Intending to encourage the faithful at Revive, I hope you enjoy this. UNTIL THE TIME CAME GOD TESTED ... by Valerie Holmes I don’t believe that God actually sends sickness, financial difficulty, loss or heartache into our lives just to say He’s going to teach us a lesson of some kind. However, as God is my witness, the times in my life when I have made huge spiritual advances, heard the voice of Holy Spirit very clearly, experienced His Presence tangibly, supernaturally and dramatically, have almost always been while pressing through a difficult or dark place. I do believe God uses these times to test us and prove our character, because the Word says He does. One day, not too long ago, I was walking mid-afternoon on the most gorgeous sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky, the sun shining brightly. I had my cell phone with me and received two text messages while on my walk. Well, no matter how hard I tried, there was no possible way I could read those messages on the small screen of my cell phone in that bright sunlight. It didn’t matter what angle I put the phone, even hiding it in my jacket, the sun was too bright and the screen was black. The words were not legible; I needed a shaded darker spot. It was very frustrating. I knew it was two of my kids texting me with a question of some kind, but I couldn’t give them an answer or direction, because I simply could not see. This is hard to accept, but it is true that sometimes it is in the difficult, darker times in our lives, when we are in a little darkness, that things are clearer. A little darkness causes us to see, a lot brighter and clearer, what we sometimes miss when all is well. Then after seeing, we respond quickly to the message we’ve received from God. The Bible is full of people who were changed, received clear direction and then deliverance during a very dark time in their lives. Like Joseph. First, a betrayal by family members, then thrown into a dark wet, muddy, bug infested pit, then he became a slave, then he was wrongfully accused and thrown in prison. Sounds like a pretty dark and difficult time to me, a time of testing. Listen to these verses about Joseph in Psalms 105: 17-19. “ Joseph, sold as a slave, there in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar, (now listen, this is the part I want you to hear) until the time came to fulfill His word, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” God has a Word for your life, a specific Word an on-time Word. God has spoken His Word over your life. Don’t fear His testing. Don’t resist it. He will bring this Word for you to fulfillment. He tests you because He trusts you and is confident that you will pass the test and remain faithful, ever trusting and loving Him, and then produce in you a fresh, rich anointing that will flow out of you making you a delight to Him and useful for His service. If you are facing a difficult or dark time and things are not really clear right now, but you are remaining faithful and seeking God for deliverance, here’s what you can expect. 1. God never left Joseph, not even for a moment in the dark, difficult situations he was in and He will never leave you. 2. Joseph was still useful to God and others in that dark place and his willingness to serve others was a key to his own deliverance. God can still use you when you choose to serve Him even in the dark place. 3. God did a transforming work of power in Josephs life, molding and shaping him into the man God wanted him to be while in the dark place and He will mold you too! 4. Deliverance did come to Joseph and will come to you too! 5. Joseph remained humble, broken and full of forgiveness for others in the dark place and was exalted to a high place where he could serve God with much greater influence and SO WILL YOU! Throughout history, some of the greatest men and women of God tell how a very dark time in their lives brought them into the place where they could clearly hear the voice of God, understand His Word and then allow God to use them to accomplish all He planned for them to do, to greatly affect the lives of people and build the Kingdom of God. Those are God’s loving intentions for you as he guides you through your dark time. Remember, ALL of Joseph’s dreams came true. What His brothers meant for evil, God meant for good. God did work all things together for Joseph’s good and for the good of His people. Joseph became that man that his brothers bowed down to. Joseph became the greatest ruler of the land. God will fulfill His Word in you! Whatever you are experiencing today, remember, your Heavenly Father did not send it, but will use it, so press on, serve Him regardless. Your circumstances do not control you, God is in control because you are fully trusting.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:37:36 +0000
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