The Testing Of Our Faith.
(NKJV) Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope... of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
As Christians, we face many trials and temptations in life that we don't always understand. The Christian life is not an easy one for a person who truly is walking the walk. Many people ask, "why do good people suffer"? Romans 5 states that the tribulations that we face in life produces perseverance and perseverance produces character, as well as hope. In many ways this life is like a military boot camp, our character is developed through the hard knocks of life. We can allow hardships to create bitterness or we can learn patience and learn to trust in the Lord.
(NKJV) 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 1:6,7 says that the various trials that we face is for the testing and refining of our faith. Our faith is more precious than gold and it will be tested with fire. What fires in life tests your faith? The death of a loved one or loosing a job or dealing with an illness are among the many trials that we face. I have known people that became very hard and bitter because of their hard knocks in life. They allowed bitterness to become hatred and were filled with jealousy and every other form of bad fruit. But I have also known people with terminal illnesses that turned to Christ and were overflowing with love, compassion, kindness and good works. The choice is ours how we deal with hardships. As Christians, we are called to bear good fruit and to let our light shine before men so that they will glorify our Father in Heaven.
(NKJV) 2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-11 Says that we are to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These fruits of the Spirit should be evident within the life of the believers. If God's Spirit truly dwells within us then his attributes should be present within our lives. Christ said that any tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast in the fire. The testing of our faith should lead to a lifestyle that brings honor to God.
(NKJV) James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
It can be very hard to count all of our trials as joy, but when we have an eternal perspective in regard to this temprol life it all comes into focus. God is a loving Father who wants what is best for his children. He doesn't want to spoil us with materialism, position or power which corrupts, but he wants to produce righteousness which leads to eternal life.
(NKJV) James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
We truly are blessed when we endure temptation and we overcome it by the power of God's Spirit living within. God's Word is clear that no one is tempted by God, each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and is enticed and gives birth to sin. The wages of sin is death but by the power of the Holy Spirit we can crucify our flesh (sinful nature) and live lives pleasing to God bringing him honor. But we must stand strong against the schemes of the devil.
(NKJV) Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Finally, in order to stand strong for our Lord in this fallen world we must be fully clothed with the armor of the Lord. Having our waist girded with truth and wearing the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace and above all having the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Wearing the helmet of salvation and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, when the enemy comes against me I fight him by quoting scriptures with faith. God's Word is alive and it is powerful. It truly is sharper than any two edged sword. I encourage all of you to lift that shield of faith against all of the trials in your life. Replace your anxiety and fears with faith, because we serve a big God who is happy to take our cares from us. Let your faith overcome illness, hardship, despair and all of the attacks from the evil one. God Bless!!
(NKJV) Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope... of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
As Christians, we face many trials and temptations in life that we don't always understand. The Christian life is not an easy one for a person who truly is walking the walk. Many people ask, "why do good people suffer"? Romans 5 states that the tribulations that we face in life produces perseverance and perseverance produces character, as well as hope. In many ways this life is like a military boot camp, our character is developed through the hard knocks of life. We can allow hardships to create bitterness or we can learn patience and learn to trust in the Lord.
(NKJV) 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 1:6,7 says that the various trials that we face is for the testing and refining of our faith. Our faith is more precious than gold and it will be tested with fire. What fires in life tests your faith? The death of a loved one or loosing a job or dealing with an illness are among the many trials that we face. I have known people that became very hard and bitter because of their hard knocks in life. They allowed bitterness to become hatred and were filled with jealousy and every other form of bad fruit. But I have also known people with terminal illnesses that turned to Christ and were overflowing with love, compassion, kindness and good works. The choice is ours how we deal with hardships. As Christians, we are called to bear good fruit and to let our light shine before men so that they will glorify our Father in Heaven.
(NKJV) 2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-11 Says that we are to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These fruits of the Spirit should be evident within the life of the believers. If God's Spirit truly dwells within us then his attributes should be present within our lives. Christ said that any tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast in the fire. The testing of our faith should lead to a lifestyle that brings honor to God.
(NKJV) James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
It can be very hard to count all of our trials as joy, but when we have an eternal perspective in regard to this temprol life it all comes into focus. God is a loving Father who wants what is best for his children. He doesn't want to spoil us with materialism, position or power which corrupts, but he wants to produce righteousness which leads to eternal life.
(NKJV) James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
We truly are blessed when we endure temptation and we overcome it by the power of God's Spirit living within. God's Word is clear that no one is tempted by God, each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and is enticed and gives birth to sin. The wages of sin is death but by the power of the Holy Spirit we can crucify our flesh (sinful nature) and live lives pleasing to God bringing him honor. But we must stand strong against the schemes of the devil.
(NKJV) Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Finally, in order to stand strong for our Lord in this fallen world we must be fully clothed with the armor of the Lord. Having our waist girded with truth and wearing the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace and above all having the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Wearing the helmet of salvation and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, when the enemy comes against me I fight him by quoting scriptures with faith. God's Word is alive and it is powerful. It truly is sharper than any two edged sword. I encourage all of you to lift that shield of faith against all of the trials in your life. Replace your anxiety and fears with faith, because we serve a big God who is happy to take our cares from us. Let your faith overcome illness, hardship, despair and all of the attacks from the evil one. God Bless!!
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