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Hey Mike,

First, I want to say how grateful I am that God is using you in the way He is. I have been reading your site for about three or four years.
To the point: Ever since I have learned the truth, I have been under constant, perpetual struggle (financially). I am glad that it is not physical struggle, but it seems like I’m going through trial after trial. I understand the reason for the fiery trials. And as I live and learn more, all I think about is ‘WHAT’S NEXT!?!?’ I live in fear of the future. Is this the fear and trembling God is talking about? I have no peace in my heart, no sense of joy. I certainly do not take joy in my trials as Paul says to do. I know WHY I have to go through them. Why do you say we need to avoid the lake of fire at all costs. (the lake of fire after death) What is so much worse about that lake than the one I’m in now. I understand that IF I am one of the elect, there will be rewards after I’m dead and risen, of course. But I guess what I need to know for me to justify in my own mind going through these trials here why is the lake of fire after death so bad?” Don’t get me wrong. I know there are people in much much worse situations than me. God does provide for my “NEEDS” I still have a roof over my head so far. My car has not been repossessed yet, I’m still pretty healthy as far as I know. All of my family are safe and healthy. I do thank God for these things everyday. But in the back of my mind, I’m also thinking and fearing what He will do next. So far I have learned that the more I learn, the longer and harder the trials get. Unless He plans on taking me sometime soon, I have a LONG way to go with LOTS of lessons to be learned, lots of pain and losses to experience (in the flesh)
I used to be a positive person thinking that my positive attitude would help me. Something I learned in selling was that having a positive attitude helps us to succeed. Well, now I KNOW that no matter how positive or negative a person is, God’s will WILL be done. So having a hope for something is almost futile, because chances are it is not God’s will and yet again your hope is let down. When I pray I do ask for things, but at the end of the prayer I say ‘Your will be done, not mine’. Which in my mind takes any kind of joy away from me and what I hope for. Part of me wishes I never learned these truths, but yet a part of me is glad I did. I think if I were going through these trials with out this knowledge of the truth I would have gone insane. I can understand how some people do commit suicide. No, I don’t want to do that. I’m just saying how I can see how some people just want to relieve themselves of this painful life. Forgive me for the long email. This is the first time I have ever emailed you. I wanted to get it all out. If you can give me some words of encouragement, I would appreciate it. God say he chastens those he loves. Well, I’m not FEELING much love right now.
Thank you. I know you’re a busy man. So whenever you can write back, PLEASE do so.

D____

Hi D____,
Thank you for asking me for some words of encouragement with your struggles in this life.
You say:

First, I want to say how grateful I am that God is using you in the way He is. I have been reading your site for about three or four years.

I am very happy that you have been benefiting from iswasandwillbe. com for so long.
You go on to state:

Ever since I have learned the truth, I have been under constant, perpetual struggle (financially). I am glad that it is not physical struggle, but it seems like I’m going through trial after trial. I understand the reason for the fiery trials. And as I live and learn more, all I think about is ‘WHATS NEXT!?!?’ I live in fear of the future. Is this the fear and trembling God is talking about? I have no peace in my heart, no sense of joy. I certainly do not take joy in my trials as Paul says to do. I know WHY I have to go through them. Why do you say we need to avoid the lake of fire at all costs. (the lake of fire after death) What is so much worse about that lake than the one I’m in now. I understand that IF I am one of the elect, there will be rewards after I’m dead and risen, of course. But I guess what I need to know for me to justify in my own mind going through these trials here why is the lake of fire after death so bad?

I am very grateful for your question, because it gives me the opportunity to demonstrate the difference between two Biblical spirits. Both are Biblical spirits, but one is the spirit of Christ, or “the comforter… the spirit of Truth… the spirit of His Son”, and the other is “the spirit of bondage… to fear”, or “the spirit of the world”.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

So let’s be honest with ourselves and not attempt to walk in a measure of faith we have not yet been granted.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [ of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

It is my desire in answering your questions in this e- mail to encourage you to be patient, and “let patience have its perfect work” in you. Believe it or not the very fact that you are experiencing “trial after trial” is a “wonderful work” within you which must take place before you will be granted to enter into the temple of God within you.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Let’s confess that “patience has not yet had her perfect work” within you, because you say:

… it seems like I’m going through trial after trial. I understand the reason for the fiery trials. And as I live and learn more all I think about is WHAT’S NEXT!?!? I live in fear of the future.

So what are we to do in your situation? All who have been there know the answer, and all who have yet to come to your state will, and when they do they will learn what you are learning through “trial after trial”.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [ Greek – peirasmos, trials]: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

“Enduring temptation” is enduring the trials of which you speak, and endurance is the application of verses 2-4 quoted above.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

You will never be “perfect and entire, wanting nothing”, and you will never be worthy or competent to deal with others who must experience this very same fire you are enduring, if you yourself never endure “trial after trial”. That is the very meaning of these verses:

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

These are not negative events, they are “the wonderful works of God to the children of men” (Psa 107:21-31).

Psa 107:21 Oh that [ men] would praise the LORD [ for] his goodness, and [ for] his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that [ men] would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

It is God who “commands and raises the stormy winds” in our lives, and He calls those “His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men”
You are experiencing “His goodness and His wonderful works”, and while we all just naturally despise this part of God’s “wonderful works”, “it is the goodness of God that leads us all to repentance”.

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness [Psa 107] and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God [Psa 107, 1Pe 4:12, Jas 1:2-4 etc] leadeth thee to repentance?

You ask why I say we need to avoid the lake of fire at all costs, and you ask what is the difference between the fire of the lake of fire and the fire we now endure?
The answer to those two questions in order is that if we are granted to be the first to die to our carnal mind in this life and we are granted to take part in that “blessed and holy first resurrection” (Rev 20:6), then we will not be hurt by the fire which will try those who are in the second group of those who are to die to the carnal mind in a symbolic lake of fire, known as “the second death”.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

To be given the honor of being a part of that “blessed and holy first resurrection” is the greatest single honor which can be bestowed upon any human being under our head, which is Christ.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The second death has no power over God’s elect because they were the first to die to their carnal mind and were first to be judged.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

We are not judged until after we die (dying daily now, not physical death), and yet Peter tells us “the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God”. Since the whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain along with God’s elect, who will be that “lake of fire”, there is every incentive to strive for the mark of the high calling of God which is in Christ.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly [ God’s elect]; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Since we cannot avoid the trials of this life, whether we are elect or not, we have every reason to strive for the mark of the high calling of God. Only those in the first resurrection are granted to rule this world for a thousand years, and then to rule over angels in the subsequent lake of fire.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Do not suppose that the fire of the lake of fire is any less than the fiery trials we now endure. It absolutely is not! These are words which will not pass away, and which will be just as true in the lake of fire as they now are:

Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

On the other hand, there are great rewards to be given to the few who are granted to overcome the image, name, number and mark of the beast within us.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

So there is absolutely no incentive to be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death.
I hope these words of our Lord inspire you to see that “trial after trial” is an envious position in which to be, for this reason:

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

So we are plainly told that “we must through much tribulation [“trial after trial”] enter into the kingdom of God, but we are also told this:

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [ him], that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

So humble yourself before your Creator who is working all these trials in your life. Come before Him with the “Not my will but thine be done” attitude of our Lord, and offer Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving for what He is doing in your life.

Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his [ wonderful] works with rejoicing.

Ask your Lord to give you the ability to “let patience do its perfect work” in your life, until you are given to “count it all joy when you enter into different trials”. When you are given that spirit and that attitude then you, with the apostle, will “strive for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ”.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [ this] one thing [ I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [ Greek, being perfected], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

You confess that you have learned much, so be thankful for what you have thus far been given, and until you are granted the “perfect work of patience”, to rejoice in your trials:

Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

In closing I want to offer you an opportunity to be encouraged by other like- minded people and maybe even have your name written in God’s “book of remembrance”:

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

If indeed you are being blessed by what you are reading on the website, you will be even more blessed by “speaking often to others who fear the Lord and think upon His name”. We have just recently established a phone number which is listed on the home page for fellowship.
If you desire fellowship with others who “speak often one to another and think on our Lord’s name” do not hesitate to reach out to others who are also a part of the body of Christ. It is through what “every joint supplies” that “iron sharpens iron” and the body “builds itself up in love”

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike