Tuesday, August 19, 2008

EXPECT THE TEST

*******WARNING!! THIS IS A TEST!!*******

******* WARNING!! THIS IS A TEST!!*******

Wouldn't it be nice if every time we were about to be faced with a trial or temptation we would receive a warning? A loud beep that would prepare us for what was about to happen? A little time to get our guard up? To be ready with our Shield of Faith and our Sword of the Spirit?

So many times as I'm getting up from being knocked down by my circumstances, I look in my rear-view-mirror-of-life and think, "I should have seen that coming. I should have recognized it before it took me down."

Kind of like, I should have had a V-8!

So, now it's ... Be ready! Be prepared! And...

EXPECT THE TEST.

That's the next ingredient for soil that will produce a 100-fold harvest.

Beth explained that the Greek word peirasmos does not differentiate between a trial from God or a temptation from the enemy.

Jon Courson states in his Application Commentary of the Old Testament, "In reality, there is no difference between a temptation and a test, for in any situation that comes our way, Satan means it for a temptation to pull us down-but God intends it as a test to pull us through. Satan means to destroy us, to shake us up. God uses the same event to edify us and show us off. Satan says, "Aha! I'm going to shake you up. I'm going to wipe you out." But God says, "I'm allowing this because I want to show My strength through you and show you what I can do."

God has promised us that "no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

So what does expecting the test have to do with the harvest?

I believe every time we apply the Word and let it light our way, to be a lamp unto our feet, we are more prepared for the next test. When we find ourselves in a situation the enemy wants to use to wipe us out, but we choose to stand on the promises in God's Word, our faith grows. Our heart becomes richer soil. Soil that will continue to produce a harvest. A harvest of more...Maybe a harvest of more standing than falling. More victory than defeat. More dependence on God instead of dependence on ourselves.

Here's a great warning from Beth...

"When the season of testing exceeds the season of believing,
we are headed toward a season of falling.
Either we fall away from God or in a pit.
"

Trust me. I've fallen "away" and "into."

And (trust me again) ... You'll get a harvest alright. A harvest of bitterness and resentment.

When I think about expecting the test, I can't help but think about the Olympians. They train like they do because they know they will be competing against the best athletes in their sport. A winner respects their competitors and never underestimates their abilities. They are ready for anything.

Unfortunately, Satan has experienced victory and success in my life. There have been times when I have handed him a gold medal. Times I lost before I even knew I was in the fight. And what makes me so mad, is that I didn't have to. He's already been defeated. He was defeated on the cross.

But when I'm not expecting the test and I find myself listening to his lies, I set myself up for failure. So, we have to be ready. Alert. Prepared.

A seat belt needs to be buckled before an accident.

A life jacket needs to be put on before the boat overturns.

A child-proof lock needs to be installed before a child crawls under the sink.

I've thought a lot about this. About how we can be alert to the adversary's schemes. Jesus gives us a good place to start, in John 8:44, when He calls Satan the father of lies. Jesus warns us to be careful to what we are listening to. To pay attention to the thoughts running through our minds. To "keep our antennae up" for the lies that usually precede a fall.

The enemy tells me the same lies over and over again. Here are a few...

It's too late. You've wasted too much time.

God could never use you. You're just fooling yourself.

If people really knew you...

You'll never change.

Things are never gonna get better. This is it.

I don't know what lies he's been telling you. But I guarantee he's trying. That's what he does. I know of some of the things that a few of you are going through, and I can only imagine what lies he's telling you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that he is so cruel to you.

Let's just not listen to him. Let's listen to the One that is Truth and Life. We know His voice.

"Let's be sober.
Vigilant.
Because the adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion,

seeking whom he may devour."
1 Peter 5:8

Let's Expect the Test. And Be Ready!



2 comments:

  1. Thanks. I needed that as usual. Love you. MJN

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very well put. In the body of Christ, most of us either fail to recognize we have an adversary or we are not vigilant enough to be on our guard. Praise God, for He causes us to triumph in all things.

    ReplyDelete