October, 2025 | THE BIBLE VIEW

The BIBLE VIEW #1023 — Difficulties

In This Issue:
Why Me?
The “Bad” Times
A Shelter in The Time of Storm

Volume: 1023 October 27, 2025
Theme: Difficulties

Why Me?
Bill Brinkworth

Even if a person is well-educated, lives a good life, has wealth, and may be able to protect themself, but lives in a bad neighborhood, it does not guarantee they will be exempt from lawlessness. It is a crime-ridden neighborhood, and all who reside there will most likely have terrible things happen at some time.

It is the same for good Christian people in this world. Earth is a sin-infested place where we reside. All who live here will be affected or involved in iniquity because of the “neighborhood” where they reside.

The hardships encountered by living here may include financial, health, accidents, social, and many other areas. There will be problems that happen to all of us at some point in our lives. Many of the difficulties and bad experiences are because we live in a cursed residence.
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:17-19
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” Isaiah 24:5-6

Christian souls may be saved, and we may be doing much better than our neighbors, but all will encounter the consequences of iniquity from our own weaknesses or those committed by others. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that followers of Christ will not have problems as a result of sin.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12

Do not expect not to have problems. We are all born sinners; that is why we need to be saved. All will be affected by sin’s side effects.
“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:1
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12

So, why are bad things happening to you? Not only are you a sinner and possibly reaping the repercussions of your iniquities, but you live in a sin-oppressed world. Sin hurts everyone, even the innocent. Believers are not exempt from its terrible consequences.
“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Ecclesiastes 2:23

As overpowering as the plague of sin on all is, Christians can have protection during iniquity’s storms. We can limit what happens to us by living a God-centered and God-lead life.

If waves from wickedness do crash spray over your life’s bow, it is a time to draw near the Master of the Sea to help you through sin’s gale. He may be using that trial to make you a stronger Christian. It is not time to abandon ship!

“He who knows no hardships will know no hardihood. He who faces no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the characteristics in human nature which we love best grow in a soil with a strong mixture of trouble.” — Harry Emerson Fosdick

The “Bad” Times
Bill Brinkworth

No one likes troubles, trials, and tribulations, but we all will or have had them. Since we will all encounter them in our lives, it only makes sense to view them properly.

God often sends “bad” incidents to make us into what He desires us to be. They will teach us lessons in life’s school that will never leave us the same. It can be for this reason that God preserved the words in James 1:2-4:“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [trials] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

We are to take these challenging times as a “joyful time”? How can anything as miserable as some have experienced be joyful? Usually, the lesson is learned and thankfulness is appreciated after the fire is passed through and when we’re out on the other side of calamity. It is then that we can have “joy”.

After one goes through so many “temptations” and remembers how they benefited from those experiences, one can easily develop the right attitude the next time unpleasantness comes into view. “Ah, I don’t like the class, but the lesson I will learn will be worth it.” That is joy.

The Bible gives us many different reasons why hard times come into our lives. Those amidst trials learn many lessons. Some did not learn their lesson the first time they took the “course.” Later on, they faced more difficult training further down life’s path because they had never learned it previously.

Sometimes tempestuous times are meant to strengthen us. We can be made stronger when we are awed at His deliverance from the impossible. When we get to that point, we can look back and say, “Only God could have gotten me through that”.
“He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.” Deuteronomy 10:212

At other times, our turbulent trials build our faith after we see what God has done. After passing through enough testing and remembering how we were delivered in the past, we have faith that He will guide us through the next time.
“Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” I Samuel 12 24

Part of what happens when our faith is strengthened is that we are taught. We learn more about Him, what He can or will not do, and His other character traits when we see God work in our lives.

There are many lessons to be learned from life’s trials. When Israel was led through the wilderness, they learned to fear and follow God. Jonah’s experience also taught him to obey – the first time.

Paul’s blinding experience on the road to Damascus taught him that there is only one way to please God, and that it is God’s way, not the traditions or religions of man. After Jesus healed a blind man from a lifetime of darkness, the man came to know of His power.

All these events changed the lives of those going through what they initially thought were unwanted times. What would they have been like if they had not experienced them?

Reading the Scriptures, one can easily see how hard times were used to teach God’s people how He could protect them. God has used hornets, earthquakes, darkness, disease, fear, and water, to name a few, to guard and direct His own. What an unforgettable lesson must have been learned when they got to see the mighty works of their protective Father.

Hard times can also direct us. The trials we go through often change the direction we are going and put us on the course God desires – much like the road detour no one likes.

If our route had not been changed, we would have ended up in the construction workers’ freshly dug trench, possibly damaging our vehicle and ourselves. The many extra miles were worth the aggravation we could have faced in the body shop or even in the hospital. When we look back on what could have happened, we can be joyful about what did not occur and are thankful for His direction.

Certainly, tough times can change us. Jonah’s attitude was surely changed after his stay in the whale’s belly. Saul had a new perspective about persecuted Christians after he was one.

Joseph was certainly appreciative of all the hardships he endured after recognizing how they prepared him for his future. We can lose all our self-righteousness and self-worth in a short hurry when we face trials and realize that in those times, only God can make a difference.

Not all trials are punishment of God, but some are. Our miseries can be an act of God to correct us when we do wrong. A proper punishment will change wrong behavior and quickly.

When God’s people were doing wrong, God sent enemies, bondage, plagues, and other deterrents to change their mindset. Parents sometimes have to punish their child for wrong behavior; our heavenly Father sometimes needs to do so also.

Not too many people get excited when terrible things happen to them, but if you have not already learned, there is much to be learned from the “bad times.” Not one spiritual, close-to-God Christian got that way without going through a lot of heartache. Sometimes the most spiritual have gone through the most. Hard times can have a positive effect on us if we learn our lesson properly.

A Shelter in The Time of Storm
A Hymn by Vernon Charlesworth

The Lord’s our rock, in Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Refrain:
Oh, Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Refrain:

The raging storms may round us beat.
A shelter in the time of storm
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Refrain:

O rock divine, O refuge dear,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our helper ever near,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Refrain:

The BIBLE VIEW #1022 —Anger

In This Issue:
Get It Right Before Bedtime
When Anger Is Sinful
Uncontrolled Anger
When Humor Helped Keep His Shirt On
Yielding Personal “Rights”
Unhappy and Last Place

Volume: 1022 October 20, 2025
Theme: Anger

Get It Right Before Bedtime
Bill Brinkworth

Part of man’s makeup includes the “anger” emotion. Perhaps, because we are made in the image of our Creator, we received this reaction in certain situations from God.

Reading the Scriptures, one will quickly see some instances where God was angry. There were times when God was angry with Moses (Ex. 4:14), Aaron (Deut. 9:20), Israel (Deut. 9:8, II Kings 17:18), Solomon (I Kings 11:9), and the wicked on a daily basis (Psalms 7:11).

God’s only son, Jesus, also got angry at times. He was angered by hardened hearts (Mark 3:5). Most likely, Jesus was angered when He saw people making the Temple, a place of worship, into a place of commerce (John 2:14-15).

However, when God and Jesus became angry, no sin was involved. God is Holy (Lev. 19:2, I Sam. 2:2) and does not sin, nor does His Son (Heb. 4:15). Anger does not necessarily need to be sinful.

There are still things that make God angry, and I am sure they still break Jesus’ heart. We encounter plenty in this life that should make a Christian angry.

The killing of 4,000 innocent babies a day by abortion should make a Christian angry. The world’s brainwashing attempt to get people to accept and tolerate sin should get a believer mad.

Punishing righteousness and godly living should make one displeased. Christians live in a world where many things are done contrary to what the Bible teaches we should do, and they should get upset over that. We should love the sinner, but sin should make us angry.

Sometimes people’s reactions to things, which may not necessarily be a sin, can get them mad. Regardless of what upsets us, we must be cautious, as anger can lead to sin. A Christian must always be wary of getting involved in iniquity. One must avoid anything that may, at one point, lead one to do wrong.

For this reason, God has given us a blow-off valve so the pressures from our anger do not evolve into sin. God’s warning is that no matter what gets you angry, make sure you get it right before the day is over. Before the sun goes down and before you put your head on your pillow, make sure you deal with your anger.

If you find yourself angry with your wife, family member, coworker, or anyone else, make sure to address it before the end of the day. That means someone may have to surrender their pride and discuss the day’s provocation with their spouse before bedtime.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Ephesians 4:26

A child may need to be apologized to because a parent’s temper got the better of them during a discipline situation. Perhaps a phone call is necessary to re-establish a good relationship with an employee or neighbor. If we want to end the possible consequences of improper handling of anger, it should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Failing to address anger promptly often results in hostilities and feelings being bottled up. When one wakes up the next day, those emotions are strengthened and hardened in one’s mind. The longer they remain undealt with, the harder they will ever be to reconcile.

Unreconciled feelings often lead to hardened, unpliable hearts. A hardened heart leads to bitterness. Before long, one may develop a bitter spirit towards an individual or even a group of people, all because anger was never addressed and instead it festered and grew.

Often, the person may not even realize what has happened to him. Anger and bitterness can fester in a relationship all because one let a day go by without humbling oneself and getting a problem resolved before the sun went down.

Perhaps, many suns have set on your anger. The resulting bitterness has robbed you of the joy you once had.

Every time you see a certain person or hear his name, the old, unforgiven memories churn up, and you find yourself facing the same anger. It would have been much easier to remedy those feelings on the day it happened, but it is never too late to get your angry feelings right with another.

Yes, it may be the other person who did something terribly wrong. However, your anger has robbed you of your joy, and that sin may have kept you from having a closer walk and relationship with the Lord. Get hostilities and anger right today, before the sun goes down.

“A man that does not know how to be shaken to his heart’s core with indignation over things evil is either a fungus or a wicked man” — Beecher

When Anger Is Sinful
J. Beaumont, 1871

Anger is sin:

When we are angry with the providence of God.
When we are angry with the laws of God.
When we are angry at the doctrines taught in the Word of God.
When we are angry at the good we see in others.
When we are angry with those who differ from us in religious sentiments.
When we are angry at reproof.
When we wish evil upon our reprover.
When we use unlawful means to avenge ourselves.

“To be angry is often to revenge the fault of others upon ourselves.” — Antinomy

Uncontrolled Anger
Oliver B. Greene

Alexander the Great was one of the few men in history who truly deserved his descriptive title. He was energetic, versatile, and intelligent. Although hatred was not generally part of his nature, several times in his life, he was tragically defeated by anger.

The story is told of one of these occasions, when a dear friend of Alexander, a general in his army, became intoxicated and began to ridicule the emperor in front of his men. Blinded by anger and quick as lightning, Alexander snatched a spear from the hand of a soldier and hurled it at his friend. Although he had only intended to scare the drunken general, his aim was accurate, and the spear took the life of his childhood friend.

Deep remorse followed his anger. He was overcome with guilt, Alexander attempted to take his own life with the same spear, but he was stopped by his men. For days, he lay sick, calling for his friend and chiding himself as a murderer.

Alexander the Great conquered many cities and countries, but he had failed miserably to control his own spirit.

When Humor Helped Keep His Shirt On
Author Unknown

In early 1952, President Truman appointed Newbold Morris to investigate crime and its management in high government circles. Later that year, Morris was in the witness chair answering a barrage of pointed questions from the Senate subcommittee regarding the sale of some ships by his New York company.

The investigation was becoming hot and fierce. Morris’ face took on a look of pain, then of surprise, and then of anger. Amidst the excitement, he shouted as he reached into his coat and produced a sheet of white paper.

“Wait a minute. I have a note here from my wife. It says, ‘Keep your shirt on.’”

Everybody laughed, and the angry excitement died down, at least temporarily.

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Yielding Personal “Rights”
Author Unknown

The public library had a system called “Dial-A-Tale.” Anytime a young child wanted to hear a fairy tale, they could call the number, and a voice would read a short fairy tale to the listening young ear. However, the number was only one digit different than Rev. Tom Erickson’s number.

Because the small fingers often made mistakes, Tom received frequent calls from a child wanting to hear a fairy tale.

After several unsuccessful attempts to explain a wrong number to the small child, Tom felt he had only one alternative. He obtained a copy of Three Little Pigs, and set it by the phone. Whenever a child called, he simply read him the tale. A beautiful illustration of yielding personal rights and avoiding anger.

He didn’t, as you might have thought, change his telephone number to avoid the “invasion of his privacy”, as some might have done.

“Anyone can become angry. That is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, and in the right way — that is not easy.” — Antinomy

Unhappy and Last Place
Author Unknown

A Do-it-yourself catalog firm received the following letter from one of its customers: “I built a birdhouse according to your stupid plans, and not only is it much too big, but it keeps blowing out of the tree. Signed, Unhappy.”

The firm replied: “Dear Unhappy, We’re sorry about the mix-up. We accidentally sent you a sailboat blueprint. But if you think you are unhappy, you should read the letter from the guy who came in last in the yacht club regatta.”

The BIBLE VIEW #1021 — Being A Christian

In This Issue:
When the Holy Spirit Whispers to Your Heart
What We Do Have
Paul’s Good Advice
“Insiders” Can Do More Damage

Volume: 1021 October 13, 2025
Theme: Being a Christian

When the Holy Spirit Whispers to Your Heart
Bill Brinkworth

Paul had corrected the carnal Corinthian church in his writings to them. He got no joy out of rebuking them for their sin and weaknesses (II Corinthians 7:8), however, he rejoiced over the results of his correcting them.

The Corinthians weighed his remarks about their sin, found the accusations were correct, saw that it was wrong in God’s eyes, were sorrowful over their iniquities, and corrected their behavior (II Cor. 7:8-9). Paul’s verbal stand against their wrongdoing helped them repent of their error.

That is usually the intent of every preacher who preaches behind the pulpit. They labor over the portion of the Scriptures God had laid on their heart to preach and deliver a message. Many times, the preacher would rather not say what he has to say. He knows very well how some will react.

The preacher has a duty, however (II Cor. 7:12). That duty is to deliver the truth, no matter how hard some may take it. As did Paul, the preacher is to put the spotlight on spiritual problems in our lives. Once we see the error, it is up to us to correct the wrongdoing.

Some hear the message pounded from the pulpit and do as the Corinthians did. They listen to it, and most likely do not like what they hear. Then they realize that it was not the preacher who was rebuking them, but God’s Word.

When the seriousness of the matter is realized, they become “sorrowful” over the matter. They become so sad about what they had done that they committed themselves not to do it again. The Holy Spirit’s work through the preacher’s sermon has done what it was intended to do!

However, many react differently to the sermon. Instead of getting their sin or spiritual weakness corrected, they get mad at the deliverer of the Good News.

It is not unusual for some to storm out of the church, never to return, blaming the preacher for, “He was personally attacking me, and embarrassing me before the whole church!” Quite often, the preacher has no idea that his words hit the mark the Holy Spirit was aiming at or to whom it applied.

Others react badly by discrediting the Spirit’s tugging at their heart by saying, “The preacher doesn’t know what he is talking about,” “That Scripture was for another time, and doesn’t apply today,” “I don’t agree with what he said”, and on and on the excuses flow. The truth is that the Holy Spirit spoke to their heart, and they refused to obey what He was convicting them of doing.

Preaching is often the medium God chooses to speak to hearts. However, God speaks to our hearts, it is up to us to heed the warning and turn from our rebuked ways.

Have you heard His commands? Did you get glad and repent, or did you get mad and not correct what He desired you to change?

“When God’s Word convicts you of sin, don’t shoot the messenger; heed the message!”

What We Do Have
Bill Brinkworth

From time to time, one hears a complaining Christian murmur, “I am a Christian. I can’t do this or that.” They sound like they do not enjoy being a Christian. They forget who they are and what they have.

Romans 8 reminds us of some of the many advantages of being a Christian. When we are saved, the blessings include:

We are not condemned for the many sins we commit.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

Matthew Henry wrote, “Paul does not say, ‘There is no accusation against them,’ for this there is; but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does not say, ‘There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,’ for this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin. He does not say, ‘There is no cross, no affliction to them or no displeasure in the affliction,’ for this there may be, but no condemnation.” We are protected from the law’s judgment on our sins because of Christ.

We have the opportunity to be led by the indwelling Spirit of God. We do not have to follow the flesh that only wants to do what feels right to it, and leads us to commit damaging sin. We can follow God’s perfect, safe guidance (Rom. 8:5).
Because we can follow the Spirit of God, we can please God (Rom. 8:8). Before the Spirit guided us, we did not please Him.
We are “sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Praise the Lord! We are family members!
We are adopted into God’s family when we are saved (Rom. 8:15). He is our “Abba”, our Father. There is no greater honor than to be able to call the Creator of everything “Father.” We can, once we are saved!
We are no longer bound by sin; we are freed from its control (Rom. 8:15-16).
The indwelling Spirit lets us know that we are different; we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16).
When we love God, we know that all that happens to us can turn out for our good and God’s glory (Rom. 8:28). There is no need to be afraid, because God is for us (Rom. 8:31).
No person or circumstance can separate us from our loving God (Rom. 8:35-39).

So, praise the Lord! If you are saved, you are on the winning side. You have much for which to be thankful.

“If you live for God, you might miss some things: drunkenness, AIDS, divorce,
jail, etc.” — Barbara Brinkworth

Paul’s Good Advice
Bill Brinkworth

In Paul’s concluding remarks to the Galatians (Galatians 6), he left them with some good advice. His counsel included:

If someone has a weakness, and you truly are spiritual, help them with their problem. That advice is contrary to what so many do when one is having difficulties (Gal. 6:1). Too many talk about the dilemma of those who are hurting, ridicule them, and “kick them” when they are down.
Take others’ hardships to your own heart. Bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2), as if they were your very own.
No matter how successful you think you are, do not fool yourself into thinking you are better than you really are (Gal. 6:3).
Hardships and trials are difficult and exhausting, but when you persevere through them, you will feel better about yourself (Gal. 6:4, 5). Too many try to keep others from learning a valuable life lesson by making it easier for them. Those people never experience the joy of overcoming the difficulty. Often, facing a problem alone can lead a person to draw closer to and become more reliant on God.
Never forget or be fooled, one always reaps what one sows! If one plants a crop of sin, he will reap the harvest of some really rotten “fruit” (Gal. 6:7, 8)!
Do not quit doing right! You may feel that there is no reward in doing so, or that no one may ever give you the credit for doing right, but God promises that, in time, you will reap the blessings of a good “crop” (Gal. 6:9)!
Be a blessing to others, especially other Christians (Gal. 6:10)!

Those seven bits of advice will make one’s life more rewarding and limit many unnecessary bad consequences that many face. Paul’s wisdom, if followed, would result in fewer selfish people and many more others-oriented, content, and fulfilled Christians.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58

“Insiders” Can Do More Damage
Author Unknown

We who have believed can hurt Christ more than those who have not. Enemies within the fort are more dangerous than enemies without.

God’s worst enemies when He sought the world through His Son were not the unbelieving Romans, but the Jews who believed in God and had worshipped Him for centuries.

What a responsibility this truth puts upon those who bear Christ’s name. For the damage is just as severe from unintentional disloyalty as from open enmity. Every lowering of our standard is a worse stab at our best Friend and Saviour than can be dealt by scoffers or unbelievers.