Test and trials come to make you strong.

James 1:2-4 _AMP Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. ³ Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

Are you Praising and thanking God for the test?

Test: for measuring the skill, knowledge, intelligence, capacities {how much can you be entrusted with}, or abilities of an individual (2): a procedure, reaction, or substance used to identify or characterize a substance

You can be tested on your reaction to a situation to identify what’s really imbedded in you. Just as a washing machine that agitates the dirt for cleaning. God is getting out of you what’s still in you that’s adverse to the Word.

How you react to stuff of the world identifies your mindset/Spiritual character. Does it line up with Kingdom?

• Test is a critical examination, observation, or evaluation
• Test is an ordeal (trial, suffering, tribulation, test) or oath(promise) required as proof of conformity (compliance, obedience) with a set of beliefs (the Word of God)

Trial: a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation. To test the quality, value, or usefulness of (something).

Trials will let God know if you really trust Him or not. Is your faith in Him or mankind(self)?

The Word of God lets us know the 3 main areas we will be tested by. As He too was tested by in the wilderness.

Matthew 4 _KJV Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Tempted: entice or attempt to entice (someone) to do or acquire something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or not beneficial. Have an urge or inclination to do something. Attract; allure. Risk provoking (a deity or abstract force), usually with undesirable consequences.  

Wilderness: a neglected or abandoned area of a garden or town. (Garden of Eden)

So, Jesus was led back to the wilderness from the beginning to be tested in the very ways that we are all tested by today. Jesus overcame the test with the Word of God.

1 John 2:15-17 _KJV  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Trials are to evaluate how determined you are to endure in gaining strength thru sorrow, grief, misery, and temptation of the flesh. All that is required to purify you for the Kingdom.

Do you qualify to be used by God for the Kingdom?

Kingdom is royalty. Royalty is people of royal blood or status. The status or power of a king or queen. Majestic Glory.  

Test and trials are given to make known the wisdom that God has entrusted you with. Your response will determine if you move to the next level in Glory.

Your next level may require more then you expected. More studying, more fasting, more praying, more of your time. What you expect may not be what God has done.

Will you stand in the test and trial that’s at hand?

Standing: 1. position, status, or reputation.

2. used to specify the length of time that something has lasted or that someone has fulfilled a particular role. {gaining Endurance}

Our role in Christ is to preach the Word of God to the upmost parts of the world. Live a life free from sin and be holy as the Lord God is holy.

• Remaining in force{Spirit} or use; permanent. {Everlasting}

~God dwells in eternity.

• Be stagnant or still. {Dead to flesh, undisturbed by wind, sound, or current; calm ~remain humbled in the storm}

Endurance: the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. {Sufferance, patience, determination}

The capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear. {Longevity}

Have you a made-up mind to be in Christ Jesus for eternity?

1 Peter 1 _AMP

 Peter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,

To those [elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers] who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor], and Bithynia, who are chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God].

³ Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of ^[a]your souls.

¹⁰ Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace [of God] that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired [about this future way of salvation], ¹¹ seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.

¹³ So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation]. ¹⁵ But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; ¹⁶ because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.”

¹⁷ If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth. ¹⁸ For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, ¹⁹ but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ. ²⁰ For He was ^[b]foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake ²¹ and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.

²² Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another], ²³ for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God.

 ²⁴ For, “All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers
And the flower falls off,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word [the good news of salvation] which was preached to you.

(Let he who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the church, and may it be a fruitful blessing.)

The best position to remain in while enduring a test & trial is in worship with your life. Praise the Lord anyhow! He has already won the VICTORY!

Scripture for encouragement.

Philippians 4:4-9 _AMP

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

⁸ Finally, ^[b]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. ⁹ The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.

There is no need to try and make a new year resolution or start a new commitment.

📣Just BEGIN AGAIN. 😊 

First, I wouldn’t mind to begin again that first task God gave me so I can move on to the new one. Begin again putting pray first. Begin again reading the Bible daily for instruction. Begin again reading that book that is gonna advance my business. 

Looking at the breakdown of begin again. 

Definition of Begin: 

2. Not have any chance or likelihood of doing a specified thing. [informal]

Definition of AGAIN: 

**He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.

BEGIN

>Start; perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity).

~The beginning to being Spiritual. Must take the first steps that God requires to go from natural to Spiritual.

          John 3:1-7 3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: ² The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, (*) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

>Come into being or have its starting point at a certain time or place. (Arise)

Flesh (Him/her SELF) must be put to death. Arise as a new creature in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

>Hold a specific position or role before holding any other. ~We are to hold the example of Jesus.

Ephesians 4: 21-24 ²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

>Have as a first element. (element: air, water, fire. A small but significant presence of a feeling or abstract quality) GOD! Holy Ghost!

>Set to work at. Put off those fleshly desires. (self-pleasures)

Colossians 3;1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

*It’s not about YOU! 2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Thank you JESUS!

Set your mind.

What is your foundation existence set on? Can it stand in the presence of GOD?

>Start speaking by saying. Speak only the things of GOD.

The first known evidence of the Holy Ghost was speaking in other tongues, as the spirit gives utterance.

Acts 2:1-4

 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 11:15-18 Speaks about the same evidence is from the beginning.

¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.¹⁶ Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. ¹⁷ Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?¹⁸ When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Proverbs 18:4-7, 20-21 ⁴The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. ⁵ It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. ⁶ A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. ⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. ⁸ The words of a talebearer (a person who maliciously gossips or reveals secrets) are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. ²⁰ A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

So, for my begin again, I will walk in my ANEW existence and ARISE with ORIGINATE additions in Christ Jesus.

On the other hand, I am ✝BRAND NEW 

What is your BEGIN AGAIN?

That which has been done no natural eye can see nor carnal ear can hear. As we walk daily in this world called life, there are many trials that we are faced with. However, the outcome comes solely on response. I’m certain most have heard “you reap what you sow”. That is a very powerful statement when you really think about it. That which you put out is what you get back, double or triple fold. This is the main root to generational curses.

Not really comprehending what we are doing in the moments that our journey of life brings, we find ourselves in a ditch while it’s pouring rain. It’s not the storm that tears you down, it’s not having the proper covering that weakens you.

*The HOLY SPIRIT is your covering.

The book of James lets us know how we can walk in true faith. Let’s look at James 1:1-8: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.⁵ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

So, according to the Word of God, if we ask God of something with a wavereth mind, meaning any doubt, we shall not receive any thing of the Lord. WOW! May we learn to walk by true faith in Christ.

Hebrew 11:1,3,6

Hebrew chapter 11 mentions many examples of one having faith and not leaning to their own understanding.