Rain in Due Season

As followers of Christ, we must press through and go through many resistances within and without.  Resistances, or hindrances, may be church congregations, “crowds of people,” family, or friends, and even within ourselves!  Within us, our trials create an unswerving constancy in Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:3)  Conquering our oppositions exercise our destinies. Moreover, we are empowered to complete His perfect work and we are deficient in nothing.  Often times, tribulations come to lure us out of the ark of safety. “James describes the process of testing by word dokimion; it is the work for sterling coinage for money which is genuine and unalloyed. The aim for testing is to purge us from all impurity.  If we suffer and vanquish our tribulations and trials, we have strength to bear more and conquer harder battles.”  (Barclay, 1976) Oppositions and trials cause us to become implacable in God.

In spite of these oppositions, we must look beyond the terrors and the raging of men and demonic forces to the glory and power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In a time that we are viewed as outlaws for righteousness’ sake; furthermore, we often battle inwardly to continuously choose Christ over the world. Oftentimes, when people are faced with opposition they become fearful and are tempted to turn back to the past instead of marching forward to the Promised Land.  Israel was guilty of this. In Exodus 14: 12, it states: “…For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness?” But you have got to stand still; see God’s salvation and in faith, know that your Egyptian-that which binds you-you will see it no more.  Know when God brings you through, your obstacles you will not see anymore. (Numbers 11) If He brings you to it, He will bring you through every trial and challenge. As the people of God, we must not compromise with evil but have unswerving loyalty and an unfailing love for God.  Satan himself is the primary opposition to the people of God.  “And Satan stood up against Israel…” (I Chronicles 21: 1) If he stood against Israel, he will stand up against you!  The enemy is going to design traps and pitfalls because he wants to you to turn away from the living God.  Because his ministry is to steal, kill and destroy, it is his ultimate goal to sift the saints as wheat. “…Satan, hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22: 31) This Scripture reveals the enemy’s purpose of scattering and bringing the believer to disgrace. The saints or wheat are to nourish the world in the ways of God through their ministry. Craftily designed by the devil, sometimes tribulations are meant to make the saints as the shaft, worthless and ineffective, drenching in spiritual decay.

However, as we continue to walk in obedience, we are destined to walk in victory! “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”  (II Corinthians 2: 14) Can you show faith in misfortunes, trials, and tests?  With Jesus Christ, the victory is sure!  You have got to confess to possess!  Say to that opposition, be thou removed! (Matthew 21: 21) “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” (Psalm 46: 1-2) Jesus, the hope of victory over circumstances, failures, pains, hurts, trials, and tribulations!  (Barclay, 1975)