or grasp his thoughts. his ways are really greater than our ways. That is why God always encourage us to keep hoping. to keep trusting Him that in every situation, he will always be with us. He makes all thing beautiful, in His time indeed.
And last thing that I learned is that we can never place a period where God placed a comma. Maybe the people during that time thinks that those time is already the end of Christianity. But no, indeed it became a turning point to every Christians. The same to us, when circumstances gets worst, when all other options have worn out, when everything else fails, be ready because that is exactly where you can clearly see God's work.
In conclusion, we may experience dark ages in our walk with God. An army of pain, suffering and hopelessness may attack us, remember that God is our hope, He is our anchor, our rock and our refuge. And maybe God does his best work in seemingly hopeless situation.
God has never failed to pick up the church during the times it took a great fall. He has always been there and I believe He will always be there because He promised so. Jesus said in Matthew 28 that He would be with us until the end of time. He has been faithful and so we can claim that promise He has made being with us all throughout life.
ReplyDeleteJust like His redemptive plan, God provides a "savior" for each time the church falls. Many times the church fell, there was always something or someone that would help the church get back up on its feet. Sometimes, they would be evil plans and people but still, it was for the good of the church and not for its harm. God does have a plan and it may seem to be for harm, but it actually comes out good and for the better.
When the church falls and sidetracks from the truth, there would always be lesson at the end and we get a new teaching or truth when they return. It seems sad that others who have fallen in the past still have not risen back, but then it is an example to us who are in the right track. We learn from them and we actually have something to compare the right from the wrong. It seems negative to do comparison, but it somehow is also right in the way that we could evaluate and learn from them as well.
All in all, God has never failed to provide a solution, a savior, and something to learn from all this.
The lesson gave me more understanding on why we have to be zealous in making the church grow. Lessons I have learned is first, the preservation of God to his people. Throughout the history of the church from the beginning until now we can really see God's active work, and he even work in a way that people cannot explain. He preserved his people that he even used power thirsty people just to save his people. Second lesson is the humility we must have in approaching the Bible and the church, and the importance of it. We must not take advantage of the Bible we have now and the salvation given to us for our forefathers fought hard for it. Third lesson is we have to be on fire in serving the Lord, and be more zealous in sharing his Word. We have already know that we are on the right tract then we must work hard to continually be on the right way, and bring others with us that has been astray. Knowing that many people fought for it then we are assured that what we believe is true.
ReplyDelete“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
ReplyDeleteneither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
I learned that God's plan will always prevail and God's plan is better than our plans. His plan for our lives are unpredictable and immeasurable. And we cannot question him about it because He is all knowing. Just like in the life of the people before in the church the plans of God in their lives were fulfilled and they were used by God to preserved everything that is needed for his glory.
I believe that God allowed evilness to happened to come or turn out to his purpose and plans. He gave free will to those people to ransack the people in the church but at the end God's purpose for everything come out good because we still have the word of God today that was preserved by the people in the church before who fought back against the evil doers.
God preserved lives to restore and to destroy. For our understanding it was rigid but even it was a difficult way of God in preserving His people, it was still part of his plan. God has many outlet in fulfilling his plans, it just that we have limited knowledge in understanding Him.
We should be thankful that there were histories in order for us to remember and learn from it.
True, at first we think that history would be so boring but it actually helps us a lot to understand what and why we are like this in the present. Pasts can still be discussed when it comes to building people up and learning from what had happened that made a great impact to were we are now. It really is helpful for us to know where we came from and to where we are going. It is a great context.
DeleteTrue, at first we think that history would be so boring but it actually helps us a lot to understand what and why we are like this in the present. Pasts can still be discussed when it comes to building people up and learning from what had happened that made a great impact to were we are now. It really is helpful for us to know where we came from and to where we are going. It is a great context.
DeleteThe earth and everything in it will fade but His Words will still remain, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI've learned to value the Bible. God preserved it in a way that even those who don't fully understand His words were the channels. Though the church had a lot of persecutions, schisms, and dark times, God's word was still preserved and we got the advantage. Knowing history made me learn not to take advantage of what we just benefited from what our church fathers fought and died for.
I also learned to value my faith and the church. History was an eye-opener. The church is not just to be viewed as a mere building but it has to be seen in the light of what we believe in, who we believe in which made us as a church.
I learned to value and appreciate God's plan, providence and protection to His people. He is indeed faithful to His children. Though there were plagues, persecutions, wars, and death, I can see that God's purpose will really surface and His will prevails no matter what. It maybe painful to think that there were blood shed, relationships between religions stained, divisions and other negative and bitter side, it's all part of God's plan to carry out His will. His plans are greater that our plans, His ways are greater than our ways. all we can do is trust Him when we seem not to understand.
Christ is the head of the Church. Through out century, years and decades we can see God's providence in the life of His Church. His goodness and greatness is actively involved and it never stops until today. Three things I've learned from this; God uses many people to fulfill his purpose and that people experienced persecution, wars, death and even painful discrimination. But God never derelict his people. I learned that what i am right now is because of what our church father did in the past. They were transformed by God so that His purpose for us will be fulfill. I learned that God's providence is not just in the past but it continues until today.
ReplyDeleteWhist would be our respond to that? As we observed and look around many people are hungry and thirsty for the truth. As we are living here on earth we should be on fire and passionate to do the ministry, the great commission that God entrusted to us. Our God is not far way He is very near and He can really hear us. Our respond is to continue what our church fathers started, to shared the word of God for we are part of His purpose. We are the body of Church and should obey and trust the head for He is powerful and the savior of all.
Hi Langerts. God will use people to fulfill his purpose even if that people hates God. We have this history and darkness times because there are lot of people who wants to ruin the church and they are included to tge Church history. God use some of them to helped the church to continue and we are blessed because we have them before us. We are not expereincing what they have experienced but the thing we must do is to share God's faithfulness in the history. Still God is the center of this history because this is His story and not those church heroes. We are thankful to them but we must more thankful to God. ☺☺☺☺
DeleteThree things I have learned through the history of the Church in the past.
ReplyDeleteFirst, God's preservation. Even in the dark ages of the History God is working. He preserve the scripture that we have now and also used people to do for his purpose. i can reflect to that in my life that even when I feel that I am alone God is working for me. He make miracles that no one can explained and it amazed them. Second, Throughout the painful things in the life of man, God has a purpose. I don't know whats the purpose of what happened in the past but the only thing can say that God wants us always to hold on to Him no matter what happened. Third, God used evil person to carry one his purpose. He use many people in the even they are cruel to carry on the things that he want for the people to know Him and hold on to Him. No one can comprehend the LORD. He Knows everything and all we can do is to hold on to Him.
Yes Jess. God is our light that is why this Light I hold. God really works in mysterious ways that even us cannot understand and the thing that we can do is amazed. We must total depend in God because He is our creator and he knows what's best for us. Everything that happens to us, God has a planned. ☺☺☺
DeleteThree things that I have learned from the history of the Church is that God is in control, no one can hinder the church, God works is mysterious way. Church has lot of difficulties that have experienced but we can see that the church is still exist until this very day. God can use even the very bad people and event to reveal His plan.I know that some of the event from the history is not the plan of God instead the wicked plan of the people but still God can twist those bad plan of man into good. For now, it is a testimony how powerful our God is to preserved His church until now. Bible says even the gates of hell cannot stop the church and it is true. Many circumstances that the church experienced but until now, the church is still growing. I was amazed in God's work that whatever people do to kill all of the Christian so that the church will be deleted in the history but still, the church is growing and it is by the work of God alone. All of this are created by God and even they have their own will, they cannot defeat God because God works in mysterious ways that sometimes human cannot understand.
ReplyDeleteI learned to be grateful to those early Christians who hold on to their faith. Even in the midst of severe trials they were willing to suffer for it. Those early believers were one of the reasons that were used by God to let His Word spread to many nations. What they stand and believed encouraged those next generation to be firmed also to the truth of the Gospel. Until now, their lives were still testimonies among other believers in Christ.
ReplyDeleteThe second lesson I got from God's providence was the reminder of His eternal existence. He was faithful from past, He is faithful in the present, and He will still be faithful in the future.
The last thing that I learned was that God was the one who acts in His church. If it was only by human works, I think it would not survived. It's a proof that Christ is the head of the church.
Nice lesson you have their brother, our history is His story and he is really active in working out the history and through it we can really prove and boast that our God exist, and will exist till eternity.
DeleteNice lesson you have their brother, our history is His story and he is really active in working out the history and through it we can really prove and boast that our God exist, and will exist till eternity.
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