NO TEST, NO TESTIMONY

 

NO TEST, NO TESTIMONY

 

I Peter 4 v 13 ;

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

Proverbs 17 v 3

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

 

The bible says rejoice, despite suffering, he said so you can be glad when his glory comes. Christianity is not all about celebration and jubilation, there is also time for tribulation. Test is an affliction; the test of life is a type of affliction that every believer must go through. It is so sad that believers do not want to experience the suffering of Christ but they want His prosperity.

 

Psalm 34 v 19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 

Child of God, if you have not gone through affliction then your Christianity is still questionable. If God does not shake you, He cannot use you. If God does not shake you, the world may shake you. You must understand that in life affliction is inevitable.

 

What is affliction?

Affliction is that which causes bodily and mental pain to people. In the syllable of Christianity, there is a time of trial no matter who you are.

 

Job 14 v 1

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

 

 

In life, there are 3 categories of people:

a.     There are those walking into trouble

b.    Those in the midst of trouble

c.     Those walking out of trouble

 

Challenges are catalysts to greatness. No matter who you are you must go through one trouble or the other because the food of champions is neither rice nor pizza, the food of champions is trouble. The bigger your destiny, the bigger your troubles. Jesus the Messiah went through troubles. The same people that put clothes on the ground for him during the triumphant entry were the same that shouted crucify him. You must be ready to go through situations where people you think will stand by you will end up abandoning you in the midst of trouble. Some of you are asking God for something, you must understand that all you go through is the price you must pay for what you are asking God for.

 

There is a man by the name of Nick Vujicic he was born without hands and legs but despite his situation, he is married with children and has traveled to over 93 nations of the world. No matter the attack you go through, don’t allow it to wear you down.

 

Another man by the name of Jaroo Anselem residing in India was arrested for giving his life to Christ. He was compelled to deny Christ after his arrest and when he refused, his son was killed despite the pains and agony of losing a beloved he wrote the song “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back”. They went ahead to kill his remaining child and he wrote “Take the whole world and give me Jesus, no turning back”.

 

Dear reader, if you have not gone through trouble, you have not started. Job said that man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble (Job 14 v 1).

 

Deuteronomy 16 v 3

Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

 

Isaiah 30 v 20

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

 

2 Chronicles 18 v 26

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

 

Affliction is the school for great destinies. It may be lasting but it is not everlasting. It is a test for promotion. You may be in a situation where you feel there is no reason to be alive anymore, don’t give up because God will bring you out. Note that there is no glory without a story.

 

Why must we go through the test?

a.     Affliction reveals God to us

It helps us to know God more and helps us to serve God more. There is a dimension of God you will never know until you enter the fire.

 

Daniel 3 v 16

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

 

 

Jonah 2 v 1

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

 

Affliction brings you back to God and reveals God to you

 

Psalm 119 v 67

Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

 

b.    Affliction comes to reveal the real identity of people around you

 

Job 2 v 9

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

 

Job 5 v 1 – 7

Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

 

You don’t know people until you go through challenges. Apostle Johnson Suleman my father in faith said “if you still have best friends, you have not seen anything. There is no best friend in this world. Love people don’t trust people. Your heart is broken because you trust that person.

 

Jeremiah 17 v 5

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

 

When you go through a severe and mocking situation and someone is still standing with you, that is when you know you have a friend. Most friends know you in prosperity, not in adversity. Affliction reveals people and their true color. Sometimes it is better to have an enemy who slaps you in the face than to have a best friend who stabs you in the back. If you still have a best friend you are joking. Dear reader, do you know that there is something you did in the secret that you told your best friend that you heard outside. Your best friend also told his best friend. Any time you want to keep a secret, the secret should not leave your mouth. Mind what comes out of your mouth and note that your best friend could be your worst enemy.

 

c.     Affliction builds character and compassion in us

 

James 1 v 3

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

 

There are people who cannot endure and be patient with anything but when they go through the school of affliction, they become endurant and patient. Affliction builds character, there are things you see and you become humble.

 

Hebrews 5 v 8

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

 

Affliction builds compassion in us. You know sometimes we do not care about people until we have gone through what they are going through.

 

2 Corinthians 1 v 3 – 4

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

 

People talk any how because they have not seen anything. They may say that lady has not prayed enough that is why she has no man to marry. There are people who did not pray yet are married.

 

Ecclesiastes 9 v 11

returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

 

Romans 9 v 15

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

 

Don’t judge people because of what they are going through.

 

Micah 7 v 8

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

 

I Corinthians 4 v 5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 

How do you handle affliction?

a.     Engage in strategic prayers

 

James 5 v 13

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

The cure to affliction is prayers.

 

Mark 11 v 24

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 

When the pain is deep, go deeper in prayers. Prayer is a powerful weapon against affliction. Someone may say despite my prayers this thing still happened and I say just imagine the magnitude of what would have happened if you had not prayed, it would have been worse than that. When Satan wants to finish a man, he attacks his prayer life.

 

John 15 v 7

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

Prayer gives you stamina to go through the season of affliction. Dear reader, in the season of affliction, be careful who you go to for prayers. Don’t go to people who are not trained, ordained and licensed to pray for you. Beware of alternatives, learn to pray for yourself, be careful of who lay hands on you and who prophesied on you. Your approach to prayer is what settles your reproach in life. In the time of approach, run to God, not man.

 

Psalm 50 v 15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

 

When you don’t pray, you prolong the affliction. Prayer is a command so in the time of affliction, Pray.

 

Luke 22 v 31 – 32

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

b.    Engage wisdom

Wisdom is knowing what to do and doing it at the right time with the aim of actually your set goals.

 

Proverbs 28 v 26

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

 

 

I Corinthians 1 v 24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

 

The bible describes Jesus as the power of God and the wisdom of God. You need the application of wisdom to come out of affliction.

 

 

Matthew 26 v 41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 

Matthew 15 v 10

And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

 

 

God’s word will produce to the level of your understanding. The more you understand the more the wisdom you operate in. You cannot come out of affliction without wisdom.

 

Proverbs 4 v 7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

 

God rated wisdom as the principal thing. There is nothing on earth that can be compared to wisdom. If you lack wisdom, you will be so stupid and frustrated in the affairs of life.

 

Proverbs 3 v 15 – 19

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

 

 

Premature death is a result of foolishness in most cases. The riches and money you are looking for are in wisdom. Solomon did not ask for riches but for wisdom. If there is no peace around you, you need wisdom.

 

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do and doing it at the right time to get the desired result. You are in the wrong relationship because you lack wisdom. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. Jesus said in Matthew 7 v 24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

 

Dear reader, when wisdom comes transformation comes to stand-out in life, you need wisdom.

 

Kinds of wisdom

i.                 Natural wisdom – also called common sense

Every child knows where their mother’s breast is yet nobody taught the child.

 

ii.               Intellectual wisdom – this is obtained from the school

 

iii.             Devilish wisdom – this is what the evil people use and it’s given by Satan.

 

iv.             Divine wisdom – comes from God and that which comes from God is above all.

 

Proverbs 2 v 6

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Daniel 2 v 20

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

 

Why is wisdom rated as the principal thing? Wisdom is rated as the principal thing because it has the ability to proffer solutions.

 

To get wisdom:

a)    Involve the Holy Spirit

 

When the Holy Spirit is not involved, you are bound to make wrong decisions. Dear reader, always desires to hear God’s opinion over your decision because you cannot be a man of solution without God.

 

I Corinthians 2 v 9 – 10

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 

John 16 v 13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 

Daniel 2 v 28

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

Pastor Daniel Don Okogie

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