MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS (trials); KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKS PATIENCE, BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT (complete) WANTING (lacking) NOTHING. James, Chapter 1, Verses 2-3.
If there is one thing in this World we can be assured of it is that everyone, no matter who they may be, will go through trials and some sort of tribulation. As Christians our faith will be tested. God is trying to teach us how to LIVE by FAITH. Living by faith for the Christian is not an option, it is a necessity if we are going to “fight the good fight of faith” and dwell in the Promised Land (promises of God).
There are many obstacles which stand in the way of our Promised Land. Doubt, fear and unbelief are a few of them. BELIEVING and RECEIVING the promises of God are the two vehicles which will take us to our destination. PATIENCE is the bridge between believing and receiving. THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE WE INHERIT THE PROMISES OF GOD. Hebrews, Chapter 6, Verse 12.
Like the Children of Israel, at times we all have a personal RED SEA of our own we must cross. With the enemy (Satan) closing in at our backs and a seemingly impassable sea before us, our future sometimes may look bleak. During perilous circumstances we must lift our eyes to Heaven to find a way of escape. God is always an ever present help in the time of need; an ever present port in the time of a storm. We must always keep our hearts and minds STAYED upon Christ. He is our only hope when overwhelming odds threaten to drive us into the sea.
God led the Children of Israel through the Wilderness to instill a sense of TRUST and FAITH in them. He rolled the waters of the Red Sea back, and the Children of Israel were delivered from their former taskmasters. They crossed the Red Sea on dry land into the Wilderness on the other side of the Red Sea. God performed miracle after miracle in their presence, and yet they still PROVOKED God by their lack of faith and their murmuring and complaining.
God, their Teacher, was very patient with the Children of Israel. He knew it would take more than just a few days to whip this rebellious rabble into a mighty force who would be able to contend with all the enemies they would face in the future. Unfortunately, most of the Children of Israel FAILED the test and never learned the lessons God was trying to teach them.
God, our Teacher, does not want us to FAIL as we sojourn in this Wilderness we call the World. He is very patient when it comes to teaching His Children to walk by faith and trust in Him. His desire for His children to prosper spiritually is greater than ours. He even provided a way of escape from every Red Sea circumstance we would face 2000 years ago when Jesus shed His Blood for us at Calvary.
God was patient with the Children of Israel and did not punish them for their lack of faith, for their incessant murmuring and complaining in the beginning of their journey through the Wilderness. However, when they came to Mount Sinai and gave all the credit for their provision and deliverance to the Egyptian gods, God was very displeased with them. The Children of Israel were a stiff-necked (self-willed) and obstinate people who did not gain entrance to the PROMISED LAND due to their disobedience. The majority of them died in the Wilderness before they reached the Promised Land.
As Christians, we should be happy and encouraged knowing that God is patient and will not leave us in the Wilderness without teaching us how to serve Him faithfully. Although we fail from time to time, our Lord is always faithful to pick us up when we fall.
Trials in and of themselves may not produce spiritual maturity and faith in us, but they certainly can help us to lean on and trust God more through patience. The goal of patience, more than anything else, is to establish us in holiness through total dependence on God for the things which are impossible for us. We must have faith that God will PART THE RED SEA on our behalf when there seems to be no way of escape from the trials of life. God always makes a way of escape for those who put their faith and trust in Him. We conquer doubt, fear and unbelief by putting all our faith and trust in God and His promises.
MORE THAN CONQUERORS
WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION, OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION, OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD? AS IT IS WRITTEN, FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US. Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 35-37.
It is a natural reaction to want to avoid and be free from trials and tribulations. However, trials are designed to strengthen our faith and resolve to serve God. If we never face trial sand temptations, our faith in God would not grow and flourish. Trials strengthen our faith. We become more than conquerors IN the trials if we faithfully endure through patience.
Leaning on God and His faithfulness, we will find the faithfulness of His promises. He promised that we would not be tempted or tested by any more than we would be able to bear. God promised He would never leave us or forsake us. He PROMISED to be with us as we learn to endure any test and trials which may come our way. We cannot become more than conquerors OVER things until we learn to become more than conquerors IN them.
BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 57.
We are able to become more than conquerors through the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Word of our Testimony. We know that all things work together for good for those who love Christ and are called according to His purpose. All of God’s children have been called according to His plan and purpose. However, we must seek out and find the plan and purpose of God for our life so we can experience all He has in store for us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God when we have made Christ our habitation. As we live and breathe in Christ, we become a Holy Nation; conquerors in life and in death. The victory comes from our faith in Christ. He gives us that VICTORY because of His unfailing love for us.
Many people believe IN God, but they do not BELIEVE God. That is to say they do not believe the Promises of God, or that He is faithful enough to deliver His promises. Sometimes this is a result of our lack of faith. Sometimes it is a result of one’s lack of patience. Sometimes it is a result of a lack of faith and patience. Whatever the case they cannot expect to receive anything from God. These and several other variables can enter into the equation.
If we find ourselves lacking in faith, we must ask ourselves these questions, “Is my lifestyle pleasing to God?” “Am I seeking Christ and spending time with Him every day?” “Have I made Christ the main focus of my life?” “Do I have any unresolved sin issues in my life?” “Am I supporting the work of God by giving God tithes and offerings?” “Do I possess patience?” You are the only one who can answer these questions. You are the only one who can make the quality decision to believe and trust God during times of trouble, and wait patiently for His promises to be fulfilled. Only you can believe God to supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.
God wants us to know where we STAND in our WALK with Him. Why do we fail at times? Why are all these bad things happening to me? Why do the Heavens seem like brass when we pray? Why do I not seem to be progressing in God’s plan and purpose for my life? Why do I seem to always take one step forward and two steps back? We may have many problems, but God has all the answers to ALL our problems.
God desires for us to understand the reasons why we do not seem to be progressing in our walk with Him. Where we fit in the scheme of things is one of the most important questions we can ask. Changing the way we think about God and how we perceive Him will bring about any necessary changes we may need in our life.. How do we do that? We seek the Scriptures so we can know and understand the nature of Christ. The Divine Nature of Christ is what transforms us from Children of Darkness into Children of Light.
When we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him, along with all the answers to our questions. When we are filled with His Spirit, His Spirit will teach us all things. If we draw near to God He will draw near to us as we go before His Throne of Grace. In our time of need Christ not only knows the answer--He IS the answer. Above all, we must understand and TRUST in God’s love for us. If we are not trusting in His love, we are not trusting in God. GOD IS LOVE. We become more than conquerors when we trust in His LOVE