My Faith tested....

Jesus Messiah

Name above names

Blessed redeemer

Emmanuel....

The Rescue for sinners

THe Ransom from heaven

Jesus Messiah

Lord of All!!

I wanted to share some lessons I have learned through a few trials I have walked through.  I am not going to reveal the details, but will share in a general sense. 

It is quite amazing when you think you have all the answers, you come to find that you know nothing....  You might think that all you have to do is pray enough....Tithe enough....Give offerings....do all the right things and you'll be ok.  Or what if when you look at a friend or loved one going through a trial you are quick to give them all the answers and judge in your heart to say:

 "I know what I would do if that happened to me." 

I noticed I had become a puffed up Christian in my walk and revelations of God.  But thank God.....He...the Lord of All....showed me my disgusting heart through a lesson from faith. 

I had been given the privilege to walk through something with some close friends of mine.  This trial or challenging time they faced was centered around a terminally ill child.  I, whose understanding in healing and faith was freshly revealed and new, was very passionate to lay hands on the sick and see them recover.  I felt my faith was there and with a strong leading I heard the Lord say:

"Walk this with them....take them by the hand....and pray with them." 

So as I walked and prayed with them almost daily, I came to know their hearts in a more intimate way.  My heart began to ache to see them suffering so much and I wasn't seeing any immediate results in healing.  I began to think "Hey....I know I have enough faith for this so why can't I just lay hands and them recover?" , "I know God wants this little one healed."  so then assumed "Maybe the parents just don't have enough faith, that must be it?" 

As time went on the sick child was taken off of life support and passed into eternity to be with her Lord and Father.  My heart was immediately filled with sorrow/grief and also became angry withinn my heart thinking: "This child's parents had given up!!"

I said, "I don't understand!!"  "What happened!?" 

Again, I thought..."They had given up...they had thrown in the white flag because they didn't have enough faith!!  They knew they had grown tired and didn't want to fight anymore....BUT  they should have continued to fight and not given up!!"

In my heart I thought all of this and just moved on....

A few months later, in my own personal life, I was put through a test.  It wasn't the same sort of challenge of losing a child, but a challenge of it's own.  A challenge of loss as well. 

This trial challenged my faith in ways I didn't even realize.  It challenged what I believed, the very core of my foundation....FAITH.  During this time I struggled...I cried out to the Lord....I asked "WHY".....I felt alone.....I felt I could no longer fight.  I noticed I was weak....weak....weak....

This was hard....all in me wanted to give up....I wanted to take this situation off it's own "child support"...and I didn't think this situation could be saved.  Lord I surrender....I don't have the faith to walk this out....Others were telling me to do this or that but I knew I had to do this.  I felt judged....I felt like no one understood what I was going through....I felt like I was abandoned and forsaken....I felt like even those who I loved dearly were against me and my choices.  Job came to mind....

I then heard the Lord speak to me about my friends....my friends who had a child fighting for it's life....my friends who did everything and anything possible to save their small child....my friends who I knew were tired, weak, their very own foundation was shaken...my friends who made a decision to let their child go....

He continued to say to me..."You have the grace.  You might not feel like you have enough faith but you have the grace.....I have given you the grace and I have given you a measure of faith.  This measure isn't revealed until you are in the actual battle.  No one knows how they will react or how they will respond.  Yes, it is a battle of faith, and trust.  BUT....Never think you are higher or better or know more than a brother or sister in Me.  You thought you had ALL the faith to fight THEIR battle.  But it wasn't your battle to fight.  It was their trial....their test....their experience."

Then He showed me how I had become puffed up in my revelation of faith and healing.  How I had become in a sense self righteous and judgemental. Ouch!!!

He continued to say...."You have no right to look upon a brother or sister in the faith and make a judgemental call of how they should have responded.  This was their trial...their challenge...their stuggle.  You have no idea what internal struggles they were faced with.  You have no idea how they came to Me....cried to Me....how they suffered during this dark hour.  This was their battle and no one knows what the battle is like because it is very PERSONAL.  Many think they know how they will respond during a fight....what they would do in a certain situation, but little do they know that most have no idea.  Thus Grace is the answer....and only by My grace can anyone do anything at all.  It is by My grace how they will respond.  It is by my grace how strong their faith is during a battle, trial, or struggle.

In your heart you thought you had faith....enough faith for whatever situation arises.  You think you will respond in such and such a way....But faith is a measure....and yes faith is given by grace.....Grace is where faith is birthed....Faith is PERSONAL....it is known only through revelation.....it becomes stronger by Grace alone....The grace I give.  This faith or even grace is not known UNTIL you have come to a place that it is needed.  Then come to realize that ONLY by Grace do you even have enough faith to walk out this trial.  This is why many have different results in life.

You can't judge or say that a brother or sister doesn't have a relationship with Me.  You can't say that any brother or sister is weaker.  You can't say any of it because each relationship is PERSONAL  and each one walks at a different pace and is at a different place on this road.  There is none better or worse.....I AM NOT A RESPECTOR of people, but I am a Good God...I am a lover of  souls....My heart does ache when I see my children struggle....My heart does ache to see those lose loved ones.  There is so much my children don't know or even twist a bit in ignorance.  Some things you will never know.  Continue to seek, pursue love, and love everyone.  Remembering that you are nothing without me.  Yet, you are something with me.  But with this "SOMETHING" always remembering you are no greater than anyone else.  I love everyone!  And for this WORLD....I died!!"

These are some of the words the Lord spoke to my heart to teach me about faith and a relationship with Him.  I have been brought to my knees and my eyes have been open to being more compassionate and understanding when those walk through trials.  Judgement in my heart has fled.  I was brought to my knees in humility when I realized that I am nothing! When I thought that I had all the answers....I was brought to nought to say truly "You are God and I am no one".   And if I am even able to overcome...It is ONLY by YOUR Grace....YOUR love and YOUR Mercy!

FREE IN CHRIST

Love of Money

Let me begin by sharing that I am not one to
bash,
JUDGE,
or
Condemn
any prosperity teacher who is out there spreading the Gospel.

Those who desire to judge a man/woman who is preaching the Gospel and say he/she is
a false teacher or someone to mislead people,
best be careful that you are not judged
by the Judge Himself!

Many are CALLED
to minister the Gospel in different ways,
especially in this generation of advanced technology
and the growing need for the
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
to be spread over the EARTH.

So YES AND AMEN
To those ministers who are able to
spend money on airplanes or
use others tools to spread the
AMAZING GOSPEL
of
TRUTH!!

I am with them!

In saying all of this
I warn my brothers and sisters
of
COVETOUSNESS
and
the LOVE of MONEY


1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.


In searching out scriptures and meditating on prosperity,
I find more and more Christians
being
LED BY MONEY
or
HIGH PAYING JOBS.
Some of these Christians
are the same ones who like to judge prosperity teachers.
Quite sad but true.

I ask the question...
Is this coveting?
Is this the LOVE of money?
Are they following this job or profession because of the LOVE of money?
Am I desiring money more than the will of God in my own life?

Thus I find more and more good Christians
walking by sight and not by faith.
They say they are wanting to do the will of the Father,
but then I notice them seeking after
the job or the "nice living"

They might think they are doing the Father's will
but many are being led astray by the
love of money.

The will of God is to PROSPER His people.
He wants to prosper those who will walk by faith and not by sight.
His main purpose is for His Gospel to be spread to all nations of the world
Thus He delights to give good gifts to His children....

But what if those children are led by the desire for high paying jobs and the money rather than take a step of faith and watch the faithfulness of God truly bless their socks off?

Many might miss the awesome glory and prosperity the Lord will bring them.
No......
I am not talking about those who have the Word of the Lord to become
a doctor, lawyer, Athlete, Singer/actor, Business Owner, etc ....

Let me give an example
What if God called a high paid Christian Lawyer to move to a town which was known for
lower income?
What would his response be.....
"No way, this can't be God! God is ONLY about increase"
or.....
Would he say "Yes, Lord lead me!!"

If he chose the latter and allowed the Lord to lead him in all paths, he would be walking by Faith and not doubting.
He would be willing and obedient and trust God in every area of this move.
He would believe and be excited that God has an awesome plan for the small town, knowing the LORD must have amazing things in store for him. But why else would God want him to move there? God is always about the best, when it involves increasing His kingdom. It is always good to expect the best, even when it "looks" dead and bleak.

Isaiah 1:19
If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

Yes, it would be a trust like never before,
But this lawyer knows
his source is
the LORD God
not his degree or knowledge.

What if this same Lawyer decided not to believe and trust God?
Listing his excuses as:
Lower pay
He'll have to sell his prosperous law firm, and leave behind the town and church he loves
With the thought in mind of....
"How could God have me do this?"

Sounds like the Rich, young ruler, right?
The rich, young ruler LOVED his things and money more than following the
WILL of GOD.

You see if this lawyer follows the money rather than the Lord, he would have never known how much more prosperous God would have made him.
He would have never known the ministry opportunities
or the doors the Lord was going to open
just for this lawyer.

God is Faithful to ALL His Children
and especially to His word
and if God says....
"YOU WILL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND..."
then
LET IT BE SO!!

Always to be LED by the Lord and His Spirit
not by the love of money!

Because just as 1 Timothy says:
"some have erred from the FAITH and pierced themselves with many sorrows"

The will of God and His leading WILL always lead to the
PROMISED LAND
even if during that travel time the land looks
BARREN!!

Only trust
and
WALK BY FAITH
NOT
BY SIGHT

Walk By Faith!!

For we walk by faith, not by sight.


Sometimes a Faith walk can be so very trying.
Standing in Faith is even harder.

Paul the Apostle said in
1 Corinthians 6:13
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

When the storms come
and they will come to all men...
whether rich, poor, good or evil
the storms of life come.

Depending on the storm
where is your faith?

Is it a light sun shower?
Is it a nice thunderstorm that lasts about 20 minutes?
Is it a flash flood, blizzard,
hurricane or Severe storm with tornadoes.

The storm comes
BUT will you be able to stand?

Unless you have truly experienced a severe storm in your life
you don't truly know what it feels like.

Every ounce of you is wondering
WHERE IS MY SAVIOR?
or
LORD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT?

but I know you are
FAITHFUL!!

When I see some Christians living a life without serious stresses
I often wonder....are they walking by faith.

What is walking by faith?

I find some Christians can say they are
"walking by faith"
but are they?

Is it that maybe some save themselves before the Lord saves them personally?
Or does it depend on when and how the storm hits?

I have found myself in this dilemma:
Boy, do I want to save my self
Boy, do I want to call it quits
Boy do I want a detour
Boy, this road is quite bumpy and filled with pot holes

Sometimes I wonder:
Will I EVER get to the highway where the road is paved smoother and I can drive at a quicker speed.

The children of Israel complained and their hearts were filled with unbelief
The Lord had promised them the good of the Land....
But because of unbelief they went astray and quit

We can read, think and say....

hmmmm... those Israelites....why didn't they JUST believe God and stay on course.
What is wrong with them (rolling eyes in judgment)....

Be careful what comes forth from your mouth
because until we are in the midst of the
TRIAL or TEST...
we won't know how we would respond to the test

It might be an easy quiz
or
a more in depth and lengthy test like an
SAT
either way....God lets us use the book
are we prepared?

SO then PRAY:
That you will be able to stand and believe God for His Word
PRAY
that if a storm you never experienced comes to hit your town(life), you will know how to deal with it and trust God for His word
PRAY
that you don't look at another brother or sister in judgment thinking you are stronger than they
PRAY
that you will be able to stand the wiles of the enemy
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

SO
If we drop out of the race
throw in the towel
call it quits
surrender to the enemy's wiles
or even save our selves by worldly solutions

Understand this:
God never failed you
It wasn't HIS will for you to quit fighting and praying
It wasn't His plan for your failure
It was your own CHOICE,
to throw in the towel or raise the white flag

Yes, He loves you and forgives you and always gives you another chance
But all in all
He is
ALWAYS
FAITHFUL
and wants you to wait
for His promises!!

And He WILL deliver...

HE ALWAYS DOES!!!!!!!


the
LORD
is ALWAYS
FAITHFUL!!

Do Not Fear....ONLY BELIEVE

Do you really trust in God?

What makes you doubt sometimes?

Is it the uncertainty of the battle at hand?

Is it that you just might not trust God to come through for you?

So then are you saying He isn't faithful?

But wait the bible speaks of His faithfulness and Love!

IT ALL OVER THE WORD OF GOD!

Jesus came proving God's love and faithfulness so why do you act in

FEAR

What ARE you afraid of? I think you are more afraid that He might not come to deliver your circumstance, then your are sure He will.

So why are many Christians afraid of the "worst case scenrios" in their battles?

Be it losing a home

or

even

losing their lives.

I truly think that fears hold people back from truly trusting and receiving the Lord's best and His

MIRACLES

Some Christians may shrink back and because of fears, are blinded by the reality of their situation and then are not truly

TRUSTING THE LORD

FEARS

make

BLIND

People can become so paralyzed by their fear that they believe the worst case will happen.

POSSIBLY LOSING EVERYTHING!!!

So then what is the fruit of their lives then......

They do LOSE

then what do they say.....?

"God's in control.....It was His plan for such and such thing to happen"

But then was it really His plan for this destruction or loss to happen in their life?

Of course it is easier to say that God is in Control....so we won't take any responsibility for our actions or lack of. I wouldn't want my child to say "My parent is in control" when they failed the test after not studying. Isn't God our Father? Why would we see God as different.

So then are you saying .....He wasn't faithful? He never told us to trust Him and study for the test?

I thought the word says

HE IS FAITHFUL?

so can you please help me see what it is then....

You see how the enemy can bring so much doubt in Christians lives through fear

and when there is fear..... there is no faith.

Which leads me to say that in many occasions in the bible

when people approached Jesus with fear or He sensed fear in their hearts he said

DO NOT FEAR!!!!

Luke 8:49-50

⁴⁹While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

⁵⁰But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

In this case Jairus's daughter had just died and I'm sure fear now came upon his heart that he wasn't quick enough to get Jesus to her. Before Jairus could even speak a word of fear Jesus stopped him with

"FEAR NOT".

Why would Jesus speak these words first?

Fear must do something to our faith, trust, and seeing the works of God manifested.

I believe that when we fear, we are then in doubt of God's faithfulness and Love.

Even good Christians pray AFRAID. Why?

Maybe because they really don't trust and know who they serve. They might know about Him, but not KNOW HIM.

SO

Don't fear....ONLY BELIEVE....and KNOW who you LOVE and SERVE!

Christian Cliches

God is Good!

It is such a cliche!

Yeah, it really is!!

Do people really believe this or do they just say it?

To me it seems like people say it, but they don't truly understand

HIS GOODNESS!

I'll be praying for you!

Yep....another cliche!

Do you actually think people will truly take the time and pray for you?

Some might....

So why don't they do it when we are standing there....

or on the phone?

Why do we pray and then doubt he'll answer?

People will pray for healing and then they doubt it.

Do they truly TRUST in His

FAITHFULNESS??

Love you?

Yeah, another cliche not to be taken lightly

Do they truly love me?

Or are they just saying it

God's in Control

Finding this is another one of those cliches

Is He really in control?

If He is then.........

why is there still

murder

rapes

starvation in other countries

children beat to death

child and adult prostitution

suicides

you name it?

Is He truly in "control".....?

I don't believe it.

WE are the ones responsible for the mess the world is in

NOT GOD!

God is Good!!!

and this

I know

all so well!

Yeah, maybe it has been one of those weeks over here and I am really trying hard to find and hear of those who truly

KNOW HIM!

I bet the Lord is so grieved by the unbelief and doubt which clouds so many Christians minds

Yeah, they say "God CAN do it.....but not for ME."

WHAT?!!

Do you NOT believe?

Why don't you believe His Word?

What is wrong with the Christians of today?

Honestly.....I am grieved.

We toss words around

or

Scriptures

but do we truly take them to heart.

It hurts me

so how much more does it hurt

HIM

FREE IN CHRIST

The "Almost" Sacrifice of Isaac

The story of Abraham and Isaac is power filled.  To me it depicts the testimony of true faith, trust, and knowledge of who God is.  Abraham was a man who heard the voice of the Lord and never once flinched at the promises that God made to him.

Hebrews 11:8-12

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Many might say that Abraham struggled, feared, or doubted when God asked him to take Isaac and lay him up as a sacrifice.  Many theologians might say that he was fearful and must have doubted during the time when he took his only son and laid him up as a sacrifice.

Genesis 22:2

 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Abraham was a man who knew His Lord, His word, and His will. The Will of the Lord for Abraham's life was steadfast on his heart.  He never once considered that the Promise of God made to him could not be accomplished.  His mind, heart, and thoughts were steadfast focused on the Lord.

Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

So when God tested Abraham for the word sake to truly know if Abraham trusted in the promises of the Lord, I believe Abraham was eager to do the Lord's will.

Hebrews 11:17-19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

There was no hesitation on Abraham's part.  He knew God wasn't going to let Him down.  He knew God is a friend and not the enemy.  He knew the voice of His Father.  He BELIEVED and never once doubted.  He even made mention to his servant of what the end result would be:

Genesis 22:5

 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

This, my friends, is a man who knows His Lord.  He knew in his heart what the Lord was going to do and knew that it was "WORSHIP" to obey the Lord and trust in Him. 

As they are approaching the mountain, Isaac asks "where is the lamb?" and Abraham answers with confidence saying: 

Genesis 22:8

  Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.


Abraham still acting and working in faith bound his son, laying  him on the wood and lifting up his knife was about to "sacrifice" Isaac.   I am sure in his heart he kept hearing the words and promises of God.  They must have been repeating over and over in his mind and he was probably speaking them out of his mouth.  It doesn't say this in the bible, but I know this is what we would do in prayer or in place of confession repeating the word of God.  So I am guessing Abraham was praising, praying unto the Lord while binding his and about to stab him.  When we speak forth the words of God, we are declaring with our mouths those words He, the Lord has spoken to our hearts, which is supernaturally prophetic. 


The end result of this act of faith is that God DID provide and it was accounted to Abraham for righteousness and he was called a friend of God.

Galatians 3:6

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

and 

James 2:23

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

The Lord is looking for those who have the faith and the trust Abraham had.  He knew the heart of God. He trusted in the goodness of God.  He knew God would NEVER, EVER let Him down!!

How do we get to a place where we can trust in the Lord just as Abraham did?  We need to fill our minds with the words of the Lord, and from the fellowship we have with Him.  We need to not fill our minds and heart with unbelief of the world.  Unbelief and ungodliness is so prevalent in today's society.  This unbelief can choke any faith we may have in God.  If we turn on the news, there's unbelief!  If we go to work there is unbelief!  If we watch TV there is unbelief!  So how do we tune out all of this unbelief?  We need to be a people who are willing to lay down those things that can easily ensnare us by reducing those things in our lives that may bring unbelief. 


I encourage you to look at your lives and figure out how you can eliminate weights of unbelief, those weights that hold you down from trusting God like Abraham did.  If it is to lay down some of the news you are listening to; To not watch movies that portray people dying of cancers; To stop speaking words of lack, doubt, death; etc...  You will know by the Holy Spirit what you need to drop or limit.  He will let you know.  Remember don't let anything bring guilt and condemnation and know that you are 

FREE IN CHRIST