It always brings me great pleasure to bring you the works of one Pastor Louie, or Brother Louie as he is known in the Philippines. Here’s his latest piece which he kindly posted to me via email….

“Each man says, ‘I is able to eat,’ and he has not enough; neither has he room to go and get his food. And even if he has, yet, it is his own shame if he is sick. If one goes hungry and cannot find his strength, one should ask, ‘Is this due to the good deeds of my mouth or my bad words?’ If one goes ill and cannot find the faith to stand, he should ask, ‘What may be the cause?’ Thus we are justified through our faith.”-Luke 6:20-23 (NIV)

I once saw a woman who, having lost everything she loved, prayed to God with the attitude “Whatever You want, God, I’ll give it to you, but do me a favour, won’t You keep gifting me trials and tribulations?” I think she must have been very poor, because after praying her heart out, her face began to shine like the sun and she began to laugh like a joyous kitten because she was no longer dependent on Others to support her; she was dependent on God only.

Most of us know the story of the giving and the receiving. But the Beautiful Woman story is an illustration of how our giving and receiving can become a test of our faith as Godreveals His desires for us. If we would only continue to keep our gifts a secret – if we Warner our gifts to ourselves – it will become a struggle to maintain our faith and our joy, especially if we have only been given a little. It’s as if a little goes a long way.

Whenever we’ve had success, we have to thank God and heaven’s Delight for the opportunity to test our faith. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Beautiful Women’s status of intercessory prayer is connected with their ability to turn their gifts into tests of faith.

Contrast that with the wife of a first cousin who spent all her money on doctors and medicine, when she really needed a friend to help her. Or the first cousin who downsized his entire life savings to take care of his sick mother. If we needed to spend our hard-earned money, what are we to think of God asking us to stretch our faith so that He can use us to help others?

Nothing and no one should take God’s gift to heart and live like an ordinary person. Each person’s actions are known to Him by the way he talks. When God speaks of testing, He always gives us this signal in some way.

Tester of Faith Acts as Man as God’s robbers

As we know the scriptures say that no thief does good work, we also learn that no one is good. The term ‘good’ in this context is open to multiple interpretations. And one meaning could be, ‘very good’. But this is not what Jesus was talking about. He was commenting on the established religious doctrine that the only person that is good is a holy God.

It is easy here to miss the point. If you look up the original Greek words, they are very powerful. One of them is the word’hupokoes(Hup-oh-pow-kays). This word is used to describe a person who is a tester of faith. This person doubts the invisible and pure messages from God.

This is not someone who is exempt from testing because he is holy, but rather, he tests his faith by seeing if it will perform to his expectations. He takes a test. And, no matter how good a test it is, he will fail it.

True beliefs are not tested, but are developed in the heart

It is only when someone questions the word of God or chooses not to believe, that he begins to develop an understanding of it. Those who refuse to listen to the truth, how can they develop an understanding? My friend, if God is so, why do you doubt? Will you let fear keep you from praying for the sick? Will you refuse to extend help to those in need? Of course not.

Hold on to what God said

Because of what Jesus said in the story of the story of the Beautiful noses, people believe that God is kind, but they are the people who postpone their prayers to their death. God is kind. But as sure as the day is, the hour is getting close. That’s why everyday of our lives should be filled with praise for the sake of our Savior and Forgiving God. We just never know what He will do next. He may show up at the last minute. He may show mercy to those who are not perfect. It is unwise to waste time, energy, or wish to change for the better.

As sure as the day is, the hour is getting close, and so with the least warning we should all be quiet for the ‘Donation of the fruits of Your lips'”

Brother Louie