When God's Word Tests You

Turn to Psalm 105:17, as we talk today about when the Word of God tests you. God's Word will always test you, especially in your darkest hour. Listen closely. Your darkest hour is conquered by your dream about your future. A dream written down is a goal. A goal broken down into steps is a plan. A plan backed by divine action will conquer your darkest hour. You will have a darkest hour. You will be the person responsible between making it your permanent address or a temporary experience. Psalm 105:17: "He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters. He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him". "The word of the Lord tested him".

Father, thank you that in our darkest hour, we can call upon the light of the world and know God's perfect will for our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. And all of God's children said, amen.

Four things to remember in your darkest day. One, champions are never chosen from the ranks of unscarred people. I'm going to say that again. Champions are never chosen by the hand of God from the ranks of unscarred people. Every person God ever used in the Bible, he put them through a blast furnace to see if they would be true and loyal to him. Joseph died with scars around his ankles created by those leg irons. He became the prime minister wearing scars. Jesus was laid in a borrowed grave with the scars of 39 stripes on his back, with his hands and his feet split open. He had his side ripped open with a Roman spear to assure that he was dead. Jesus stands right now at the right hand of God the Father, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, with scars, with scars. How are the Jewish people, in the future, going to recognize Jesus as Messiah? The scars.

Zechariah 12:10 says, "Then they (the Jewish people) will look upon me whom they have pierced," and know that he is the Son of God, the Messiah. Trouble does not mean God does not love you. Trouble means you are a card-carrying member of the human race. Trouble strengthens you. It puts fire in your body. Trouble tests your fortitude factor. Trouble turns your spaghetti spine into steel. Trouble reminds you that you are mortal. Trouble lets you know that your strength is not enough. Trouble forces you to call on the Lord. Call upon him. He is Jehovah Shammah. He is God who is there. In your darkest hour, the light of the world is with you. When you feel totally forgotten, the still-small voice will whisper, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you even to the ends of the earth". Though your mother forgets you as a suckling child, I will never forsake you. I am your defender. I am your fortress. I am your hope. I am the light of the world. Turn to me! I will save you!

The Bible says, listen, "He is the Lord that dwells in the thick darkness". He dwells in the thick darkness. He is there in your darkest day. While you're weeping in the cell about your predicament, God has Pharaoh preparing your signet ring, your robe that you're going to wear in royalty, your chariot, your crown, the golden medallion that will go around your neck, signifying to everyone in the Egyptian empire, you are powerful. "The half has not entered into the minds of men what God hath prepared for his own," so says saint Paul. And saint Paul was there. On the worst day of your life, listen to the words of Jeremiah 33. "Call upon me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you know not". "Then in your darkest day, you will call, and the Lord will answer". Psalm 50, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you". The Bible says over and over and over and over, in your darkest day, the light of the world is right there!

Secondly, when you're in prison, remember in the prison experience, remember that adversity leads to achievement. Adversity leads to achievement. Your struggle is proof you have not been conquered. A mighty oak tree becomes a tree because a tiny seed was planted in the ground. And it struggled and fought its way up to face the sunshine and the rain. And it grew bigger and stronger. It fights its way to the sunshine and the air, only to wrestle with storms and snow and frost before it becomes a mighty oak. Adversity leads to achievement. The resistance of water makes it possible for a battleship to float. The resistance of gravity makes it possible for you to walk. The resistance of the air makes it possible for a jet aircraft to fly. Moses tended sheep for 40 years on the backside of the desert. He was listed as public enemy number one in Egypt before God sent him thundering back to Pharaoh's court, saying, "Let my people go".