The Message Version reads,

“There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” Romans 5:3-5 MSG

You may ponder, why should we rejoice during life’s challenges, temptations, and tests? It is a matter of choice. We can either be overwhelmed by the challenge, trial, or test and feel defeated, or we can rely on God’s Word to see us through. We can rejoice because we are the victors.

We rejoice because as we go throughout life’s challenges, we mature in the Word. We are no longer bound by sin. We have been freed of sin. We still have a sin nature, but we choose to sin. It’s a matter of choice, of free will. Do we choose to live life in a humanistic way, walking in our flesh, or do we choose to walk in the spirit? We choose how we wish to live life. Is it a temporal choice where we have to strive for earthly riches at all cost or strive to receive our riches in heaven, meaning our actions are dictated by the Word of God? Galatians 5:1 NKJV, says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

We rejoice because we know that the challenges help us become mature Christians. If we remain present in the moment, we can use the scriptures as our weapons. We can endure the moment. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us through the challenges and trials. We become stronger in the Word and quicker to respond because our spiritual arsenal becomes better equipped; we do nor run out of ammunition. When we endure the challenges and trials our character strengthens as we forge ahead. We begin to experience God’s peace in the midst of the fire. We become confident as we experience our salvation, our deliverance from sin and their consequences.

Salvation, as explained by Kenneth Copeland, includes the deliverance from evil, temporal and eternal. It is the deliverance from danger as well as pardon, restoration, healing, wholesomeness, and soundness in spirit, soul, and body. We have been delivered from the penalty of sin (Romans 5:9).

Salvation provides a life of freedom because we have been born again and have the power to live a holy life. This statement harkens back to Galatians 5:1.

Salvation protects us against earthy dangers such as sickness, disease, famine, earthquakes, and other calamities. Salvation promises a long satisfying life and delivers us from any kind of trouble that comes our way, though this part is conditional, Read Psalm 91.

Jesus purchased our salvation. Don’t give up. Don’t give in, persevere, learn and rely on the Word, have faith that the scriptures are activated when we pray them back to God. Call them out loud as God’s promises, because that is what they are promises to keep us and protect us from the wiles of the evil one, see Ephesians 6:10-18.

“Stand up for everything salvation has offered you. Focus on the Lord and his word. Stay in constant communication with him through prayer. Experience all that is available to you through Jesus Christ!”

Lastly, Salvation is by faith, not works. According to Charles Stanley, “Salvation is more than mental agreement with the truth. It includes an acknowledgment that Jesus is the son of God who died for our sins, as well as a recognition of our own sinfulness. We become sorrowful under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and desire a changed life. In Luke 5:32, Jesus states “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” If we do not repent, we will stop turning away from sin, we will stop growing and stay infants in Christ”, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2.

Key – Rejoicing during challenges, trials, and tests is the process of elevating our maturity as Christian Warriors.

Images – Google Images; YouVersion.Bible.com

Scriptures – BibleGateway.com, NLT, MSG, NIV

Resources and Quotes – The Way of Salvation. Charles Stanley, October 18, 2018. http://www.InTouch Ministers/blog/way to salvation, 6/11/2018

What does “Salvation” What does Salvation Really Mean? http://www.Salvation.kmc.org/real-help /salvation. 6/11/2018

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