By Greg Johnson
August 6, 2006
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
On our journey from earth to glory, we will be faced with many trials that will test our obedience to the Lord. These are crosses that we must carry as Jesus said (Luke 9:23 NIV) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." We can not bypass crosses and follow Jesus. We must carry our cross with our eyes fixed on Jesus knowing that on the other side of the cross is glory.
Some of us today find our self in the midst of one of the greatest trials of our life. Some have just come out of the greatest trial of their life. Others are getting ready to go into one of the greatest trials of their life. Where ever you are at on your journey, God has given me a Word for you today. Stand on God’s Word and rely on the Holy Spirit to get you through. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will strengthen, guide and sustain you through every trial that comes your way.
Please know today that the last half hour of your trial is often the greatest test of your faith. Depend on God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit and you will come through trials victoriously and your faith will increase exponentially.
All throughout the Bible, examples are given to us so that we can learn from them. One such example is that of King Saul facing a massive Philistine army at Gilgal. Saul was sent to Gilgal by the prophet Samuel and instructed to wait there for seven days until Samuel arrived to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings (1 Samuel 10:8). This was the Word of the Lord to Saul. He was given specific instructions to follow just as God has given us the Bible as our instructions to follow. The Bible is our authoritative guide for all of our beliefs and actions. The instruction given in it will get us through the greatest of trials that come our way. Not only has God given us the Bible, but He has also given us the Holy Spirit that will lead and guide us into all truth. The Word and the Spirit are powerful and they will sustain us.
Let’s look to God’s Word and glean from it today important truths that will help us through any trial that comes our way. God’s Word says "(1 Samuel 13:5-14 NIV) "The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. {6} When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. {7} Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. {8} He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. {9} So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. " And Saul offered up the burnt offering. {10} Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. {11} "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, {12} I thought, ’Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering." {13} "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. {14} But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.""
Saul did not come through his trial victoriously. He did not obey the Lord’s instructions. In the last half hour of his trial, he failed. The last half hour of our trials will often times be the greatest test of our faith. Let’s learn from this example that has been given to us to help us. Let’s not make the same mistakes that Saul made in the last half hour of his trial.
TRUST GOD’S WORD INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU SEE.
(1 Samuel 13:11 NIV) ""What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash," Saul was focused on the wrong things. He was focused on his surroundings instead of God’s Word. His men were running in fear, Samuel was late showing up and he was facing a massive army. Things did not look good and Saul acted on what he saw and not on God’s Word.
In the last half hour of your trial, things will not look good. Don’t fix your eyes on your surroundings. Instead fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Trust God’s Word and not what you see.
TRUST GOD’S WORD INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU THINK.
(1 Samuel 13:12 NIV) "I thought, ’Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’" Saul began to rationalize. He began to think logically how he could solve his problem.
In the last half hour of your trial, you will be tempted to rationalize. You will be tempted to try to figure out how you can logically solve your problem. God defies logic. God is supernatural and He does supernatural things in supernatural ways. Trust God’s Word and not logical thinking.
TRUST GOD’S WORD INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU FEEL.
(1 Samuel 13:12 NIV) "So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering." Saul was not compelled by the Holy Spirit. He was compelled by his own feelings.
In the last half hour of your trial, you will be tempted to act on your own feelings. You will be tempted to walk in the flesh instead of the Holy Spirit. To come out victoriously, you must trust the Word and walk in the Spirit. The Word and the Spirit will lead you out of the trial.
Beloved, we are living in difficult days. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Trials will come. Sometimes they will come in rapid succession. In the last half hour of your trial, your faith will be tested. You will be tempted to look at your circumstances, rationalize and act on your feelings. Learn from Saul’s mistake. Trust God’s Word and let His Word and His Spirit lead you out of any and all trials. Through the Word and the Spirit, you will prevail victoriously! The battle is already won. Just wait on God.
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