“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – Jas 1:1-4
We can hardly go a day, an hour, or even a minuet at times before our faith is tested in some way. Things happen in life. As believers we must look at them as opportunities to allow our faith to stand strong. It is an opportunity to trump any and all kinds of forces that would oppose what we believe in concerning our faith and our trust in the Word of God. These situations need to be perceived as platforms for us to shout out the victory, walk victoriously and in doing so give honor to our Lord.
Our core, our spirit should always be willing to stand up and do the right thing no matter what the cost. They are opportunities for our God to get the glory. Our flesh may struggle but as we learn to walk and pray in the spirit more, we will gain the strength to stand without wavering. We will not fall to the temptations of life and especially not give voice to defeat in the day of testing. There is no way around it, when we are tested we become stronger. Our heels dig in deeper. We must have a willingness to submit to God and to allow his Word to arise in us.
When these temptations come to test us, we must “Let patience have her perfect work.” God’s Grace and beauty will only permeate through us as we allow patience to do what needs to be done in our lives. God’s sovereign purpose allows us to put our trials in perspective.
Though situations may seem to press us out, it is a time and an opportunity to be filled with the Glory and Grace of God. Christians must intentionally put their trials under God’s plan for their lives in their attitudes. Less of us and more of him. This doesn’t happen overnight. This doesn’t happen automatically either. We have to use our Free Will to decide to follow after His Will. It is a process that will bring us to a place of maturity and perfection in God.
Think about the olive. In order for the oil to be released it must be pressed. The gardener knows when it is time to allow the press to squeeze the olive. The press doesn’t plop down so hard as to destroy the vegetable but rather to give just enough pressure to release the first oil. The ‘First Oil’ is called the virgin oil. This is the most costly and highest valued commodity. It is similar to the First Fruit. The first fruit is considered to be the best. The second and third press produces oil but it is not the “best oil.”
When the temptations come, we must be those who are immediately willing to surrender to God and to His Will. We must be those who will release God’s flavor in and through us at the first pressing.
We must have patience as we allow the Lord to bring us into perfection. We must learn to stand in a place where only the Word of God moves us. We must not be moved by man nor the vicissitudes in the seasons of life. We must be those who are only moved by the Word of God.
Think about it. When has God ever failed you? Never! Things may not have turned out the way you wanted them to but when you have given your life to God and put your trust in Him, then there is a peace that comes to confirm that the Will of God has been manifested. Our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us.
It is His goal to bring us to that place in our walk with Him where we are complete, mature, and lacking for nothing.
May God’s Grace Abundantly Reign In Your Life!
-Apostle Ric & Prophetess Kathy Steele
The Prophetic Voice 