THE TEST OF FAITH

SALVATION ONLY FOUND THROUGH FAITH

The leaders of Israel were not men of faith. They were men of sight. With trouble approaching them from the Assyrian power, there sight convinced them that there was safety in Egypt and her swift horses. God through the prophet Isaiah was showing them that the way of deliverance sought by them was wrong. Their strength was not to be found in themselves or in Egypt. Salvation was to be found through faith in God. By returning to Him and resting in Him, they would find safety. A quiet, patience trust in their God would make them strong. Beloved, when danger threatens, it is difficult to abstain from using one’s own strength but to rely fully on the strength from above. It is most difficult to maintain inward composer and trust in the externals. But the faith is a confidence which casts every concern upon the Lord. One is strongest when reliance is greatest in the Lord. In v15 of Isaiah 30, the Lord promised His people that, “In returning and rest they shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be their strength.”  But they would not! Instead, they became too rebellious people and lying children. Children who will not hear the law of the Lord and exceeded against the seer telling them not to see, and the prophets not to prophesy to them right things; but to speak to them smooth things and to prophesy deceits. They also went as far as telling them to turn aside from their path and cause the Holy One of Israel to cease before them! “They took counsel, but not of the Lord, They devised plans but not of the Spirit of God, that they may add sin to sin. They stiff-necked and went down to Egypt and not asked of the Lord’s advice but strengthened themselves in the strength of pharaoh and trusted in the shadow of Egypt. Therefore the Lord said, “The strength of Pharaoh shall be their shame, and trusting in the shadow of Egypt shall be their humiliation.”  (Isaiah 30:15, 9-11, 1-3). Beloved, let us fully return to God and rely on His help even in this time of uncertainties.  As the Psalmist declared, “that the Lord is the refuge for the oppressed and a refuge in times of trouble.”  (Ps. 9:9) therefore let us not rebel against the Lord, but instead trust Him for He will never leave us nor forsake us.

TESTING!!!

While Satan attempt  to undermine our faith and entice us to sin; see ( Jas.1:13) “ Let no one say when he is tempted, “ I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” God at times test our faith to strengthen it. The Bible cites various examples of such testing. The testing may, and often does involve pain and suffering, but God wants us to reach out to Him and trust that He is working for our good. As comparisons of 2 Sam 24:1 with 1Chr.21:2, “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel and God being displeased with the thing, He therefore struck Israel,” and Job 1:6-12 with Job 23:10 “Now there was a day in which the sons of God, came to presents themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said,” From going to and fro on the earth, and walking back and forth on it...” Then the Lord said to Satan,” Have you considered My servant Job that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? “So Satan answered the Lord and said,” Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not make a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of His hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that He has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”  And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” But he knows the way that he takes; Job knew that after the test, he shall come forth as gold. Satan does whatever God will permit in order to get us to worship him and to prevent us from turning to God. We can find comfort in knowing that he is never out of control. He is allowed to go so far and only so far. And his final destiny is determined. God prophesied the defeat of Satan in Eden and He sealed that defeat in the cross of Jesus Christ. In our battle with Satan, God provides us with Spiritual armor to withstand him.   We will stand him partially at this time, and will be achieved completely at the return of Christ.

 

MORE THAN A LITTLE FAITH

The faith of the disciples was diminished by doubt, and so they were” men of little faith.” Faith is vital to the Christian life, and when it is weakened by doubt, the Christian’s spiritual vitality is sapped. A shallow faith can give a false sense of security. The disciples believed they were safe as long as Jesus was awake. They were not appropriating safety in Jesus at all times. In reality doubt leaves one with no real trust in Christ. Seeing His serenity in sleep amid the threat of disaster, they doubted His concern for them. When adversity threatens, doubt nullifies His promises and His assurance. A doubting faith enables one to meet difficulty but is not sufficient to carry one through to the end. The disciples’ faith got them involved with Jesus, but their faith wavered in the storm. It is at the critical moment that “little faith” plays out. By proper testing and exercise “little faith” will grow like the mustard seed to greater stature.  John says, “That whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is our victory that has overcome the world- our faith” (1 John 5:4)

EXAMPLES OF GOD’S TESTING FAITH

1.       Abraham was tested with the sacrifice of Isaac his only son; And because of his reverence and fear to God. Abraham never withheld his only son and it was accounted to him for righteousness and the Lord provided for the lamb to be sacrificed instead of his only son Isaac and he also obtained blessings from the Lord God.(Gen.22:1-18)

2.       Hezekiah was tested with the envoys from Babylon:  Hezekiah was a king just like his father David, consulting the guidance of the Lord in all his doings and during the threats from Sennacherib the king of Assyria and his commander the Rabshaker; He did not depend on other gods but relied fully to the help of God who delivered him and the city, destroyed his enemies and the Lord prospered the work of his hand abundantly.” However regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him that He might know all that was in his heart  and was found with pride” (2 Chr. 32:22-31)

3.       Job was tested with suffering beyond measure and loss of family and properties. But in spite of all this agony, Job knew that after the testing, he would come forth as gold. His feet held fast to God’s steps; He kept His ways and never turned aside nor departed from the commandments of His lips; treasured the words of God’s mouth more than his necessary food (Job 23:10-12).

4.       Christians are tested with trials and suffering; Apostle James encourages us to count it all joy when falls into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. He urges that we let patience have its perfect work, and that we may be perfect and complete lacking nothing. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a waver in the sea driven and toast by the wind”  James further warned us that God has no pleasure on double minded people and they should not expect anything good from the Lord. ( Jas. 1:2-8) Therefore my beloved brethren, let us try us much as we can to trust and have faith in God though we face challenges and the trials of our faith, may we stand firm lest the enemy takes charge. Apostle Paul adds in his epistle that,” We should examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. “Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? - Unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.” (2  Cor. 13:5-7)

 PURPOSE OF GOD’S TESTING

1.       To humble us; (Deut. 8:2-3),” And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way this forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you will keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your father’s know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”

2.       To see if we will love Him; (Deut. 13:3) “you shall not listen to the word of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord Your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

3.       To see if we will fear Him; (Exod. 20:18-20),”Now all the people witnessed the thundering, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it they trembled and stand a far off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”

4.       To see if we will obey Him; (Gen. 22:1), “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham.”

5.       To see if we will persevere in our faith; (Jas. 1:2-3; Rev.3:10-11),”For they do not do right, says the Lord, Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.” Therefore thus sys the Lord God, “An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered.”

Everlasting Father, May You grant us the faith to stand and overcome every test that may come our way either to humble us or to see if we genuinely love, obey and fear You. In the Mighty name of Your Son Jesus Christ Amen.

 

“Grace to you and Favor from God our Father and Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen and Amen, and Amen.”