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Home > Trials of Faith

Kingdom Greetings again, Brethren  Last week we discussed about Trials of Faith as Tests of our Faith. It's needful to note that the word "faith" has a broad definition. The Christian Faith engulfs our belief, our walk and relationship with the LORD.
    In today's article we will look at the reasons why tribulations are integral parts of our walk with the LORD. Please follow up line by line!

    Trials of Faith as Tribulations


    James 1:2-4 NKJV
    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

    It is not advisable that we present Christianity as a bed of roses to unbelievers while trying to draw them into the Kingdom of God. Physical, Emotional and Spiritual pain has been and will always be an integral part of the Christian Faith.

    Even our LORD Jesus Christ endured much pain during His lifetime and ministry on Earth. He was persecuted, spat on, whipped, accused falsely and crucified!

    The disciples are not greater than the Master (Matthew 10:24). If our LORD and Master experienced tribulations while on Earth, the case can not be different with us. He in fact made it clear to us that we will experience tribulation and should expect it.

    John 16:33 KJV
    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

    First and foremost, true salvation transforms us into enemies of the kingdom of darkness. It automatically ushers us into the battle field; that alone kicks off tribulation for the Believer. No soldier would say that the battle field is bread and butter, so is Christianity.

    Any teaching which says that Christians are not supposed to experience any form of suffering is a false teaching. Any Christian who has not been through storms should question the genuineness of their salvation!

    The Purpose of our Tribulations


    The Father has good intentions in allowing His children experience tribulations. If He allowed the First Born to go through, He'll do same with us.

    Contrary to what some people assume, going through isn't a sign of bad luck or the consequences of sin in a Believer's life. The LORD in His infinite wisdom uses all that we go through to shape us into who He destined us to be. Tribulation has its way of equipping us for the assignment that has been entrusted to us.

    Besides, He is also in the course of perfecting His Church for His imminent return, and one of the ways He is doing that is through the sufferings every genuine Christian must experience.

    It is a refining process we must all go through. It is our cross. We must accept it with open heart, not forgetting that even the glorification of our LORD Jesus Christ Himself followed His tribulations on Earth.

    Hebrews 1:3 KJV
    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

    As Christians we will be suffer for doing right. The world loves what is wrong, we will come under fire for preaching the truth. We will experience suffering while attempting to put the flesh to death. Denying ourselves the fleeting pleasures of sin equals to suffering. Carrying our cross to follow the LORD on daily basis is not what the sinful self loves. These altogether brings us suffering.

    2 Corinthians 4:8-11 KJV
    We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; [10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

    Just as the Word says, the tribulations we experience today can not be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). If we suffer with Him we will also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).

    There is an eternal reward for the tribulations we experience on Earth as Christians and that is our glorification!

    2 Corinthians 4:16-17 KJV
    For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

    How We Should Respond to Tribulations


    At times the fire in the refiner's furnace gets very hot, we complain, yell out and feel like giving up. The LORD understands the frailty of our being, but that is not always the best way He expects us to respond.

    The manner in which Apostle Paul responded to all he went through always amazes me. Paul understood that all he was put through were altogether necessary for his perfection, and would cause the power of God to be more manifest through him. He counted it all joy and would at times even ask for more, wow!

    Philippians 3:10 KJV
    That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

    I once complained seriously to the LORD concerning all that I was going through. The answer that came was that "an olive must go through the press before it can produce olive oil."

    Olive oil is widely used as Anointing oil today and is the product of a fruit found on olive trees. The fruits, when mature, has to get passed through the olive press and crushed before they can produce olive oil. Oil represents the Anointing.

    Many Christians want to be carriers of His Anointing, Presence and Power. They desire to make impact. These things don't happen overnight. They should likewise be ready and willing to get crush through tribulations.

    Whenever I see someone whom God uses mightily, I begin to imagine all that they've been through to get there. Only those who don't understand choose to be envious instead. There's definitely no crown without a cross! Indeed all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28)!

    Tribulations Are But For a While


    Our God is gracious. He knows the limit of what we can go through and will never let us go through what we can not endure! There comes a time the LORD takes away most of the things we go through because they have accomplished their purpose in us and are no longer needed.

    During our going through we might think we lost a lot, but God is a mighty restorer. He has for us the better version of everything we might had lost and will restore them to us. He won't fail!

    1 Peter 5:10 KJV
    But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

    When God is ready to restore and settle us, we won't have pray for blessings, they'll come chasing after us because we've been through all that's required to have them!

    We must however look forward to the millennial reign of Christ when everything that causes suffering will be totally made an end to. The Earth is not our home.

    Final Words


    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

    Our tribulations are not sent to kill us. They will bring us into a closer walk with the LORD. It is true that good things don't come easy. To walk in greater Anointing, Deeper revelation and the fullness of God's promises and blessings we must be willing pay the price.

    If we keep our gaze on the LORD, we will always emerge victorious. The refiner's fire will transform and not kill us. The main thing the LORD expects from us is a "Not my will but your will be done" response, and He'll take care of the rest! Amen!

    1 Peter 4:12-16 KJV
    Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. [16] Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

    Trials Of Faith As Tribulations


    Kingdom Greetings, Brethren. I am excited for another privilege the LORD has given me to share the Word with you. Thank you so much for being a committed reader of this blog. God bless you!
      Let's go straight to the business of the day!

      1 Peter 1:7 KJV
      That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

      Trials of Faith is what every genuine Christian must experience. It's part and parcel of our walk with the LORD. If we're not tested and proven, we won't grow and more will not be entrusted to us. Under this topic we'll treat Trials of Faith separately as Tests of Faith and Tribulations. Don't forget to revisit for Part Two.

      Test of Faith


      One of the tests every true child of God must go through is the test of faith. But one may ask, "Why do the LORD have to test my faith?" The reason goes way beyond determining its quality, suitability and performance. We have a good Father. We must know that whatever He allows us go through, He does so out of His good will. He desires to bring our faith to its very best because it is a necessity!

      Right after we get saved, we can not say that we always have much faith. For me it was a struggle. Even though we assume we have faith, situations will come to prove us wrong.

      Why God Tests our Faith


      In God's sight, our faith often requires urgent upgrade after our salvation. Mine as at then would not be able to move a grain of sand off the Earth, talk less of moving a mountain. I needed an urgent upgrade!

      We can recall that the LORD said that we only need to have faith that is as small as a mustard seed and we will be able to command mountains to move. But let's not get too excited yet, because the average Christian's faith isn't even close to that amount.

      The LORD always rebuked His Disciples for having little faith, which tells us that their faith wasn't up to the size of a mustard seed. The 70 Disciples had once gone out and returned with a beautiful report; that even demons were subject to them in His Name. That required very tiny amount of faith. Another fellow they could not recognize was also casting out devils using the name of Jesus, whom they wanted to resist but got rebuked by Jesus.

      In another instance, a lunatic with a stronger demon was brought to the Disciples and they couldn't cast out the devil. When the report came to the LORD, His response was that their faith was insufficient... and yes, He mentioned a mustard seed. That's reaffirms that the mustard seed size of faith is only small in God's sight.

      Matthew 17:14-20 KJV
      And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, [15] Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. [16] And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. [17] Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. [18] And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. [19] Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? [20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

      Little faith in God's eyes isn't as little as we think. The little faith we know can not make the impossible possible, therefore we need great faith!

      Our faith must get tested, and whether we pass the test or not, when it's tested, it will get strengthened and increased. I'm reminded of Abraham; how the LORD asked him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. It's great news that he passed the test. And his faith never remained at the same level after that encounter with the LORD.

      The test of our faith is geared towards dismantling every bit of confidence we have in ourselves or our abilities.

      Proverbs 3:5 KJV
      Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

      Let's assume that the disciples already gained so much self-confidence after their initial evangelism because demons were subject to them in His Name. With that same self-confidence they approached the lunatic hoping to see the same result, but the reverse was the case.

      Maybe some of us have grown spiritually, have witnessed mighty miracles and have gained self-confidence without our knowledge. The LORD will put us through tests that will dismantle our self-confidence, even in the amount of faith we presently have. We're only required to have faith in the LORD, not confidence in the amount of faith we have to make things happen. Our sufficiency is in Him alone, not in our abilities!

      For some who are fearful, the LORD is good at putting them in the mist of what they fear so that their faith will get activated, put to use and increased. Fear and Doubt are two sides of the same coin. The test of our faith is also geared towards getting rid of both.

      The disciples being in the boat at night and seeing Jesus walk on water were already filled with fear thinking He was a ghost. Peter's fear, coupled with doubt pushed him to prove if that was truly Jesus. The LORD on the other hand seized the opportunity to test and increase his faith.

      Matthew 14:26-31 KJV
      And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. [28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. [29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. [31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

      The LORD will sometimes let us go through storms, fearful storms. It's all meant to build our faith. It's better if we can see and keep our focus on Him in the midst of those storms because He is always there watching our reaction and will always come to our rescue.

      I was once as fearful as Peter. I think the LORD had to get rid of that fear in me in a strange way and taught me to put faith to use. That was through this particular dream that repeated itself three times on three different nights:
      In each of the dreams I saw myself trying to pass through this dark long corridor which was filled with demonic presence and strange voices. The demons were stretching out their hands from every place on the wall towards me, trying to get hold of me. The only thing that scared them away a bit while I walked through was the torchlight I held. On almost getting to the middle of the corridor they would make the torchlight go off, I don't know how. Efforts to put the torch back On proved abortive. The switch would stopped working. That's when I came face to face with fear... haha! Then a voice would tell me, "Use Faith". I'd have to summon the courage right there to put fear aside, then command the torchlight to be put On in the Name of Jesus and it always happened instantly!

      This dream came thrice. At the end of the day, fear was nowhere to be found in me anymore and my faith was increased.

      There are many other things the LORD has put me through to increase my faith.

      Even after we think we've had much faith, the LORD will keep putting us through more tests to increase of faith. He will let us go through situations that are difficult to believe He'll intervene only for Him to intervene when all hope is almost lost. Remember the Disciples in the mist of the storm with the LORD sleeping in the lower chamber of the ship. He is always there, we must not fear but call on Him with faith and He'll answer.

      Final Words


      From my little experiences with the LORD, what I see is that the major goal of the test of our faith is to enable us grow to be more dependent and confident on God Almighty alone, not on man or our abilities!

      It is faith that makes us overcomers!

      1 John 5:4-5 KJV
      For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

      We need faith to trample on the works of darkness. We need it to be effective in our ministry. We need faith to receive answers to our prayers(Matthew 21:22). We need faith to scale through the daily challenges of life. We need faith to please God, because without faith it is impossible to please Him! (Hebrews 11:6).

      God is Spirit, being a Christian is spiritual. Every ministry service, be it prayer, worship, preaching etc that does not proceed out of faith is sin! (Romans 14:23).

      Ever since I realised the importance of having great faith, like the Apostles, one of my daily prayer points has been that the LORD increases my faith. That should also become one of your prayer points. Amen!

      Now your turn:

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      Trials Of Faith

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