Monday, November 21, 2016

The Authentication Process


UV 2128/10000 The Authentication Process
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good
I Thessalonians 5 v 21

The Lord is not shy of testing for proof. Everything that He has created is evidence of His greatness. That He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to save mankind is evidence of His love and mercy. That He is real in our lives is evidence. Our experience of His grace is evidence. Jesus allowed Thomas to place his fingers in his wounds to prove the authenticity of His resurrection. This uni-verse asks us not to accept anything by blind faith but to test or subject to the tests of proof if anything is good, acceptable and perfect. The Lord commends a rational approach to a person of faith so that faith is founded on facts and not superstitions or make believe. We are given ten thousand promises in scripture. We need to test and experience the truth of these promises in the course of our lifetime. We test it by beginning with trust, holding onto the promise, claiming it in prayer with thanksgiving and waiting with praise and patience for its fulfilment.

Once a promise or a principle is proved to be true, we need to hold onto it with persistence. We should not waver in our faith but believe that it holds good in all situations, through thick and thin, good times and bad times. We also need to test our relationships to see if it is God-approved. We need to test our own strengths in times of trials to see if we endure through it and come out the better for it. We need to test prophetic utterances to see if these are true and coming from the Lord. We can authenticate anything by testing it against the word which is the ultimate touchstone to prove the genuineness or otherwise of anything.

Testimony is the result of testing. Our faith is increased through testimony. A person who is mature in faith is tested in the kind of fruit of the spirit that is in evidence in his character, temperament and conduct. Is he gentle in his speech? Is he kind to all in his actions? Is he loving and consistent in his love ? Is he joyful in all circumstances ? Is he peaceful and patient ? Is he faithful to what he believes and professes? Is he humble in his attitudes and deportment? Does he exercise self control over his passions and desires? These questions are the tests of a fruitful faith.

Prateep V Philip

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