As Gold must be proven, so too, must one's FAITH.
Brethren,
Do you know anyone who often complains about adversity?
Yes? No?"
Well, surely we all know, that LIFE," in and of itself, is difficul for everyone?" Yes, LIFE is difficult for absolutely everyone!"
But for the Believer," I Believe that it's the most difficult of all!"
Why do I Believe this?"
Well, because of what is written in 1st Peter 1:3-9
Consider what GOD had written:
Blessed be The GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who according to HIS abundant MERCY has begotten us again to a living HOPE through the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in HEAVEN for you, who are kept by the POWER of GOD through FAITH for SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time.
[And now doesn't this next statement, describe each of us?"] :
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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 Revalation of JESUS CHRIST, Whom having not seen you LOVE.
[Brethren,
Doesn't that speak of each of us," even though, we haven't physically seen HIM, we LOVE?]
Though now you do not see HIM, yet Believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of GLORY, recieving the end of your FAITH - the SALVATION of your Soul's.
Brethren,
The SALVATION of our Souls, consists, in our Trusting The WORD," of The LIVING GOD.
For our LORD has made it abundantly clear, that if gold, being perishable, must go through the fire to be "proven genuine."
How much more shall our FAITH, which is much more" precious than gold that perishes?"
How much more, Beloved Brethren, is it precious to GOD, that we embrace HIS WORD, through FAITH, Believing what is "written"?
And so each of us, who say to Believe." Will each be thoroughly tested!" Even as the apostles were all tested, and had a thouroughly trying time when it came to the testing of their FAITH." They all faced adversity, and all suffered because of there allegiance to JESUS CHRIST. They all faced many trials, but they were all strengthed in their FAITH through the trials.
So our trials, Beloved, are to bring about the development of the good work that Philippians 1:6 assures us of, when GOD'S WORD, affirms: Being confident of this very thing, that HE Who begun a good work in you will complete it until the Day of JESUS CHRIST.
[With that said, Beloved,
Consider James 1:2-8 and how after Believing GOD, even in our trials, we ought to count it all joy.
It reads like this: My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your FAITH produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
[Yes, lacking absolutely nothing!"
Primarily, the wisdom to be obedient too GOD.]
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of GOD, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in FAITH, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will recieve anything from The LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Brethren,
None of the disciples that have gone before us, had it easy, when it came to the time of trial.
So we have no reason to believe that GOD will deal with us any different." We will all be tested, and hopefully, all be found "genuine" in our FAITH." Yes, genuine," Believing GOD, and willing to do the will of HIM, Who assures us in Mathew 18:3, saying:
Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter The KINGDOM Of HEAVEN.
And what does a child know to do, 🤔 but to obey The WORD and instruction of HIM, Who in our mothers womb, formed me and you?
We each will be tested, Beloved, and we will be established in The TRUTH."
We will be established on The ROCK." Established on The ROCK?
Yes, established in CHRIST, Who is The ROCK!"
For HE assured us of The ROCK," when HE spoke of the wise building a house that will endure the storms of LIFE. Yes, "Storms that simply signify the trials we will all face."
Consider how Mathew 7:24-27 reveals it, by saying:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of MINE, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on The ROCK: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on The ROCK.
"But everyone who hears these sayings of MINE, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Brethren,
When the people of Israel were first given freedom from the Egyptians, after hundreds of years of slavery. After many years of waiting for a Deliverer,"
"The Day finally came when Moses," their Deliverer, instructed them to take off for the land that GOD had Promised them." And all of them, greatly desiring to be free, took off for the land of "milk and honey."
The land that GOD had promised Abraham!"
But there's a twist for all people, in this story. Yes, for all peoples, and not only for those who came out of Egypt. And that twist, is that GOD will refuse to approve of anyone who despises HIS WORD, and prefers to behave as if they were still slaves in Egypt. People who still bow down to other gods!"
So consider this,
GOD, aiming to root out the disobedient, even though HE could've, HE didn’t lead them straight home to the "Promised Land." HE “didn’t lead them on the road through the Philistine country, even though, that was a much shorter distance.”
A much shorter distance!"
With a good purpose in MIND,
The WORD of The LIVING GOD sent them on the long hard road through the desert where provisions were scarce." Given the circumstances, the Israelites had to rely on GOD for absolutely everything!" Yes, absolutely everything!"
They had to learn that they were not independent, but totally dependant on HIM Who gave them LIFE with HIS WORD." Yes, and that they were to totally be "Dependant on The WORD" of The LIVING GOD."
Even as we are to be Dependant on JESUS CHRIST, "The WORD" of The LIVING GOD.
And so HE says in Isaiah 55:8-9
"For MY THOUGHTS are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways MY WAYS, says The LORD.
"For as the Heavens are higher than the earth,
So are MY Ways higher than your ways, And MY THOUGHTS than your thoughts.
Brethren,
The LORD brought out of slavery, a people who pleaded for freedom."
And after bringing us out, The LORD uses this time in the desert where provisions are scarce, to instruct, mature, and "prove" us. Yes, to test us who have been called to follow HIM." To prove us?" And to Test us!"
"To see if we Believe HIM." For if we Believe HIM," we will rejoice in doing HIS will.
Brethren,
The tough and difficult road, that The LORD took the people of Israel down, was to test their loyalty and obedience to HIS WORD."
For if HE would've allowed them down to travel the path of pleasure and rebellion, and allowed them to traverse the road of disobedience.
It would've led them to certain disaster!" For Romans 6:23 assures us, that the wages of sin is death!"
The long road on the other hand," prepared the people for their entry into the "Promised Land."
Enter into "Jericho."
And later in Israel's history,
King David, would Israel's capital, JERUSALEM!"
"Yes, JERUSALEM."
Israel's Eternal Capital!"
Amd JERUSALEM is the center focus of our "end time" events. For in the latter days, the nation’s of the world, The LORD, through Zechariah 12:3-4 tells us, will be gathered around JERUSALEM.
But why will they be gathered around her? Seeking to divide her, and seperate GOD'S Land."
Consider how it reads: And it shall happen that in that day, I will make JERUSALEM a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away shall be cut into pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.
In that Day," says The LORD, I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open MY EYES on the hills of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
Brethren,
The HOLY SCRIPTURES clearly tell us that the nation's of the world will be gathered against JERUSALEM," seeking to divide GOD'S Land!"
And from what I've gathered,
the Biden administration is aiming to accomplish dividing east JERUSALEM, from West JERUSALEM, currently.
They aim to give the east part to the Palestinians.
Right!" Our current administration, is bringing evil upon our nation, because of its policy, of giving half of JERUSALEM, to the Palestinians.
So I ask you, Brethren,
can you feel a storm brewing? Can you now see what GOD is doing?"
And can we listen closely to HIM, Who speaks these WORDS from John 15:15-17?
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his MASTER is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from MY FATHER I have made known to you. You did not choose ME, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask The FATHER in MY NAME
HE may give you. These things I have commanded you, that you LOVE one another.
Brethren,
Can you see that our REDEMPTION is drawing near?" And can you see, that we're almost out of here?"
Beloved, our GOD is FAITHFUL, and has not given us a SPIRIT of fear, but of Power and of LOVE," and of a sound mind."
HE has called us to LOVE one another, and to be kind."
And not to live our lives as those who will get left behind!"
For even though we know that LIFE has been difficult for us, and our testing has been rough. "We know that we have been called to fight the good fight,"
Knowing even now, that
"We are more than conquerors," through CHRIST Who LOVED us, and laid down HIS LIFE" for our SALVATION!"
AMEN?"
JESUS.
OK?