We are in a war. That should not surprise us because we have been in a war our whole life, as has every other human being to live since the fall in the Garden. It never stops, it only changes forms. As we are told in I John 5:19, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” We’ve been in a war from the day we were born and were dropped behind enemy lines. 

         The whole world may lie in the power of the evil one, but not his authority. Our King is above all rule and authority and dominion, and He has purchased the world with His sacrifice. He may take this authority at any time and dispatch the evil one, but for now it is in His interest and our interest that He not do this as He is using this situation for the training of those called to reign with Him in the age to come. 

         The sooner we understand the conflict and the reason why it is so continuous in this life, the better and easier it will be for us. Jesus said in John 16:33, “in the world you have tribulation.” In this present age, if you are alive on this earth you will have tribulation, or trials. The whole world is in discord because of the fall of man who was given authority over the earth, and the devil and his legions who have been cast down to the earth. Now let us read the whole verse John 16:33:

         “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

         We are called to have peace even in the midst of the battles and chaos of these times, and we will if we abide in Him who has overcome the world. He now sits on His throne above it all, and He has granted for us to sit with Him on His throne (see Ephesians 2:6). We’re told in Psalm 2 that He sits in the heavens and laughs! So, if we’re seated with Him there we should always be in good humor.

         In Acts 14:22 the Apostle Paul said, “It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.” This is an important truth we must grasp—in every tribulation or trial there is a doorway for us to enter the kingdom. This is why we are told in James 1:2: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” Why would anyone consider it joy to encounter trials? Because they are a doorway to the kingdom. If we would stop complaining about the trial and look for this door it would go much better for us. 

         Peter gets even bolder as we see in I Peter 1:6-7:

         “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 

         “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

         He says that the testing of our faith is more valuable than gold! If we believe this we will feel like we have found a bag of gold every time we encounter a trial. We will thank the Lord for the trial. Are we not told in I Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus”? If we would do this instead of complaining or feeling sorry for ourselves, we would likely get through the trial much faster because it is that kind of faith that trials are meant to work in us.

         We do not go through trials because God is angry with us, but rather the opposite: we go through trials because He loves us and is dealing with us as His own sons and daughters as we read in Hebrews 12:7-8:

         “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 

         “But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” 

         The trials that we go through are evidence that we are His. The Lord could have taken His authority over the earth immediately after His resurrection. He did not do this for our sakes, so those who were called to be the sons and daughters of God could be proven and prepared by the opposition they endure in this life. If every trial is a gateway to the kingdom, it is really a gateway to the King to help work in us His nature so that He can trust us with His authority. So a big trial is a big gate to the kingdom!

© 2021 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.