Category: Lucia’s Blog

The Trial of Your Faith

As I read Dr. Bill Basansky’s article it ministered to my heart and encouraged me beyond compare so I have put it here for you to read today so you can be encouraged as well.

Dear Friend:
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Luke 22:31-32, KJV).

Every time that you dare to believe God for ANYTHING, your faith will be put on trial and tested. Satan believes that if enough pressure is applied on you, then you will get discouraged and quit. He will tempt you and try to lure you into sin.

If you have ever quit in the past, then Satan is counting on you to quit again. He will constantly remind you of your past mistakes and failures. He is a master when it comes to temptation and mind manipulation.

Satan does not believe that you will stand strong, believe God’s Word and continue to trust God when everything around you indicates that your situation will never change.

One of the keys to making a strong stand against the devil is understanding that TESTS AND TRIALS DO NOT LAST FOREVER. They are temporary and subject to change (2 Corinthians 4:18).

When you know that trials are subject to change, then you can endure because God’s Word never changes.

1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us that …the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire.

Hebrews 10:35 says Cast not away therefore your confidence which has great recompence of reward.

Hebrews 10:23 …Let us hold fast the profession – confession – of faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV).

The word temptation refers to any outside source that appeals to a weakness in your flesh and entices the flesh to take a closer look. If you don’t stop this thought process, it will set its hook in your soul and pull you right into the middle of some kind of sin.

But this verse promises that God will make a way for you to escape temptation IF you really want to escape it. The word escape means to walk out of a difficult place, to walk out of a trap, or to walk out of a place that is not good for you.

This reminds me of the time when Joseph fled from Potiphar’s wife when she tried to seduce him (Genesis 39:12). In other words, Joseph did not stay in a bad situation and try to negotiate. He fled from there as quickly as he could!

Negotiation with sin usually leads to falling into it rather than conquering it.

This is why Paul was constantly telling the early believers to FLEE evil influences (1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22).

You don’t have to be stuck in those temptations that surround you. You can walk out of those temptations just as easily as you walked into them. God has made a way for you to escape, but you are the only one who can make the choice to jump through the escape hatch!

So today the Lord is asking you: Are you going to stay the way you are right now? Or are you willing to take the proper steps to escape from the emotional temptation and demonic trap? The choice is yours to make. You are the only one who can chose to walk of those temptations or negative situations.

The moment you make that decision, your journey of freedom has begun and the Lord will lead you to victory.

Standing with you in faith,
Dr. Bill Basansky

**Dr. Bill Basansky, born in Ukraine, was confined in Nazi prison camps during parts of World War II. Dr. Basansky became paralized in his legs, resulting from an injury during his work in the Air Force. Thankfully, God healed him and restored his body from drugs and alcohol, and his mind from thoughts of suicide.

For five years, Dr. Bill worked with Oral Roberts University as a professor, and afterwards moved to Florida and founded Love And Grace Fellowship, which he and his wife pastored for over 14 years. His ministry is now focusing back to his country of origin. Scheduling multiple missions trips a year, Dr. Bill Basansky has started es, established Bible Schools, and held leadership seminars to train pastors and leaders. With his partners and friends have been able to ship more than $15 million in medicine, medical equipment and supplies, vitamins, clothing, food, and shoes to his home country. Dr. Bill is serving as an advisor and spiritual father to our leadership.  We celebrted Dr. Basansky’s promotion  to heaven September 9, 2010. 

A Mother’s Day Message

This is a presentation I gave at a local Mother-Daughter Tea the first of the month that I thought would be an encouragement to those who read it.  Be blessed as you read.

As I spent time with the Holy Spirit preparing for today, I asked Him specifically what He wanted to say to you today.

– He said you are special to Him just because of who you are!

– He is so in love with you. When He looks at you, He doesn’t see your shortcomings and failures, your disappointments, your youth or your maturity. He sees you as a perfect, righteous person – a person in right standing with Him. There’s nothing you can do to make Him love you any less today than what He loved you yesterday, or to make Him love you more tomorrow.

– He has a great purpose for your life, a great plan that you may not see through the piles of dirty laundry, dishes and diapers. You may not have time to see His plan through all the traffic and fast food wrappers as you take your children to and from soccer and baseball practice and games. You may think you’re too mature and that you’re done with your assignments, but there are still things He has for you to do – lives you need to touch.

– You may have lost a husband recently, a parent, or a child. God loves you, He knows your pain and He will bring restoration to your life. Restoration is part of our covenant with Jesus Christ. Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning! It’s okay to grieve, but there comes a time to move on with your life. If that’s you, let God restore you today! Decide today to receive His restoration.

– He wants you to know things in your life are going to get better!

– He wants me to remind you that the joy of the Lord is your strength! He wants to refresh you, restore you and prepare you today.

To bring change, refreshing and restoration, you need to change your words and your focus. Our words have power and we create our future with them so let’s put some creative power to work. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “I believe so I speak.” Revelations 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”Say this aloud:  I’m not just a conqueror – God made me more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I was created to win and I always win! (2

Corinthians 2:14 & 1 Corinthians 15:57) If I’m not winning – it’s not over!! I’m victorious because I see myself victorious!  That will stir you up! Hallelujah!!

The Word says you’re victorious whether you feel like it or not – How many of you know we don’t go by our feelings? If you’re feeling sorry for yourself today, it’s time to stop! We act like the Word of God is true! We tell our feelings and our bodies to line up with the Word of God. According to Galatians 3:13, we’ve been redeemed from the curse of sickness and disease; poverty and lack.

Say this: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”… On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 says I can have days of heaven on earth! There’s no sickness in heaven, so I don’t have sickness in my body no matter what age I am. There’s no lack in heaven, so I don’t have to have it in my life. There’s no depression in heaven, so I don’t have to have depression in my life! No more down days! I am full of joy – I am full of peace! My life is getting better every day, in every way! (Jeremiah 30:18-20) I have restoration in every area of my life because it’s part of my covenant with Jesus! Amen!

A setback is a stepping stone to greatness if you’ll allow God to mold and shape you. God is not your problem; He’s on your side; He’s for you and not against you. He wants you to win! (1 & 2 Corinthians – John 10:10)
I like what Jerry Savelle says, “We’re called to battle, but we’re destined to win! Jesus has already won the battle for us.” Don’t let the little things in life irritate you. If you’re letting things get to you, it’s time to change your focus.

What are you focusing on these days? Finances, the economy, some of you are thinking about your children right now who are at home with your husband or the baby sitter. Thank God for our husbands…I believe there is a special grace available to them right now as they are taking care of children and things at home. Thank you, God, for special grace, peace and joy over our homes right now. On a side note as we’re talking about husbands; ladies, on their best day, they’re just a man. I’d like to encourage you to decide every morning when you wake up that you’re going to make allowances for your husband – give him grace and mercy before hand, because he’s going to mess up. As you sow grace and mercy into him, you’ll reap grace and mercy, because even on your best day, you’re just a woman.

Back to the things you’re focusing on. Are you letting the irritations in your life make you bitter or beautiful? A pearl starts as a grain of sand, an irritant in an oyster. Layer by layer, a pearl is made into something beautiful. Are the irritating circumstances and situations in your life causing you to draw up next to God and fellowship with the Holy Spirit causing layers of His beauty to shine through you? Or are they pulling you away from God?
His beauty includes gentleness, kindness, peace, and joy. It’s up to you, what example are you giving your children? What legacy will you leave them? A legacy of defeat or victory? A legacy of giving up when things get tough or over-coming obstacles? A legacy of quitting or conquering? A legacy of doubt, fear, unbelief and worry. Or a legacy of faith?

Children are our heritage and if you’re like me, you want to leave them a legacy of faith, knowing how to overcome every obstacle in their life so they can live a victorious life. 1 John 5:4-5 in the Amplified says, “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?”

You may have older children who are not where you know they’re supposed to be. Send the Holy Spirit out to arrest them, minister life to them and bring them back into the body of Christ where they belong because God has need of them. They have gifts the body needs. Your children are your seed and God has promised you your seed. (John 4:53)

I’m going to ask you again – What are you focusing on? What are you recognizing in your life? Whatever it is, you’re empowering it in your life. Today is the day to settle in you mind that the price Jesus paid was enough for you to get your healing, your restoration, your prosperity, your joy, your deliverance, your peace – whatever it is you need. Everything you need is already on the inside of you because the fullness of the God-head bodily lives on the inside of you. You can pray in the Holy Ghost and not only build yourself up in your most holy faith as Jude 20-21 tells us to do, but you can pray out divine mysteries for your life, and the answers you need. Praying in the Spirit is walking in God’s power.

My goal is to add value to your life today and to leave you better just by being with you today. So I would ask you to bow your head and close your eyes. We’re going to allow the Holy Ghost to minister life to you and refresh you. Some of you are on top of the world while others are just tired and weary today. You’ve poured out and poured out, and you need to be re-filled and re-freshed. Some of you are weighed down with the cares of this world. You’re at a place in your life and you really don’t know how you got there.

Let’s take care of business. You don’t want to leave here the same way you came. You want to be better. You may be in disobedience to something God’s asked you to do and you haven’t done it; or He may have asked you to stop doing something and you’re still doing it. It may be anger, resentment, offense, bitterness, un-forgiveness. Whatever it is, it’s between you and God. Not you and me, or you and your neighbor.

Right now, just ask God to forgive you, repent, do an about face and get back on track today. He loves you so much and He delights in helping you. Let Him begin to fill you a fresh today. Holy Spirit we welcome you today, Sir. I ask you to fill us, pour out your rain – the former and later rains, Lord. Sir, we ask for a fresh anointing, a fresh fire, a fresh vision.

As you yield, He’ll fill you with His joy, His strength. You need to laugh today. Stir it up! Ha ha ha!