Don't fail your test of faith
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Faith is the complete trust, confidence or strong belief in someone or something based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.
Faith is the connecting power into the spiritual realm, which links us with God and makes Him become a tangible reality to the sense perceptions of a person. Faith is the basic ingredient to begin a relationship with God.
Our God is a spirit, and those that will serve Him must serve Him in spirit. The spiritual tool of serving God is faith.
Different from our senses of reasoning, being faithful to God goes beyond being expectant of something from Him, it goes beyond mouth confession, it goes beyond convenient religious activities... Through this, God test our faith in Him on several occasions to proof our loyalty to His words, power and promises.
Having faith in God is not believing that He can do it alone, but even if He chooses not to do it, you will not stop believing in Him.
Testing our faith by God is a way to cross-examine our trust, believe and total dependant on Him, both in good times and in bad times.
Obedience is a key part of God's testing. He gives us things to do which make no sense to us and are not particularly appealing, although they are good for us. Then he watches our response to learn exactly how we feel about our relationship with him. If we trust him, we typically obey.
Considering some characters in bible who succeeded in God's test of faith.
1. Abraham (father of faith)
By man's understanding , father Abraham would have been considered the most stupid person on earth. Someone whom he has not seen before told him to move out of his father's home and country to a place He will show him, without a map that will guide him through, without having the mind of coming back... What a faith...
Yet when he obeyed, he tarried to have a child, during that process, he should have denied God and stop believing, yet He continued to obey and believe...
And eventually when the child comes, God still ask Him to sacrifice the only child he had waited for, for a long time... What a faith.
Abraham didn't believe God would provide a lamb that will replace Isaac during the sacrifice, and God didn't provide the lamb until the knife was on Isaac's neck... What a faith.
God's test of faith doesn't just come once, in the life of Abraham it comes thrice... The first when he left his father's house, the second when he was waiting for a child, and the Last when he was told to sacrifice the child... Untill the three test was complete, then God sealed His promises with Him.
Many only pass a test and believe it is all done, not knowing that's just the begining, many are on the Last phase of test, but they thought God had forgotten them, so they turn back and the promises God have for them becomes withheld.
2. The three Hebrews (Shedrak, messhak and Abednigo)
These three Hebrews were faithful to God from their youth... Yet they were taken captive. They didn't insult God for allowing such to happen to them, instead they consider it a means to represent God in a foreign land.. (test of faith)
Their second test of faith comes when they refuse to defile themselves with the Kings meat. (when they were enticed by riches)
Their third and last test of faith comes when Nebuchadnezzar erected a statue for everyone to bow to.... They objected that they will never bow to anything other than the God of the universe... Even when they know the consequences for their action...
Even when the king made them to Understand that they will be bunt to death if they refuse... Hear their response... Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They believed that, even if God refuse to save them, they will never bow to the statue... What a great faith.. It is not a fairy tale, it's evidence in the scripture.
How about you?, do you have that kind of faith in God, that even if God refuses to solve your problem you won't stop being faithful, even if God refuses to give you the desire of your heart you will not stop believing in Him..
Have you not failed the test of faith for your life?, the instructions He gave, did you obey? Or did you obey fully?
He gave some people instruction for their business,... That will guarantee great wealth but they failed
He gave some instruction for marriage, but they failed by going after their own heart and desire...
He have some, instructions for their ministry... But because the intrusions comes along with pain, they failed and helped themselves.
Above all, the greatest test of faith is to be Persecuted for the sake of Christ... The first apostles never deny Christ till death.. They believe its their time., and also know God will not save them, because Christ has already told them what will happen.... Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
For you to be fully approved of God and receive the full fold of His blessings, you must be able to pass all His test given to you in His instructions...
For you to know it is a test of faith, the instructions will be very foolish and unreasonable in man sight or Understanding.... Embrace it that moment, pray and be thankful.
But remember your faithfulness is not attributed to your mouth confession or your religious activities... It is attributed to the deepest intent of your heart...
Don't ever fail the test of faith from God, He has nothing to loose but you have everything to forfeit.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of another day today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me for filling my test of faith in the past.
3. Lord, help me so as not to fail my test of faith in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.