TESTS & TRIALS: New Man Emerging!
NEW MAN Emerging…
TESTS & TRIALS
What does it really mean to be “tested” by GOD?
I Corinthians 10:13 says this:
“A trial has not taken you except what is common to mankind: but God is faithful, Who will not permit you to be tested beyond what you are able, and therefore He will then in the test make you able to patiently bear the way out.”
Many translations talk about a “way out” or “escape” this is the literal translation of that text. In the midst of uncomfortable even painful seasons the Lord has not left us even when we just wanted …OUT! But in these seasons of testing we are matured in the Lord as we learn to stand in our faith and pursue God and things of GOD…we are processed. A trial, according to One New Man Bible glossary of definitions is “a heavenly test that forces a person to choose between God’s will and his/her own nature or understanding of what is right. By standing in faith we serves as witnesses to the world of His power working through us. God knows how you will respond before the test starts”.
One thing I have learned in my journey thus far is that when God puts us in a place of obscurity, or so it might seem, we as Christians have an innate response to cry out, “OH LORD SAVE ME FROM THIS or THAT!” But when it seems He has forgotten us or is distant from us, or even appears to have abandoned us…what is really inside of us WILL, no doubt come out!
Remember HE knows what our response will be, so the test then is for us to know where we stand, and how often have we asked the Lord to see us as HE sees us? What is HE doing? Revealing to us our own hearts!
At first while the situation, place or circumstance is difficult or uncomfortable we squirm and whine and often complain…if we are truly searching, we discover that what we “feel” is inappropriate and not Godly at all! What is it HE does in HIS vast goodness and loving-kindness to then help us? Lead us to repentance! Look at it in the scriptures:
“4 Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?” Romans 2:4 AMPC
He reveals to heal remember? He reveals or gives revelation to something to help change it and/or understand it! OR…to get at the core of the matter in this case, our own hearts!
When He chips away all the unbelief, strife, contention, rebellion, fear, self-pity, complaining, murmuring from us by leading us to repent as in confessing in each instance where we are wrong and NOT in alignment with HIS will and then getting INTO agreement with HIM and HIS will …HIS WAYS…we are then able to repent! Change our thinking about the situation, circumstance, or place we are in and begin to see things HIS way!
All the while and during this season of “trials & testing” we either display faith or not. We either stand on our faith or not. One thing is for certain, the trial/test WILL bring out what IS inside of us, make no mistake on that dear ones!
“2 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 AMP
The neat thing I have discovered in my journey is that we ebb and flow with the Lord as we are led by Holy Spirit…because we learn to exercise our “faith” muscles and that will often display to those around us the power of GOD in and through us as we keep on walking so we can run and keep on running so we can fly! We learn in the journey what is really “right” and what is not!
Another great take away is that HE reveals the different aspects of HIS nature and character TO us in these times, meaning? HE IS VERY CLOSE!
He may reveal Himself to us as “Healer” or “Provider” or “Protector” or “Father” or “Deliverer” or….any ONE of His names!!!
In this place…He often reveals HOLY SPIRIT to us in encounters and experiences so we can become more knowledgeable of Jesus and Himself as our Father by better knowing HOLY SPIRIT!!!!
We may even have Heaven encounters and/or visitations! We can learn more and experience more in these trials and tests than we could ever imagine!
It is in the place of wilderness….that HE revealed to the Israelites HIS awesome and amazing power and love and sound mind…hmm…sound familiar?
POWER –miracles. LOVE- so extravagant and protective/providing always. SOUND MIND (Self Control)…HE is always in control of Himself and of this universe and all that is within it! In learning these few of His many amazing aspects we begin to learn how WE are made in Their image!!
“26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness…” Genesis 1:26a
In the tests/trials the new man inside of us has the opportunity to “come forth” and be revealed! The renewed mind has a chance to come forth and act according to the will and plan of our Heavenly Father… “ON earth as it IS in Heaven”!
This has both to do with our responses, reactions as well as demonstrating the power/miraculous power of God in and through us!!
The wilderness “testing/trials” the Lord takes us through teaches us that…
“1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. 6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.”
David knew well these trials and tests but even going through them, he never stopped believing, trusting and relying upon our Heavenly Father because David knew our Father…after all Heavenly Father SAID that David was a man after His own heart! Meaning? After the way Heavenly Father thinks, speaks and acts!! How He thinks, feels and does things in other words!
Are we after that? IN the tests of life and trials that we don’t seem to “escape” from no matter how much we beg God…perhaps it IS where we are to not just “learn of HIM” but to really KNOW Him! Perhaps it is where we learn our own hearts…and make appropriate changes, shifts in actions and words and the way we think! Perhaps it is where we discover that HE is more alive IN us in our new man than we really understood or knew before we found ourselves in the trials/tests!
This is a time to give in to the process and allow HIM to mold us and make us and our response is standing IN faith joyfully, waiting expectantly with hope and eager anticipation of HIS outcome and revelation!! BELIEVING with our whole heart as our minds are renewed and our words back up the renewed mind and our actions do likewise!
Testing…Trials…the place where Victorious Warriors, Children of THE Most High are developed, trained and made ready for walking in great success and awesome victory carrying JESUS mighty name!!!
This is a season of “coming out” of the wilderness with a new and fresh anointing yes, but also in Godly character with true integrity, moving in power with the heart of The King! Ruling with the heart of a servant and Serving with the heart of THE King as Bill Johnson often shares.
The NEW YEAR is fast approaching us, HEBRAIC NEW YEAR…God’s timetable in other words and we are going to feel and see a shift like we have NEVER seen before and those with eyes to see and ears to hear will be moving in great exploits because they KNOW their GOD…our Heavenly Father!
The question beloved is this, are you allowing the LORD to process you or are you fighting it? Are you resisting it by believing you should be someplace other than where you are? Are you giving up losing hope in what Heavenly Father has planned not only for YOU personally but even for our nation and this world HE created? OR…are YOU standing up and allowing HIM to take you through the valley so you can learn WHO He really is and WHO you really are IN Him??
Those who do…will have such peace and the Kingdom will be seen in and on them, those who don’t will have a tough time of it until they let go of their own false expectations, disappointments and “agendas”!
If you are in the wilderness….BE in it with Him!!! Enjoy the journey and what is coming will overwhelm and delight you in the coming days!
YOU won’t be moved by what is going on around you but moved only by HIS HOLY SPIRIT!
Testing and Trials….make us to shine more!!
“Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!” Isaiah 60:1 AMPC
Hang in there beloved…like a butterfly who struggles to get out of the cocoon and must “struggle” in order to have wings strong enough, developed enough to FLY when they “break out”! 
“31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” Isaiah 40:31 AMPC
Blessings to each of you and keep going, keep JESUS in your focus and run your race…enjoy the wilderness experience and remember what you learn there!
Pastor Lori Lynn