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.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on MorningStar Ministries
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Rick and Julie Joyner founded MorningStar Ministries in 1985. It is a diverse and expanding international ministry that began with the biblical mandate of Matthew 24:45-46: 
“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”
Rick has authored more than fifty books, including The Final Quest Trilogy, There Were Two Trees in the Garden, The Path, and Army of the Dawn. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of MorningStar Ministries, a multi-faceted mission organization that includes Heritage International Ministries, MorningStar University, MorningStar Fellowship of Churches and Ministries. Click here to take a look at Rick’s latest Rant #ricksrants
