Faith Life 36 (Proving of Faith 2)

GRACE ABOUNDS ONLINE BIBLE STUDY
THEME: FAITH LIFE OF CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS (Part 36)
TOPIC: The proving of our Faith 2
SPEAKER: Peter Ayoola Fakeye (PAF)

In the previous article, we saw the importanc of our faith to be proven. Therefore, in thia article, I want us to consider some examples from the scripture to understand what it means for our faith to be tested.

We start with our Lord Jesus Christ
The bible made us understand that the Holy Spirit led Jesus to where He will be tempted by the devil. Jesus didn't go to the wilderness just to be tempted by the devil, but the temptation was part of the event that would take place in the wilderness. I believe Jesus' primary reason for going to the wilderness is to be prepared for the Ministry ahead of Him. I want us to understand that God has a path He wants us to go, and He will not divert us from going that path just because the devil is on the way. God will not back up from His plan because of the devil. 

Jesus needed to go to the wilderness to prepare for the assignment ahead of Him, as it has been prophesied in the scripture (Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:12-17). Therefore, Jesus needed to fulfill the scripture. So, would God have said to His Son, Jesus, “don't go because the devil is there?”  Would He have broken His word because the devil is on the way? NO!

Let's also see another example in the life of the disciples of Christ.
This is another example where the disciples' faith were tested, but unlike Jesus their master, they failed. Jesus knew that there will be a storm (the effect of the fall and the devil), yet He asked His disciples to go to the other side because there was an assignment for them on the other side of the sea. So, God will not cancel His agenda because of a storm, He will rather empower you with what is needed to scale through the storm and come out victoriously.

One thing you must understand is that for every journey God planned for you to take, there is ‘the word’ He always attaches to the journey. And this word is enough to spur up faith and confidence in God, irrespective of what we meet on the way. For instance, if the disciples had considered the word of Jesus which He told that “He will meet them at the other side”, and if they have held to that word; faith, hope, and confidence would have risen.

When Jesus faced the devil in the wilderness, He remembered the word that was spoken about him, so His confidence was high in His Father. And He defeated the devil through the power of the word. So also, our confidence in Christ can never get to another level if we are not faced with temptation. It is in this process that all the virtue of Grace is made manifested in us and rubs on us as we depend on CHRIST and His word.

God has given us His eternal word that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). If the along the same route God has designed for you to pass through is where the devil and His activities are lying, God won’t because of the devil change His plan, but He would rather empower you with His word, which reminds you of who you are in Christ so that through it, you can always stand victorious irrespective of the activities of the devil and this is the same route that has been designed for you to tread. Brethren, I want to remind you that you have the life of God in you that can always cause you to triumph. Hallelujah!

From the above scripture, we see the testimony of James, who always rejoices when he sees temptation on his way. We can see the attitude of the apostles toward temptations because they see it as a way through which their Faith and confidence in Christ rise. When you also see temptation from this perspective, it’ll also raise your faith and confidence in Christ. 

When we look at Verse 2, James refers to temptation as the ‘trying of faith’. Just imagine what happened to gold when tried with fire. What happens to the gold? It shines brighter and brighter. This is what God intends to happen to us when we pass through the fire. He also said that this trying of faith works out patience in us. Although it is essential for us to understand that it is not temptation that gives us patience because If that's the case, then everyone should have great patience. Isn't it?

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit – it's not something that is produced mechanically. So, what James was saying is that it is during temptation this life of Patience has its full course and expression within us. As we depend on Christ and His word, His virtue gets manifested in us as it is being produced by the Holy Spirit. The life of patience and other virtues that were mentioned in that verse 3 get manifested in us as we are conscious of Christ. And thereby, it rubs on us in the process.

Friends, we are in the last days and our faith will be proved during this time; will we be standing firm on God’s word as Christ stood? God wants to make you an example of His grace, mercy, and power to the world. 

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