Matthew 8:1-3 (Amplified) says, "When Jesus came down from the mountain, great throngs followed Him. And behold, a leper came up to Him and prostrating himself, worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing, be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed."
We've heard so many things about what is God's will, which has left us confused to where the only thing we know with certainty is, that it's God's will for us to be born-again. There are some, who even today, don't believe that His salvation is for "all who will believe." Many Christians don't know whether it's God moving in their lives or the devil.
Even in the natural world, if someone tells you that your earthly father had been molesting children for many years, then you would become indignant and enraged at the accusation. But, even some of God's Own family, believe He is the One Who is tormenting mankind. We continuously hear that, "God does these things for our own good." I haven't seen any good come from abuse, cancer, drugs, murder, disease or divorce, that would cause me to believe that my Heavenly Father's trying to teach people with them. James 1:17 (Amplified) says, "Every good gift and every perfect, free, large, full gift is from Above; it comes down from the Father of all that gives Light, in the shining of Whom there can be no variation (rising or setting, or shadow cast by His turnings as in an eclipse)."
The above scripture tells us that, "God only bring good and perfect gifts" and there's no change that He has or will change. We refer to such men of Old, as David or Job, but we don't remember they weren't under the new creation covenant and were still dead in their spirit. God's will for His family is to teach, lead and fellowship with them, by their new creation spirit man who is alive unto Him, through our union with Jesus.
We've been taught many things by traditional and carnal thinking, that sound "right," but these things aren't the Wisdom or will of God. Before bringing accusations against God for all of our troubles, we should first delve into His Word and discover who our real enemy is. It's not God. God is our Answer and not our problem, according to James 1:13-14 (Amplified) which says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tested from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by what is evil and He Himself tempts no one. But ever person is tempted when he is drawn away (enticed and baited) by his own evil desire (lust and passions)."
It's easier to say, "God is the One doing these things," instead of finding out what is happening and then disciplining ourselves by God's Word and His Spirit. Through Jesus, we've been granted the responsibility to hear and obey God's Word and "keep ourselves from the evil one." 1John 5:18 (Amplified) says, "We know absolutely that anyone born of God does not deliberately and knowingly practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him, Christ's Divine Presence within him preserves him against the evil, and the wicked on does not lay hold, get a drip on him or touch him."
2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed, given by His inspiration and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work." God has given us the liberty to govern ourselves, by His Word and His Spirit. If we obey and listen to the Holy Spirit living in us, then the wicked one cannot lay hold on us.
God trains and disciplines His family, by His Word and His Spirit. If we yield to His leading, then we can keep ourselves from most of the mess, that we get into. Because things don't always go perfectly in our lives, doesn't mean that we're out of God's will. Jesus gives "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark 4:15,17 (Amplified) saying, "The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown in their hearts, but when they hear, satan comes at once, and by force takes away the Message which is sown in them."
A Christian who doesn't have God's Word sown in them, poses no danger to the devil's realm. Through persecution and affliction, satan can cause those Christians to stumble and fall away. Jesus goes on in Verse 17, saying, "This comes on account of the Word in them." Every believer should know that God wouldn't have the Message of deliverance and salvation preached, in order to set His children free and then determine to take these things from us, by trial and tribulation.
Any person who thinks like this, is a "double-minded man," according to James 1:7-8 (Amplified) which says, "Truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord. For being as he is a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides." If we don't know whether trials are from the Father or the enemy, then how do we know what to do, when they come?
1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) says, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind) be vigilant and cautious at all times, for that enemy of yours (the devil) roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him (be firm in faith against his onset, rooted and established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same identical sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole Body of Christians) throughout the world."
The above scripture informs us that, "Satan is the one bringing the problem," not God. We are to withstand satan, by faith in God's deliverance and not yield to him, believing "it's God testing us." If we don't know whether it's God testing us or the devil seeking to devour us, then we will undoubtedly be devoured. Jesus described those persons in Mark 4:17 (Amplified) saying, "And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away."
God's Word never said that, "Trials won't come," but it's important for us to know who sends them. If we are double-minded, concerning the trials and tests of life, then we will fall into a place where we have no resistance whatsoever. Jesus endured many trials and tests, during His Own ministry, but He always knew who was testing Him. Not one time did Jesus ever suspect that it was the Father behind it. We must have assurance in God's Word and the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 6:13 (Amplified), Jesus taught us to pray this way, "And lead, bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; for Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory forever. Amen."
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