Recently I had the privilege and honor of ministering to some people for the first time. These were all people who loved the Lord and really desired to serve Him. However, during the discussion sessions, I discovered a most alarming fact. Almost every one of them had totally alienated their life’s experiences from their salvation and their God. It was unbelievable. These people knew nothing of the reality of the purpose of the Word. They all shared a feeling of hopelessness, as it related to their situations. They were pitiful. They lived a lifestyle completely oblivious to an acknowledging of God’s purpose and power. They do not in any wise expect the Lord to bring forth any solution to their dilemmas.
Therefore, it was as if they received salvation, but their God who saved them has absolutely nothing to do with the situations that occur in their lives. It was so sad, I wept. I am convinced the Lord magnified this tragedy so I could be touched even more by the need for the truth to be brought to desolate souls. There are so many people who have never heard the truth. They have been in the Church many years but still have no knowledge of God’s purpose inside offenses, persecution, afflictions, trials or tribulation. They are blown out of the water with hurts and disappointments. They were never taught that trials and tribulation, afflictions and persecutions are all part of their making process. No one told them each negative situation was allowed by God so He might reveal their spiritual disposition.
Our spiritual growth is determined by our ability to overcome the experiences of our lives. This can only be accomplished by bringing the Word of God into every circumstance and relationship. You must learn how to apply the Word. It must be at the forefront of every experience. In fact, you must come to recognize the Word as the initiator of the experience. In others words:
1. It is the Word we have heard which determines the nature and magnitude of the trials in our life.
2. It is the Word we have lived inside and experiences which determine our spiritual location.
3. It is the comprehension of life’s experiences which promote spiritual growth.
Close the Gap Between God and Life
We must learn to bring the Word and the power of God inside every circumstance. Not to accomplish this, will leave us a spiritual midget in a world of satanic giants. Without the power of the Word of God, we are no match for the devil; neither are we a match for the dictates of our own fleshy mind. We must examine ourselves to see if we have alienated God from the situations, circumstances and relationships of our lives. If so, then our response to trials and tribulation will be negative. It is our negative response to situations which gender hindrances to becoming a servant of the gospel.
St. John 7:38-39
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
We must believe on Christ the way the scripture have said. Much of the confusion in the life of the saint is due to the fact that they have a wrong perception of God’s purpose for their negative experiences. We must understand the necessity of trials and tests. They are ordained by God for the perfecting of the saints. The devil is allowed by the Father to touch certain areas of our lives and we must accept this as fact. It takes righteous responses to trials and tests to become established in the faith.
Psalm 119:37-40
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psalm 119:65
Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:75
I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Philippians 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
I Thessalonians 3:3
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
What Do You Want From the Lord?
• What is it you really want and expect from the Lord?
• What is it you want to be in the Lord?
• Have you really understood and accepted His purpose for your life?
• What do you want Him to do in your home?
These are just some of the questions we must seriously answer.
Our time is winding up. This is the hour of decision. It is imperative that we believe on the Lord the way the scripture has said. We must put the Lord in the right place in our life. He is our Savior. He is the Master of our soul. It is His words and His will which are important, not our private desires and agendas. We must come to an agreement with the Word of God for the disposition of our life. Accept the fact that God is in control. He is the victor of all situations and relationships that affect us. He is the One who designed the situations in such a way where He might be glorified. He needs to be able to trust us to bring forth righteousness in each experience. To do so, we must be wise.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. To be conformed to the image of God’s Son is His great desire for us. Unfortunately, many believe the misfortunes of their past bears the blame for the character they lack today. We need to see who we really are in God. We are no longer weak, beggarly elements of this world, but have been changed by the supernatural power of the Almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth. We need to see ourselves from God’s perspective. Because we continually look at our frailties, weaknesses, deficiencies and failures, we think God looks at us in this same manner. But God is bigger than our deficiencies and failures. His Word tells us that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.(Ephesians 2:10).
We must choose to see ourselves as God sees us, not as others see or even as we see ourselves. When we choose to see ourselves through the Father’s eyes we will be able to go forth in love conformed in the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
