BrotherTom,
"How long did yours last-months/years/weeks???? Thks"
...learn.
I probably have had four or five "dark nights"..usually measured in a few months, to a year or so, w/over 40 years of Spirit filled life, and there is another aspect though, that has been much longer; a lifestyle of sorrow and rejection, that could be construed as the same, though it is not exactly.
I am in no way comparing myself to these saints; BUT...to a degree, and much lessor.
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
They..."Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.".............
Mocked, chained, imprisoned, whipped with the "cat of nine tails", stoned, slain with the blade, homeless and naked, afflicted and probably sick, and tormented by their persecutors....these were the Hunted church.
So, I would contend that everyone of them considered they were in the "Dark Night", wouldn't they? Hopelessness, sorrow and pain were their bedfellows, and don't forget that their were babies involved here, as their always is.
God uses the "Dark Night" to stretch us out and prove our love; and Persecution is simply the "BLOW TORCH" OF THAT FIREY TRIAL. It is a dark night, for sure....and I believe that everyone reading this, at least here in America, will wake up one day, and see Hebrews 11, rolling right down your street. [ I believe it to be Muslim/Socialist/Sharia but could be wrong..].
You see? It is the former that prepares us for the latter. If you cannot run with the footmen, where will you be when the horsemen come? Trampled; that's where. God sends the night, on an individual basis, so that we will learn to light our lamps, to see our way when the Winter Night comes, and it will and it is!
We learn to worship Him, and Trust in Him, as faithful Joseph, and Job did, no matter the circumstances; we endure, and trust.
TWO THINGS: NO COMPLAINING!
If we allow Complaining to pour out of our lips in the midst of our trial, our pain, we deeply offend God; it is a terrible sin against Him. I try to live this way; to be thankful for what I have, and never complain about what I do not have. This is an important Biblical Maxim, and by ignoring it, has cost the soul of many.
In my view, over the years, I have seen more people FALL AWAY than endure, and some because they just wanted more, and were tired of the dark-night, and fell over to the Love of the World, or money, or sex, or their pride in their own life.
"And when the people COMPLAINED, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp."
Complaining is saying to God; MORE! NOT ENOUGH! YOUR PROVISION STINKS! YOU ARE NOT ABLE! GIVE ME!...and if you keep it up, you will become bitter, and foul in His sight.
..."They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
Hating complaining is loving the truth, for God hates complaining, and endorses Thanks giving. The martyrs thanked God for Life, as they suffered and died!
NO BITTERNESS, AND A LIFE OF MERCY TOWARD BAD CIRCUMSTANCES, AND YOUR ENEMIES.
Most people who suffer loss, blame God, inwardly. Perhaps through the loss of a child, your finances, or a sickness or disease, that fell upon them or their loved ones. This can be very subtle, but soon apparent; you become bitter, and it lodges in your spirit, and becomes apparent. You then become a hateful, cursing, and complaining soul rather than a sweet one.
Remember Joseph, and his life. His brothers murdered him, by proxy, in the cruelest of ways, selling him to the demonic Sabean slave traders. He could have well ended uo in a salt mine somewhere, worked to death in a few short years.
Then the temptress, who lied about Joseph and accused him of attempted rape falsely? Was Joseph vengeful? No. and then jail, and then being passed over and betrayed....on and on. 23 years later, his brothers come around, in a Sovereign act of reunitement, and HOW does Joseph respond to his former attackers, who deprived him of EVERYTHING!...and wanted his life!
"I forgive you!...
"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
This must be our attitude in the dark night of trial; I forgive. Remember the very first Christian martyr.
....."And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
No Complaining or bitterness until we pass on; those are the rules. We become always thankful in our hearts, that we are saved, and alive, no matter the circumstances, no matter the cost. This is impossible for humans to accomplish, but as Paul heard;
"MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!"
