Testing for Blessing
Guest Speaker Pastor Reggie Roberson (kingspark.org)
When we are in a moment of uncertainty we can ask ourselves the question: what is God doing in my life? And in my church?
Although God does not produce the suffering or pain we experience, He is using it to build something in our lives.
Deuteronomy 8:2 & 16 NIV
2 “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”
16 “He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.”
Big Idea: God is testing so you can steward His blessings.
God is testing so you can steward His blessings. He is testing you to see if you are…
#1 Humble
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NIV
2“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Humility in this context is knowing that God is your source and you are developing a dependency on Him.
The scripture also talks about how it looks to fail the humility test.
12 “Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Deuteronomy 8:12-14, 19 NIV
19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”
# 2 Heedful
Heedful means we are attentive and careful to follow.
Deuteronomy 8:1; 5-6 NIV
“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.”
5 “Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.”
The blessings of God are connected to the desire and power that the king possesses so we must heed the king. He is the owner and we are managers of what belongs to Him.
#3 Hopeful
Deuteronomy 8:7-10 NIV
7 “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—8 a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.”
While we are in the wilderness we can be hopeful because God is good and he has promised to bless us.
Why know this?
I wanted to share this with you so you can see the opposition and obstacles in The wilderness as an opportunity for spiritual growth. As you grow in being humble, heedful, and hopeful you will build your spirit and the church to receive God’s blessing and steward them well.
Deuteronomy 8:16 NIV
16“He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.”
What can we do today in response to what we’ve heard?
Embrace the testing for blessing.
The greatest strengthening we can receive is through the example of Jesus. According to Philippians 2:6 through 11…
Jesus was humble which was seen in the fact that he was God yet He left behind the vast riches of heaven to put on human flesh and live in the poverty of the earth.
Jesus was heedful to the father by dying on the cross for each and everyone of us to save us for the penalty of our sin (our self centered living & wrongdoing) and to grant us forgiveness and a relationship with him eternally.
Jesus was hopeful according to Hebrews 12:2 because he rejoiced in the fact that his obedience was not in vain but would lead to many more family members being added to His Heavenly Father’s household.
In being humble, heedful, and hopeful God blessed Jesus by giving him a name above all other names; every authority, every power, every ruler -Jesus is far above them.
Be encouraged by the example of Jesus and know that God is testing so you can steward His blessings.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher. Guest Pastor Reggie 2020