Pressure, The Clever Test Of Faith

In order to understand the subject that I am about to discuss in this blog it is important for you to allow me to turn your understanding upside down for just a few minutes, because as you understand these spiritual principles the natural understanding established in your carnal mind will be attacked. The Apostle James mentions in the letter attributed to him, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.” Already in this statement James is telling us to turn our thinking upside down. Instead of thinking that tests and challenges are problems, he wants us to approach these annoying difficulties not only as a gift, but even more dramatically as a “sheer gift” according to the Message Bible. The word “sheer” is a dramatic term that implies the gift is not in response to anything, but is a completely bountiful, benevolent and undeserved gift. Now, when you look at it in that light it should really get your attention. What James is trying to get us to understand is that the things we consider problems and pressure points are actually benevolent situations that can be used to our advantage. The next verse even takes this message further, “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” The key words are “under pressure.” This gives us insight into the positive results that tests and challenges bring to us because they put pressure on our faith. When your faith is experiencing pressure, then you have an ability to regulate, observe and adjust your personal faith levels. Wow! This is an incredibly valuable skill to perfect in your personal life.

The next verse takes this concept even further, “So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work in you so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” What he is saying is that our inability to see is an advantage because then we don’t have to do anything. Did not Jesus tell us constantly not to move in the dark? For example I quote, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If a man walks in the darkness he stumbles, but if he waits for the light he does not stumble.” What the Lord is actually telling us here is that not knowing the answer or what to do can actually become your excuse for doing nothing. Use this excuse because it is divine in its purpose and is saving you from making foolish plans, foolish decisions and big mistakes.

I’ve given you the scriptural teaching on the subject and now I want to place it into reality so you can better understand the truth that James is trying to impart to us. In this upcoming week there are many activities converging together at the same time. This results in outward pressure being placed upon my family and me. For example: The School of the Messengers of Fire is starting Sunday and lasts through Saturday. There will be people coming from all over to attend this school, which will be teaching on the subject of angel technology for the first time. At the same time I have a convergence of business meetings at a known American laboratory for highly technical discussions. Also, at the same time, my lovely wife Sandy has had to experience the passing away of her beloved mother who she is very close and dear to. These events were obviously not planned by me, but by the Lord, and are all converging exactly at the same time. Meanwhile incredible little pressure points are also poking at us; for example, when I woke up this morning I discovered that the hot water heater in our house was not working, and that required certain bill situations be rectified in a manner I was not clear on how to approach. Each of these situations alone would have been enough in the past to shut me down and bring me sorrow, but now I am looking forward to this conflicting week as being one of the most joyous, fun-filled weeks of my life. And you may say, “How can you say that?” I must once again refer to what the Apostle James said, “Consider it a sheer gift friends when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.”