Latest / truthunedited / Before God Uses You_ He Will Give You These 7 Tests
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: Have you ever felt like you effacing impossible challenges or
- 0:03Speaker 1: that God is testing your life in every way. Perhaps
- 0:07Speaker 1: you're wondering why things seem so difficult before you reach
- 0:11Speaker 1: what God has promised. The truth is, before using us
- 0:15Speaker 1: for something great, God leads us through a process of preparation.
- 0:19Speaker 1: This process, which we call God's tests, is not meant
- 0:23Speaker 1: to discourage us, but to shape and transform us into
- 0:26Speaker 1: instruments of His will. In this video, we'll explore the
- 0:30Speaker 1: seven tests God allows in our lives before using us Purpose, patience, obedience, faith, character, humility,
- 0:38Speaker 1: and perseverance. Each of these tests plays a crucial role
- 0:41Speaker 1: in his plan to prepare you for something extraordinary. By
- 0:45Speaker 1: the end, you'll understand that even during the toughest moments,
- 0:49Speaker 1: God is working behind the scenes to fulfill his purpose
- 0:53Speaker 1: for you. Stay with me until the end because this
- 0:56Speaker 1: message could change the way you see the challenges in
- 1:00Speaker 1: your life. Don't forget to like this video and subscribe
- 1:04Speaker 1: to the channel for more inspiring and uplifting content. The
- 1:08Speaker 1: first test the test of purpose. Before God uses someone powerfully,
- 1:13Speaker 1: he first leads them through the test of purpose. This
- 1:16Speaker 1: is the initial stage where He aligns our hearts and
- 1:20Speaker 1: understanding with the calling He has for our lives. The
- 1:23Speaker 1: test of purpose is essential because without clarity about what
- 1:28Speaker 1: God wants to accomplish, we may lose our way or
- 1:32Speaker 1: stray from the path He has prepared for us. A
- 1:35Speaker 1: clear example of this test is found in the life
- 1:38Speaker 1: of Joseph. As described in the Book of Genesis. Joseph,
- 1:42Speaker 1: the beloved son of Jacob, was also the target of
- 1:45Speaker 1: jealousy and envy from his brothers even as a young man.
- 1:50Speaker 1: God had already planted a greater purpose in Joseph's life,
- 1:54Speaker 1: revealed to him through dreams. In Genesis thirty seven we
- 1:58Speaker 1: find the two dreams God gave to Joseph. In the first,
- 2:02Speaker 1: Joseph tells his brothers, we were binding sheaves of grain
- 2:06Speaker 1: out in the field, when suddenly my sheaf rose and
- 2:09Speaker 1: stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed
- 2:13Speaker 1: down to it Genesis thirty seven seven. In the second dream,
- 2:17Speaker 1: he says, I had another dream, and this time the
- 2:21Speaker 1: sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to
- 2:24Speaker 1: me Genesis thirty seven nine. These dreams were not random visions,
- 2:30Speaker 1: but a message from God to Joseph, indicating his future
- 2:34Speaker 1: role in leadership and salvation. However, as a young and
- 2:39Speaker 1: inexperienced man, Joseph did not fully understand the significance of
- 2:43Speaker 1: the dreams. Perhaps unwittingly, he shared them in a way
- 2:47Speaker 1: that further fueled his brother's jealousy. This is where the
- 2:50Speaker 1: test of purpose begins. God gave Joseph a glimpse of
- 2:54Speaker 1: the future, but did not reveal the details of how
- 2:57Speaker 1: he would get there. This is a common characteristic of
- 3:01Speaker 1: God's work. He plants a purpose or vision in our hearts,
- 3:05Speaker 1: but allows difficult circumstances to shape and prepare us for it.
- 3:09Speaker 1: In Isaiah fifty five eight to nine, the Lord declares,
- 3:14Speaker 1: for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
- 3:17Speaker 1: ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth,
- 3:21Speaker 1: so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
- 3:24Speaker 1: thoughts than your thoughts. This reminds us that God's purpose
- 3:28Speaker 1: often transcends our immediate understanding. Returning to Joseph's story, his
- 3:33Speaker 1: brother's jealousy led to something tragic. In Genesis thirty seven
- 3:38Speaker 1: twenty three twenty eight, we read how they stripped him
- 3:41Speaker 1: of his robe, threw him into a cistern, and eventually
- 3:45Speaker 1: sold him as a slave to a caravan of Ishmaelites.
- 3:49Speaker 1: This series of events seemed to completely contradict the dreams
- 3:53Speaker 1: of greatness Joseph had received. He went from being a
- 3:56Speaker 1: beloved son to a slave in a foreign land. Yet
- 4:00Speaker 1: even in this apparent defeat, God was working to shape
- 4:04Speaker 1: Joseph's character and guide him toward his ultimate purpose. Joseph's
- 4:08Speaker 1: journey teaches us that God's purpose in our lives often
- 4:12Speaker 1: begins to unfold amidst pain, rejection, and difficulties. This doesn't
- 4:18Speaker 1: mean God desires our suffering, but that he uses all
- 4:22Speaker 1: circumstances for the good of those who love him, as
- 4:25Speaker 1: written in Romans eight twenty eight. And we know that
- 4:28Speaker 1: in all things God works for the good of those
- 4:31Speaker 1: who love Him who have been called according to his purpose.
- 4:36Speaker 1: Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he was sold as
- 4:39Speaker 1: a slave to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. Even in
- 4:43Speaker 1: such a humbling position, Joseph chose to remain faithful to God.
- 4:49Speaker 1: His dedication and integrity soon stood out, and he was
- 4:53Speaker 1: appointed as the administrator of Potiphar's entire household Genesis thirty
- 4:59Speaker 1: nine two to s. This shows that even when we
- 5:02Speaker 1: are far from the ultimate purpose. Our faithfulness in the
- 5:06Speaker 1: present is a way of honoring God and allowing him
- 5:09Speaker 1: to continue shaping us. However, Joseph's test of purpose was
- 5:13Speaker 1: far from over. He faced further injustices, including false accusations
- 5:18Speaker 1: from Potiphar's wife and unjust imprisonment Genesis thirty nine, thirteen twenty.
- 5:24Speaker 1: During these years of apparent abandonment, God was refining Joseph's character,
- 5:29Speaker 1: teaching him patience, humility, and unwavering trust in the Divine plan.
- 5:36Speaker 1: This is an important lesson for all of us. Even
- 5:39Speaker 1: when we don't understand why we're facing hardships, we can
- 5:42Speaker 1: trust that God is working to fulfill his purpose in
- 5:45Speaker 1: our lives. Joseph remained steadfast, and in God's perfect timing,
- 5:50Speaker 1: he was elevated from prison to the position of governor
- 5:53Speaker 1: of Egypt, responsible for saving countless lives during a devastating famine.
- 5:59Speaker 1: What once seemed like a distant dream in his youth
- 6:02Speaker 1: became a reality at the perfect moment, demonstrating that God's
- 6:06Speaker 1: purpose always comes to fruition. The test of purpose teaches
- 6:11Speaker 1: us that God may lead us down paths that seem
- 6:14Speaker 1: contrary to the calling he has given us, but every
- 6:18Speaker 1: step is part of the process of shaping us. We
- 6:21Speaker 1: must trust that He is in control even when we
- 6:25Speaker 1: don't fully understand what is happening. With the test of
- 6:28Speaker 1: purpose in mind, we understand that God not only reveals
- 6:32Speaker 1: a calling, but also prepares us for it. However, this
- 6:36Speaker 1: preparation is never immediate or free from challenges. The next test,
- 6:41Speaker 1: which we will now explore, is the test of patience,
- 6:44Speaker 1: where God teaches us that his timing is always perfect
- 6:48Speaker 1: and that waiting is part of the transformative process. The
- 6:52Speaker 1: second test, the test of patience. The test of patience
- 6:56Speaker 1: is perhaps one of the most challenging we face in
- 6:58Speaker 1: our walk with God. It teaches us that His timing
- 7:02Speaker 1: is perfect even when it seems like everything is at
- 7:04Speaker 1: a standstill or that our prayers are going unheard. Waiting, however,
- 7:09Speaker 1: is never a sign of divine neglect. On the contrary,
- 7:13Speaker 1: it is during this period that God works in us
- 7:16Speaker 1: and through us, shaping our character and preparing us for
- 7:19Speaker 1: the purpose he has already determined. One of the greatest
- 7:23Speaker 1: biblical examples of this test is found in the life
- 7:26Speaker 1: of Abraham, the Father of Faith. In Genesis twelve two,
- 7:32Speaker 1: God makes an extraordinary promise to Abraham, I will make
- 7:36Speaker 1: you into a great nation, and I will bless you.
- 7:39Speaker 1: I will make your name great, and you will be
- 7:42Speaker 1: a blessing. This promise included the gift of a son,
- 7:46Speaker 1: something that seemed impossible since both Abraham and his wife
- 7:50Speaker 1: Sarah were advanced in age and she was barren. Even so,
- 7:55Speaker 1: Abraham believed in God's word and his journey of faith began. However,
- 8:00Speaker 1: there was a long period of waiting between the promise
- 8:04Speaker 1: and its fulfillment. According to Genesis twenty one five, Abraham
- 8:08Speaker 1: was one hundred years old when Isaac was born. This
- 8:12Speaker 1: means he waited approximately twenty five years to see the
- 8:16Speaker 1: promise fulfilled. During this time, God was working in his life,
- 8:21Speaker 1: teaching him valuable lessons about faith, obedience, and above all, patience.
- 8:27Speaker 1: The test of patience in Abraham's life was not without challenges.
- 8:31Speaker 1: In Genesis sixteen, we see a moment when Abraham and Sarah,
- 8:36Speaker 1: impatient with the delay, tried to resolve the situation on
- 8:39Speaker 1: their own. Sarah suggested that Abraham have a child with
- 8:43Speaker 1: her servant Hagar, and thus Ishmael was born. However, this
- 8:48Speaker 1: attempt to expedite God's plan brought conflict and consequences that
- 8:53Speaker 1: affected the family for generations. This episode teaches us that
- 8:57Speaker 1: when we try to rush God's plans, we often complicate
- 9:01Speaker 1: our journey even more. Despite this detour, God remained faithful
- 9:06Speaker 1: to his promise. In Genesis eighteen ten to fourteen, the
- 9:09Speaker 1: Lord reaffirmed to Abraham and Sarah that they would have
- 9:13Speaker 1: a son, even though the situation seemed impossible from a
- 9:16Speaker 1: human perspective. When Sarah laughed in disbelief, God asked, is
- 9:21Speaker 1: anything too hard for the Lord? This reminder is essential
- 9:24Speaker 1: for all of us as we await God's timing. He
- 9:27Speaker 1: is sovereign and all powerful, and nothing is beyond his reach.
- 9:31Speaker 1: The test of patience is also evident in other biblical stories.
- 9:36Speaker 1: Consider David, who was anointed by Samuel as a young
- 9:40Speaker 1: man to be king of Israel. The account of his
- 9:43Speaker 1: anointing is found in First Samuel sixteen thirteen. So Samuel
- 9:48Speaker 1: took the horn of oil and anointed him in the
- 9:50Speaker 1: presence of his brothers, and from that day on the
- 9:53Speaker 1: spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. However, David
- 9:58Speaker 1: did not ascend to the throne immediately. He spent years
- 10:02Speaker 1: fleeing from Saul, facing dangers and difficulties while waiting for
- 10:06Speaker 1: God's timing to reign. During this period, David was shaped
- 10:11Speaker 1: into a leader after God's own heart. He learned to
- 10:14Speaker 1: trust the Lord even when circumstances seem to contradict the promise.
- 10:19Speaker 1: In Psalm twenty seven fourteen, David shares a lesson he
- 10:22Speaker 1: learned through his own experience. Wait for the Lord. Be
- 10:26Speaker 1: strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. The
- 10:29Speaker 1: patience God teaches us is not passive. It requires active
- 10:33Speaker 1: trust and perseverance. In Romans five three four, the apostle
- 10:38Speaker 1: Paul writes, not only so, but we also glory in
- 10:42Speaker 1: our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character,
- 10:49Speaker 1: and character hope. This shows us that God uses the
- 10:54Speaker 1: waiting period to refine our character and strengthen our faith.
- 10:59Speaker 1: When faith seeing the test of patience, it is natural
- 11:02Speaker 1: to ask why is God taking so long, or even
- 11:06Speaker 1: to wonder has He forgotten me? But it is important
- 11:10Speaker 1: to remember that God is never inactive. In Isaiah sixty
- 11:14Speaker 1: four four, we read since ancient times, no one has heard,
- 11:19Speaker 1: no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God
- 11:22Speaker 1: besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait
- 11:25Speaker 1: for him. He is always at work, even when we
- 11:28Speaker 1: cannot see it. The test of patience also helps us
- 11:32Speaker 1: recognize that God is not just interested in giving us
- 11:35Speaker 1: what he promised, but in transforming us in the process.
- 11:40Speaker 1: While we wait, he is working on our hearts, aligning
- 11:43Speaker 1: our priorities, and teaching us to depend entirely on Him.
- 11:48Speaker 1: As written in Psalm thirty seven seven, be still before
- 11:52Speaker 1: the Lord and wait patiently for him. Looking at Jesus,
- 11:57Speaker 1: we see the perfect example of someone who fully trusted
- 12:00Speaker 1: in God's timing. During his earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated incredible patience,
- 12:07Speaker 1: even in the face of rejection, opposition, and suffering. He
- 12:13Speaker 1: knew there was a perfect time for everything, As stated
- 12:16Speaker 1: in Ecclesiastes three to one, there is a time for
- 12:20Speaker 1: everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.
- 12:24Speaker 1: The test of patience is not easy, but it is indispensable.
- 12:28Speaker 1: It teaches us to trust that God knows what is
- 12:31Speaker 1: best and that his timing is perfect. It is not
- 12:35Speaker 1: just about waiting, but about how we wait. In Lamentations
- 12:40Speaker 1: three twenty five to twenty six, we read the Lord
- 12:44Speaker 1: is good to those whose hope is in him to
- 12:46Speaker 1: the one who seeks him. It is good to wait
- 12:49Speaker 1: quietly for the salvation of the Lord. As we reflect
- 12:54Speaker 1: on the test of patience, we must remember that every
- 12:57Speaker 1: moment of waiting is an opportunity to grow in faith
- 13:01Speaker 1: and trust in God. Like Abraham and David, we are
- 13:04Speaker 1: called to persevere knowing that God always fulfills his promises
- 13:09Speaker 1: in his time, and it is in this waiting process
- 13:13Speaker 1: that He prepares us for the challenges and blessings to come.
- 13:17Speaker 1: The third test, the test of obedience. The test of
- 13:21Speaker 1: obedience is one of the most decisive moments in the
- 13:25Speaker 1: journey of anyone who desires to be used by God.
- 13:28Speaker 1: While patience teaches us to trust in his timing, obedience
- 13:32Speaker 1: challenges us to act even when we do not fully
- 13:35Speaker 1: understand what God is doing. This test calls us to
- 13:39Speaker 1: submit our will to his often requiring us to take
- 13:42Speaker 1: a step of faith before He reveals the next One
- 13:46Speaker 1: of the most well known examples of this test is
- 13:49Speaker 1: the story of Noah. In Genesis six thirteen to fourteen,
- 13:53Speaker 1: God says to Noah, I am going to put an
- 13:56Speaker 1: end to all people, for the earth is filled with
- 13:59Speaker 1: violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy
- 14:03Speaker 1: both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark
- 14:06Speaker 1: of cypress wood, make rooms in it, and coat it
- 14:10Speaker 1: with pitch inside and out. God described in detail what
- 14:15Speaker 1: Noah was to do, and Noah obeyed, even without immediate
- 14:19Speaker 1: signs that the flood would happen. Imagine the context in
- 14:23Speaker 1: which Noah was living. It had never rained in such
- 14:26Speaker 1: a devastating way before, and building an arc of that
- 14:29Speaker 1: magnitude seemed absurd. There is no mention that Noah questioned
- 14:34Speaker 1: or tried to negotiate with God. He simply did what
- 14:38Speaker 1: God commanded. In Genesis six twenty two, it is written
- 14:43Speaker 1: Noah did everything just as God commanded him. This is
- 14:47Speaker 1: the essence of obedience, trusting in God's word and acting
- 14:51Speaker 1: upon it even when it challenges our logic or the
- 14:54Speaker 1: approval of those around us. Noah's obedience was not easy.
- 14:59Speaker 1: He must have faced ritch and misunderstanding from the people
- 15:02Speaker 1: around him. The Bible does not provide details about these reactions,
- 15:07Speaker 1: but it is reasonable to imagine that building an ark
- 15:10Speaker 1: in a place with no signs of a storm was
- 15:12Speaker 1: a cause for scorn. Nevertheless, Noah persevered because he knew
- 15:18Speaker 1: that obeying God was more important than pleasing men. In
- 15:22Speaker 1: Hebrews eleven seven, we read by faith, Noah, when warned
- 15:26Speaker 1: about things not yet seen in holy fear, built an
- 15:29Speaker 1: ark to save his family. Obedience is not only about
- 15:34Speaker 1: grand gestures or epic projects like building the ark. Sometimes
- 15:38Speaker 1: it is manifested in daily decisions that require surrender and submission.
- 15:43Speaker 1: Think of the story of Abraham. When God asked him
- 15:46Speaker 1: to sacrifice his son Isaac in Genesis twenty two two,
- 15:50Speaker 1: God said to Abraham, take your son, your only son,
- 15:54Speaker 1: whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Mariah.
- 15:58Speaker 1: Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain.
- 16:01Speaker 1: I will show you. This command was extremely difficult. Isaac
- 16:07Speaker 1: was the son of the Promise, the one through whom
- 16:10Speaker 1: God had promised to make Abraham into a great nation.
- 16:13Speaker 1: Even so, Abraham did not hesitate. In Genesis twenty two three,
- 16:18Speaker 1: we read early the next morning, Abraham got up and
- 16:21Speaker 1: loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his
- 16:24Speaker 1: servants and his son Isaac. He obeyed promptly, trusting that
- 16:30Speaker 1: God had a greater plan, even though he could not
- 16:33Speaker 1: understand it at that moment. Abraham's obedience was rewarded when
- 16:37Speaker 1: God at the last moment, provided a ram to be
- 16:40Speaker 1: sacrificed in place of Isaac. This story teaches us that
- 16:44Speaker 1: obedience is a demonstration of our faith and trust in God,
- 16:48Speaker 1: and that he is always faithful to his promises. Another
- 16:52Speaker 1: powerful example of obedience is found in the life of Jesus.
- 16:56Speaker 1: In Philippians two seven to eight, Paul writes about Jesus. Rather,
- 17:02Speaker 1: he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of
- 17:05Speaker 1: a servant, being made in human likeness and being found
- 17:08Speaker 1: in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming
- 17:12Speaker 1: obedient to death, even death on a cross. Jesus obedience
- 17:18Speaker 1: was not easy. It involved suffering, rejection, and sacrifice, but
- 17:23Speaker 1: through this obedience, salvation was made available to all humanity.
- 17:28Speaker 1: Obeying God often means renouncing what seems logical or convenient.
- 17:33Speaker 1: He may ask us to give up a relationship, a job,
- 17:36Speaker 1: or even plans we thought were the right path. When
- 17:39Speaker 1: we obey, we demonstrate that we trust God more than
- 17:43Speaker 1: our own understanding. As it is written in Proverbs three
- 17:47Speaker 1: five to six, trust in the Lord with all your heart,
- 17:50Speaker 1: and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways.
- 17:53Speaker 1: Submit to Him, and he will make your path straight.
- 17:57Speaker 1: Obedience is also a proof of love. In John fourteen fifteen,
- 18:02Speaker 1: Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commands. This
- 18:06Speaker 1: means that our willingness to obey God is directly tied
- 18:09Speaker 1: to our devotion to him. When we truly love God,
- 18:13Speaker 1: we are led to obey not out of fear, but
- 18:17Speaker 1: out of gratitude and a desire to please him. It
- 18:20Speaker 1: is important to remember that obedience does not guarantee a
- 18:24Speaker 1: journey free of difficulties, but it guarantees that we will
- 18:28Speaker 1: be within God's will, which is always the best place
- 18:31Speaker 1: to be. In Deuteronomy twenty eight to two, God promises
- 18:36Speaker 1: all these blessings will come on you and accompany you
- 18:39Speaker 1: if you obey the Lord your God. The blessing of
- 18:43Speaker 1: obedience lies not only in the results, but also in
- 18:46Speaker 1: the intimacy with God and the peace that comes from
- 18:50Speaker 1: knowing we are following his plan. When facing the test
- 18:53Speaker 1: of obedience, we can ask ourselves, am I willing to
- 18:56Speaker 1: follow God even when I do not understand everything. This
- 19:00Speaker 1: is a question that reveals our willingness to trust Him completely.
- 19:05Speaker 1: Obedience is a practical demonstration of our faith and prepares
- 19:09Speaker 1: us to receive the promises He has for us the
- 19:14Speaker 1: fourth test, the test of faith. The test of faith
- 19:18Speaker 1: is one of the most crucial moments in the journey
- 19:21Speaker 1: of any one who desires to be used by God.
- 19:24Speaker 1: Without faith, it is impossible to please him, as it
- 19:28Speaker 1: is written in Hebrews eleven six. And without faith, it
- 19:32Speaker 1: is impossible to please God because any one who comes
- 19:35Speaker 1: to him must believe that He exists and that he
- 19:39Speaker 1: rewards those who earnestly seek him. Faith leads us to
- 19:43Speaker 1: trust in God even when the situation seems impossible, even
- 19:48Speaker 1: when everything around us says there is no solution. This
- 19:51Speaker 1: trust is essential because it teaches us to depend on
- 19:55Speaker 1: God's power and faithfulness, and not on our own strength.
- 20:00Speaker 1: Classic example of faith in the Bible is the story
- 20:03Speaker 1: of David facing Goliath, recorded in First Samuel chapter seventeen.
- 20:08Speaker 1: David was just a young shepherd with no military experience,
- 20:12Speaker 1: while Goliath was a seasoned and feared warrior, a giant
- 20:16Speaker 1: nearly nine feet tall. In First Samuel seventeen four, we
- 20:20Speaker 1: read a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came
- 20:25Speaker 1: out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits
- 20:29Speaker 1: and a span. This man posed an overwhelming threat both
- 20:33Speaker 1: physically and psychologically. While the entire Israelite army trembled in
- 20:38Speaker 1: fear before Goliath, David displayed unwavering confidence in God. In
- 20:43Speaker 1: First Samuel seventeen twenty six, he asked, who is this
- 20:47Speaker 1: uncircumcised philistine that he should defy the armies of the
- 20:51Speaker 1: Living God. David understood that the battle did not depend
- 20:55Speaker 1: on his strength or abilities, but on God, who is
- 20:59Speaker 1: sovereign and powerful. When David was brought before Saul, he
- 21:03Speaker 1: reaffirmed his faith in God. In First Samuel seventeen thirty seven,
- 21:08Speaker 1: he declared, the Lord who rescued me from the paw
- 21:12Speaker 1: of the lion and the paw of the bear, will
- 21:14Speaker 1: rescue me from the hand of this philistine. Here we
- 21:18Speaker 1: see how David's previous experiences protecting his sheep and facing
- 21:23Speaker 1: wild animals bolstered his confidence in God. He knew that
- 21:28Speaker 1: the same God who delivered him in the past would
- 21:31Speaker 1: remain faithful in the present. As he faced Goliath, David
- 21:35Speaker 1: did not rely on sophisticated weapons or heavy armour. He
- 21:39Speaker 1: refused Saul's armour, saying in First Samuel seventeen thirty nine,
- 21:44Speaker 1: I cannot go in these because I am not used
- 21:46Speaker 1: to them. Instead, he took his sling five smooth stones
- 21:52Speaker 1: and confronted the giant, armed only with his faith in God.
- 21:56Speaker 1: In Verse Samuel seventeen forty five, David proclaimed to the giant,
- 22:00Speaker 1: you come against me with sword and spear and javelin,
- 22:04Speaker 1: but I come against you in the name of the
- 22:06Speaker 1: Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom
- 22:10Speaker 1: you have defied. This encapsulates the essence of faith, facing
- 22:16Speaker 1: what seems impossible, not based on what we see or have,
- 22:20Speaker 1: but trusting in the God who fights for us. David
- 22:23Speaker 1: won the battle with a single stone launched from his sling.
- 22:27Speaker 1: In First Samuel seventeen fifty we read so David triumphed
- 22:31Speaker 1: over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, without
- 22:34Speaker 1: a sword in his hand. He struck down the Philistine
- 22:37Speaker 1: and killed him. This victory was not merely a personal
- 22:41Speaker 1: triumph for David, but a clear demonstration that when we
- 22:45Speaker 1: trust in God, he accomplishes things far beyond our abilities.
- 22:50Speaker 1: Just as David faced Goliath, we also encountered giants in
- 22:54Speaker 1: our lives. These may not be flesh and blood warriors,
- 22:57Speaker 1: but can take the form of insecurity, fear, criticism, doubt
- 23:02Speaker 1: or financial challenges. These giants attempt to paralyze us, make
- 23:08Speaker 1: us believe we are incapable, or convince us that God
- 23:11Speaker 1: is not with us. However, like David, we are called
- 23:14Speaker 1: to face these giants with faith, trusting that God is
- 23:18Speaker 1: greater than any problem we might face. Faith does not
- 23:21Speaker 1: mean the absence of fear, but choosing to trust in
- 23:24Speaker 1: God even amid fear. In Psalm fifty six three, David wrote,
- 23:30Speaker 1: when I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
- 23:34Speaker 1: This teaches us that having faith does not mean we
- 23:36Speaker 1: will never experience moments of doubt or worry, but that
- 23:40Speaker 1: in those moments we can turn to God and trust
- 23:43Speaker 1: in His power and faithfulness. Another powerful example of faith
- 23:48Speaker 1: in the Bible is the story of Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach,
- 23:53Speaker 1: and Abednago in Daniel three sixteen to eighteen. They refuse
- 23:58Speaker 1: to worship the golden statue set up by nebuchad Nezza,
- 24:01Speaker 1: even under the threat of being thrown into the fiery furnace.
- 24:06Speaker 1: They said, if we are thrown into the blazing furnace,
- 24:10Speaker 1: the God we serve is able to deliver us from it,
- 24:13Speaker 1: and he will deliver us from your Majesty's hand. But
- 24:17Speaker 1: even if he does not, we want you to know,
- 24:20Speaker 1: your Majesty that we will not serve your gods or
- 24:23Speaker 1: worship the image of gold you have set up. This
- 24:26Speaker 1: type of faith is unshakable because it does not depend
- 24:30Speaker 1: on circumstances or outcomes, but on trust in God's character.
- 24:36Speaker 1: The test of faith teaches us that we cannot rely
- 24:39Speaker 1: on our own strength or resources, but must place our
- 24:43Speaker 1: full trust in God. In Second Corinthians five seven, Paul writes,
- 24:48Speaker 1: for we live by faith, not by sight. This means
- 24:52Speaker 1: that even when we do not see a solution, even
- 24:55Speaker 1: when everything seems against us, we can rest assured that
- 24:59Speaker 1: God is in conn This confidence does not develop overnight.
- 25:03Speaker 1: It is built through experiences and the daily practice of
- 25:07Speaker 1: trusting God. Romans ten, p. Seventeen says Consequently, faith comes
- 25:13Speaker 1: from hearing the message, and the message is heard through
- 25:17Speaker 1: the Word about Christ. The more we immerse ourselves in
- 25:21Speaker 1: God's word, the stronger our faith becomes. When facing the
- 25:25Speaker 1: test of faith, we might ask ourselves, do I believe
- 25:29Speaker 1: that God is with me in my most difficult battles.
- 25:33Speaker 1: This question challenges us to reflect on where we place
- 25:36Speaker 1: our trust when we put our faith in God, he
- 25:39Speaker 1: empowers us to face any challenge and emerge victorious, not
- 25:44Speaker 1: by our strength, but by His power. The fifth test
- 25:48Speaker 1: is the test of character. The test of character is
- 25:52Speaker 1: a central point in the journey of those who desire
- 25:54Speaker 1: to be used by God. Unlike what we often think,
- 25:58Speaker 1: God is not as concerned with the what we do
- 26:00Speaker 1: as with who we are. He desires that our actions
- 26:03Speaker 1: reflect a heart transformed and shaped by His will. This
- 26:08Speaker 1: test reveals who we truly are and exposes areas in
- 26:12Speaker 1: our lives that need adjustment so we can fulfill God's
- 26:15Speaker 1: purpose faithfully and with integrity. One of the greatest examples
- 26:20Speaker 1: of tested character in the Bible is Joseph. His story
- 26:23Speaker 1: is rich with lessons about how God uses the most
- 26:27Speaker 1: difficult circumstances to refine our integrity and prepare us for
- 26:31Speaker 1: greater things. As we know, Joseph was sold by his
- 26:35Speaker 1: own brothers and taken to Egypt as a slave. This
- 26:40Speaker 1: terrible act would have been enough to crush the spirit
- 26:42Speaker 1: of many, but Joseph chose to trust in God and
- 26:47Speaker 1: remain faithful even in the face of such injustice. In
- 26:51Speaker 1: Genesis chapter thirty nine, verse two, it is written, the
- 26:55Speaker 1: Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he
- 26:59Speaker 1: lived in the house of his Egyptian master. This passage
- 27:02Speaker 1: shows that even in a difficult and humiliating environment, Joseph
- 27:07Speaker 1: demonstrated excellence and integrity in everything he did. He gained
- 27:12Speaker 1: Potiphar's trust, who appointed him as the steward of his
- 27:16Speaker 1: entire household. However, his integrity would be severely tested. Potiphar's
- 27:21Speaker 1: wife attempted to seduce Joseph. In Genesis chapter thirty nine,
- 27:26Speaker 1: verse nine, Joseph responds to temptation, saying, how then could
- 27:31Speaker 1: I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?
- 27:34Speaker 1: Joseph knew that yielding to temptation would not only betray
- 27:38Speaker 1: his master, but also be a sin against God. This
- 27:43Speaker 1: response reveals a character rooted not in external circumstances, but
- 27:48Speaker 1: in a deep commitment to righteousness and obedience to God.
- 27:53Speaker 1: Despite acting with integrity, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar's
- 27:57Speaker 1: wife and thrown into prison. In Genesis chapter thirty nine,
- 28:02Speaker 1: verse twenty, we read Joseph's master took him and put
- 28:05Speaker 1: him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined.
- 28:10Speaker 1: Once again, Joseph faced a situation that could have easily
- 28:14Speaker 1: led him to despair or bitterness, Yet instead he continued
- 28:18Speaker 1: to display character and trust in God. In verse twenty
- 28:23Speaker 1: one of the same chapter, it is written, the Lord
- 28:27Speaker 1: was with him. He showed him kindness and granted him
- 28:30Speaker 1: favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Even in prison,
- 28:35Speaker 1: Joseph maintained his integrity, and God used him in that
- 28:38Speaker 1: place to interpret dreams and bring hope to other prisoners.
- 28:42Speaker 1: He could have chosen to withdraw, complain, or give up,
- 28:46Speaker 1: but he chose to remain faithful. This attitude not only
- 28:50Speaker 1: sustained him, but also paved the way for him to
- 28:53Speaker 1: be elevated in due time to the position of governor
- 28:57Speaker 1: of Egypt. The test of character is also evident in
- 29:00Speaker 1: other biblical stories. Daniel, for instance, is known for his
- 29:04Speaker 1: faithfulness to God in a hostile environment. In Daniel Chapter six,
- 29:09Speaker 1: verse four, we read they could find no corruption in
- 29:12Speaker 1: him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
- 29:18Speaker 1: Even knowing that his life was at risk, Daniel continued
- 29:21Speaker 1: praying to God three times a day, as was his custom,
- 29:24Speaker 1: refusing to compromise his integrity. He was thrown into the
- 29:29Speaker 1: lion's den, but God delivered him honoring his faithfulness. These
- 29:33Speaker 1: stories teach us that character is both built and revealed
- 29:36Speaker 1: in times of hardship. God allows us to face moments
- 29:40Speaker 1: of injustice, rejection, or pain to shape us. In Romans
- 29:45Speaker 1: Chapter five, verses three and four, Paul writes, we glory
- 29:49Speaker 1: in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character,
- 29:56Speaker 1: and character hope. This means that in every every challenging situation,
- 30:02Speaker 1: God is working to transform us into the image of Christ.
- 30:06Speaker 1: It is important to understand that character is not something
- 30:09Speaker 1: we acquire once and for all. It is continuously refined
- 30:14Speaker 1: as we face situations that test our faith, patience, and obedience.
- 30:20Speaker 1: Sometimes this involves letting go of things we consider important
- 30:25Speaker 1: or enduring criticism for remaining faithful to God. In James
- 30:30Speaker 1: Chapter one, verses two and three, we read, consider it
- 30:34Speaker 1: pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials
- 30:37Speaker 1: of many kinds, because you know that the testing of
- 30:41Speaker 1: your faith produces perseverance. In practical life, God allows us
- 30:46Speaker 1: to face difficult situations at work, in our families or
- 30:50Speaker 1: in our relationships to reveal areas where we need to grow.
- 30:54Speaker 1: Perhaps you are facing a situation where you have been
- 30:57Speaker 1: unjustly accused or misunderstood. These moments are opportunities to trust
- 31:02Speaker 1: God and demonstrate christ like character, as it is written
- 31:07Speaker 1: in Proverbs chapter four, verse twenty three. Above all else,
- 31:11Speaker 1: guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
- 31:15Speaker 1: Guarding the heart means choosing the path of integrity, even
- 31:19Speaker 1: when it is not easy or convenient. Additionally, a person's
- 31:24Speaker 1: character is often tested in how they respond to success
- 31:27Speaker 1: or promotion. Joseph, when he became governor of Egypt, continued
- 31:32Speaker 1: to act with humility and wisdom. He could have used
- 31:35Speaker 1: his position to take revenge on his brothers, but he
- 31:39Speaker 1: chose to forgive them. In Genesis chapter fifty, verse twenty,
- 31:43Speaker 1: he says to his brothers, you intended to harm me,
- 31:47Speaker 1: but God intended it for good. To accomplish what is
- 31:50Speaker 1: now being done, the saving of many lives. This reveals
- 31:55Speaker 1: a deeply transformed character, shaped by God's love and grace.
- 31:59Speaker 1: The test of character reminds us that God does not
- 32:02Speaker 1: only call us to do great things, but to be
- 32:05Speaker 1: people who reflect His holiness and love. He is not
- 32:09Speaker 1: impressed by our talents or achievements. But by a pure
- 32:12Speaker 1: and humble heart. In First Samuel chapter sixteen, verse seven,
- 32:16Speaker 1: God says, the Lord does not look at the things
- 32:19Speaker 1: people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but
- 32:22Speaker 1: the Lord looks at the heart. This truth should motivate
- 32:27Speaker 1: us to seek God continuously, asking him to transform our
- 32:31Speaker 1: character so that we may become useful vessels in his hands.
- 32:36Speaker 1: If you are facing a situation of injustice or difficulty
- 32:39Speaker 1: to day, know that God is using this moment to
- 32:43Speaker 1: refine you. He is more interested in who you are
- 32:47Speaker 1: becoming than in what you are doing. Don't give up.
- 32:51Speaker 1: In Philippians chapter one, verse six, it is written, being
- 32:55Speaker 1: confident of this, that he who began a good work
- 32:58Speaker 1: in you will carry it on to comple until the
- 33:01Speaker 1: day of Christ Jesus. God will not give up on you,
- 33:05Speaker 1: and every test you face is part of His plan
- 33:08Speaker 1: to shape you. The sixth test is the test of humility.
- 33:12Speaker 1: The test of humility is one of the most important
- 33:15Speaker 1: in our walk with God. Before he exalts us or
- 33:18Speaker 1: intrusts us with great responsibilities, God works in our hearts
- 33:22Speaker 1: to teach us true dependence and submission. Humility is not
- 33:28Speaker 1: just a virtue, It is a requirement for those who
- 33:31Speaker 1: wish to be used by God. As it is written
- 33:35Speaker 1: in James Chapter four, verse six, God opposes the proud,
- 33:39Speaker 1: but shows favor to the humble. It is in the
- 33:42Speaker 1: place of humility that God shapes our character to reflect
- 33:46Speaker 1: his glory. One of the greatest examples of humility in
- 33:50Speaker 1: the Bible is Moses. He was born into slavery in Egypt,
- 33:54Speaker 1: but was miraculously rescued and raised in Pharaoh's palace. In
- 33:58Speaker 1: Acts seven twenty two, it is recorded Moses was educated
- 34:03Speaker 1: in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful
- 34:07Speaker 1: in speech and action. From a human perspective, Moses had
- 34:11Speaker 1: all the qualifications to lead. He was educated, influential, and strong. However,
- 34:18Speaker 1: God had different plans for him. Before Moses could be
- 34:22Speaker 1: used to deliver the Israelites, he had to go through
- 34:25Speaker 1: the test of humility. In Exodus two fifteen, we read
- 34:29Speaker 1: that after killing an Egyptian and being discovered, Moses fled
- 34:34Speaker 1: to Midian, where he spent forty years in the desert
- 34:37Speaker 1: as a shepherd. This time in the wilderness was crucial
- 34:41Speaker 1: to teach Moses lessons he could never learn in the palace.
- 34:45Speaker 1: He was removed from a position of prominence and brought
- 34:48Speaker 1: to a simple life where he learned to depend entirely
- 34:52Speaker 1: on God. During this period, Moses was transformed. Numbers twelve
- 34:57Speaker 1: three states now Moses was a very humble man, more
- 35:01Speaker 1: humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
- 35:04Speaker 1: This humility or meekness is a direct reflection of the
- 35:08Speaker 1: transformation God worked in him. Before leading an entire nation,
- 35:13Speaker 1: Moses needed to become small in the world's eyes and
- 35:16Speaker 1: great in God's eyes. Humility is often developed in the
- 35:20Speaker 1: desert seasons of our lives. The desert represents times when
- 35:24Speaker 1: we feel forgotten, directionless, or powerless over our circumstances. These
- 35:30Speaker 1: can be times of financial challenges, family problems, work difficulties,
- 35:36Speaker 1: or even moments of silence when God seems distant. Yet
- 35:40Speaker 1: it is in these moments that God works on our hearts.
- 35:44Speaker 1: The desert is not a place of punishment, but of preparation.
- 35:48Speaker 1: In Deuteronomy eight two, God reminds the Israelites, remember how
- 35:53Speaker 1: the Lord your God led you all the way in
- 35:56Speaker 1: the wilderness these forty years to humble and test you
- 36:00Speaker 1: in order to know what was in your heart, whether
- 36:03Speaker 1: or not you would keep his commands. God uses the
- 36:06Speaker 1: desert to teach us complete dependence on Him and to
- 36:09Speaker 1: reveal what is truly in our hearts. Perhaps you are
- 36:12Speaker 1: in a desert right now. It may seem like God
- 36:15Speaker 1: is distant or your prayers are unanswered, But remember the
- 36:19Speaker 1: desert is where He prepares your soul for something greater.
- 36:24Speaker 1: In First Peter five six, we read, humble yourselves, therefore
- 36:29Speaker 1: under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up
- 36:32Speaker 1: in due time. This verse reminds us that exaltation comes
- 36:36Speaker 1: only from God, and it happens at the right time,
- 36:40Speaker 1: after we have undergone the process of humility. Another example
- 36:43Speaker 1: of humility in the Bible is Jesus himself. In Philippians
- 36:47Speaker 1: two times six to eight, it is written, who, being
- 36:51Speaker 1: in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
- 36:55Speaker 1: something to be used to his own advantage. Rather, he
- 36:58Speaker 1: made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
- 37:02Speaker 1: being made in human likeness and being found in appearance
- 37:06Speaker 1: as a man. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death,
- 37:11Speaker 1: even death on a cross. Jesus is the ultimate example
- 37:15Speaker 1: of someone who humbled himself completely, trusting the Father to
- 37:19Speaker 1: exalt him at the right time. Humility does not mean
- 37:23Speaker 1: thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. It
- 37:27Speaker 1: leads us to put God and others first, recognizing that
- 37:31Speaker 1: every good gift comes from him. In John fifteen five,
- 37:34Speaker 1: Jesus said, I am the vine, You are the branches.
- 37:38Speaker 1: If you remain in me and I in you, you
- 37:40Speaker 1: will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.
- 37:45Speaker 1: This verse reminds us that we are incapable of achieving
- 37:48Speaker 1: anything of eternal value without total dependence on God. In
- 37:53Speaker 1: practical life, humility can be demonstrated in how we treat
- 37:57Speaker 1: those around us, especially those who can not offer us
- 38:00Speaker 1: anything in return. It can be expressed in how we
- 38:04Speaker 1: respond to criticism, in our willingness to serve, or in
- 38:08Speaker 1: our attitude towards successes and failures. In Luke fourteen eleven,
- 38:13Speaker 1: Jesus said, for all those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
- 38:18Speaker 1: and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This is
- 38:21Speaker 1: a kingdom principle. The more we submit to God, the
- 38:25Speaker 1: more He can use us for his glory. The test
- 38:28Speaker 1: of humility also teaches us that everything we have and
- 38:31Speaker 1: are comes from God. Paul in first Corinthians four to
- 38:35Speaker 1: seven asks for who makes you different from any one else.
- 38:39Speaker 1: What do you have that you did not receive? And
- 38:42Speaker 1: if you did receive it, why do you boast as
- 38:45Speaker 1: though you did not. This verse reminds us that there
- 38:48Speaker 1: is no place for pride in the heart of someone
- 38:50Speaker 1: who understands that everything comes from God. If you feel
- 38:55Speaker 1: like you are in a place of humiliation or forgotten
- 38:57Speaker 1: in the desert, know that God is at work in you.
- 39:01Speaker 1: He is shaping your character and preparing you for something
- 39:05Speaker 1: beyond your understanding. Isaiah forty thirty one states, but those
- 39:11Speaker 1: who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They
- 39:14Speaker 1: will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and
- 39:17Speaker 1: not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint.
- 39:21Speaker 1: The desert is not the end, It is only the
- 39:23Speaker 1: beginning of something greater. The seventh test, the test of perseverance.
- 39:29Speaker 1: The test of perseverance, is one of the most profound
- 39:31Speaker 1: and demanding stages of the journey for anyone who desires
- 39:35Speaker 1: to be used by God. Unlike other tests, it not
- 39:39Speaker 1: only challenges us to trust and wait, but also to
- 39:43Speaker 1: resist and press on even when everything seems against us.
- 39:48Speaker 1: It is in this test that God works deeply within us,
- 39:52Speaker 1: refining our faith, character, and hope. Perseverance is a call
- 39:57Speaker 1: to remain steadfast, not just for a moment, but throughout
- 40:01Speaker 1: the journey until the promise is fulfilled. One of the
- 40:05Speaker 1: most striking examples of perseverance in the Bible is the
- 40:09Speaker 1: story of Job. In Job one point one, we are
- 40:13Speaker 1: introduced to him as a man of complete integrity who
- 40:17Speaker 1: feared God and turned away from evil. Job was blessed
- 40:22Speaker 1: with a loving family, great wealth, and an apparently peaceful life. However,
- 40:27Speaker 1: all of this was taken from him in a short
- 40:30Speaker 1: span of time. He lost his children, his possessions, and
- 40:34Speaker 1: his health. Yet in Job one twenty two it is
- 40:37Speaker 1: written in all this Job did not sin by charging
- 40:41Speaker 1: God with wrongdoing. Even in the face of great adversity,
- 40:45Speaker 1: Job maintained his integrity. In Chapter two, verse ten, he
- 40:49Speaker 1: responds to his wife who suggested that he curse God
- 40:53Speaker 1: and die. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?
- 40:58Speaker 1: Job acknowledged that God would in control even when he
- 41:01Speaker 1: didn't understand the reasons for his suffering. This is the
- 41:05Speaker 1: essence of perseverance, trusting in God even when there are
- 41:09Speaker 1: no explanations or answers. Job's journey is a clear example
- 41:15Speaker 1: that the path to the promise is never linear. He
- 41:19Speaker 1: faced not only material and physical losses, but also the
- 41:23Speaker 1: silence of God. In Job chapter thirteen, verse fifteen, he declares,
- 41:28Speaker 1: though he slay me, yet will I hope in him?
- 41:31Speaker 1: This declaration reveals unwavering trust even amidst the deepest suffering.
- 41:37Speaker 1: Beyond his losses, Job faced the misunderstanding of his friends,
- 41:41Speaker 1: who unjustly accused him of sin. In Job chapter nineteen,
- 41:45Speaker 1: verse twenty five, he asserts, I know that my redeemer
- 41:48Speaker 1: lives and that in the end he will stand on
- 41:51Speaker 1: the earth. This statement of faith demonstrates that even in
- 41:55Speaker 1: his pain, Job had hope in God and believed that
- 41:59Speaker 1: in due time he would act on his behalf. At
- 42:02Speaker 1: the end of his story, God not only restored Job's
- 42:06Speaker 1: life but also blessed him even more than before. In
- 42:10Speaker 1: Job chapter forty two, verse ten, we read after Job
- 42:15Speaker 1: had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes
- 42:19Speaker 1: and gave him twice as much as he had before.
- 42:22Speaker 1: This restoration was not only material, but also spiritual and emotional.
- 42:26Speaker 1: God honored Job's perseverance and used his story as a
- 42:30Speaker 1: testimony to inspire generations Perseverance is not something that comes naturally.
- 42:37Speaker 1: It is forged in the midst of difficulties. In Romans
- 42:41Speaker 1: chapter five, verses three and four, Paul writes, we also
- 42:45Speaker 1: glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character,
- 42:52Speaker 1: and character hope. This shows us that God uses tribulations
- 42:57Speaker 1: to strengthen us and prepare us for greater things. Perseverance
- 43:02Speaker 1: is proof that we are willing to trust God even
- 43:05Speaker 1: when all seems lost. Another example of perseverance in the
- 43:09Speaker 1: Bible is the life of Paul. He endured persecutions, imprisonments, shipwrecks,
- 43:15Speaker 1: and many other challenges in his ministry. In Tecwod Corinthians,
- 43:20Speaker 1: chapter eleven, verses twenty four to twenty seven, he describes
- 43:23Speaker 1: some of his experiences. Five times I received from the
- 43:28Speaker 1: Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was
- 43:32Speaker 1: beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three
- 43:36Speaker 1: times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a
- 43:39Speaker 1: day in the open sea. I have been constantly on
- 43:42Speaker 1: the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in
- 43:45Speaker 1: danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in
- 43:49Speaker 1: danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger
- 43:52Speaker 1: in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger
- 43:55Speaker 1: from false believers. I have labored and toiled, and have
- 43:59Speaker 1: offer and gone without sleep. I have known hunger and thirst,
- 44:03Speaker 1: and have often gone without food. I have been cold
- 44:06Speaker 1: and naked. Despite all this, Paul remained steadfast in his
- 44:12Speaker 1: mission because he knew his strength came from God. In
- 44:16Speaker 1: tewod Corinthians chapter twelve, verse nine, he shares what the
- 44:20Speaker 1: Lord told him. My grace is sufficient for you, for
- 44:24Speaker 1: my power is made perfect in weakness. This is a
- 44:27Speaker 1: powerful truth for all of us. God does not call
- 44:30Speaker 1: us to persevere in our own strength, but provides his
- 44:33Speaker 1: grace to sustain us. In practical life, perseverance can mean
- 44:38Speaker 1: continuing to trust God during an illness, a financial crisis,
- 44:43Speaker 1: or a difficult relationship. It can mean not giving up
- 44:46Speaker 1: on praying for something even when it seems like nothing
- 44:49Speaker 1: is changing. In Hebrews chapter twelve, verse one, we read, Therefore,
- 44:54Speaker 1: since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
- 44:58Speaker 1: let us throw off everything that hinds and the sin
- 45:01Speaker 1: that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
- 45:05Speaker 1: the race marked out for us. The Christian life is
- 45:09Speaker 1: described as a long distance race that requires patience, focus,
- 45:13Speaker 1: and perseverance. God tests our endurance not to punish us,
- 45:17Speaker 1: but to strengthen us. In James chapter one, verse twelve,
- 45:21Speaker 1: it is written, blessed is the one who perseveres under trial,
- 45:25Speaker 1: because having stood the test, that person will receive the
- 45:28Speaker 1: crown of life that the Lord has promised to those
- 45:31Speaker 1: who love him. Perseverance is rewarded both in this life
- 45:35Speaker 1: and in eternity. If you are facing challenges to day,
- 45:39Speaker 1: remember that God is with you every step of the way.
- 45:42Speaker 1: He sees your struggles, hears your prayers, and knows your heart.
- 45:46Speaker 1: In Isiah chapter forty one, verse ten, God says, so
- 45:50Speaker 1: do not fear, for I am with you. Do not
- 45:52Speaker 1: be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen
- 45:56Speaker 1: you and help you. I will uphold you with my
- 45:59Speaker 1: righteous right hand. This promises a reminder that you are
- 46:03Speaker 1: never alone, even in the hardest moments. The test of
- 46:07Speaker 1: perseverance challenges us to keep trusting God even when it
- 46:11Speaker 1: seems impossible. It reminds us that the ultimate victory belongs
- 46:16Speaker 1: to him and that if we remain faithful, we will
- 46:20Speaker 1: see his promises fulfilled. The final question is are you
- 46:24Speaker 1: willing to continue even when everything seems against you. Each
- 46:30Speaker 1: of these trials, purpose, patience, obedience, faith, character, humility, and
- 46:35Speaker 1: perseverance is an essential part of God's preparation to use
- 46:40Speaker 1: our lives in a powerful way. He never abandons us
- 46:44Speaker 1: at any stage of the journey, but is always with us,
- 46:47Speaker 1: shaping and strengthening us to fulfill the plan He has
- 46:51Speaker 1: for us. If this message has touched your heart and
- 46:54Speaker 1: you feel you are living through some of these trials,
- 46:57Speaker 1: remember God is preparing something incredible for your life. Don't
- 47:02Speaker 1: give up. Trust the process and his timing. Now. If
- 47:07Speaker 1: you've found this content uplifting, don't forget to like, share
- 47:11Speaker 1: it with your friends and subscribe to the channel for
- 47:14Speaker 1: more messages that edify and transform. Activate the notification bell
- 47:18Speaker 1: so you don't miss any updates. Let's grow in faith
- 47:22Speaker 1: together and help more people find purpose in God. Thank
- 47:26Speaker 1: you for watching, and see you in the next video.