Sermon 07 June 2009

"Testing"

Micah Hildreth

This Sunday Micah Hildreth spoke on the theme "Glorify, Love, Serve".

The text was from Judges 3:1-6; Judges 2:8-17; Judges 2:20-23; John 6:6; Exodus 20:1-17. Exodus 23-24

Some key points from the sermon

Testing is stressful
Judges is after the conquest, but before the kings.
Israel has a sin cycle.
1.) Leader Dies
2.) People sin
3.) Israel is punished by oppression
4.) Israel cries out for mercy
5.) God sends deliverance through a Judge
6.) People do well for a time
7.) Leader dies (repeat)
God tests people. God tests his people. We are his people. God tests us.
God's tests are a learning experience
God tests for a more important reason: God's tests reveal our level of obedience.
Maybe you fall into a sin cycle. Whatever the sin is and can't get out.
God can give you freedom.
God may be teaching you patience, or tithing, or spiritual disciplines. God may be testing you to teach you something or equip you with something. It is imperitive that you respond
Complaining of circumstances never absolves you of them.
God may be testing your level of obedience.
If God is testing you:
The question is: Whom will you serve?
The correct response is: I will serve the LORD.