"Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms" (James 5:13 KJV).

Is anybody being tested? When you are tested, there is something you must do. You must pray. Notice how they prayed in Acts chapter four when they were tested. They said, "Lord, you made heaven and earth and all the sea and everything that is in them." They didn't even talk about the problem.

They said, "Now Lord, give us utterance. Let healing power come on us, that we can minister to the sick and preach the gospel." They didn't back up a bit. As a result, great grace came on them. A double anointing came on them to do the works of Jesus.

I like to put it this way: The bigger the test or trial, the greater the opportunity for manifestation of God's power.

I had the opportunity to act on the Word when we where trying to buy our verse first church building. We had to go to the closing, and we needed $80,000.00. If we didn't close we'd lose $25,000.00. The lease was up on our existing storefront building, and the only place we could have church service was in this new building.

The 200 members we had were at the new building (by permission) cleaning it up for our opening day service. And for a 25-year-old pastor that was pressure. So, I made a conscious decision to act on the Word of God.

I got out in the middle of the little platform of the storefront building and started praising God that the need was met. Then I'd laugh about it, jump, run and praise God some more. I'd stop and after a while, I'd do it again, and again, and again. I was doing it all morning long to keep my mind from going totally tilt. I rejoiced because the Lord delivers.

Then I got a phone call from attorney that had visited the church. He said the Lord told him to bring me a blank check, and for me to fill in whatever amount I needed. Well, it was just as the Lord said it would be. The Lord always delivers. We closed on the building and gave God the glory.

Now you might be in the middle of a situation that looks dark. But you should begin to laugh at it, and shout the victory. Get up and do whatever you have to do. For the Lord will deliver you every time. He wants to do some new things in your life. He wants to break out with blessings for you. He wants to take you higher than you have ever been before.

Scripture References: Acts 4:1-33

Keith Butler Ministries
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