When God gives us a word or promise whether that be for spiritual, financial, or physical breakthrough, many of us may end up focusing too much on the end result of the promise. This is even the case with the rapture. However, many do not realize the significance of "time" which is generally in the middle between that promise. This "time" is used by God to test us. This "time" is used by Him so that we may grow in Him. While we are waiting for our breakthroughs or promise, the definition of our wait is to do His Will and Work in the meantime. As we grow in HIM, we are inching closer to that promise and growing to maturity.
John 4:34 (AMP) Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.
Our spiritual, financial, and healing breakthroughs come as we know more of HIM. The promise is given so we may come to know the giver of Life and not necessary the end result of the promise. But people generally focus too much on the end result not realizing that the focus must be on HIM regardless of our situation.
The time between His promise and to the end result of that promise is a test in our lives. The test will even continue after the promise or breakthrough. I have come to realize our whole life is a test. Even after Abraham had his son, God had still tested him again.
Genesis 22:1-2 (AMP) AFTER THESE events, God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. 2[God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you.
When people generally receive a promise, they usually expect it within a short time. Many of God's people have not learned God's time and because of this many become offended by Him. Even those who have labored for Him for many years become weary. We have to perceive time through God's eyes and not man's. Some of you say you have patience? Some may have waited 10, 15, 20 years for a breakthrough. Does this give one the privilege to say they now have learned patience? Man seem to always define eternal things within the scope of their finite minds and lives. Man will generally receive God's word and attempt to discern it with their finite minds. If we are to look at the average life of say 70 years and if we have waited for something for 10 years, are we able to say we have patience? But what if the bar or measurement is to say we have patience if can wait for something in the context of eternal time? When God speaks, does He not speak eternally?
For example, God told Abraham that He would make Abraham a great nation and will multiple his descendants like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore. In Genesis chapter 18, they were already old and it was then God told them they would have a son.
Genesis 12:2 (AMP) And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
Genesis 18:10-11 (AMP)10[The Lord] said, I will surely return to you when the season comes round, and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son. And Sarah was listening and heard it at the tent door which was behind Him.11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; it had ceased to be with Sarah as with [young] women. [She was past the age of childbearing].
If that word was given to some of us today, many of us would begin to calculate how many children we need to have and then how many children they need to have to achieve such a goal within our time frame. Yet, even at his aging year, Abraham did not have a heir until he was 100 years old. Many would have thought God's promise was not coming. Many at the age of 100 years old would have thought at that age it would be impossible to be the forefather of multiple descendants like the sand on the seashore. Many may have lost their faith and quit. So what do many do? Many will do what Abraham and Sarah did. Since they did not know how God was going to fulfill HIS promise, they stepped ahead of God on their own in attempt to help God by having a son through their servant. When Abraham and Sarah went ahead of God, His people even today suffer the consequences of their mistake through the descendants of Ishmael.
Today, many of God's people are always trying to give God a jump start instead of waiting for His appointed time. There is always an appointed time with HIM.
Genesis 18:14 (AMP) Is anything too hard or too wonderful [a]for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes around, I will return to you and Sarah shall have borne a son.
If we perceive eternal promises earthly, then our faith may not hold. We must change the way we perceive time. We must stop looking at it finitely but eternally. God may give you the breakthrough when you are 100 years old and perhaps even fulfill the promise after you are gone. So do we really have the patience to wait in eternal time?
Colossians 3:2 (AMP) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
God has taught me something very important. The Lord has taught me that I must get to know Him more and as I know Him more, His Glory will cover me as it will bring forth His promises in my life. What is the original purpose of man calling or seeking God for help? Many people call out God for help because of their own personal need and comfort. God will use this opportunity to turn people toward Him. But the question is will we turn to Him or will we continue to look for our personal comfort instead.
When we get into trouble, we may start to call on God for help but many do not realize in such a situation, help and our breakthrough comes when we draw closer to HIM. God allows the trials and tribulation in our lives to draw us closer to HIM. If we only look for the end result, we are only looking for our comfort and not HIM. As a result, your breakthrough will delay and may not even come. His promises and Word are conditional to your CONTINUED obedience and faith.
A few years ago, a sister asked us to pray and deliver her husband from smoking and pornography. We told her we will go ask the Lord. The Lord replied and said, "Not yet." She got offended because she saw God give grace to another in which she thought that person didn't deserve. The message God told us to give her and her family was the following. "What will change if I deliver him of his smoking and pornography? Will he read more of My Word? Will he pray more? Will he worship Me more? Go tell him to do it now then!" For some who are being newly saved, God will give grace to free them immediately but not for those who have been a "Christian" a long time, it will not come so easy.
You see, that person was asking God for help for the sake of his marriage and his personal interest and not for getting to know God more or for His Glory. This is why God will not always answer immediately. He wants you to draw closer to HIM first. He will allow the situation taking such opportunity to train us to pray, read, and worship HIM. How many of us really seek Him when things are going so well? We but get busy with the distractions of life and eventually fade away from HIM giving Him but crumbs on some occassional Sundays or perhaps holidays.
Our spiritual, financial, physical breakthroughs come as you get to know HIM MORE. God at the end is trying to teach us that the end result is not as important as learning to know Him more. As we grow in Grace moving from Glory to Glory, we achieve our breakthroughs so we may do More of His Work and His Will for His Glory and not so we may be comfortable or go back to where we had come from.
May you all persevere and endure in all things for His Glory. May you all find the freedom and Peace in HIM. May you all walk in the authority and power to overcome the gates of hell. May you all be lead to His uncompromised Truth.
God bless
Fire of God!
Steve Yong Kim
November 17, 2011
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