1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Count it all joy - the trying of your faith is the thing that is perfecting you.
I want to talk about the process of perfecting. If we can really get ahold of what these writers are saying we’ll understand that there is something in this process of perfection that is not scary. That actually the bitter is sweet.
If we are to ever be successful in our calling, it will not happen unless first there is a testing. Anyone who has walked with God and had any success in their ministry will understand that there is a process of testing, a process of perfecting. You see, whatever talent, ability you have been gifted with, it must be given back to God. He hands it to us, we are inspired, there is a lot of zeal. It isn’t all about inspiration and excitement……there are testing times. Wisdom comes through the testing times.
Whoever you are and whatever you are doing for God, this time of testing may not always be pleasant. There is no-one here that is exempt from this perfection process, this testing process.
Human nature seeks the sunshine.
Human nature seeks the comfortable. But we can’t always have the sweet without the bitter.
You can’t have the sunshine and no rain.
You can’t have the sunshine and no clouds.
It is in the struggles and testing in our lives that God is perfecting us, this is growth and maturity.
There is no doubt that we are going to face some things and go through some things because God is getting ready to pour a blessing out on our life. He is going to take us through the bitter water and the hard times…but he will pour a blessing out on us. If God is going to perfect us…there has to be some battles, some hardships, some hot times.
Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
The that sow in tears shall reap in joy. You can’t have the sweet water all the time. If you want the blessing of God, there is a testing that is going to come along side it.
Sometimes we have to taste the bitter before we taste the sweet.
Moses crossed the red sea…it happened along time before he got there. He spend 40 years in the wilderness.
Paul turned the world upside down….but before this there were beatings and hardship.
You are in good company….everyone wants sweet water…but we need to be thankful for the bitter water of perfecting. If there are no tears, there will be no laughter. If there is no bitter water, there will be no sweet.
When the bitter waters come, that is Gods place of perfecting. The bitter is what makes the sweet enjoyable.
Be encouraged!
That's my five minutes!
