Marching Orders Blank Form

LET THE

SONSHINE

..."Your eyes light up your inward being.

A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul."

Luke 11:34a

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Rags to Richest Faith...(Why tests and trial are needed)

Why does God test us?

I've asked Him that question...have you? If He is all-knowing, doesn't He already know how we are going to react to a given set of circumstances. Doesn't He know whether we are going to trust Him or not? If he knows, why test us to find out?

I Peter 1:7 L/B

"These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return. (Emphasis mine)

God knows all about me...He even knows what I am going tosay before I say it. Tests and trials are not for His benefit, since He already knows! What I have found is that I do not know what I will do in reaction to a trial or test. Sometimes, like a student not expecting a very good grade on a test and then aces it, I surprise myself at how well I've done. Other times, when I think I'm doing just fine, I fail miserably.

What does it mean, that these trials are to test our faith, to see if it is strong and pure? I think I know what strong faith is, and probably so do you, but "pure" faith. I've always thought of this as having the right motives...but I believe it goes far beyond that. The scriptures say that there is only One that is good, and that is God, and I'm now convinced that the only pure faith is a faith cleansed by the fire. The fire brings about, or reveals, the sin in us that needs cleansing. In the midst of a fiery trial, the REAL ME shines through so brilliant and clear for all to see...even me myself! And, that is exactly what God is intending to do...reveal to us our true nature when we are walking in the "flesh" and not in the Spirit of God.

Let me try to explain it this way: God assigns me a task, let's say just writing a lesson like I'm doing, and I know that God told me to do it. So I launch out to do it in faith. I pray, ask Him to direct my every word. Then, everything begins to go wrong...I have umpteen interruptions... (anybody know how many are in an umpteen? lol)...I have many interruptions. Then I smell something burning... but of course, it is the custard pie that I was baking for dinner guests. I take a break, and when I flush the toilet, it overflows! I just get it cleaned up and discover that the dog had diarrhea all over the rest of the already cleaned house...I keep persevering, however! The devil isn't going to ruin this day! I'm almost finished with the lesson and the computer freezes up. No, nothing was saved...I forgot! It's ALL LOST! My heart sinks...and after wiping the tears from my eyes, I get the anointing oil out and anoint the computer and pray, "DEVIL, IN JESUS' NAME...you get out of here! You are NOT going to stop me from doing this lesson!" And I begin all over, WONDERING ALL THE WHILE why I decided to teach on the subject of tribulations that day.

Finally, the lesson is finished and I go to mail it to you... It won't go! The aol host computer "has too many requests at this time to process." (Of course they have too many requests, it is aol rush hour by now!) "Please try later." Please try later! What do you mean, please try later?...there is no later! I've spent ALL DAY trying to do this and guests are about to arrive and I haven't even combed my hair yet!!! Well now, how do I react? Do I, in anger and frustration, smash the off button on the computer, go throw myself on the bed, sobbing mercilessly, and tell God that I'm not going to do any more lessons...that if He isn't going to help, I'm quitting too? (OR) Do I look inwardly and calmly pray, "Lord, thank you for the trying of my faith. I'm sorry that I lost my temper. I realize that without YOU, I can do nothing. And even with You, it's not always going to be easy. Thank you Jesus that you are purifying my faith, and I rejoice because of it... Thank You for teaching me to live Romans 5:3"...

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to be patient, and patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." (Living Bible)

All of the above happened to me one day while trying to do a lesson... Now, it is sort of comical, but it sure wasn't then.

I believe that the purification that is supposed to take place during trials and tests often does not in many Christians because they do not look inwardly, but outwardly to others and other things around them as the source of the problem. For example: "If God would just provide me with a better computer, this would not have happened." Or, "If I were just being paid my worth we would not have this financial dilemma." Or, "If my spouse met my need to be loved, I would not have committed adultery." When the true facts are, we are the ones in need of repentance and purification...and that is why God allowed the test to begin with. He was trying to get MY ATTENTION! He was showing me my great need for a closer walk with Him. He was showing me myself without Him... nothing but a "filthy rag." Friends, to go from "rags" to "riches"...and I'm talking about the riches of walking in a pure faith, purification through repentance is the only possible way.

"Father, help us to discover the deep rooted sins that we sometimes are not aware of, that would otherwise go undetected if they were not brought to light through the fiery trials of our faith. Help us to yield those unpleasing ways to You, so that You may cleanse us, that we might be pure and holy, as You are holy. Please bless every person reading this lesson with Your grace that we may all become overcomers, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen"

In Him, and He in me,

Marlene

MARCHING ORDER #521

Marching orders are scriptures compiled from the Living Bible on a particular topic. No commentary is added.

"As Christ's soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army." II Timothy 2:4 L/B

I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.

“I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong: the less I have, the more I depend on him.

I walk in the strength of the Lord God. I tell everyone that you alone are just and good.

This Good News about Christ. . . is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven.

I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.

This is my work, and I can do it only because Christ’s mighty energy is at work within me.

This precious treasure, this light and power that now shine within us, is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

We are praying, too, that you will be filled with his mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens: always full of the joy of the Lord.

(Living Bible)

Ephesians 6:10.

II Cor. 12:9-10. - Ps. 71:6. - Rom. 1:16.

Phil. 4:13. - Col. 1:29. - II Cor. 4:7.

Neh. 8:10. - Col. 1:11.

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