(CLICK THE TITLE) Good morning and praise the Lord for another wonderful day. On this day, we as believers know that everyday is thanksgiving in our lives. As I sit here reflecting on a conversation I had with one of my spiritual mentors about all of the test and trails I seemed to be going through and it was stated to me, “ there is no testimony without the test.” So it’s on my heart to talk about the test this morning. I hope it helps somebody that’s going through something.

Today’s Prayer

Father, I come before you on behalf of the elders, deacons and ministers in the body of Christ today. I pray that they would support and uplift their pastor(s), like Aaron did Moses. I pray that they would help the pastor carry out the ministry of the church, looking after the needs of the congregation, going about in an attitude of prayer, and seeking Your will in all circumstances and obstacles that arise. I pray for their protection from harm and evil in any form. I pray that You will anoint, bless, and minister through them to reach people, to show them Your love, and to bring glory and honor to You. Help these ministers to see their role in Your work, and give them the boldness, wisdom, and encouragement to carry on. In JESUS’ name I pray, Amen.

Let’s eat.

Product Testing

I have come to the understanding that as children of God we are the product of God and just like with any other product, testing allows us to discover how well we’re made when placed under extreme stress. Increasing the pulling pressure between two objects reveals the amount of tension that can be withstood in a chain link. Eventually, the “choking” point occurs. In sports, we find out the “choking” point for athletes by putting them into a pressure situation. At what point will the athlete lose concentration and collapse under the pressure? It’s under these stressful times that we discover how well we have been trained to withstand the pressure and make right decisions regardless of outside influences.

Most of my life up to this day I played sports. I came to observe that we fail under pressure usually because we reach a point where our ability to focus on execution yields to concern about outcome. This worry about outcome forces us to lose our concentration. The fear of failure begins to rule our emotions and actions, which ultimately results in our failure. What we fear has come upon us. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In life, we see giving in to pressure in the form of compulsive behavior, withdrawal, anger, abuse, moral failure, and dishonesty, to name just a few manifestations.

The bible lets us know that Jesus never yielded to pressure. He never made decisions based on outcome. He always made the right decision. He always performed the same no matter what the circumstance. He lived a life based on absolutes, not circumstances. He never gave in to “situational ethics.”

As God entrusts us with more and more responsibility, He brings more and more pressures into our lives to “test the product,” to make sure that He can give even more responsibility to us. This process helps us see where we are in our maturity and determines our level of future responsibility.

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Matthew 25:21

So now comes the questions:

Are you a product that can withstand the product test?

Will you perform as the Maker designed no matter what outside pressures come?

Know that you can’t perform well unless you are continually in relationship with and obedient to the one who made you. Trust the product developer today. He has made you to perform well under pressure.

Quote of the Day

I tell you, if you are serious about wanting to be like Christ, He is going to put you in circumstances where your only true choice is to become like Him.

Francis Frangipane

WITH HOPE AND FAITH

REV. ELDER G E STERRETT

FOUNDER

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