You Don't Have a Testimony Without a Test: Tests, Trials, Persecutions & Attacks

LEAH AND MICHELLE SPEAK AT GATEWAY CHURCH IMMERSION NIGHT

https://www.bitchute.com/video/lX27tmIseC8L/

This is a sermon outline for scriptures to understand the differences between going through a spiritual test, persecutions, and attacks 

Exodus 16:4 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather [a]a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” 

Test: 

1. to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test

   1. (Piel)

      1. to test, try

      2. to attempt, assay, try

      3. to test, try, prove, tempt

Assay: determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore).  a process of analyzing a substance to determine its composition or quality 1. The trial of the goodness, purity, weight, value, etc. of metals or metallic substances. Any operation or experiement for ascertaining the quantity of a precious metal in an ore or mineral. Analysis is a term of more comprehensive import, extending to an examination of the nature and quantities of all parts of the compound.

2. In law, an examination of weights and measures by the standard.

3. Examination; trial; effort; first entrance upon any business; attempt. In these senses, which are found in old authors, now Rarely used. [See Essay.]

4. Value; great purity

Refined metal- heat! Heat over and over and the impurities rise to the top. 

Later on Moses is up on the mountain getting the commandments of God and they see all these thunderings and lightings and were like "no Jack, you talk to us, we can't talk to God, this is crazy..."  

Ex 20 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.

Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

So later on in Dueteronomy 8 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

There are so many times that God tests the heart in the Word- he is purifying us. Sometimes there are out and out attacks, sometimes we face persecutions, and sometimes we have to ride through the test. That heat 

Abraham was tested with Issac, 2 Chronicles 32 talks about Hezekiah being tested 31 However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.

Jeremiah 17 I, the LORD, search the heart,

I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.

Jer 20 But, O LORD of hosts,
You who test the righteous,
And see the mind and heart,
Let me see Your vengeance on them;
For I have pleaded my cause before You.

Zech 13 I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people';
And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.' ”

Jesus in the wilderness Matthew ch 4 Lust of the flesh, eyes, pride of life

tempted peirazō pir rad zo 

1. to try whether a thing can be done

   1. to attempt, endeavour

2. to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself

   1. in a good sense

   2. in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments

   3. to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin

      1. to solicit to sin, to tempt

         1. of the temptations of the devil

   4. after the OT usage

      1. of God: to inflict evils upon one in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faith

1. to attempt a thing, to make trial of a thing or of a person

2. to have a trial of a thing

3. to experience, learn to know by experience

Afterward- the angels came to minister to him 

4:17 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
He begins calling some of the disciples 
What comes after the test? Miracles and ministry  23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

James 1  Consider it nothing but joy, my [b]brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. - peirasmos 
Same word for temptation - do not lead us into temptation - it's used interchangably with trials

The same word is used later in James 1 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him

Same Word 1 Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Pt 4: 2Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

17For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Paul to Thessalonians 3 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

How to deal with trials, persecutions ? 1 Thess 5 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

2 Thessalonians 1  We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. 

Sufferings/Persecutions 

Romans 5 3 Not only that, but we ^frejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering ^gproduces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and ^hhope does not put us to shame, because God’s love ⁱhas been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

sufferings - Gr thlip- sis

1. a pressing, pressing together, pressure

2. metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits

John 16 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. (thlip-sis) But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He was telling them on the persecutions they will suffer 

Matthew 5 - The Passion Translation 10“How enriched you are when persecuted  for doing what is right!  For then you experience the realm of heaven’s kingdom.

11“How blessed you are when people insult  and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me!  12So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you.

Persecute Gr diōkō (Key) (dee o ko)

1. to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away

2. to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after

   1. to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal

   2. to pursue (in a hostile manner)

3. in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one

   1. to persecute

   2. to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something

4. without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone

5. metaph., to pursue

1. to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire

God will turn attacks, persecutions, trials, tests around for Good 

Gen 20 15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Attack 

• Ephesians 6:10-11

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

• 2 Thessalonians 3:3

"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one."

• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

• 1 Peter 5:8-9

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

• James 4:7

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

• Romans 8:37-39

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

• John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

• Colossians 1:13-14

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

• John 16:33

"I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

• 1 Corinthians 10:13

"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."