When our Heavenly Father makes a promise to us, He fulfills it. 2 Peter 1:4 declares the promises of God: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature….”
Test this for your witness: The riches of this world, materialism, do not necessarily indicate the blessing of God. Paul declared, Philippians 4:11-13 “…for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound….to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Paul further declares in his letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us therewith be content.”
There is nothing wrong with riches or money. We all need money to live by, but when I pursue it, my life is on a wrong foundation. If I give possessions priority over God, then I have missed the mark. Jesus teaches us to seek His kingdom first and our other needs will be met. Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Consider this: Galatians 3:29 – 4:1-2 “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all, but he is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” There is an appointed time of the Father in the circumstances of our lives. A child growing up in a stable home needs a discipline of love. The child is not given everything he wants on demand before the parents consider he has learnt to manage or bear it sensibly. In the record of Jesus’ time on earth there were 18 silent years from the age of 12 to 30 where nothing was written about Him. These years were when He was learning obedience (Hebrews 5:8). The Son of God stripped Himself of His divinity in heaven and came to this earth as the Son of Man, not only to redeem the world, but to reveal the Father and demonstrate how to live. Paul discovered the secret, made available to all who receive Christ as their Saviour and Redeemer: Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” It is Christ in me, the hope of glory!
Some of God’s promises are fulfilled instantly in our lives at salvation. Others are fulfilled in the timing of God – at His appointed time. When I am in God’s waiting room it can be a time of testing, the trial of our faith, (1 Peter 4:12-13). If I enter into unbelief, I can delay the fulfillment of the promise. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6
I need to understand how God works in me through the circumstances of my life to bring forth the life of His Son in me. Do I murmur at the “waiting period” for the fulfillment of His promise? Am I in unbelief or have I entered into His rest that He will fulfill His promise to me at His appointed time? Have I learnt to trust Him? If my heart condemns me, do not despair, God is greater than my heart! God’s restoration quickly follows repentance.
The anointing we receive in a gathering or meeting is an anointing ON, where I receive revelation from the Holy Spirit. It needs to be taken in to the workplace of life’s circumstances, where the Holy Spirit continues to guide me and it is tested as He works it IN me. This is part of the trial of our faith. Have I learnt to sing in the “midnights” of my life? Have I entered God’s rest, learning to lean on Him and trust Him more? If my present circumstances find me living in “abasement”, I do not have to be in unbelief. Remember: Godliness with contentment is great gain.” When my heart comes in line with the purposes of God, I will enter the sweet rest of His presence. If I do not understand, I can still yield, surrender and trust my life to our ever faithful Father in heaven. I can declare to Him in rest, “True and righteous are all your ways, Lord.”
What we believe has to work. It is in the trial of our faith that the gold is wrought into our lives. What am I demonstrating to my family, friends and work colleagues? The stink of my complaining and murmuring flesh life, or the perfume of Christ? Let us encourage ourselves in God this day to bury our past failures in the bosom of Christ, take the hand of our Saviour to travel through the door of His opportunity for a new beginning, and discover afresh the abundant life He promises. He ever beckons, “Come unto me and learn of me….for my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” Matthew 11:28-30. It’s all in Him and He offers it to you! It is your birthright as a son and heir of His promise to be a partaker of His divine nature. Who the Son makes free is free indeed. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
