The principle of being quiet, is often difficult to apply, since we naturally want to talk about the problem, and sometimes we need to do this to the right people, but advertising our problems can not only bring criticism, but attract demonic spirits to harass our minds.

Jesus did not open his mouth in his defence when he was led off to be crucified, even though he could have called multitudes of angels to rescue him and kill his captors.                          Acts 8:32

Self defence is often a mistake, and in some cases, a lawyer will not want his accused client to speak in their own defence because their emotions may get the better of them and cause them to incriminate themselves.

The no defence principle allows God to have the role in our lives of being our defender, our advocate in the heavenlies,  “ever living to make intercession for us”.                         Romans 8:34

When we defend ourselves, we may make the problem worse, so we need to learn to be like a lamb when necessary. Jesus is both a lion and a sacrificial lamb, and in a situation of false accusation and slander, letting God be our heavenly lawyer and our lion, will bring the best result in the long run.

“And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).”                    1 Cor 1:8 Amplified classical edition.

God told the children of Israel essentially to put their fears down so that they could see the salvation of the Lord in their situation.

Exodus 14:13 “ Then  “ Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.”

14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.

To remain at rest means keep your thoughts and emotions under discipline, and don’t do those things which God has told you not to, or which He has not told you too.

Don’t murmur, complain or criticise God and his ways, or you will  lose your place of rest.

1 Cor 10:1:10-11-

“ We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents;

10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were [a]put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).”

In this chapter, Paul reminds the Jewish converts of the message they should learn from their ancestors, they all passed under the same cloud and fire and provision but some of them murmured against God.This is listed in the same category of idolatry and sexual uncleanness, and they were killed by serpents. Our enemy is a serpent, although he sometimes disguises himself as an angel of light.

Don’t be confused when trouble comes

“Think it not strange when you go through fiery trials.”     Peter 4:12

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.”

The bible teaches us that we will have trials and tribulations while we are on earth, that as disciples of Jesus we will to some extent go through his suffering on earth, that in fact because He went through them, He is now qualified to be our heavenly intercessor and lawyer.

We of course, cannot share His suffering in the sense of becoming a sacrifice for sin, Jesus the Christ, was the only one who could be acceptable in that role, has completed it and is seated at the right hand of the father after having placed his blood on the mercy seat.

However, the apostle Paul spoke of “filling up the suffering of Christ”, in the context of sharing in what he went through on earth. Ridicule, slander, hatred, character defamation, misunderstanding and non acceptance by family and neighbours and other experiences including being called satan.    Col 1:24

How great Jesus’ pain must have been, to be called satan the angel of darkness when He Jesus was the light of the world. The enemy will always attack us in the area which we consider to be out strength, partly because we do not guard that area thinking we have no need to. We guard our weak areas but the enemy loves to make us feel ashamed because we failed in our strengths.

So in the context of the massive persecution of the Christian churches of the day, Peter wrote to all the Christians, at the end of his life.

He did not bring a seeker friendly, soothing message, but spoke the truth about the fiery trials and the reasons behind them. No sugarcoating, but teaching the Christians to accept persecution because of their faith and to discern what to fight and what to let Jesus fight on our behalf.

How much more should we in this the 21^st Century, take these biblical principles to heart.

So often we spend a lot of time trying to understand the
”why”’ of our trials, and we use mental and emotional energy on this, when in fact, in faith we should rest upon the arms of our God to deliver us where necessary, and enable us to be strong in the face of whatever He allows through His protection.

The covid factor has up ended our lives and our churches and our comfort zone in this Australia, sometimes called the lucky country but called by God “THE GREAT SOUTHLAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”. As a country, we have not lost our destiny in God, so far He is allowing a portion of this tribulation although much less than other countries. But He will send His promise as well, which is revival in great measure, and perhaps the covid factor, [however much truth you think there is in it or not}, is breaking us out of our complacency as we indeed needed ,and will become a factor used by God to humble us, both His people and His yet to be redeemed ones. Humility is a part of the requirement for our land to be redeemed.

He will also allow great tribulation, in fact “THE great tribulation”, as spoken of by His word, which will bring us to the final harvest before His return. Individual opinions about whether the church will go the any or all of this tribulation, are insignificant in His eyes, if He wanted us to know this he would have told us in the word, clearly enough to be understood by all who know Him.

In fact he will send us whatever we need as individuals and as a nation, to bring us to that place of readiness for His return.

Even so COME LORD JESUS.