Do I Believe God?

Much of the confusion in the life of a saint comes from an erroneous perspective of God’s role and intent in their circumstances, situations and relationships, positive or negative. Not only must we come in to the knowledge of the necessity of negative trials but must accept, as fact, that they are ordained BY GOD for our spiritual growth and perfection.

It is truly devastating the vast number of people who know nothing of the true perspective of the Word of God, His purpose, plan or objective for their lives. My heart weeps bitterly to think of the millions of souls sitting in churches all over the world totally oblivious to the truth.

What has happened? What have we done? Have our hidden agendas, lust for success and insatiable appetites for wealth alienated us from the One who can give us all things freely? What do you say . . . do you believe God?

A: LIFE SITUATIONS

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 got saved, 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 of 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:

• It is the Word we have heard which determines the nature and magnitude of the trials in our life.
• It is the Word we have lived inside and experiences which

determine our spiritual location.

• It is the comprehension of life’s experiences which promote spiritual growth.

B: 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.

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 has 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.

Romans 16:25-26

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: . . .

1 Peter 5:6-10

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 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.

C: WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM THE LORD?

A. What is it you really want and expect from the Lord?

B. What is it you want to be in the Lord?

C. Have you really understood and accepted His purpose for your life?

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 script hath said.

Proverbs 1:23-33

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 2:1-5

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

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

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Consider the following verses:

I Thessalonians 5:14-24

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

As the Lord lives, He will bring us into the power of our salvation. All we have to do is obey His word.

Hebrews 10:36-39

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.