THE TEST OF LIFE AND FAITH

Genesis 22:1-19; 39:1-12; 1 Sam.13:5-14

It is common knowledge that life is very short. Not only is life short but it is also full of very important choices that can make or break, lift up or pull down, develop or ruin, improve or devastate, bless or curse, build or destroy, enhance or diminish. In that short window of time you will have the opportunity for tests that could promote you, bless you, enhance you, but which could also have the opposite effect if you fail theses life tests. These can come in the form life-changing decisions that you will be required to make; circumstances that will demand your attention and action, choices that you will make, and opportunities that come across your pathway.

The test of our patriarch Abraham is one very good example of how God can test people, especially people He wants to bless and use. Abraham was severely tested in the thing that was most important in His life – his beloved son, Isaac. He passed the test. Other Bible characters were also tested at different times. Some passed and some failed.

When God tests us, it is so that He can bless, promote, advance and commit bigger things to us. It is really important that we understand this message and apply it to our lives.

Abraham’s Great Test   (Gen.22:1-19)

       i.            The Severity Of The Test (Gen. 22:1-2)

     ii.            His Prompt Obedience (Gen. 22:3-10)

  iii.            God’s Response: “Now I Know” (Gen.22:11-12)

  iv.            Confirmation of Promises (Gen. 22:13-19)

Abraham is our father by faith in Christ Jesus. God made him a promise to be the father of many nations. God promised to give him a son through his wife Sarah. This was fulfilled after waiting for 25 years (Gen.18:9-11; 21:1-3). Isaac was born. It was a time of joy and happiness, a time of laughter in the house of Abraham. God’s promise had finally been fulfilled. Little did Abraham know that God was going to test his faith in a much harder way.  It was a very severe test.  God wanted Isaac to be offered as a sacrifice! He waited for Isaac for 25 years and now he has to offer him as a sacrifice!

But now you will know why God chose Abraham to be the father of many nations. God said earlier concerning Abraham, “for I know him…” (Gen.18:17-19). God said to Satan “Have you seen my servant Job…?” (Job 1:8; 2:3).  Job knew he was having a test from God and was determined to pass that test of faith (Job 23:10). God knows you too…! If you are being tested, God wants you to come out as pure as gold

Abraham was shining example on how to respond to the Almighty God. God must have spoken to him in the night and early in the morning he took his journey to mount Moriah.

Did he feel emotion? Did it stab his heart with pain? Well to answer that put yourself in his shoes. Despite what he must have felt, he obeyed God. Again God responded “Now I know…” Tests of faith reveal to us who we are, what we are, our character. Whatever we claim to be will tested. You claim to be a pure Christian? Wait till you have been tested. You claim to be sanctified? Wait till you have been test. You claim to be holy? Wait till you have been tested.

Abraham passed with distinction and God confirmed His promises to Him forever. (Genesis 22:13-19). There is blessing in passing the test of faith (1Peter 1:7).

 

Tests Of Other Notable Bible Characters (Gen.39:1-12)

      

      i.            Joseph in Egypt (Gen.39:1-12)

    ii.            Daniel In Babylon (Daniel 6:10-23)

 iii.            Saul The First King Of Israel (1 Sam.13:5-14)

 iv.            David The Man After God’s Heart

What young man does not know how severely Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife? Joseph stood as a shining light for us today. God chose him to do a great work. But before that work could be fulfilled some great tests came to him! The action he took by fleeing from that evil lady is a great example today on how to overcome temptation. It was not God tempting him for God does not tempt anyone. The devil wanted to divert his destiny! Thank God he stood. God used him to save and preserve a whole nation.

Daniel was tested many times in Babylon. His integrity is encapsulated for in (Daniel 1:8). If you want to pass the tests of life and faith, you must have a heart purpose! Daniel became a man greatly beloved by God. His position influence in Babylon and Persia was instrumental to the release of the Jews from captivity after 70 years (Dan.9:20-25).

Saul, Israel’s first king was tested by God but failed several times. First because fear and impatience he undertook to offer a sacrifice before Israel went to war – an assignment that was not for him. At another time he partially obeyed God in destroying the Amalekites, bringing back to best sheep and their king Agagg back with him. The Lord told His destiny was cut short. His Kingdom did not continue. He died miserably.

David was the most famous king of Israel, well beloved of God. His life was never free from tests. He was a great general, he was the most renown poet and psalmist, he always asked God before making any important decision. He was a great character. But just once he was tempted and he fell in the matter of Uriah’s wife. Did that test have consequences? Yes, very far reaching.

Are we better than these men? Are judging them in these stories? Far from it. We ourselves face many tests every day and, Oh how many times we fail! And how many destinies have been truncated, cut short or terminated by those failures!

 

Testing Of Contemporary Christians (1Pet.1:7; James 1:2-4)

     

       i.            Deception Of (false) Prophets

     ii.            Difficulties Of Poverty

  iii.            Delicacies Of Prosperity

  iv.            Delay Of Promises

     v.            Decision On Priorities

When our GS preached a message with similar title several years ago he listed some areas where we all could be tested today. These six areas can affect any one of us.

False Prophets: How can false prophets be used as a test to us?  Can false prophets present a test for true believers? Yes. Jesus warned us to “beware of false prophets” (Mathew 7:15-20). When God led Israel out of Egypt, there arose false prophets among the people. They later became so prominent that kings were consulting them before going to war.

Those false prophets operate by lying spirits (1Kings 22:21-23). They deceive anyone who listens to them. Even the very elect, even seriously committed Christians can be deceived if possible.

Poverty is another area of strong test for believers to see whether they will trust God or not. Poverty can lead people into different kinds of evil – stealing, telling lies, falsifying information, prostitution, adultery, and fornication, to name a few. A real believer should trust in God even in the face of such deprivation.

What about prosperity? We all pray that God should prosper us. Many people can be carried away with their prosperity to the point that they will do things not according to the will of God (Luke 12:15-21). Pride can creep in. And they may begin in their empty pride to despise other people (Luke 18:11).

Delayed promises is one area that test many of us (Proverbs 13:22). God has made you a promise through revelations or through the scriptures, and you claim them for your own and waiting for them to be fulfilled, only for there to be a long delay (Hab.2:3). At such a time your faith will be tried to know what sort it is! Abraham fell at one point to this trap.

Perhaps the most difficult and most frequent of these tests is decision on priorities. What are your priorities? How do you select priorities? Priority tests will come in times when you need to show love, when you have an assignment in the house of God, when you want to choose life partner, when there is need to submit to constituted authority.

Many believers fail the test of patience (James 1:4). They are very impatient we other believers. They will excuse themselves when they err or do wrong, but if another believer did the same thing they will never excuse it! Others are impatient with God’s timing, they want to run ahead of God, and they fall into the many pitfalls along life’s way. What you do in these areas will determine whether you will pass those tests or not, and whether you will be promoted or not, and whether promises God’s promises will be fulfilled in your life or not.

Today is a day of decision. Decision that if you have not passed God’s tests of faith you will determine to pass them from now on. !I pray today that if any destiny has been truncated or terminated because of wrong decisions God would give such a person a second chance               (Luke 13:1-9).

Possessing The Faith Never Fails

Ephesians 6:16,17; Mark 9:23; Matthew 17:20

Faith is an indispensable attribute of saints of old. Hebrews chapter 11 captures their actions and exploits of faith. The Scripture teaches that though people may have different callings, commissions, responsibilities, the common thread that binds them is faith. Their exploits, endurance and courage in the face of trials are all by faith. Among these saints of old are patriarchs, princes, prophets and common people – men and women – some with legitimate or illegitimate birth. Irrespective of status, it is faith that enlists the believer among saints who possessed faith that never fails. With faith, the Christian is able to face any challenge, fulfil his commission, achieve his goal and realize his dreams.

To be able to overcome obstacles, the believer is required to put on the whole armour of God. But without faith, the armour is incomplete and will not work effectively. With it, the believer “shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”. Some people suffer long in their predicaments because they accept that it is impossible to overcome all their problems; they are not sure it is the will of God for them to receive divine intervention; and they think that God predestined them to such fate. But Jesus says unbelief is the cause. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Unbelief, not lack of resourcefulness, connection or know-how, is the reason many believers have big dreams, goals and aspirations without accomplishment. When unbelief gives way to faith, the believer begins to succeed where he previously failed. While churches now point to the need to discover causes, and science teaches discovery of solution through research, and prophets foresee the unreal, the Lord commands believers to speak to their mountains by faith. If you believe and obey, “...nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

1.​THE FAITH THAT COMES BY THE WORD

Romans 10:17; Acts 12:24; 2 Samuel 7:25; Luke 5:5,6; Ezekiel 12:25,28.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith in God and His power does not come by listening to words that cause fear, suspicion and hatred in the heart. The Scripture reveals that it is listening to and hearing God’s word that builds faith. The faith of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David and other saints grew and they were able to do mighty exploits through the word of God they heard. Faith that never fails grows in the believer who commits himself to hear the word of God daily.

To have faith implanted and growing in your heart, you must read, hear, believe, study, meditate on the word; you must obey, preach and multiply the word; and you must pray through and act on the word. Thus, a net-breaking breakthrough comes through acting on the unfailing word of God. “For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged... There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 12:25,28). The word of God does not depend on feeling, talent, ability, experience, or knowledge of anyone to be fulfilled. And Satan cannot hinder God from fulfilling His word in the life of the faith-filled believer.

2.​THE FAITH THAT CONQUERS THE WORLD

1 John 5:4; 4:4; 2:13,14; Revelation 12:11.

To be able to go through life successfully, every believer needs to possess the faith that conquers the world and everything in it. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Fear to face challenges in any believer is as a result of ignorance of the power and personality of Christ in him. As a believer, you must believe and constantly affirm God’s word that, “greater is he that is in [me], than he that is in the world”(1 John 4:4). Satan and sinners in the world cannot overcome the believer who has Christ in him. Moses ran from Egypt because he believed that Pharaoh was greater than his God. After his encounter with God and his faith in His might grew, he confronted the king of Egypt and set the Israelites free from bondage. If you are a believer, you are not weak: “ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). With faith in the power of the indwelling Christ and His word, you will continue to overcome the world.

3.​THE FAITH THAT CONTINUES HIS WORKS

Acts 1:1; John 5:17,19;14:12.

God expects believers to continue the works of Christ by faith. What Christ has done is what the believer is to continue to do. Through the great commission, we are to carry on with the signs and wonders, miracles, soul-winning, manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit and “all that Jesus began both to do and teach”. He completed and perfected the work of our redemption without any part left for human contribution. But He did not complete the work of soul-winning, teaching, healing and deliverance. Christ Himself incarnated to continue the work of the Father. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” To succeed, the believer must follow Christ’s pattern. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:17,19). Now, Christ commands the believer to also do the works He left uncompleted. To be able to continue Christ’s works, the believer needs to believe, internalize and personalize His words, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”  The believer is able to continue Christ’s works and do exploits like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Jephthah, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Elijah, Elisha, Stephen, Philip, Paul, Peter, with the possession of the faith that never fails.

THE NECESSITY CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION

1 Corinthians 15:1-9, 12-20; 1:18; Rom. 1:16

It is not the material cross, the physical wooden cross on which Christ died that brought our salvation. It is the person who died on it, whose vicarious death brought us salvation from the penalty of sin. Many people today have made the emblem of the cross an idol which the worship. They have side-olined Christ while embracing the physical emblem.

“There are abundant examples in history where most of the ancient cultures utilized the cross as an execution instrument…” the Egyptians, Romans, Carthaginians, Persians and Greeks (James A Fowler, The Cross of Christ, 1999). The Jews employed stoning, but the Romans brought it into use in Israel during their occupation and it was used as the instrument upon which they executed Christ.

Death by crucifixion is one the most excruciating, painful and agonizing form of death. It was used for slaves, foreigners and traitors. When criminals were crucified, they displayed them for all to see, to serve as a deterrent to others who may rebel.

Today we are not concentrating on the cross of the crucifixion. We are concentrating on the work that was finished by Christ through His death on the cross.

The Meaning Of The Cross To Believers              (1Cor.15:1-4)

The cross is a symbol of torture and execution. During the time of Christ it was a despised instrument. Rev. James Fowler wrote, “Would you want to wear a gold plated noose or gallows had Christ been hanged, or a gold-plated guillotine had Christ been beheaded, or a gold-plated electric chair had Christ been electrocuted, or a gold-plated syringe had Christ been lethally injected? (The Cross of Christ, James A. Fowler, 1999). The early Church could not and did not use the cross as ornament. They developed the symbol of the fish because the Greek word for fish was itchthus was used as an acrostic for( Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr),  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, saviour”. How time has changed.

We definitely should not venerate or hold the cross in high regard. We should instead focus our worship and veneration on the person who died on the cross – Jesus Christ our Lord. It is very easy for men to begin to worship the creature rather than the Creator. For this same reason King Hezekiah removed the brass serpent that Moses made in the wilderness (2Kings 18:4)

The Cross simply means that Christ has voluntarily died for our sins and risen to reconcile the world to Himself.

It is also used to denote the life lived as a result of our faith in Christ.  The mystical interpretation of the cross can be seen in the use of the cross in our hymns – When I survey the wondrous cross… A very lovely hymn but we should beware not to focus on the physical instrument, but rather to focus on the person of the One who died on the cross.

His Death and Resurrection Were According To Scriptures

        i.            Christ  Is The Lamb Of God Who Takes Away The Sin Of The World (Exodus 12:3; Isa.53:7; John 1:29; 1John 2:2)

      ii.            Christ Is The Suffering Servant Of Yahweh (Isa.52:13-15; 53:1-12)

    iii.            Christ Died For Our Sins (John 1:29; 1Cor. 11:23-26; 1Pet.2:24; Dan.9:26)

    iv.            Prophets Foretold Of His Death and Resurrection (Hosea 6:1-2; Psalm 16:8-11; Mathew 12:38-40; Zech.13:37)

When God instituted the Passover, He commanded each family to take a lamb without blemish and kill it the night He delivered them out the land of Egypt. It was a picture of Christ who would in the ages to come be crucified as a ransom for many.

The prophet Isaiah saw Christ as the suffering servant of Yaweh (Isa.52:13-15; 53:1-12). Christ died for our sin that we live for God. He did not die for Himself (Dan.9:26).

Isaiah 52:13-15 graphically describe the suffering of Christ and His resurrection. His appearance was so marred beyond human recognition. He was flogged (39 lashes with stone studded whips); He was spat upon, They put a crown of thorns upon His head.

Isaiah 53:1-12 explained the reason why this was done to Him  - for our sins, our transgressions, our grief and our sorrows; our peace; our healing; our iniquity.

Hid Death Wrought Atonement For Our Sins

                                   i.            Christ Died To Reconcile Us To God

                                 ii.            Christ Carried Our Sin and The Punishment of It (Heb.9:28; Isa. 5:12; 1Pet. 2:24;)

                               iii.            He Was Made To Be Sin (2Cor.5:21; Gal.3:13)

                               iv.            His Death Removed The Righteous wrath Of God (Rom.3:25-26; Heb.2:17; 1John 2:2; 4:10)

Somebody had said that the English word ‘atone’ means at-one-ness, which immediately implies reconciliation. Christ was given to be the “Propitiation” for our sins. That word means a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes the wrath of God towards us into favour. Christ’s suffering and death made God propitious, i.e., favourable towards us

While we were yet sinners, we had these four needs

                    (i)            We deserve to die and the penalty of sin

                  (ii)            We deserve To bear God’s wrath against sin

                (iii)            We are separated from God by our sins (Isaiah 59:1-2)

                (iv)            We are in bondage to sin and to Satan

We were dead in trespasses and sins; we fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the mind; the wrath of God was upon us; we were without Christ; without God;  we had no hope of salvation;  we were afar of from God and from His salvation. Then Christ came (Eph.2:1-8).

Solution:

(1)   Christ died as a sacrifice for us (Heb.9:26)

(2)   Christ died as a propitiation for our sins (1John 4:10)

(3)   Christ reconciled us to God (2Cor.5:18-19)

(4)   Christ gave His Life as ransom for many (Mark 10:45; Rom.6:11, 14)

Atonement is associated with our sin and Christ’s death made amends for our sin (Leviticus 16:27-30; 23:27-28). Without the blood of Christ, atonement would be impossible (Lev.17:11; Heb.9:22). The animal Israelites used for the atonement was an innocent animal – a lamb without blemish (Exodus 12:5) which was a picture of the future atonement for our sins by Christ Jesus. Christ’s atonement is not just for a few people. It is for many and if every human on earth would come to Christ, He would save them all!

Our redemption, our justification our sanctification and our glorification was finished by His death and resurrection. Christ reconciles all creation; He reconciles all things to God (Eph.2:16; Col.1:20).

Jesus has done everything that can be done for sin (Gal.5:11; 6:12; 6:14)

Our old self; unregenerate self was crucified, and now we have become Christians, the old man is laid aside (Eph.4:22; Col. 3:9). We now have a new nature (Eph.4:22; Col. 3:10; 2Cor.5:17; John 1:12).

Our response to Christ then is that we must now voluntarily deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him. Let us read those references (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27). We should not interpret these passages mystically, as if Christ was referring to His own cross before He died on it. He is not referring to a physical cross. He is using a metaphor (an imagery). The practice during His work on earth was that the condemned criminal carried his own cross to the place of crucifixion. Christ is using that metaphor to tell us what will be involved in following Him

To carry our cross daily means that we voluntarily choose to reject any behaviour, any personal interest, any selfishness, in short, any aspect of the old nature. We choose to allow the termination those behaviour. This we will do and God will give us strength.