Today’s New Covenant nugget is from James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Notice that the end of the trouble, or trial leaves the believer fully developed, perfect and complete, needing nothing. The lord wants us to use trials, tests, hardship and challenges as building blocks to success. We are not to lose heart and become discouraged, but rather use what the enemy intended to destroy us with, as a steppingstone to future success and blessing.
JESUS USED WHAT THE ENEMY DID TO HIM ON THE CROSS AS A LAUNCHING-PAD FOR THE SUCCESS OF HIS MISSION.
The devil attempted to destroy Jesus on the cross of Calvary, but Jesus turned the tables on him and today the cross is the greatest symbol of victory in the world, and has been for generations.
THE TRIALS OF JOSEPH BECAME THE ROAD TO HIS SUCCESS
Joseph used the pit, slavery and the prison to get to the palace. In Genesis 50:20, he makes this remarkable statement to his brothers… “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
DON’T EVADE TRIALS, USE THEM AS BUILDING BLOCKS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY!
3 INGREDIENTS THAT WILL TURN YOUR TRIALS INTO TRIUMPHS
James 1:2-4 (NLT) - Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great JOY. For you know that when your FAITH is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 (TPT) says, “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest JOY that you can! For you know that when your FAITH is tested it stirs up in you the power of ENDURANCE. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”
THE THREE INGREDIENTS THAT WILL TURN YOUR TRIALS INTO TRIUMPHS ARE JOY, FAITH AND ENDURANCE!
HOW DO YOU WALK IN JOY, FAITH AND ENDURANCE IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP?
James 1:2-4 (NKJV) says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, KNOWING THAT the testing of your faith produces patience [steadfast endurance]. But let patience [endurance] have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES…
The testing of your faith through trials, tests, hardship and challenges PRODUCES joy, character and endurance that lead to perfection, completeness and prosperity! Did you KNOW that?
IT IS ALL IN WHAT YOU KNOW!
WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE GOING, YOU WILL SUPERNATURALLY BE INFUSED WITH DIVINE ABILITY TO WALK IN JOY, FAITH AND ENDURANCE IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP!
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our FAITH, who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
JESUS KNEW WHAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM, SO HE WAS SUPERNATURALLY INFUSED WITH DIVINE ABILITY TO WALK IN JOY, FAITH AND ENDURANCE IN THE GREATEST TRIAL OF HIS LIFE!
Romans 4:20-21 (NLT) - Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.
WHEN YOU KNOW TO THE POINT OF BEING FULLY CONVINCED THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT HE PROMISED THEN YOU WILL NOT WAVER
WHAT HAS GOD PROMISED?
NUMBER ONE… THAT YOUR CURRENT HARDSHIP WILL TAKE YOU TO A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE FULLY COMPLETE AND LACK NOTHING!
James 1:3-4 - knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfast endurance. But let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
NUMBER TWO… THAT GOD WORKS ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD!
Romans 8:28-31 (NLT) - And WE KNOW that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
EVERYTHING IS WRAPPED UP IN WHAT YOU KNOW!
YOUR HARDSHIPS, YOUR TRIALS, YOUR HANDICAPS AND YOUR FLAWS ARE BUILDING BLOCKS TO YOUR PERFECTION AND SUCCESS
THE SAME ANOINTING THAT CAUSES YOU TO OVERCOME WILL BECOME A TOOL TO BLESS OTHERS.
Jessica Long, a strong, born-again Christian was born in Russia. Her legs had to be amputated because of a bone disease. Her mom could not care for her and placed her in an orphanage. She was later adopted by an American couple.
She has gone on to win 50 world champion medals, making her one of the most successful athletes in Paralympic games history.
JESSICA LONG’S GREATEST TEST HAS BECOME HER GREATEST TRIUMPH AND SHE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A CHAMPION WHO INSPIRED MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD!
CONFESSION
“By grace, I will use my trials as building blocks for my success.
I look beyond my present pain to my future prosperity.
I activate supernatural joy, endurance and faith in knowing that God is causing all things to work together for my success in life.
The same anointing that causes me to triumph will work through me as a blessing to others, in Jesus Name!”
In His amazing love, Nick
