God's Promises... (4)

God is Greater than our testing...

Last week we looked at Abraham. We looked at God’s promise,

Genesis 12:2 NLT

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

God blesses us, so we can be a blessing.

This morning, we’re going to look at persevering until the promise comes. Galatians 6:9

Galatians 6:9 NLT

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

It can be so tempting to quit. It could be so easy to try to walk away from the trial, but God is greater than our testing.

James 1:2–4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Smith Wigglesworth said this about

The testing of our Faith

Smith Wigglesworth on God’s Power (The Testing of Our Faith)

THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH

Abraham was tested. Yet God is greater than our testing, and He opens a door of deliverance... Faith! ...God never changes. What had Abraham received? Testing. But he was called, chosen, and faithful. He was faithful to God in the trial. For twenty-five years, Abraham waited for the promise of a son to be fulfilled. He believed “contrary to hope” (Rom. 4:18), “giving glory to God” (v. 20). Not one thing will fail if you dare to believe. All fullness in manifestation will arise through faith; all needs of the body will be met in a moment on the word of faith. Give God the glory. Stuttering, tuberculosis, ... need of salvation—all needs will be met if we dare to believe. We are in the place of receiving all that our father Abraham received. Let us put in our claim, letting the deluge come, which God wants to send.

Let’s see what Paul wrote about Abraham in Romans 4:18-25

Romans 4:18–25 NLT

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

No reason to hope

Even when Abraham had no reason to hope, He kept on hoping.

Abraham was 75 years old when God promised him that he would become the father of many nations. He had promised that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed.

It was a stretch at 75, but years later, even when there was no reason to hope, Abraham kept on hoping. I wonder how many times the devil tried to speak into his ear, and tell him that God had failed him. How many times had he told him that God wasn’t going to come through with it?

And yet Abraham kept on believing.

Maybe you have heard whispers in your ear of why God isn’t going to keep His promise, but you have held onto hope.

Hebrews 11:5–6 NIV

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Enoch was a man of faith. He lived in close fellowship with God. The Scripture said that he pleased God.

When we have faith, we look beyond our circumstances. If we look at the cards that we have been dealt in life, it can be disheartening. Faith doesn’t settle for what we can see with our eyes, but believes that with God All things are possible.

If Abraham had looked at the obvious, he had no reason to hope. He was almost 100. Sarah was almost 90. He had a son, but the promise was to come through Sarah.

We can chose to believe the science, which is what we can see. There is nothing wrong with observation. The problem comes when we rely on our own abilities.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Let’s look for a minute a the one we call

Doubting Thomas

Thomas wasn’t in the room with the other disciples when Jesus showed up after the resurrection.

Here’s the story:

John 20:24–29 NLT

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

God doesn’t call us to stop using our minds

when we believe, when we walk by faith.

No! He wants us to look and see what we are facing and believe that He is able.

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

The AMPC says it this way, “which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.”

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Abraham never wavered

Romans 4:20 NLT

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

When unbelief starts to creep in, it doesn’t come from God. Maybe you are dealing with something that seems hopeless. When there is no reason to hope, you can find hope in God!

Maybe you think that you’re

not a giant of faith like Abraham

Abraham was a lot like us. He wasn’t perfect. He had his struggles, but he believed in God’s promises.

Here’s some examples of Abraham being a human.

In Genesis 12, Abram and Sarai went to Egypt during a famine. While there Abram was afraid that Pharaoh would kill him because Sarai was beautiful.

He told a half truth, “She’s my sister.”

Yes, she was his 1/2 sister. They didn’t have marriage laws back then saying that you couldn’t marry a sister. That came with the Law of Moses, Abram lied by not telling them that she was his wife. In all this, God protected them.

Abram had a son to Sarai’s slave girl, Hagar, because Abram and Sarai took matters into their own hands.

Yet God saw Abraham’s faith and it was counted to him as righteousness. If our faith were based on our own righteousness or perfection who would be worthy?

Psalm 130:2–5 NLT

Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.

Sometimes, we can look at our circumstances and not see any reason to hope. Things don’t look promising. Maybe you have been waiting a long time. Abraham had been waiting for over twenty years, and yet

He was fully convinced in God’s ability

Romans 4:21 NLT

He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Hebrews 11:1 NET

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

Even though he didn’t see it, still he believed.

Do you remember the story of the three Hebrew slaves in Babylon? They were standing in front of the king that had the power to kill them and this is what they said,

Daniel 3:16–18 NLT

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

That’s faith! That’s putting your money where your mouth is. The king had the furnace turned up seven times and had them men thrown in.

God protected them! We need to have that kind of faith that completely trusts in God. Maybe this story wouldn’t be in the Bible if they had died, but God would still be God regardless.

We are righteous because we believe God

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego weren’t counted as righteous because they were tough and stood up to a powerful king. They were righteous because they believed God.

Romans 4:22 NLT

And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

So

Why is Abraham’s story in the Bible?

It’s for us.

Romans 4:23–24 NLT

And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

It’s for us so that we know that God counts us righteous because we believe in him.

Often we think that we just aren’t good enough. Maybe the devil bombards us with thoughts of inadequacy, he wants us to think we just can’t measure up, but the thing is that Jesus never asked us to be good enough.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If Abraham was perfect, if his righteousness was based on his own goodness. He wouldn’t have needed God, but he was a human just like we are, so he trusted in God.

That’s one thing about the Bible. There are lots of story of ordinary people that go through lots of stuff. They made their mistakes. They had their victories, but they all walked by faith.

When we think that nobody understands, that nobody cares, God does, and there are lots of people that go through hard things.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

God is greater than any test that you will go through. He is faithful.

Abraham waited for the promise for twenty-five years. I’m not saying that you will have to wait for twenty-five years for God to come through, but at just the right time, He will. At just the right time, He will answer.

My friends, I urge you to have faith in God.

Mark 11:22–24 NLT

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

To bring this together, when we are praying, pray the will of God. “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” As we hide God’s word, His promises, in our heart, our faith will grow and we will see God’s promises fulfilled in us.

Let’s pray!