C. BOSTIAN                        LEARN TO ENDURE TESTING                      DEC.14, 2003

 

(Insert Slide) Hebrews 12:7 (KJV)

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

 

Hebrews 12:5-13 (MsgB)

So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?     My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. [6] It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. (Insert Slide) [7] God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, [8] the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for them-selves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? [9] We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? [10] While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. [11] At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. [12] So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! [13] Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

 

LAST WEEK I BEGAN TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT FOUR TESTS IN LIFE PATTERNED AFTER ABRAHAM.  HE HAD TO LEARN HOW TO ENDURE TESTING AND SO DO WE.  YOU AND I CAN LEARN TO ENDURE TESTING AND GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL GOD HAS FOR US.  BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO PASS THE TEST. AFTER TESTING GOD IS GOING TO PROMOTE US FROM ONE LEVEL OF SUCCESS TO ANOTHER. (Insert Slide) SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ONE THING: TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION. SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU 4 MAJOR LIFE TESTS TAKEN FROM THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM

 NOW LET’S TURN TO HEB.11:8 AND READ ABOUT ABRAHAM.

 

(Insert Slide) Hebrews 11:8-19 (MsgB)

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. [9] By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. [10] Abraham waited and kept his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.  [11] By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was (Insert Slide) at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. [12] That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions. [13] Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. [14] People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. [15] If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. [16] But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them. (Insert Slide) [17] By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him— [18] and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." [19] Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.

 

TODAY WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM AND SOME OF THE TESTS THAT HE HAD TO GO THROUGH.  (Insert Slide)  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT LIFE IS A SERIES OF TESTS AND JAMES TELLS US THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT COME TO US ARE ACTUALLY TESTS.  IN FACT IN JAMES 1:2 IT SAYS, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN VARIOUS TESTS COME YOUR WAY. FOR WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED YOUR ENDURANCE HAS A CHANCE TO GROW.  SO LET IT GROW, FOR WHEN YOUR ENDURANCE IS FULLY DEVELOPED YOU WILL BE STRONG IN CHARACTER AND READY FOR ANYTHING.  THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BUILD ENDURANCE TO GO THE LONG HAUL IS THROUGH TESTING.  THE VERY THING WE DON’T LIKE IS THE VERY THING THAT MAKES US STRONG.  NOW EVEN THOUGH THE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL VARY GOD WILL TEST ALL OF US IN THESE 4 AREAS THAT ABRAHAM GOT TESTED IN HIS LIFE.  NOW THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO PASS THE TEST AND AS YOU WAIT ON HIM HE WILL GIVE YOU THE WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, DISCERNMENT AND POWER TO PASS WITH FLYING COLORS. 

 

(Insert) Hebrews 12:7

 [7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not

 

VERSE 7 TELLS US THAT IF WE ENDURE CHASTENING OR TESTING THAT GOD WILL DEAL WITH US AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS.  WE ARE TOLD NOT TO MAKE LIGHT OF GOD’S TESTING AND NETHEIR ARE WE TO DESPISE IT BUT EMBRACE IT AND GROW THROUGH IT.  (Insert) SO HERE IN HEBREWS GOD IS TELLING US IN ADVANCE THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE TESTED.  WHAT HE DOESN’T TELL US IS WHEN CAUSE ITS GONNA BE A POP QUIZ

 

 (Insert Slide)  NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IN THIS MESSAGE IS THAT TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION.  WHEN TESTS COME PROMOTION IS BEING OFFERED SO LET’S LOOK BEYOND THE TEST TO WHAT IS BEING OFFERED.  THE REASON JESUS COULD ENDURE THE CROSS WAS BECAUSE OF THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM.  SO WHEN A TEST COMES OUR WAY SOME KIND OF PROMOTION IS BEING OFFERED.  SO LET’S LOOK AT TEST NUMBER 1: MAJOR CHANGE: THE JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN.

 

(INS) Hebrews 11:8(MsgB)

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.

 

(INS) SO THE FIRST TEST OF LIFE IS MAJOR CHANGE.  GOD ASKED ABRAHAM TO LEAVE EVERYTHING, TO PICK UP EVEYTHING HE OWNED AND MOVE TO ANOTHER PLACE.  ABRAHAM ASKED WHERE AND GOD SAID I’LL LET YOU KNOW LATER.  IT’S THE JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN.  WOULD YOU FOLLOW GOD LIKE THAT? (INS) GOD SAYS, FOLLOW ME, BUT HE DOESN’T ALWAYS TELL YOU WHERE.  WHAT GOD IS ASKING FOR IS UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.  IT’S A TEST AND ITS CALLED MAJOR CHANGE.

 

 

(INS) WHEN YOU’RE CONFRONTED WITH A MAJOR CHANGE YOU WILL ASK THE “WHERE” QUESTION.  WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO LIVE.  WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO WORK.  WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO GO TO CHURCH.  WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO RETIRE.  WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO GO TO SCHOOL.  IT’S THE WHERE QUESTION AND IT’S A MAJOR CHANGE AND IT’S A TEST.  IF YOUR FAITH HASN’T LEAD YOU TO TAKE ANY RISKS THEN IT ISN’T FAITH.  FAITH IS ALWAYS RISKY.

(INS) HEB.11:9

[9] By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise.

 

2. TEST NUMBER DELAYED PROMISE.  THIS TEST ALWAYS CAUSES US TO ASK THE QUESTION: “WHEN.”  NOT WHERE BUT WHEN.

 

(INS) WE NOTICE IN THIS ONE VERSE THE WORD PROMISE IS MENTIONED TWICE.  PROMISE IS A VERY IMPORTANT WORD IN THE VOCABULARY OF A CHRISTIAN.  THE BIBLE IS FULL OF PROMISES AND THAT’S GREAT.  BUT BETWEEN THE PROMISE GIVEN AND THE PROMISED RECEIVED THERE CAN BE DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS OF DELAY.  THAT’S WHEN WE BEGIN TO ASK THE WHEN QUESTION.  GOD PROMISED ABRAHAM THAT HE AND HIS DESCENDANTS WOULD LIVE IN THE PROMISED LAND.  YEARS GO BY AND HE’S STILL ASKING THE “WHEN” QUESTION. GOD WANTS US TO BASE OUR LIVES ON HIS PROMISE NOT ON EXPLANATIONS. 

 

SO, GOD CALLS ABRAHAM OUT TO THE PROMISED LAND.  YEARS GO BY AND HE DOESN’T ENTER IT AND NEITHER DOES ISAAC.  ITS NOT UNTIL JACOB IS BORN THAT THEY ENTER INTO THE PROMISED LAND.  BOY, THAT’S A LONG WAIT.  SO THEY WERE 3 GENERATIONS LIVING IN TENTS

 

(INS) HEB.11:10

[10] Abraham waited and kept his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.

 

(INS) NOW, I’M BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE A TEST IF I KNOW THERE’S GOING TO BE AN END TO IT.  I THINK THE HARDEST KIND OF TEST IS WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW.  IS THIS EVER GONNA END.  IT’S A DELAYED PROMISE.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING WITHOUT KNOWING WHEN.

 

(INS) Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

 

Proverbs 29:18 (MsgB)

If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals,

they are most blessed.

 

(INS) IF YOU CAN SEE THE BIG PICTURE FOR THE FUTURE IT GIVES YOU POWER TO ENDURE A WAIT.  YOU’RE WILLING TO WAIT LONGER IF YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.  THAT’S THE POWER OF A VISION AND A DREAM. THE BIBLES SAYS OF JESUS, FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM HE ENDURED THE CROSS.  HE SAW PAST THE CROSS AND WHAT IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH AND IT GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE. 

 

THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THAT ABRAHAM WAITED. (INS) YOU SEE TIME EFFECTS PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.  SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE MILK THEY GET SOUR WITH TIME.  (INS) OTHERS ARE LIKE WINE, THEY GET BETTER.  PEOPLE WHO PAST THE TEST OF TIME ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK LONG TERM.  THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ONLY TIME CAN PROVE. SO STAMINA AND ENDURANCE ARE TRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STRONG AND IN GOOD SHAPE.  OUR QUALITY, OUR STRENGTH AND OUR FULL POTENTIAL IS REVEALED IN THE TEST OF TIME. ITS A DELAYED PROMISE. SO WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN EXPECTING GOD TO DO IN YOUR LIFE THAT HASN’T HAPPENED YET.  ABRAHAM HAD TO WAIT 3 GENERATIONS, HOW LONG ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

 

 

(INS) Psalm 25:5 (KJV)

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

 

Psalm 25:21 (KJV)

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

 

 

(INS)  Psalm 123:2 (KJV)

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

 

Psalm 145:15 (KJV)

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

 

 

SO HOW WELL DO YOU WAIT?  LET’S TAKE A LITTLE TEST.  YOU ARE WAITING AT THE TOLL BOOTH AND THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU IS IN AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION WITH THE TOLL BOOTH OPERATOR.  YOU ARE: 1. HAPPY THEY ARE EXPERIENCING COMMUNITY AT THE TOLL BOOTH. YOU THINK ABOUT JOINING THEM AND STARTING A SMALL GROUP. 2. YOU DREAM OF THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO SAY TO THE TOLL BOOTH OPERATOR. 3.  YOU ATTEMPT TO DRIVE YOUR CAR BETWEEN THE TOLL BOOTH AND THE OTHER CAR.  OR YOU’RE WAITING IN A DOCTORS OFFICE FOR OVER AN HOUR. SO YOU’RE: 1. YOU’RE GREATFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON THE 1993 READERS DIGEST. 2. YOU TELL OTHER PATIENTS YOU HAVE A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY DISEASE HOPING THAT WILL CLEAR THE WAITING ROOM. 3. YOU FORCE YOURSELF TO HYPERVENTELATE TO GET IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.  WELL, I THINK WE’RE ALL KIND OF LIKE THAT BUT WAITING ON THE LORD IS THE CONTINUAL DAILY DECISION TO SAY I’M GONN TRUST YOU AND OBEY YOU CAUSE I’M BETTING EVERYTHING I HAVE ON YOU AND I DON’T HAVE PLAN “B.”  WAITING MAY BE THE HARDEST SINGLE THING WE HAVE TO DO.

 

G0D TELLS ABRAHAM HE WILL BE A FATHER BUT HE’S ALREADY 75.  NOW HE HAS TO WAIT ANOTHER 24 YEARS BEOFRE THE CHILD COMES.  GOD TOLD ISRAEL THEY WOULD LEAVE EGYPTIAN SLAVERY AND ONE DAY BECOME A GREAT NATION AND THEY HAVE TO WAIT 430 YEARS.  GOD TELLS MOSES YOU’RE GONNA DELIVER MY PEOPLE INTO A PROMISED LAND AND HE HAS TO WAIT 80 YEARS BEFORE HE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS.  PRESIDENT NELSON MENDELLA HAD TO WAIT 27 YEARS IN PRISON IN A FIGHT FOR OVERTHROWING APARTITE, BIGOTRY AND RACISM BEFORE SEEING HIS NATION SET FREE AND BECOMING PRESIDENT.  HE DIDN’T EVER KNOW IN THOSE 27 YEARS THAT HE’D GET OUT OF PRISON AND YET HE ENDURED 27 YEARS ON ROBIN ISLAND OFF OF CAPETOWN. HE WALKED OUT TO BECOME THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE NEW REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE OVERTHROW OF APARTITE.  HOW LONG ARE YOU WILLING TO WAIT.  YOU SEE, ALL OF GOD’S SAINTS HAD DELAYS.  NOAH WAITED 120 YEARS.  ABRAHAM WAITED HIS WHOLE LIFETIME.  GOD GIVES ALL BELIEVERS A WAITING TEST. 

 

(INS) SO TEST #1 IS A MAJOR CHANGE.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL FOLLOW GOD’S LEADING EVEN WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW WHERE. TEST #2, DELAYED PROMISE.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING EVEN WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW WHEN.

 

(INS) 3. TEST # 3 IS AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM.

 

(INS) HEB. 11:11-12

[11] By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. [12] That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

 

ABRAHAM’S CONFIDENCE WASN’T IN SARA BECAUSE HE SAW HER BARRENESS FOR 90 YEARS.  THERE WASN’T NO OIL OF OLAY, NO LEVITO OR VIAGRA, THERE WASN’T ANYTHING IN THE NATURAL THAT COULD REVERSE THE BARRENESS OF SARA.  BUT HE COUNTED GOD FAITHFUL WHO MADE THE PROMISE. (INSERT VIGRA SLIDE)  FOR SOME OF YOU GOD WILL WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED EVERY RESOURCE TO CONVINCE YOU THAT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.  ITS NOT BY MIGHT AND ITS NOT BY POWER BUT ITS BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD, AND THAT’S THEY WAY ITS SUPPOSE TO BE.  ITS NOT BY YOUR CLEVER INGENUITY OR WISDOM BUT ITS BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.  I’LL TELL YOU SOMETIMES A LONG WAIT IS TELLING THAT YOU CAN’T MAKE IT HAPPEN.

 

NOW ABRAHAM HAD TO LEARN THIS CAUSE IT DIDN’T COME NATURALLY FOR HIM AND NEITHER WILL IT FOR US.  ABRAHAM THOUGHT HE’D HELP GOD OUT A LITTLE AND WENT IN AND SLEPT WITH SARA’S MAID HAGAR AND HAD A BABY CALLED ISCHMEAL.  HALF THE WORLD IS HAVING PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDDELEAST BECAUSE ABRAHAM GOT IMPATIENT AND DECIDED TO HELP GOD OUT A LITTLE BIT.  AND HE FAILED.  HOW MANY ISHMEALS HAVE WE ALL CREATED?  YOU KNOW WHEN YOU BIRTH THOSE SUCKERS YOU HAVE FEED THEM, PAY TAXES ON THEM AND EVERYTHING.  THEY DON’T GO AWAY.  YEA, WELL I’M SAVED NOW AND ISCHMEAL IS STILL OUT THERE.  AND YOU BIRTHED IT CAUSE YOU GOT IMPATIENT AND TRIED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.  I EVEN HAVE TO FIGHT THAT IN THE CHURCH CAUSE I DON’T WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN THAT I’LL REGRET LATER.  IF GOD’S GONNA GIVE YOU SOMETHING HIS YOKE IS EASY AND HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT.  SO WE TRY EVEYTHING BUT GOD AND ONLY COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW OLD WE ARE AND HOW LONG WE’VE BEEN WAITING.  REMEMBER JOSHU8A AND CALEB?  THEY JOINED THE CHURCH OF THE ‘WE BE NOT ABLE’ AND HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY WERE 8O BEFORE THEY COULD ENTER THE PROMISED LAND.  AND JOSHUA SAID AT AGE 80 THAT HE WAS JUST AS STRONG AS HE WAS AT 40 AND HE AND CALEB WENT IN AND TOOK THE LAND OF PROMISE.  GOD WILL EXTEND YOUR LIFE AND HEALTH FOR ANY PROMISE HE’S MADE TO YOU.  YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT OF THAT.  IT MAY BE A LONG WAIT BUT YOUR STRENGTH WILL ENDURE.

 

LOOK, ABRAHAM WAS CONFRONTED WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM: HE’S 99 YRS OLD AND NO KID.  GOD SAYS HE’S GONNA BE A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.  SO GOD CHANGED HIS NAME FROM ABRAM TO ABRAHAM  WHICH MEANS FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.  SO YOU DRIVE INTO TOWN AND A GUY SAYS HI MY NAME IS BILL WHAT’S YOUR’S.  MY NAME IS FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.  WOW!  HOW MANY KIDS YOU GOT.  NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.  IS THAT YOUR WIFE UP THERE OR IS THAT A STUFFED TROPHY?  HEY, THIS ISN’T MEL GIBSON UP THERE THIS IS ABRAHAM.  HE’S 99 AND DEAD IN HIS BODY AND CONFRONTED WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM.  SO GOD HAD TO DO SOMETHING IN THEIR BODY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.  DO YOU REALIZE THAT ABIMILECH WANTED SARA AT 90 FOR HIS HARRAM.  NOW THAT SUCKER IS EITHER ON DRUGS OR SHE GOT RESURRECTION LIFE IN HER BODY, MIRACUOUSLY.  THEY AIT NO COSMETIC CREAM THAT CAN DO THIS GIRLS.  SHE’S A KNOCKOUT AT 90 YRS. OLD AND IT’S A GOD THING.  (INS) DO YOU REALIZE THAT MOST OF THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BIBLE HAD THEIR MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR CULTURE WHEN THEY WERE 70-80 YRS. OLD.  I THINK MY BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD AND SO ARE YOUR’S IF YOU’LL STAY WITH ME.

 

SO THE THRID MAJOR TEST IN LIFE IS AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM.  THAT’S WHEN YOU WONDER HOW.  NOT WHEN, NOT WHERE BUT HOW.  HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO IT LORD?  SOME OF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.  SOME OF YOU ARE DISCOURAGED AND YOU’RE ASKING GOD HOW HE’S GONNA DO IT.  HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE ENDS MEET THIS MONTH.  HOW IS GOD GONNA HEAL ME.  HOW IS GOD GONNA CHANGE MY HUSBAND OR WIFE?  HOW IS THIS MARRIAGE GONNA BE RESOLVED?  HOW IS GOD GONNA DEAL WITH THIS REBELLIOUS CHILD?  HOW? HOW? HOW?  THAT’S THE TEST OF A REAL BELIEVER. (INS) A REAL BELIEVER WILL EXPECT A MIRACLE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW GOD INTENDS TO DO IT.

 

(INS) 1 Thes. 5:24 (KJV)

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

 

1 Thes. 5:24 (MsgB)

The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

 

(INS) WHEN GOD GIVES YOU A PROMISE HE IS THE PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING IT TO PASS.  SO OFTEN WE THINK ITS BASED ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING OR OUR PRAYER TIME OR WHETHER WE FAST OR NOT WHEN IN REALITY ITS AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM THAT ONLY GOD CAN SOLVE.  SO REST IN HIM.  PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM AND KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON HIM AND HIS PROMISE.  HE WILL TAKE THE RESPO0NSIBILITY TO FULFILL EVERY PROMISE HE GIVES TO YOU.  SO WHILE I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT AND CAN’T WRITE A BOOK TO EXPLAIN IT I WILL SIMPLY TRUST YOU CAUSE I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU’RE GONNA DO IT.

 

Matthew 17:20 (KJV)

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

 

 

CHARLES HADDEN SPURGEON WRITES: GOD DELIGHTS IN IMPOSSIBILITIES.  ONE MAN WRITES:  I WILL DO AS MUCH AS I CAN CAUSE ANY FOOL CAN DO THAT.  HE THAT BELIEVES IN CHRIST JESUS DOES WHAT HE CANNOT DO, ATTEMPTS THE IMPOSSIBLE AND PERFORMS IT.  FOR JESUS SAID IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS A MUSTARD SEED NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU.  HOW SHALL A VIRGIN CONCEIVE AND HAVE A CHILD.  HOW SHALL THIS BE, MARY SAYS TO GABRIEL.  ITS IMPOSSIBLE.  GOD OPENS THE RED SEA.  GOD MAKES THE SUN STAND STILL.  GOD RAISES THE DEAD.  ALL THAT IS TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD. 

 

(INS) 2 Cor. 12:9 (MsgB)

and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

 

(INS) 2 Cor. 13:4 (KJV)

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

 

GOD LOVES FOR YOU TO RUN OUT OF RESOURCES  SO THAT HE CAN SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON YOUR BEHALF.  HE SAYS TO PAUL IN THE N.T. MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN YOUR WEAKNESS.  AND DON’T YOU JUST LOVE IT WHEN GOD DOES SOMETHING AND THERE IS SIMPLY NO EXPLANATION FOR HOW IT CAME TO PASS.  YOU SEE, THEN EVERYBODY KNOW’S IT’S A GOD THING AND HE GETS THE GLORY FOR IT.

 

GOD NEVER ASKS US JUST TO DO SOMETHING THAT’S HARD.  NO, ITS ALWAYS IMPOSSIBLE.  WHEN YOU TOOK THE VOW, ‘FOR BETTER OR WORSE” SOME OF YOU COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED JUST HOW WORSE IT COULD GET.  ITS GONNA TAKE MORE THAN COSMETIC CREAM OR SURGERY TO SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE ITS GONNA TAKE GOD.  IT TAKES GOD TO KEEP A MARRIAGE GOING FOR 50 YEARS.  LISTEN, A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE IS GONNA HAPPEN WHEN GOD MAKES IT HAPPEN.  I CAN’T CHANGE MY WIFE, LORD KNOW’S I’VE TRIED AND SHE CAN’T CHANGE ME, BUT GOD CAN.  IN FACT HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN. (INS) WE GOTTA STOP PLAYING GOD IN OUR MARRIAGES AND LET GOD BE GOD. WE GOTTA ASK HIM TO GET INVOLVED AND SIT BACK AND WATCH HIM WORK.  AND IF HE DOESN’T THEN HIS/HERS IMPERFECTIONS WILL PERFECT YOU OR BRING OUT THE WORSE IN YOU SO THAT YOU CAN SURRENDER THEM TO THE LORD AND HE CAN ULTIMATELY DO SOMETHING GOOD IN YOU THAT WILL LAST FOR ETERNITY.  IN FACT THAT’S ONE OF THE POINTS I MAKE IN MARRIAGE COUNSELLING AS A REASON FOR MARRIAGE.  IT PERFECTX YOU AND HELP YOU GROW UP AND QUIT BEING SO SELFISH AND SELF CENTERED.

 

(INS) John 15:4-5 (KJV)

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

WITHOUT GOD ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ANYTHING HE ASKS US TO DO.  THAT’S WHY HE SAID, WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.  IT TAKES US TO ABOUT 50-60 YRS. TO FIGURE THAT OUT.  IT’S A SAD THING THAT WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF LIFE WHEN WE FINALLY SMARTIN UP.   SO LET’S LEARN TO TRUST GOD WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM.  LET’S LEARN TO TRUST GOD WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH A MAJOR CHANGE AND A DELAYED PROMISE.

 

(INS) 4. TEST # 4 A SENSELESS TRADGEDY. 

 

(INS) John 16:33 (MsgB) 

    I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

 

THIS IS NOT THE ‘WHERE’ QUESTION.  THIS IS NOT THE ‘WHEN’ QUESTION AND THIS IS NOT THE ‘HOW’ QUESTION.  THIS IS THE BIG ‘WHY’ QUESTION.  WHY IS THIS HAPPENNING.  IN FACT MOST OF THE WORLD DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. PEOPLE WILL OFTEN SAY, ‘THIS ISN’T FAIR’ AND IT SIN’T.  BUT WHO SAID THE WORLD WOULD BE FAIR? GOD DIDN’T SAY THAT.  IN FACT JESUS SAID THAT IN THE WORLD WE WILL HAVE TRIBULATION BUT TO BE OF GOOD CHEER BECAUSE HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD.  NO, LIFE ISN’T FAIR BUT ONE DAY GOD WILL SETTLE THE SCORE.  THE UNFAIRNESS WILL ONE DAY AND FOREVER FINALLY SETTLED.  HITLER WILL BE DEALT WITH.  STALIN WILL BE DEALT WITH.  OSSAMA BIN LADEN WILL BE DEALT WITH.  CORPORATE PEOPLE WHO EXPLOITED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND DESTROYED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF LITTLE PEOPLE WILL BE DEALT WITH BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT BAR OF GOD. SO THIS LIFE ISN’T FAIR, DEAL WITH IT.  GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND HE WILL SETTLE THE ACCOUNTS AT THE END OF THE AGE.

 

(Insert Slide) Heb.11:17

 [17] By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him— [18] and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." [19] Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.

 

WE ARE TOLD IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT ABRAHAM WAS ASKED TO SACRIFICE HIS SON ISAAC AS A BURNT SACRIFICE TO THE LORD.  HE IS THE ONLY SON OF HIS OLD AGE AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT GOD DECLARES THAT ITS THROUGH ISAAC THAT THE PROMISE WOULD BE FULFILLED. (INS) YOU SEE, ISAAC REPRESENTED EVERYTHING THAT ABRAHAM HELD DEAR TO HIM.  NOW WHAT’S YOUR ISAAC?  IT COULD BE YOUR JOB, IT COULD BE YOUR INCOME LEVEL.  IT COULD BE A TITLE, A REPUTATION.  IT COULD BE A HOUSE, A NEIGHBORHOOD OR A POSITION.  IT COULD BE A CAR, A BOAT OR EVEN A MOTORCYCLE.  BUT GOD IS SAYING WILL YOU TRUST ME ENOUGH TO GIVE IT TO ME.  SOMETIMES HE GIVES IT BACK BUT HE JUST WANT TO SEE IF YOU WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM.  SOMETIMES YOU GIVE HIM YOUR TALENT, WHETHER IT BE MUSIC OR WRITING OR WHATEVER BECAUSE YOUR PRIDE OR EGO NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH.  AND WHEN IT IS DEALT WITH HE CAN GIVE IT BACK TO YOU REFINED AND READY FOR THE MASTERS USE. 

 

(INS) Romans 8:32 (MsgB)

If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?

 

(INS) 1 John 4:9-10 (MsgB)

This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. [10] This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

 

GOD GAVE ISAAC BACK TO ABRAHAM BUT HE DID NOT WITHHOLD HIS OWN SON BUT GAVE HIM AS A SACRIFICE FOR THE AGGREGATE SINS OF MANKIND. HERE WE ARE TODAY AT THIS COMMUNION TABLE CELEBRATING THE AGONIZING DECISION OF CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE AS TO THE ‘WHY’ QUESTION THAT FACED HIM IN THAT HOUR.  AREN’T YOU GLAD HE SAID YES TO THE FATHER’S WILL? 

 

1 John 1:9-2:2 (MsgB)

On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. [10] If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

[2:1] I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. [2] When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

 

BECAUSE (INS) WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FAIL A TEST?  YOU NEED FORGIVENESS AND ANOTHER CHANCE AT IT.  IN FACT, THAT EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN.  YOU CONFESS YOU SIN AND HE WILL FORGIVE YOU AND LATER ON GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE AT PASSING THE SAME TEST.  WHEN IT COMES TO PASSING A TEST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD YOU NEVER FLUNK OUT.  NO, YOU JUST KEEP TAKING THE SAME TEST UNTIL YOU PASS.  GOD WANTS YOU TO PASS THE TEST AND HE’S MADE PROVISION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO TAKE THE TEST AS MANY TIMES AS YOU NEED TO UNTIL YOU PASS IT AND GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SUCCESS.

 

WHEN ABRAHAM WAS ABOUT TO PLUNGE HIS KNIFE INTO ISAAC’S CHEST GOD STOPPED HIM AND PROVIDED A SUBSTITUTE FOR HIS SON.  A RAM WAS CAUGHT IN THE THICKET AND ABRAHAM SACRIFICED IT INSTEAD. (INS) GOD HAS ALSO PROVIDED US WITH A SUBSTITUTE SACRIFICE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.  HE DID FOR US ON THE CROSS WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES.  HE PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS. 

 

THE AMAZAING THING ABOUT ABRAHAM IS THAT HE DIDN’T ASK THE ‘WHY’ QUESTION BUT ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT GOD WOULD RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD.  AND THAT’S NOT JUST A DEAD CORPSE THAT’S BURNT ASHES.  ABRAHAM KNEW THAT THE PROMISE WAS TO BE FULFILLED THROUGH ISAAC AND THAT GOD WOULD RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM.  ABRAHAM’S CONFIDENCE WAS THAT IF GOD COULD GIVE HIM A SON AT 99 YRS. OLD THEN HE COULD RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD.  WHAT MADE ABRAHAM SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THAT HE BELIEVED THAT GOD HAD THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY KIND OF CLAIM ON HIS LIFE.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL TRUST GOD’S PURPOSE WITHOUT ASKING, ‘WHY.’

 

(INS) SOME OF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A ‘WHY’ QUESTION THIS MORNING.  WHY DID I LOOSE MY JOB?  WHY DID GOD ALLOW MY SPOUSE TO HAVE AN AFFAIR? WHY DID MY CHILD RUN OFF AND GET ON DRUGS?  WHY AM I GOING BANKRUPT?  WHY DID I HAVE A MISCARRIGE?  WHY DID MY PARENTS DIE?  WHY?  I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH ASKING GOD THE ‘WHY’ QUESTION. OR FOR THAT MATTER THE ‘WHEN’, ‘HOW’, OR ‘WHEN’ QUESTION. (INS) THER ISSUE IS THAT IF GOD CHOOSES NOT TO RESPOND, WILL YOU STILL OBEY?  SEE, THAT’S THE TEST OF A REAL BELIEVER.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL FOLLOW GOD’S DIRECTIONS EVEN WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW WHERE.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL WAIT ON GOD’S TIMING EVEN WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW WHEN.  A REAL BELIEVER WILL EXPECT A MIRACLE WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW.  AND A REAL BELIEVER WILL TRUST GOD’S PURPOSE AND LOVE WHEN HE DOESN’T KNOW WHY.

 

(INS) Romans 8:31-32 (MsgB)

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? [32] If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?

 

 

 

MAYBE YOU CAN’T TRUST THE DEMOCRATS.  AND MAYBE YOU CAN’T TRUST THE REPUBLICANS.  AND MAYBE YOU CAN’T EVEN TRUST YOUR SPOUSE.  BUT THERE IS ONE THING FOR SURE THIS MORNING: YOU CAN TRUST JESUS CHRIST.  YOU CAN TRUST GOD TO LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY, HE’S FOR YOU.  HE DIED FOR YOU.  AND HE HAS NEVER HAD A BAD PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE SO MY CONFIDENCE IS THAT WHEN I DON’T KNOW WHY I NEVER BLAME GOD.  JOB GOT INTO THAT AND HAD TO REPENT AND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE HIM SHUT HIS MOUTH.  WE HAVE TO KNOW BY FAITH THAT GOD IS NOT AN UNJUST OR UNFAIR GOD AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN THE OUTCOME OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SENSELESS TRAGEDY.  THAT ‘WHY’ MAY YET BE ANSWERED AND THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO TRUST HIM AND CONTINUE TO OBEY HIM.

 

IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD YOU WILL PERIODICALLY BE SUBJECTED TO ONE OF 4 TESTS: THE FIRST ONE IS A MAJOR CHANGE.  THE SECOND TEST IS A DELAYED PROMISE.  THE THRID TEST IS AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM.  AND THE FOURTH TEST IS A SENSELESS TRADGEDY.  THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO PASS THE TEST AND WILL HELP YOU TO DO JUST THAT AS YOU WAIT ON HIM AND TRUST IN HIS FAITHFULNESS AND HIS UNFAILING LOVE.  IF YOU FAIL THE TEST TAKE COURAGE CAUSE HE’LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE.  THE ONLY CONDITION IS THAT WE NEED TO CONFESS OUR FAILURES TO HIM, REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO COVER OUR SIN.  SO AS WE PREPARE FOR COMMUNION THIS MORNING LET’S TAKE TIME TO EXAMINE OURSELVES AND ALLOW GOD TIME TO SEARCH OUR HEARTS.