"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Ephesians 3:20

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) ". . . We Also Exult In Our Tribulations ..." (Romans 5:3) One early spring day I met an old farmer. It had been a rainy spring, and I commented about how good it must be for the crops to have so much rain early in the season. He replied, "NO, if the weather is too easy on the crops now, the plants may only grow roots on the surface. If that happens, then a storm could easily destroy the crops. However, if things are not so easy in the beginning, then the plants will have to grow the strong and deep roots they need to get at the water and nourishment down below. If a storm or drought comes, they are more likely to survive." Now I look at rough times as an opportunity to put down some roots to help me weather future storms that may come my way. by Jerry Stemkoski in Readers Digest April 1992 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Jesus has overcome the world but He said we would have tribulation. He would give us peace in the midst of the tribulation. Our rest comes not from the peace that is around us but it comes from the peace from within that Jesus gives. "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness." (Malachi 3:2,3) God will refine us for His purposes. James 1:2-4 is one of the best known verses on this, subject. It is like the beatitudes. It says the opposite of what we would think is normal. Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials. We would usually act the opposite. We think that trials are something to avoid. God's ways are different than ours. Trials bring us to a deeper trust in God. Trials burn out the dross in our life. As faith is tested we gain endurance. A long distance runner needs endurance to run the race that he is competing in. Trials are the things that we go through to give us strength in our faith. How many people are able to trust God to meet their needs if they never go through a problem financially? It usually takes a problem for us to turn to God. "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." (Hebrews 10:36) "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) A crown signifies authority, and the crown of life signifies authority as well as salvation. Romans 5:17 says that we will reign in life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our ability to reign is tied up in our ability to endure and remain faithful to Jesus. John 15:16 speaks of this. God has chosen us that we should go and bear fruit and that our fruit should remain (endurance). Then after our fruit has been out there for awhile God will start answering our prayers. Our authority to rule in prayer comes from endurance under trial. "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." (Hebrews 10:36) This verse shows that endurance is a prerequisite to receiving from God. In James 1:5 it says that we are to ask in faith without doubting. If there was no endurance involved with faith then why would we need faith? Faith is the assurance of things hoped for hoped for the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) So endurance is the working out of faith. It is the step by step process of believing. Trying to endure will of course wear us down to the point of giving up. This is one reason that faith without love is nothing. (1 Corinthians 13) Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6) It is love that gives faith its effectiveness. When we endure we walk out our faith in love; we then acquire an ability to rule and reign spiritually on earth. Matthew 6:10 says God's will, will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. The Lord's prayer wasn't put in a vacuum; it is in the context of the sermon on the Mount. This sermon shows that the love, faith and endurance mix will bring Matthew 6:10 to life as God gives the crown of life to rule. This ruling is not something that we get to do on our own fancy, it is as Jesus lived on the earth, by delegated authority. (John 5:19) "And not only this but we also exult in our in our tribulations ..." (Romans 5:3-5) Praise is a statement of faith and trust in God. It allows us to get our minds off our problems and look to Christ. Praise also is a statement that we know that God is at work in the situation. Verse 5 says at the end that it is the Holy Spirit that pours out love. It is this love that allows us to offer praise and worship. "Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No solider in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:3,4) If we decide to follow Jesus personal problems may arise. We may not get enough sleep and there might be a squeeze on the check book. Criticism may come from preaching the gospel, but if we aren't tied down we can serve God. "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight." (Luke 12:35) Matthew 6:33 says that if we seek the kingdom of God first He will provide our needs. It also says in Psalms 37:25 that David never saw the righteous forsaken. We should make serving God our aim. God has called us to serve Him. (Ephesians 2:10) God has called us to good works that He created before hand that we should walk in them. Jeremiah asks God why the wicked prosper. God explains that the righteousness people must learn to endure hardship so that they can serve Him in battle in tougher times in the future. "If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If ( you fall down in the land of peace, then how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?" (Jeremiah 12:5) Why is it that God didn't lead the Israelites to conquer all of the enemy in the promised land? God did not want the Israelites to live without knowing how to fight. (Judges 3:2,3) Why isn't Satan defeated today? Why aren't all people saved? I don't know the answer to all these questions but Scripture shows us that God wants us to learn how to fight and overcome the enemy. God wants us to know how to be overcomers and to rule in faith and to rule in faith and love on the earth today. Gensis 22 Why do you think that God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice? It was to test his faith, and he passed with flying colors. God knows everything, why did He test Abraham? To strengthen Abraham's faith. He was justified by works (James 2:21-23). The test itself produced a stronger faith. No doubt Abraham was at war within himself about God. God's provision to Abraham's obedience, strengthened and confirmed Abraham. "... My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him." (Hebrews 12:5) We should always consider that the discipline of the Lord is for our good. But the problem is do we submit to something that we can get out of or do we go through it willingly? God showed Jeremiah a parable of two baskets of figs. (Jeremiah 24) One basket was good to eat and the other was very rotten. They were both set before the temple of the Lord. The good figs represented the Isralites that had obeyed the Lord and went into captivity and the rotten figs represented the Isralites that disobeyed the Lord and had stayed in Judah or went down to Egypt. The good figs that were set before the temple were useful to God because they were eatable. To obey God and accept His discipline, allows us to useful to Him. Ask yourself this: Is God telling me to go through this? Be careful not to rationalize away the leading of the Lord. 2 Corinthinas 12:9 shows that God gives strength to the weak. In fact Paul preached to the Galatians not in spite of his weakness but BECAUSE OF HIS WEAKNESS. (Galatians 4:13) By the natural eye one might say that Paul took the bull by the horns. What really happened was that he was moved by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:8) Trials are an opportunity if we will allow them to be. Instead of fighting the trial use it for His kinkdom. But seek ye first ,the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33) is to yoke up with Jesus (Matt. 11:28) and pull with Him. - - -Scott McCrae Home | Back to Top

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