Great Blessing Brings Great Testing

Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ May 15, 2005

Great Blessing brings Great Testing!

Part 1

Many Examples is seen in God’s Word...

· Jesus’ Baptism > Tested in the wilderness (Mt 4)

· David conquered enemies > Fell to Bathsheba (2Sam 8 & 11)

· Elijah calls down fire > Terrified of Jezebel & flees (1Kings 18-19)

· Nehemiah rebuilds the walls > enemy raises opposition (Neh 2)

· Peter walks on water > Denies the Lord 3 times (Lu 22)

· Solemn last supper > dispute over whose the greatest (Lu 22)

· Adam & Eve perfect, sinless > Satan, Sin, Death (Gen 3)

· Noah’s ark, safe thru flood > Uncovered drunk in tent (Gen 6-9)

· Abraham- God’s covenant promise > Wife Sarah, Hagar (Gen 15-16)

· Moses meets God on Sinai > Aaron leads in idolatry (Gen 31-32)

· Paul’s miraculous conversion > Jews conspire to kill him (Acts 9)

· Cross Creek’s Celebration Sunday > ...

Exodus 14 we see God parting the Red Sea – a tremendous miracle and blessing for His people.

They went through on dry ground with a walls of water on their right & left (14:29)

I even have underwater pictures of chariot wheels & axles recently found in the Red Sea!

Moses & the people sang a song of deliverance to the Lord... Lord reigns forever & ever (14:29)

They experienced great blessing, then only three days later they were confronted with a great testing.

Exodus 15:22-26 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. 23 (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"

25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you."

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

“There He tested them” – there He proved them. There God tried to grow them spiritually.

1. Testing is for our GOOD. (Vs 22-23)

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. 23 (That is why the place is called Marah.)

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

God brings men into deep waters not to drown them but to cleanse them.

In adversity we usually want God to do a removing job when He wants to do an improving job.

Leads to...

Maturity

Ephes. 4:13 (Pastors to prepare God’s people, body built up)... until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Character

Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Keep Your Mouth Shut

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It got so cold it froze up and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some manure on it. As it lay there in the pile of manure, it began to realize how warm it was. The manure was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the little bird singing, and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of manure, and promptly dug him out—and then ate him.