Is the Word of the Lord trying you?

Psalm 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

“Until the time that his word came.” God has his times, and his children must wait till his “until” is fulfilled. Joseph was tried as in a furnace, until the Lord's assaying work was fully accomplished. The word of the chief butler was nothing, he had to wait until God's word came, and meanwhile “the word of the Lord tried him.” He believed the promise, but his faith was sorely exercised. A delayed blessing tests men, and proves their metal, whether their faith is of that precious kind which can endure the fire. Of many a choice promise we may say with Daniel “the thing was true, but the time appointed was long.” If the vision tarry it is good to wait for it with patience. There is a trying word and a delivering word, and we must bear the one till the other comes to us.

Psalm 12:6 - The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Are you going through difficult times? Are you going through a wilderness? Are you being tested and facing many trials in your life?
Then know for sure that God will test you. He will test you as silver is tried and purified in the furnace of the earth. He loves you. Psalm 66:10 - For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Oh, what difficult times we have been and are now with all the trials and testings. All the blame-game. Where is God? Why doesn't He do anything? Is He sleeping? Why am I in such a mess? Why did this happen to me?

God tries your heart. He wants you to have faith in Him, cling to him, trust in His word and the same Word will test you. We want to have an easy life. He will check your heart. He will try your motives.

Did God give you a promise and now it seems delayed?
The promise will never come to pass unless you pass the test. Adam did, Noah did, Abraham did, Moses did, Jacob did, Joseph did, all the prophets did, Jesus did, His apostles did and now His church does go through tests and trials. Adam and Eve failed the test and sin entered the world through Adam. Jesus endured and passed the test and so we have eternal life through Him.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Are you afflicted?

1Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 1Peter 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God will try the faith in your heart. The faith you possess to cling and hold on to His Word. The trustworthiness or genuineness of your faith in His Word and His ability also to perform what He said. Jesus was tested. Jesus was tried. Jesus obeyed God even to the point of death. He suffered, was mocked, falsely accused, beaten, insulted and crucified. He died a criminal's death even though He had never sinned or committed a crime. When you share Christ's sufferings for His gospels sake, the Word of the Lord will try you to prove whether you trust Him and cling to Him more than any man, preacher, pastor, church, denomination or religion.

Haven't you read about Joseph's trials? How meekly Joseph endured his afflictions, and with what fortitude he looked forward to the clearing of his slandered character we may readily imagine, it will be better still if under similar trials we are able to imitate him, and come forth from the furnace as thoroughly purified as he was, and as well prepared to bear the yet harder ordeal of honor and power.

1Peter 4:14 - If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Do not be alarmed friends if you are insulted for the sake of the gospel of Christ. You are blessed. There is a reward at the end of this journey. A great reward at the end of the trials and afflictions is to be with our Father and our brother Lord Jesus Christ forever.

2Timothy 3:12 - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…

So, if you live a Christian life. A life which glorifies and magnifies Jesus Christ you will be persecuted. It gets tougher when you know the truth but cannot make a decision for it due to various trials and afflictions. You take the Word of God for your situation.

Let us not be ashamed of the trials and sufferings; rather rejoice in them because Jesus Christ suffered and has overcome all of it.

Can we be separated from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:38 - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 - Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No matter what is going through in life and the blessings you prayed for seem delayed. Nothing can separate you from His love. He died for you. He first loved you. He shed His blood for you.

Romans 5:3 - More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
Romans 5:4 - and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 5:5 - and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

If Paul could declare it so boldly and could rejoice in sufferings and trials, how much more should we declare it, whom the Lord has filled with His precious Holy Spirit and God's abundant love has been poured into our hearts through him.

Let us be found faithful and worthy when the Word of the Lord tries us and after enduring with patience and hope, we shall receive the crown of Life.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Remain steadfast under trial and endure the test. The same Word which tries you will deliver you.

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