The Deliverance of Faith
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9
We have been looking at various aspects of faith over the past few weeks. This week I want us to see the important lessons concerning the deliverance of faith. We all face times of trial and trouble. We all are forced to deal with difficult situations that will require us to truly walk by faith. Our challenge is that we are to always remain faithful no matter the trial or trouble. As we seek to remain faithful in the midst of our trials, there are two important lessons that we must master concerning the deliverance of God.
Deliverance from Trials is not necessarily our Highest Good.
Our highest spiritual blessings may not come as we are delivered from the trial, but as we are delivered in the trial. The three men walked with Christ in the fiery furnace not outside of it. Daniel experienced the power of God in the lion’s den. Paul found the sufficiency of Christ as he endured the thorn in the flesh (II Corinthians 12:9). God knows how to provide for our greatest good. He has begun a work in us, it is His work, and He will complete that work which He began. His ways are always perfect, but that does not mean they are always easy. Remember, He promises to be with us all the way (Hebrews 13:5).
The Ways of the Lord are not Equal
God delivers some from the trial and He delivers some in the trial. James left prison to be executed; yet Peter left prison to go to a prayer meeting. We need not look around and see how God is dealing with others; instead, we need to look to Him by faith knowing He rewards those who are faithful to Him.
Let us learn to walk by faith. That requires that we “trust in the Lord with all our heart”. It does not require that we understand. He knows what is best and He always provides a way of escape in every trial (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Pastor Jeffrey Bateman