1 Peter 1:7 and James 1:3
The Bible calls trials and
tribulations "the testing of our faith". Trials are meant to test
your FAITH. With that thought in mind, look carefully at 1 Peter 5:8-9:
"...Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour. RESIST HIM, standing firm in faith..." You are not to
embrace the devil; you are to resist him. Resisting him is the same as
resisting his works. What are his works? Keep reading 1 Peter 5:9: "Resist
him, standing firm in faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the
world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." The works of the devil
are SUFFERINGS. The devil brought all kinds of sufferings to the early church,
and he is still brings suffering to many faithful believers today.
Unfortunately, many Christians think they are supposed to embrace suffering,
because they think it is from God. Suffering does not come from God--it comes
from the devil. To "resist the devil" means to resist suffering. You
are not to embrace or accept suffering; you are to RESIST it.
You resist suffering by
"STANDING FIRM IN FAITH." Ephesians 6:16 says faith is a shield...a
shield that protects us from the arrows of the enemy. You are supposed to put
up the shield of faith so that the devil's arrows (sickness, poverty, problems)
don't pierce you, thus sticking with you. God wants you to get rid of your trials.
Trials may come, but they are not to stay! Notice again the entire scripture in
Psalm 34:19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, "BUT THE
LORD DELIVERETH HIM OUT OF THEM ALL." This means that troubles should not
stay in our life; they should leave! If troubles stay, then you're not
delivered.
Remember what the Lord said to
His disciples: "...In this world you will have tribulation, BUT BE OF GOOD
CHEER: I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD" (John 16:33). We are world overcomers,
not world "copers" putting up with our problems. Trials, troubles and
tribulations will come, but we are to WIN by resisting these things. Our faith
can overcome! Many sincere Christians don't resist trials, because they have
been taught that trials automatically make them stronger. They don't realize
that trials are the testing of their faith, and that a test can be passed or
flunked. You pass the test of faith by OVERCOMING each trial, not by keeping
the trial! If your faith doesn't get rid of the trial, then you've failed the
test. God permits trials to come so that you will have the opportunity to
exercise your faith, thereby becoming stronger.
Your faith works the same way as
your arms. Your faith becomes stronger when you push the trial away from you,
not when you allow the trial to stay on you. So in the end, trials can be
beneficial. This is why we can count it pure joy when we face trials of many
kinds--because the testing of our faith develops perseverance. Perseverance
must finish its work so that we will be mature and complete, not lacking any
good thing--when that happens, the trial has ended. STANDING FIRM IN FAITH
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