When My Faith Is Tested

Lord. We realize that there is a war taking place between good and evil and there is a test that we are facing and Lord these tests that we face. Will either pull us away from you or like George said, in his, what was red? It will bring us forth as gold Lord. We pray that every test will bring a testimony. Every trial will lead us to be triumphant through your name. And so it's in your name that we pray tonight and we prayed in Jesus name. Amen. I invite you to turn your Bibles with me. To Joe chapter 23. And as we return there, the title of my topic tonight is When when You Face your test, how can you face a successfully? When my faith is tested? How can I make it? I just want you to know that there will be times in your life when your faith will be tested. And it's easy to have faith in to speak faith and to feel confident on a Christian campus Because we all believe that we have the same Faith, but what do you do? When your faith is tested during spring break? What do you do? When your faith is tested? When You Face a circumstance that you didn't expect? One thing is certain is that our faith will be tested. And in fact, in jerk chapter. 23 verse 10. It says this. But he knows the way that I Take God knows exactly the road that you're taking. He knows what's ahead in your journey, but then he says this, when he has tested me know. What is this? The Bible? Does it say you might be tested. It doesn't say, you may escape a test that says that you will be tested and when you are tested Johnson is here. I will come forth as go. You see we come, come forth as gold until we've gone through the test and some of us want the reward without the trial. And God is saying that when you go through the test through faith in him, we can come forth as gold but the question is how many of you like tests? How many of you are looking forward to meet a? Anyone here? Raise your hand looking forward to test? All right, this, amen. Amen. Bless you. Pray for us.

Some of you may have raised your hands. Many of you didn't not many of us like taking tests. In fact, I remember when I used to take a test many of us take test in different ways. Some of you I like I need the pressure to study. I need I need that time pressure. So you may be a Crema you just cram a few hours before your test, then you hope you retain it. And there were times when I've crammed. And they've been times where the test paper came right before me and I just went blank and forgot. Everything. Have you ever been there? Where you like? I just forgot everything because I didn't pass the test because I wasn't prepared for the test. Some of you maybe make it while you're cramming. Others of you prepare. Well in advance for a test. But not many of us like going through a test and yet, we like things that have been tested. Why do you pay $800 for an Apple phone or a smartphone? You're not going to pay that much. If it breaks down in 3 months, right? We pay an amount of money because the item or the product has been tested. How many of you as you're driving, maybe to campus. So, you're driving to grab some groceries from the store. How many of you are? Glad that people that are driving on the road have been tested. That they have pasta test and got their license. How many of you think that they should be more testing on the road, Do you believe that more people should go through the testing process. So just a more structured way. Maybe we should increase the age that people get their tests in a stray at 16 years old that you can get your driving license. We like things that are tested, how many of you are? Glad that when you catch the plane, someone went through a test. How many of you are? Glad that if you've ever been on, on, on an operating table, the surgeon successfully passed a test. We are glad that things are tested, but we are like going through a test. But the reality is, what is tested, can be trusted. What is tested, may be trusted. And the question is, if God is going to entrust blessings into your life, can the test that you go through leads, to you being trusted with him. In fact, when it came to the Holy Spirit and God said I want those that a that a waiting and praying and that are United and in one Accord. He said those that are willing to wait for my Holy Spirit. If they're willing to go through the test. I'm going to pour it out upon them. Because even more powerful than atomic bomb is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit in the wrong hands. Can lead to things, getting damaged can lead to challenges or either God's people of the church. So God needs to know. Can I trust you with the power that I want to leave? You meant? What's tested can be trusted in life. And that's what we going to speak about tonight. Passing out test getting throughout test. And we going to go to a familiar story in Daniel in Daniel chapter 3, and as you're turning there and looking on the screen, I want you to know that you will go through a test. In fact, that is a promise. If you haven't been through a test yet, you will find that you're going through a test because people will test you. Amen. Family will sometimes test you? All right, there will be test that you go through your bus will test. You sickness, will test you disappointment, will test you. You will be put through a test. And God is saying, when you go through a test, how you going to make it to the other side, will your pass the test? And so, we find here in Daniel chapter 3. What do you do when your faith is tested? We going to look at three things that you can do when facing a test, the first one found in Daniel 3:15. And we're reading 2 verse 16. Now, when you hear the sound, this is King Nebuchadnezzar. He set up a golden image and he wants everyone in the nation to worship His Image and there's some prisoners of War bear from From Palestine, from Israel, there from God's people and they're there, and they don't worship idols. And he the pressure is put on the going through a test and their faith is being tested. And King. Nebuchadnezzar says, when you hear the sound of the horn, the flu design for the lie of the Hop, the pipe and all kinds of music. If you are ready to fold down and worship the image, I made very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown in immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what God will be able to rescue you from my hand verse 16. Shadrach Meshach in a Bendigo replied, King Nebuchadnezzar. We do not need to defend ourselves before you're in this matter. Some of you are apologetic for your face and hear these three. Young men said don't be apologetic about your face stand up for your face. Even if a king us you why do you believe what you believe? They said, we don't need to defend ourselves. We're not going to bow down to this idle. In fact, the story says this if we are thrown into the Blazing furnace The God we serve is able to Deliver Us from it and he will Deliver Us from your Majesty's hands. That's pretty bold. You think you're strong. We've got a guy that's more powerful than you. That's quite a face, especially when that person has. They think your life in their hands, but I love those 18. And that's what we going to focus on. But even if he does not, we want you to know your majesty that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold. You have set up. even if even if you see, there's two kinds of faith that people have two kinds of Faith. The first one is this on the screen. There's one kind of Faith. That's a if faith. And if they says this, if God, does this, I will be faithful. If God does what I want then I'll follow him. God. If you do things my way then I'll Trust you God. If you get me through this, then I'll believe in you. Is that kind of faith and kind of faith in some of us have. And if kind of faith and if kind of face is, if I get an A. I'll have faith. If I get an A and I didn't have study. I'll I'll have more faith.

If the doctor's report comes back all clear, then I'll have faith. If I get an internship, then I'll have faith in you. God. This is an if kind of hay and some people have an issue faith. It hasn't been necessarily tested. We believe that God is a genie. God is Santa Claus and God, if you do this, then I'll be faithful to you. And if kind of face, But then there's another kind of faith. And it's an even if kind of Faith, even if even if says, even if God doesn't do it, I will remain faithful. Even if things don't turn out my God, I'm going to follow you. Even if God doesn't save me from the furnace. I want you to know King that we will not bow down to your image. And even if kind of Faith, even if even if it doesn't work out for me, I'm going to still trust God even if she doesn't call I'm going to still have faith. Even if my business idea is not successful. I will still believe in you Lord, even if my parents marriage. Doesn't work out. I'm going to hold on to you, even if they gossip about me, God. I'm going to remain faithful to you, even it. I'll still be faithful to God. Even if the consequences are to my detriment. I'm going to stay faithful to God because I don't follow God based on what he does. For me. I follow God based on who he is. even if even if and even if kind of face says I'm not going to base my relationship on what God does he is already faithful. I'm going to stay faithful to him no matter what the consequences or the cost is for my life. even if And even, if kind of faith will get you through your test, in fact, I don't know if any of you came to convocation. Many of you were there seem like a full house. But if you didn't, I've got a picture of the speaker that was there. She was invited by, I believe essay and in combination, with student life and that, you know, complication has amazing speak. As if you haven't been to convocation. I want to encourage you to be there and the speaker there. Her name was Kashi Kashi, and she told her story of an experience that when she went through. And it's amazing. How she explained? This experience, in fact in the street and accent. He written by Lukas Lukas. If you hear that, you wrote a great article in the southern accent. OK. Invite you to read that? It's a little bit of the story of keshi and his This here in 2005, She was one of two passengers. Who survived the plane crash that took the lives of 107 individuals. Many of them being her closest friends. In fact, she shed at convocation that there were about sixty classmates that were with her on the plane. It goes on to say in the accent has she suffered third-degree burns on 65% of her body as a result of that accident, the email continue. However, she refused to let that fatal day. Hold her back from her life calling cuz she has earned an MBA launch the singing career, and become a motivational speaker. And she talked about her faith that got her through that moment. It continues on. Has she is a burn Survivor advocate for several organizations and an ambassador for some such as the be strong Global we movement and the United Nations Foundation. Hashtag together, band project. She is also an advocate of bullying prevention, sustainable, living, and Youth Empowerment. According to her website, buyer has, she had a face that even if she went through that trial. Even if I may not look the same way that I did try to that plane crash. I'm going to hold on. You still have a calling for my life. You still have a purpose for my life. You were still leading me. I'm not going to have an if kind of faith has. She had an even if Kind of faith. A face that says God, even if you don't save me from the circumstances, I believe you can save me through those circumstances. and even, if kind of faith, Lucas, thank you for riding that in the southern accent there. I don't know what kind of tests that you're going through. I don't know what fire is that, you are facing but an even if kind of faith says God I'm willing to go through the fire of sacrifice. I'm willing to go through the fire of rejection. I'm willing to go through the fire of being honest, even though it may cost me. I'm willing to go through it because I want to even if kind of Faith are you willing to face you'll file? I don't know what size you have going on in your life. But are you willing to go through the fire with an even? If kind of face a face that says God, you may not extinguish the fire, but I believe that you'll be with me through the file and even if kind of faith. God is going to do something, even if the fire remains. And in fact, in chapter 3, verse 21 to 24. Not every fire. Maybe put out in verse 21. So these men wearing their robes trousers to Ben's, and other clothes were bound and thrown into the Blazing furnace. These are God's people here. The Kings command was so urgent and the furnace. So hot that the Flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach Meshach. In a Bendigo sometime. The fire you're going through is actually an instrument. God will use to destroy your enemy. That God will use the challenge that you'll do me through to to allow your enemy to be destroyed. In fact, we see that right? When God's people went to the Red Sea and I said God, why did you leave us this way? If only took us another route and God said, I need an even if the kind of Faith because the water that your face is going to drown the enemies that are chasing you. God will use the very test that you're facing to take down. The enemies that are chasing you and Sophia. The furnace is the very thing that destroys the enemies of these three young men and these three men firmly tied fill into the Blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leapt to his feet in amazement. What gets you up in the morning? Well, this King has seen something that he's never seen before. And so he goes on to say, in amazement and asti's advises. This doesn't make sense. Am I getting old? Am I seeing double? Do you see what I see? Because what I'm saying doesn't make sense. Weren't there? Three men that we tied up and threw into the fire. They replied suddenly your majesty. Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Because these men in the fire and not being destroyed by the fire. Then making it through the fire. In fact, the Flames did not destroy them. And there are some of you that are facing a fire, and you think that the fire you're facing will destroyed. You think God this is it. I'm not going to make it through this one. There's no way that myself or my family or my situation can make it through this. You feel like you're facing a fire, that's going to destroy you.

And God is trying to illustrate to what's a point here. That the thing that you think is going to destroy, you will be the very thing that God will lead you through. The king stood up in amazement, when you have an, even if kind of faith when your faith goes through the test, it will make even world leaders, stand up. And say, what in the world is going on, I believe a southern there is studenski. If many of you here that haven't even if kind of faith and because of your faith in Jesus because you're trusting in Him because you're saying God, I'm not going to base my faith on what you do, but who you are, because I'm going to have an even if kind of Faith there is some here is Southern right now in this Century that you're going to cause world leaders to rise up because they see your face. They see your face and they saying you did something unique about you. There's something different about you. It's going to cause them to get on their tippy toes and they say I've never seen this before. I've never seen a young man or young woman on the pressure and stay faithful to God. I've never seen a young man or young woman on the pressure when they when they call to compromise, when they offered a bribe that they stay faithful to him. There are some that will say, God, I want to even if kind of face and it will cause others to take notice. You see?

They said they had a faith. That it wasn't based on how many Instagram followers that they took notice that took notice of them. It's their faith that other people noticed. Some of us are choosing things. For others to notice us and God is saying, don't use the things that weren't lost. Your faith is what will cause others to notice you, your faith is the thing that will make the difference. Your face will be the very thing that will allow others to say. Hey, what is going on here? I've never seen this before, then not being destroyed through the fire. What far is a you going through right now, that you may be saying, God? I'm not going to make it through this one. Maybe that there's a fire that's happening in your family. Maybe right. Now. There's a little war happening with some of your family overseas. There is something that you're going through and God is saying, this thing is not going to destroy you. You are going to make it through. Can you turn to your neighbor right now? And just tell them you're going to make it through, you're going to make it through. You going to make it through? This fire is not going to destroy you. You're going to make it through the reality is. That's some of us are praying that God will extinguish the fire and God is saying, I'm not going to extinguish it. I'm going to be there with you through it. I'm going to be there with you through that fire and we'll go to that last of us here in Daniel. 3:25.

Daniel 3:25. He said look I see, full men 1 2 3 4. We put three now there is full men walking around in the fire. Unbound and unharmed. This fire is not going to harm you this far as you're going to see it through this 5. This fire will not destroy. You will not destroy. Your identity will not destroy your calling. It will not destroy your purpose. It will not destroy the plans. God has, for your life, this fire. You need to know that you're facing will not harm you. And the fourth looks like a son of the Gods unharmed. There are fires that you may be facing and you're saying God, this is going to ruin me. And God is saying what you face. Guess it may have hurt. Yes. I never wanted it to happen. Yes, what you went through was not part of my plan, but it's not going to destroy the plans. I have for your life. It's not going to harm you. It's not going to keep you bound. Maybe the fire that you're going through right now. May have been a abusive person in your life. It may have been the fire of not feeling good enough. It may have been the fire of hypocrisy that you've seen. It may have been the fire of never feeling accepted. It may be the fire of feeling like I never had a father figure in my life. Whatever you'll fire is, God is saying it's not going to harm you. I'm going to be the very thing. You need to make it through the fire. Amen. How many of you were glad that we serve a God that no matter what file. We faced. God will be the very thing we need in the fire. God will be the very thing that will cause us to make it through the fire on her arm. And when God is with you, They said that they were walking around in the fire. There was a fourth person in there and they were unharmed. I don't know what tests that you're facing. But I want you to know that whatever test you're experiencing. Jesus has already passed the test. Whatever test that you're facing. Jesus has already walked and trod the pathway that you are facing right now. Jesus was in the very far with him. Whatever test that you're experiencing. I want you to know that we serve a god. That is the way the truth and the life. And he says I have the answer sheet. How many of you are? Glad that God has an answer sheet that whatever test that you're going through. God has the answers for your life and whatever questions you may have whatever child you're going through. God says, I am the answer. God has already passed the test. You're saying I can't make it through this. God is saying, don't worry. I'm going to make it for you. I'm going to get through it for you. You will be unharmed by the fire because I've already passed that test. Jesus went through his own tests on the cross. Jesus went through a test that no one else could witness. In fact, going through the test unleashes promises in our lives. I wanted to share with you this illustration. This is a plant that you will find. I asked her a lot of Australian illustrations. It's not intentional. I just press Google and there it was. This is cold and Australian. Banksia an Australian banksia plant. And in fact, this plant has been through a fire and as you look at this plant, you will see that through the fire and release something. And in fact this plant can only release the seed after it's been through a file. That's the way, the banksia Plants release a sea that needs to go through a fire for the seed to fall out and be planted into the ground. The fire. I believe, releases something from us. The fire will bring things out within us through the Holy Spirit and through faith and righteousness, in Jesus Christ, when we have a faith that is willing to go through a fire, pit release is something through us. And I want to show you what the banksia plant looks like.

After the seed is planted, it releases Something Beautiful into the world. And as you go through your fire, god is saying the fire is going to be the very thing. I will use to release something into the world. It will release Faith release hurt, who will release your gifts that God has put within you. And even, if kind of face releases something as we go through the file, and it's Jesus died on the cross.

Something was released into the world as he went through his own fire and salvation was released into the world. He passed his test. In fact, I love this when she talks about trials, if received in faith. The trial that seems so bitter and hard to Bear. Will prove what a blessing. The fire can be a blessing. My trial can be a blessing by difficulty. Can be a blessing that really leads to a promise. That's what it says here. That the hardship we bear. The bitter experiences will prove a blessing, the cruel blow that blights, the joys of Earth will be, the means of turning out eyes to Heaven. God can use out trial to turn out head to him. How many there are? Who would never have known? Jesus had they had nazzaro led them to seek comfort in him. That's some trials that we experience can be a blessing. In fact in Genesis. 50:20 is says, God. This is Joseph speaking. When his brothers have betrayed him. What year what they have meant for evil. God has turned to good. That's a very evil that the enemy intends for us. God can turn to good. So I want to leave you with this idea that Jesus has passed your test. He has gone through the test on Friday. He went to the Cross, he faced his test, he hung on the cross for you. And I, and when he died the veil in the century was torn from top to bottom and he passed his test for us. And as we put our faith in him, whatever tester experiencing whatever trial that you're going through. Jesus promises, you have full access to the throne, full access to the father, full access to his promises and you will pass these tests because he is the answer in on Sunday morning. He rose up again. Amen. He rose up again. He passed his test. He got through it and he rose up again. And now he's sitting on his throne and every promise in Jesus. The Bible says is yes in him, whatever fire that you're facing. My press Southern is that we will have as a campus and even if kind of faith that even if the Trials come out, we know that God will be with us. And he may not save us from the fire, but he will save us through the fire. Amen. God bless you. Have a wonderful Sabbath. Amen.