Testing By the Brook
The Dry Places In Life
Our text tells us "that the brook dried up." What brook?
The very one God promised as a source of water.
I guess today, we would say what
happened to Elijah was according to Murphy's law! This is the natural way to respond, but as
those who know the Lord we need to see beyond the natural to the reality of
what God is doing.
Note also, that the words "dried up" refers to a process.
Was he telling God what He needed
to do? Or was he focused on the Lord and
His promises?
For many there is a tendency to
carry a ruler by which we constantly measure what God is doing as though we
can't really trust Him. We measure
others. We compare how God is supplying
other's needs. Then we measure our own
blessings--our gifts, talents, opportunities, and on the list goes.
Do you remember the reason for the
dried up brook? It was because "there was no rain in the
land." But why was there no
rain in the land?
When we pray for revival in our
nation or for the restoration of others, it means God may have to bring about
suffering to get their attention to turn them away from their independence,
rebellion, and self-sufficiency.
Finally, note 1 Kings 17:8.
"Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying." God was not unconcerned about Elijah. He had a plan. He had not forgotten Elijah.
He came to Elijah's rescue.
The Lord sits in the heavens, he does that which he pleases. And He pleases to test us in order to build
our character and transform us into the character of the Savior, or as Paul
says in Rom 8:29 that we might be conformed to the image of Christ.
Often the first thing that we
think when faced with suffering in our life is, Why me? Why now?
What is God doing?
Suffering
forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God's
resources.
The
following questions are designed to help us "consider" in the day of adversity:
How am I
responding to it? How should I respond
to it? Am I learning from it? Does my response demonstrate faith, love for God
and for others, Christ-like character, values, commitment, priorities, etc.?
How can
God use it in my life for His glory? What
is suffering? What are these bends in
the road that God puts in the path of life that we are to carefully consider?
If we
haven't figured it out yet spiritual critical thinking is a must in living the
Christian life.
It can be
anything that ranges from something as small and irritating as the bite of a
mosquito or the nagging of a gnat to the charge of an elephant or having to
face a lion in the lions' den as with Daniel (Dan. 6).
1. We suffer because we live in a
fallen world where sin reigns in the hearts/minds of men. (Primary)
2. We suffer because of our own
foolishness. We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-9).
3. We sometimes suffer because it is
God's discipline to get us back on track spiritually. "For those whom the Lord loves he
disciplines, and he scourges every son He receives." (Heb. 12:6).
4. We may suffer persecution because
of our faith--especially when we take a stand on biblical issues, i.e.,
suffering for righteousness sake (2 Tim.
Suffering has as its chief purpose the formation of
Christ-like character that we would be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom.
8:29).
The word "trials" in James 1:2 is the Greek peirasmosj and refers to that which examines, tests, and
proves the character or integrity of something.
[with no indication of the outcome]
Suffering is that which proves one's character and
integrity along with both the object and quality of one's faith.
Suffering is more often a process over time than it is a
single event. "We know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, proven character; and . . ." (Rom 5:3-4).
The question we must each face is not, "if" we
are going to have trials in life, but how will we respond to them when they
come?
In order to handle suffering with inner mental attitude of
joy and tranquility, we must also be able to look ahead to God's purposes and
reasons for suffering. We must have an
eternal perspective, that is to remember that
momentary suffering, is producing an eternal weight of glory. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)
Trials oriented to simply give us the capacity to utilize
the resources given which leads to being complete lacking in nothing (
We must understand that God's chief purpose for our lives
is to be conformed to the image of Christ and He has determined in His plan to
use suffering as a means for our spiritual development.