4 Reasons God Allows Prolonged Testing, Part 1

Greetings friends and new listeners and welcome to the sound of faith. I'm not thanking you for being with us today because we know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If you've ever been in a time of prolonged testing. Today's message is perfect for you. For reasons God allows prolonged testing. God has promised that he is faithful and will not allow us to be tested above what we are able to endure. Find out why he sometimes allows our test to become protracted and for reasons God allows prolonged testing rigor to begin this morning in first Corinthians chapter 10. In reading a very familiar verse first Corinthians 10 and 13 there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man or to humans but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. A well-known verse that we all love" but I want to do something a little different right now, go back and read it again but I'm going to stop at a certain point and see how we get a different affect there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted.

How they see the difference. All yes I think we would all like to be that way we would like it to end with her. After tempted a man you know we would like it if it read. He will never allow you to be tempted, he will never allow you to be tried, but I'm sorry it doesn't read that way.

Amen. In fact, it's telling us, God will allow you to be tempted.

Anyway, I'll allow you to be tried in the word tempted there in the Greek is paparazzo and wing it means, as we remember this is God allowing this in James told us that God doesn't tempt anyone with evil that is not his nature. He's not interested in you failing or falling. Here's how God allows us to be tempted or tried the word terrazzo to test a thing for the purpose of ascertaining its quality or to ascertain how someone thinks or behaves and in a good sense God wants to see what you will do and what I will do when he allows us to go through certain circumstances and he's voting for us. He's cheering us all in that we will behave the right way and act and do the right thing it means to try one's faith to try one's virtue and character, and to prove that you can indoor and that you can make it so that's a good thing you know we buy products that had the UL approval wounded in the good housekeeping approval only and that UL is very important. It's under laboratories. It means that they test things that if they're not properly manufactured could be dangerous could set your house on fire could have faulty wiring or other things that it doesn't pass the test and what it doesn't pass the test, they got to go back to the drawing board and start over again because we don't want to buy things that are going to be dangerous or harmful to us. Amen. So if he allows us or if he allows temptation to take hold on you. He does it because he knows that you can pass the test, said he will not allow you to be tested above that which you are able. The word above their is hyper and we understand the word hyper, don't we. We say someone a kid is hyperactive. We know that kid is bonkers over the top. You can get that kid to be still, you know, it's hard to make them to sit still for a little while. Amen. How many know that sometimes are some adults that are without way to their just hyper.

They just go a mile a minute. You can keep up with and so the word is a superlative idea, meaning he won't allow you to go beyond the go above or beyond is what it means and then word able due to my we all know we can hear do the missing that can't wait. And we know that that is the strength that God gives it up like he that he gives. That makes us able, that makes us capable so God is never going allow you to be tempted above or beyond what you are able, because he's going to give you the ability my dad. Brother Hardy always used to say he God will never bring you to your breaking point, but he will bring you to your able point.

Amen.

That's a good word is in it so it says when the temptation also make a way of escape, we want to look at these two words with is a preposition and also here is it is an adverb and we kind of skip over little words like that, but they're very important. There, in the language for reason and when we put with it, also together because they go hand-in-hand with the temptation. He will also make the way of escape, so it tells you that they go together. God allows the test to come, but he's not connected with it already. A way of escape, the way of escape, that means the way out. Let me tell you what the Greek word is for out of act act boxes and act as each cable we bring it into the English as DX so I'll draw your attention to my left into my right that over the doors lit up nice and bright and red lights is the word X. It you go out of it. That is the way out. If suddenly we knew that there was a fire. We should out of that door. That's where we need to go right there turning go that way. Go out of it.

It's your way of escape. Amen. And that's what the word means. And you know Jesus said in John 14 six I am the way, but I want you to know Jesus is not only my way. Here is my way out. Here is my way out. Amen.

He said when there is trouble that is gaining on me. He's the way out.

Now you know if you watch any kind of movies or shows you know about warfare, especially military warfare, and you know maybe about espionage and covert ops. I like this kind of shows I like shows with espionage you know when the spies in the intelligence and they got a euro figure one another out and then the covert ops when they have to go undercover do things like I like the watch is not a thing as long as they don't have terrible language and on. I like the watch. Amen.

Now you know if you have ever watched any of these, you understand that before they go on a covert ops. For instance, the seal team.

You know they are deluxe crème of the military they go through extraordinary trading and most of the ones that start off don't make the team. It is so grueling the training they have to go through most of them fall out of the training before they ever finish and so when they finally go on these covert ops. You know, for instance, when they went after Osama bin Laden, they have a lot of intelligence before they send them over there. Amen they had intelligence that they had gathered from some of the wives and some of the other people that work for them so they go after all of this information and then and only then do they release the seal team to go over these dangerous places, but they also have an exit plan because just because you rehearsed had rehearsed. This is what were going to do you know number one young guy does this to does that three does not etc. and they build temporary places and ages where they actually go through it like this is what we were going to see this is what were going to do, but that doesn't mean it's put to be just like that when they get there because something can always go wrong and usually will usually there's something they didn't expect or didn't know about and what are they going to do then what I think I was really, really bad, they have to have an exit plan. Amen. They don't want to lose more men trying to go get one man so they have to have a way out and let me tell you something.

The Lord always had an exit plan for you and me when you're in the middle of that severe trial. You may not see a way out and you may get a little frantic and you may start to become doubtful or fearful but you trust the Lord that if things really go bad. He's got an exit plan for you. There is no way out in the way I see it, God will either give you or say to you go out this way or he'll say day I'll give you grace to stay.

He's either going to say go out this way or I'm giving you grace to stand. Amen we saw that with Paul when he said you know this the third time I praying this prayer. I'm tired of this messenger of the devil, buffeted me and I want you to get rid of them.

I want him to go right now God and the Lord said no not going to remove them. But what I'm going to do is give you the commensurate grace to stay up under it.

You know, if God gives you the commensurate grace you're going to make you're going to make it. Amen. You might have to fight a little longer and warfare a little longer but he's going to bring you out and in the meantime he's going to give you the grace to indoor the Greek word for Doris who pop Pharaoh it means to bear up under something and let me give the qualifier to do it patiently does a man's got a little quieter. Did you notice so not only to enjoy far but didn't do it patiently and you do that without God's grace back onto grace. You don't even have that kind a great amen.

But God want you to knowing indoor buddy want you to do it patiently because he wants you to come out of that thing with your document. I just passed, how many know when you graduate when you go take a course and you get that document says Sharon Hardy has completed this course and graduates with honors and excellent that you feel good when you go to nursing school word tech school, or some other type of school when you get that it makes you feel real good if you work for the government and you get another high corrupt clearance is how they know you can't work for the government. If you don't have clearance and you make a win at the entry level and you only got clearance for certain things. In fact, you may not be able to walk around the building to let you thought an escort who has clearance to take you into certain rooms, but you can get more training and you can pass the test and then you can start going in some of those other places, and you can continue to do that and it makes you feel good when you've achieved that kind of excellence will you know how good you're going to feel when you come through that test that prolonged task. God says see I told you you were going to pass. I knew you were going to pass out what amen now usually that's all we would read his verse 13 but when you look at verse 14, because they go together. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, fully from idolatry know it may sound out of place to you because of the okay were talk about being tested which is not the do with idolatry remember Paul writing to the Corinthians was writing to former pagans who worship all kinds of gods and it was their routine that if they had any kind of trouble going on in their lives that God formed Adam so you do something to get him so they're not mad at you like to appease them.

Come bring a sacrifice to the gods, offered this burn incense bring something.

Get them on your good side, so this is kind of what Paul understood.

So what is our take away our take away is when you're under great pressure and you're looking for a way out.

Don't rely on yourself. Amen. Don't trust other people deceive you out. You may go and ask people to pray with you about this thing. But if you're looking for that to get you free in a matter of making God.

Once you run your last victory will not you argue with that. Already internal wrap you that you are his arms not been singing that song all week statement is no.

Amen. Storms and the winds and the waves come.

I know that I am sheltered in his arms of love.

I know God is faithful. That tells me he will limit the temptation he will limit it so that it won't be more than I can handle, so I won't fall apart and given to it they will provide the estate and he will proportion the temptation so I can get through it or you will proportion the grace so that I can endure it. Amen. Now coming off of this.

I'm going to give you for reasons God allows us to base temptation and trials and sometimes prolonged trials where we may think, because Satan will be quick to tell us God's not answering your prayer.

Amen.

And so were you looking for reasons number one God allows us to go through prolonged testing to teach us spiritual warfare. Like I mentioned a moment ago. These military ops teams and such.

They have to go through extensive training before they ever face the enemy and sometimes they learn on the job.

Amen.

And it's the same way with sauce. Let's turn to Ephesians chapter 6 now I preach this message a month ago and I really took it apart but we read here in Ephesians 6 and verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

I believe I pointed out to you when I preach this message that we are told three times to stand and we can when we have on God's divine armor. Amen. And we went through all of these words and I was very technical about all the meanings of this and then we went on to read and verses 14 to 17. What the armor consist of, and I'll just quickly refer to them because as I said, that message has it in great detail. First of all we got to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might this work strong and do not mind not owe needs to be strengthened with God's strength inwardly work strength. You know a lot of people don't work out you know I'm talk about like at the gym there really really big on getting core strengths. They say if you can get core strength then that is going to help your whole entire body. Be strong and as you age, you will continue to be strong because you get the core strength, and there are certain exercises that it takes to do it in their heart and their tough, especially when you first get started to do the exercises that strengthen all these core muscle amen kind of think of that in a spiritual sense. That's what he's talking about here. Having core strength inwardly, spiritually, and then he says be strong in the Lord and in the power we brought out the fact that that word is proctologist and it means great force demonstrated.

It means also.

Dominion power power that rules rules over other power and then in the power of his might. The word my guess is this and we talked about how that was like a big muscle guy like like the hawk or Ironman just muscle bound and so whatever they do. They had this outwards your muscles that you see. But all that's not just for show, so they can get on there and you know and do all this and maybe win a prize know they got strength in here they can take and pull up a car with their teeth in a rope out. Amen. Were talking about this awesome force in operation. That's what were to do because the triple threat the triple threat you got due to mess you got caught cost you got is this you got strength, inwardly you got power and you got force in might and that's what we get. Only when we have on the whole armor of God were able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The word is method D are we bringing methods into the English meaning we know what his methods are the devil does the same thing over and over again.

Amen.

He figures out people and he comes up with strategies and he does the same old thing, but that helps us a lot because once we understand the Bible tells us about who we is a trespasser a liar or a murderous slander user word because he always did when you are most probably you when you're strong. I got all the armor on the dummy in that respect. Amen. So we can stand and then we learn the girdle of truth, which is so important because it carries the next two most all of the other weapons and of course we know that's the written word of God, the breastplate of righteousness.

Righteousness is what guards our hearts. Amen the shoes of the gospel of peace.

We found out their killer shoes. They're not just fashionable gladiator sandals know they got spikes on the bottom and spikes and out of the toes and can take down an enemy in a minute. Amen the shield of faith to bring it out quenching every fiery dart of the enemy, the helmet of salvation is so important because the mind is the arena where Satan attacks first.

Amen.

And then the sword of the Spirit. All my was so good I had to come back the second we can just preach on that the spoken word of God because it's a two-edged sword. When God speaks it to you then it is one edge, but it's not going to be to edges until you open your mouth and you speak it out loud that it becomes a two-edged sword. The one weapon against what Satan has no actually strikes terror in his heart because that kind of sword. We learned about that the Romans when they start getting it had all these serrated edges it just read the insides of a person to pieces, and when he pulled it out it did even more damage. That's what we do when we had the spoken word of God upon our tongue. So the first reason that God allows us to go through prolonged temptations and trials is to teach us spiritual warfare and we do need to be taught.

I have known the Bible since I was a high first with my Granny. You know before I went to school I mean I got my first takes Bible when I was 15 I have been to great classes. I have studied the word of God extensively, but when I was in the most fierce battle of my life when I was thrust in bed with intractable pain 24 seven. I really at that point did not know how the exercise spiritual warfare preached it to you.

Talk to you about all about. I could give you the Scriptures, but to do it. It took me a while to get all and I met the devil slap me around while I laid there and cried.

Mike Taylor was volunteers for good while until finally the revelation you open your mouth starts. Amen. And of course I better not park there. So I better move on the number two is I could park there indefinitely number two reason why God allows us to go through prolonged trials and temptations to manifest to the angelic beings both the good ones and the evil ones. Satan utter defeat. Remember when the disciples came back to Jesus. He'd sent them out to buy two said now you go into the cities and towns you heal the sick, you cleanse the leper you cast out demons you preach the gospel.

You tell them this is the kingdom of God and they came back they were so joyful they were just coming back running all the success they had such great victories. They couldn't wait to get back and states she demons are subject to like that was news to him. He would set them out and told him to do it if you didn't expect them to succeed and they were grateful and delighted about it and here's what Jesus said, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. We just told you the demons are subject to us in your name. You think I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

So what Jesus was saying. It is, I expect this I was there I was there and I watched as he did not know his rebellious angels with him. Amen. And not only did Jesus say it, but all the faithful angels.

The two angels that start true to God. They were standing there marching with his one third of rebels before the throne of Hades started going to the throne you and God didn't even get Bob the word of God is amen one of the Mark angels Michael Taylor shoes on lightning. Amen. What an insightful word of the Lord, for reasons God allows prolonged testing God is on record that he is faithful and that he won't allow us to be tested above that which we are able. When we feel that we are at our breaking point.

He will make a way of escape and exit plan or give us the commensurate grace to stand. I have found for reasons in scripture that explain why it sometimes tests are harder and longer to teach us spiritual warfare to manifest to angels, Satan's utter defeat to reveal to the faithful angels.

His plan of redemption and to teach us to never give up. We will look back to the pre-creation account at the fall of Lucifer to the coming of the Redeemer and his delegated victim Victorino's authority to his church to the coming Sikh will of Satan's fall and the believers eternal glory for reasons God allows prolonged testing can be ordered on CD for love gift of $10 or more for the radio ministry and please consider adding extra to help us with mounting postal costs request SK 218. That's SK 218 and send your love gift of $10 or more to sound of faith PO Box 1744, Baltimore, MD 21203 or you can order online@soundthefaith.org where MP3s are available, but to order by mail send your minimum love gift of $10 request SK 2182, PO Box 1744, Baltimore, MD 21203 and we would appreciate your letting us know the call letters of this radio station till next time. This is Sharon not saying that are not