Greetings Flag Branch members and friends and thanks for taking the time to join me for some Fine Points from yesterday’s service and message “This Is A Test”.
The American Association of Broadcasters have developed a test of the EBS to warn the public in case of an emergency. They need to be sure that the system will work. God needs to be sure that we will work if given the privilege of entering His holy and eternal kingdom. The best way to do that is to test us.
A test is designed to reveal how something or someone will perform under specific circumstances and situations. God doesn’t have to wait for us to enter His kingdom to know how we will behave or perform. He has set up conditions in this world to do just that. This interruption in Sunday meeting is just the latest situation to arise that will test the authenticity of our faith.
What are we doing now that we have a reason not to physically meet on Sunday morning. Some of us could begin to behave and do like others who do bother to come to church or don’t see church attendance as important.
We can begin to lose sight of the reason we are Christians and why we attend church meetings in the first place. It can expose a shallow faith that doesn’t go much beyond the surface. When the opportunity presents itself to do nothing, that is exactly what we will do.
This is a test that exposes our commitment and devotion to God. God tested Abraham the father of our faith. As the seed and children of Abraham, God is testing us. The conditions in the world places pressure on us to abandon and compromise our faith.
We have been deceived into believing we can compromise with sin and still be accepted by God. We hear and see others say that it doesn’t take all that. I’m sure that Noah and Lot saw and heard similar things in their time. They were constantly bombarded with unrighteousness and appeals to join the crowd and abandon their faith in God.
But God knows how and will delivery His children out of temptation while preserving the unjust and ungodly for judgement. The weeks and months ahead are going to bring a new set of challenges for the people of God. How we react and adjust to these changes will serve as a test of our faithfulness to God.
The temptation to find an excuse not to apply our faith and relax our commitment to holiness and godliness will intensify as more barriers and obstacles arise out of the need to social distance. The church, like so many other human activities, is based upon social interaction. Anything that hinders the ability to be social or limit human contact will interfere with the mission of the Church.
One of the reasons we meet on Sunday, is to gather strength and encouragement from each other. Without that interaction, we lose an important aspect of our ability to resist temptation. This is a test.
What are you doing on Sunday morning? What are you doing during the week? How are you keeping yourself spiritually aligned and in tune with the Lord our God? What are you doing with the tithes and offerings you were giving on Sunday? This is a test. God will help His people to overcome not only this, but every temptation that is and shall come their way.
Remember to visit our website to see our latest news, announcements and worship activities and opportunities. Be sure to download our mobile app on your phones and mobile devices. Don’t forget to read and listen to my Sunday School preview that comes out on Thursday of this week. Get a jump on Sunday School by reading the SS Daily Bible Readings at our website or by clicking the link. As always, remember to fear God and keep His commandments
Pastor Jordan
