Immune to Fear Week 4Sample

 The Testing of Your Faith 

  The scripture tells us that the testing and trial of our faith will come, and it also tells us why… 1 Peter 1:7 says, “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.” 

I remember when the testing of my faith came. I was sitting on the side of my bed in Malawi. I had a three-dollar-per-day room in a Baptist hostel. I had to sit down because a shock had just hit me. An urgent phone call from my office in Frankfurt, Germany, had brought me news that I could not take in. We were hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red! How could that be? At the beginning of that year, the Lord had assured me it would be “a year of twelve full baskets, a basket for each month.” I could not see how we could be in debt. “Lord,” I said, “why? You said that there would be full baskets, but they are all empty. How can that be?” In such moments, the Lord opens our eyes. He instructed me by saying, “The baskets of the disciples started filling only after the multitudes had all eaten. Keep on feeding the multitudes with My Word, and I will see to filling up the baskets.” I was amazed. The divine wisdom made sense. I said, “Lord, I will do what You say, and I know You will do what You say.” But—hundreds of thousands of dollars! It seemed beyond reason. Yes, but God reasons differently. The baskets stayed empty for twenty-four hours, and then came the news that God had filled them again. The year ended without debt. We kept on feeding the multitudes with the Word of God, and the Lord kept handing the supplies to us. When we are breaking the Bread of Life to the spiritually starving, God cannot let us down. 

That year, we saw one and a half million precious people respond to the call of God to be saved in our African crusades alone. Each of us, no matter the manner in which we have been called to serve the Lord, will have our faith tested— and most certainly more than once! Jesus spoke to his own disciples about the testing of their faith that would come. 

Luke 22:31-32 says, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 

Jesus knew that Simon Peter was about to face a greater trial and test of his faith than ever before. This trial of faith that was still to come would be bigger than the storm they had faced on the sea. This test would prove more difficult than their instruction to feed the multitudes with only a basket of food. This test would be more challenging for Simon Peter than stepping out of the boat to walk on water with the Lord. However, Jesus had prayed for Simon, that his faith would not fail, and that when he turned, he would be able to strengthen those around him. Jesus prayed for him, that his faith would not fail. Jesus is praying that our faith will not fail! We must hold on to our faith! 

In every season, in every trial, in every circumstance, Jesus is interceding for His church—that we would keep trusting Him, keep standing on His word, and keep looking up! 

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) 

When we face trials of various kinds, when our faith is being tested by fire—we keep looking up and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! We hold fast to our faith, believing our help comes from the Lord! We will make it through this trial to the other side even stronger than before, and we will go forward encouraging the rest of the saints!

Source: (Evangelism by Fire pg. 248-249)