Dear Beloved in Christ,
To know that we are blessed and to rejoice only in good times is not Christian faith.We believe in God’s supernatural hand and blessings but rejoicing in all times even when you are not sure why things of strange natures are happening to you, our faith can be visible when we rejoice (smile and dance for joy) and know that we are still blessed.
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, 1Pet. 4:12, 13a)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”(James 1:2)
Tests of our faith are part of Christian life.Evil tests are not from God, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” (emphasis mine; James 1:12, 13)
God does not tempt or test you with sickness, disease or bad things.The Greek word for trial in verse 12 is πειρασμός peirasmos and the word for tempt in verse 13 is πειράζω peirazōand the word cannot be tempted is ἀπείραστος apeirastos. Notice they all have the same Greek root word. The word for trial and the temptation are the same Greek word.
God has put His joy and peace and love in our born again spirits and when we go through difficult times in this physical realm, we can still rejoice and claim our victories in Christ Jesus. 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”(Gal.5:22).Lets draw from the spiritual realm, the faith world, the kingdom of God that is within us.
Dear Beloved, we can rejoice in the middle of anything good or bad.We can smile at the storm of our lives and rebuke the sickness and diseases in the authority of Jesus because sickness is not from God.We can suffer rejection or anything in our lives with smile on our faces.That is how we display our faith in action.
I pray that you will pass all your tests with smile on your faces because that is the reality of our born again spirits.
Together in one Spirit,
Pastor Sam
* We are on a one week trip with our mom visiting families in Northeast coast of US and border of Canada; keep us in your prayers.