Holy Boldness

challenge of obedience will be full of these types of tests. This is where a person who is walking with God decides whether or not he or she will trust the Lord. An act of presumption is usually about trying to circum vent the test. There are no shortcuts to the kingdom of God. Paul said, “Through many tribulations, we must enter the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22b.) We should not despise or resent these times. A man’s trust is pre cious to God. Peter said that “the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold… may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7). If we knew that, we would think differently about our tests. The occasional hiddenness of God is fundamental to our journey with Him. It is the opportunity to live by the faith we declare. Do you trust Him? Then you will not test Him. But if you test Him, then it is clearly evident that you do not trust. And trust is the name of the game. “My righteous one shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) Many believers today despise the work of testing and chastening. “Fools hate knowledge…” says Proverbs. And because this is so, many people are not growing in maturity and therefore are not prepared for the destiny that awaits them. Colossians 1 says that God has qualified us to inherit the Kingdom of God. But this qualification is not automatic when one receives Christ; rather it requires a process of testing and passing tests before one inherits the Kingdom of God. The phrase, “to inherit the kingdom of God” is not referring to “going to heaven” when one dies; rather, it refers to becoming qualified to reign in authority with Christ. No one will reign with Christ who has not grown into maturity. Imagine what Jesus would have done had He failed this test. Would he have stepped into the supernatural authority and begun to preach the gospel in the power of the Spirit? No! Who would be worthy to atone for His sins had Christ not been sufficient? He would have forfeited his authority to the devil. The only reason you and I can walk in authority is that it has been conferred on us by one who has it. after we have compromised is if and when we repent and come back and stand in the obedience of Christ and allow ourselves to be conformed to the image of His submission and obedience. Jesus’ obedience made a way for mankind to find its authoritative standing in God. “Abiding in Christ” means submitting to His presence. Without this deep commitment in Do the rebellious “inherit the Kingdom of God”?

74