This is a Test

Our Theme for 2025 is Building a Life that Matters

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, becauseit had been founded on the rock.                  Matthew 7:24-25

In this series through Judges we are looking at God’s people who repeatedly fail the test. Last week we read …

(God speaking), ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.                                                                                     Judges 2:1-3

Slide If life is a test … are you passing or failing?

Last week Pastor Brian said that they had the promises of God but chose to disobedience and compromise rather than trust through obedience. Now we come to the first of the Judges. Last week you were introduced to this cycle …

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SlideNow these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.                        Judges 3:1-2

SlideThese are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.                                                                                     Judges 3:3-5

Slide Why would God allow an enemy to exist?

Slide His testing is not punitive, it is pedagogical.

·       To keep our commitments to God

·       To grow our conviction about truth

·       To learn the consequences of disobedience

Slide To teach us how to spiritually fight and to test our faithfulness!

·       Will they remain faithful to God despite pagan influences?

·       Will they keep their distinctive identity as God's people?

·       Will they resist the temptation to adopt foreign religious practices?

Slide If you don’t learn to fight spiritually you will fail in your faith.

There is a parallel between physical warfare in the Old Testament and spiritual warfare in Christian life.

To test or to tempt? - In the New Testament the same word is used for both "test" and "temptation". In the Old Testament it is similar, the word for test can also be translated to cause trouble or even to tempt.

Slide Test – We move toward God in faith and obedience.

This refers to a trial or challenge that assesses someone's faith, character, or obedience to God. It's meant to refine and strengthen faith, often leading to spiritual growth. God allows tests to refine and strengthen our faith, often using difficult circumstances to produce endurance and character.

Slide Temptation – We move away from God toward sin and self.

This involves an enticement or allure towards something sinful or contrary to God's will. It seeks to lead someone astray from God's commands or principles. The purpose of temptation is to cause one to stumble or fall into sin. Scripture warns against temptations and encourages believers to resist them steadfastly.

Slide Every situation contains both a test and a temptation!

Slide God tests our faith to strengthen it … not break it!

SlideLet no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  James 1:13–14

Slide Satan tempts our faith to not trust God and go our own way.

Satan is cunning, he fills our hearts with lies, he is a murderer and the father of all lies, there is no truth in him. He appears as an angel of light and yet he is a thief that comes to steal, kill, destroy, and devour. So that brings us back to the people of Israel in the time of Judges.  Here is the cycle of God’s testing and Satan’s tempting.

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This is a cycle of sin, suffering, supplication and ultimately salvation.

Slide Their Sin and Ours – Forgetting God

SlideAnd their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.                                                      Judges 3:6-7

Slide You can choose your sin but you can’t choose your consequences!

SlideSin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.                                                               R.C. Sproul

Slide Each generation must learn the lessons firsthand.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.                                                     George Santayana

Slide Their Suffering and Ours – Enslaved to Sin

SlideTherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.                                                 Judges 3:8

SlideGod whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.                                       C.S. Lewis

Slide Their Supplication and Ours – Turning Back

SlideBut when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.                                                                                       Judges 3:9

The name “Othniel” means “God is my protection.”

·       He's presented without negative characteristics (unlike later judges)

·       His judgeship represents the ideal pattern

·       His story establishes the cycle pattern in Judges (sin-suffering-supplication-salvation)

·       His leadership brought 40 years of peace

·       Nephew of Caleb

·       From the tribe of Judah

·       Represents continuation of faithful leadership

·       Marriage to Achsah (Caleb's daughter) showed his earlier valor

·       40 years represents a full generation of peace

·       Similar to periods under Moses and Joshua

·       Demonstrates the effectiveness of faithful leadership

·       Shows God's blessing on obedient leadership

SlideI lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.                                                                     Psalm 121:1–4

Slide Their Salvation and Ours – God sends a Savior!

SlideThe Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.                                      Judges 3:10

Othniel Judged Israel! "judging" went beyond just legal decisions:

·       Military leadership in delivering Israel

·       Civil governance and administration

·       Spiritual leadership in turning people back to God

·       A combination of prophet, ruler, and military commander

Spirit Empowerment particularly noting the phrase "The Spirit of the LORD came upon him":

·       This divine empowerment marked him as God's chosen leader

·       It equipped him for both military and civil leadership

·       Shows continuity with leaders like Moses and Joshua

·       Demonstrates God's active role in raising up deliverers

SlideSo the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.                                                         Judges 3:11

Slide How to pass the test!

SlideExamine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.                                                  2 Corinthians 13:5–6

Slide Reverse the Cycle!

Receive the savior.

Supplication in everything, at all times.

Receive suffering, testing, trials as an opportunity to grow.

Overcome sin by the Spirit of the truth!

Slide Receive Jesus, the Savior who lives!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.                                 John 3:16–17

Slide Supplication in everything, at all times.

Prayer without ceasing, but in everything give thanks, etc.

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.                                                                                         Hebrews 2:18

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.                                                              Hebrews 4:15–16

Slide Receive suffering, testing, trials as an opportunity for spiritual growth.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2–4

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.            Ephesians 6:12–13

We want to make man the enemy when our enemy is spiritual.

Slide Overcome sin by all spiritual means!

The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the church or fellowship of believers, prayer, spiritual disciplines and habits … resist the enemy and he will flee!

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

                                                      1 Corinthians 10:13

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16–17

Based on biblical teaching, Christians engage in spiritual warfare through several key means:

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·       Put on Spiritual Armor.

·       Practice Spiritual Disciplines.

·       Proclaim the Truth of God.

1.     The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

·       Belt of Truth - holding to God's truth

·       Breastplate of Righteousness - living righteously

·       Feet fitted with readiness from the Gospel

·       Shield of Faith - trusting God's promises

·       Helmet of Salvation - assurance of salvation

·       Sword of the Spirit - using God's Word

2.     Prayer and Spiritual Disciplines

·       Persistent prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

·       Fasting when appropriate (Matthew 17:21)

·       Regular Bible study and meditation (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

·       Worship and praise (2 Chronicles 20:22)

3.     Mind and Thought Life

·       Taking thoughts captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)

·       Renewing the mind (Romans 12:2)

·       Focusing on what is pure and good (Philippians 4:8)

4.     Community and Accountability

·       Not fighting alone but in church community (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

·       Mutual encouragement and support (Hebrews 10:24-25)

·       Submission to godly leadership (Hebrews 13:17)

5.     Practical Resistance

·       Standing firm in faith (1 Peter 5:9)

·       Resisting the devil (James 4:7)

·       Fleeing temptation (2 Timothy 2:22)

·       Practicing discernment (Hebrews 5:14)

6.     Offensive Actions

·       Proclaiming the gospel (Romans 1:16)

·       Doing good works (Galatians 6:9)

·       Living as light in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16)

7.     Understanding the Battle

·       Recognizing it's not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12)

·       Being aware of Satan's schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11)

·       Knowing victory is assured in Christ (1 John 4:4)

The "good fight" referenced in 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 4:7 involves:

·       Maintaining faith and sound doctrine

·       Pursuing righteousness and godliness

·       Enduring hardship with patience

·       Staying focused on eternal rewards

·       Being faithful to one's calling

This warfare is primarily defensive rather than offensive, focused on standing firm in Christ rather than attacking others. The victory has already been won by Christ; As followers of Christ we are called to stand in His victory through faith and obedience.

Testing faith builds competence and confidence in Christ

God sovereignly uses difficulties for our spiritual growth

Can you imagine? Vision cast of what a life, a people of God, a church, a community, a world would be like if we received the hard things of life as opportunities to grow in our faith, trust, devotion, commitment, love for God and others.