Today’s message is unusual.
It’s what the Lord has laid on my heart to share with you today.
I trust that you’ll gain strength from it.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Let’s start with a few scriptures…
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:13
“for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” Psalm 7:9
“O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart” Jeremiah 11:20
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10
“and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23
Now, with these scriptures in mind, here’s the message…
Anyone can stand tall and “think” they are strong when nobody is withstanding them or resisting them.
It’s easy to feel righteous, holy, and “powerful” when your spouse, children, family, friends, church, colleagues, etc are passively LETTING you be the “Big Boss”.
But, when these people begin to resist you…
When they begin to go against you…
When they begin to defy you…
When they begin to go away from you and away from what you want…
When they begin to let you down and fail you…
When they begin to turn on you…
When they begin to try to tear you down…
When they begin to find fault with you…
When they begin to criticize and belittle you…
When they begin to defame your name…
When they laugh and make fun of you…
That’s when you can really see of “what sort” you are.
That’s when you “learn” how your reins lie.
That’s when you find out what’s really in your heart.
And, while you’re battling with all this resistance and opposition…while you’re struggling to keep a smile on your face in spite of all the hurt and pain you feel, that’s USUALLY when others who “think” they are “standing tall” start JUDGING you.
While you’re being withstood, they start comparing how good things are for them and how “messed up” you and your situation is…and they judge themselves as better than you…they judge themselves as righteous and you as a sinner…they judge themselves as blessed of God and you cursed of God.
And, I CAN PROMISE YOU, if you wish to be a child of God, there WILL come a time in your life when this happens!
When that time comes, when you’re facing that pressure, LET nothing but LOVE AND THE LIGHT OF CHRIST come out of you.
When your carnal flesh wants to be angry and to hate, go ahead and just forgive them – just like Christ did.
And, for YOUR sake, I want you to do this too…
Come out of the experience more loving towards God and people than ever before!
Would you do that for YOU?
Now, I wish I could tell you that was all there was to God trying your reins and heart.
But, unfortunately, that was the EASY test. If you make it through that one, then comes the HARD test…
WHEN YOU’RE ASKING GOD FOR SOMETHING GOOD AND YOU’RE NOT GETTING IT – BUT OTHERS AROUND YOU ARE!
THAT’S when God REALLY finds out whether or not you love Him above all else.
THIS is when God gives YOU the chance to PROVE that you WILL have FAITH in Him, His love, His providence, and His desire to do YOU good NO MATTER WHAT.
And, it’s during this time that the devil talks the loudest in your ear. It’s during this time that the devil is telling you that God doesn’t care about you because if He did, He wouldn’t be letting this happen to you…that a “loving” God wouldn’t do this to you.
As this is going on, I want YOU to proclaim God’s certain blessings in YOUR life.
I want you to testify of God’s sure answers to YOUR prayers.
I want you to TELL YOURSELF about the inevitable fulfillment of God’s Word and promises FOR YOU.
I want you to WORSHIP and PRAISE God with your loving, positive thoughts and words towards Him and others.
And, know that you’re NOT the only person that this has happened to. It has happened to EVERY true child of God. In fact, we have the Biblical account of this happening to the man who introduced Christ to the world…
“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Matthew 11:2-6
My friend, don’t be OFFENDED in Christ when your time of testing comes. Instead, be CONFIDENT that after the time of testing God will raise you up, God will exalt you. You will be made triumphant and victorious and you will HAVE a POWERFUL testimony that comes from your heart that touches the heart of those you’ll tell it to.
Brother and Sister in Christ, be encouraged. Be strengthened in the Lord. He really does want to do you good. He just wants to know that you value your relationship with Him, that you will be faithful, loving, and true to Him regardless of circumstances and conditions.
And, once you’ve proven that, WATCH OUT! The blessings WILL FLOW into your life beyond your wildest imagination.
And, here’s scripture to prove the truth of what I just said…
“For I [The Lord] KNOW him [Abraham], that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shallkeep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19
Bottom line…
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But REJOICE…” 1 Peter 4:12-13
When the things I’m talking about come your way, don’t think it strange or bad. Rather, think of it this way: God is showing special attention to YOU because He wants to get to KNOW the REAL YOU.
Now, gain strength for your journey with this POWERFUL prayer…
“I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
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