Putting God on Trial Judges 16: 23, 24

Read the passage Judges 16

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+16&version=ASV

v.23 1. Concluding an idol is greater than God.

(Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great

  sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath 

delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.)

2. Concluding wickedness is of no matter to God.

3. Concluding God cannot do anything against the wicked.

4. Accusing God of having no power, of weakness.

v.24 5. Accusing God of neglecting His people.

(And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our

god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our

country, which slew many of us.)

6. Accusing God of destruction.

satan comes a thief and killer and destroyer.    John 10: 10

7. Using God to laugh at- to mock.

God will not be mocked. Gal. 6: 7

The Effect of Sin Upon a Nation Proverbs 14: 34

Read the passage Proverbs 14

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+14&version=ASV

The Affect of Sin Upon a Nation Proverbs 14: 34
(Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.)

1. Causes loss of freedom.
   
   
2. Causes loss of testimony.
   
   
3. Causes loss of holiness and moral consciousness.
   
   
4. Causes loss of protection.
   
   
5. Causes loss of labor’s reward.
   
   
6. Causes loss by the enemy’s erosion.
   
   
7. Causes loss of spiritual influence. 
   

Great Opportunity Granted by God Daniel 3: 12, 24-30

Read the passage Daniel 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel+3&version=ASV

1)  God allows His servants to enter into great witnessing fields through unusual and extreme life circumstances.                                            

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

2)  God is writing His story in His servant’s lives and reproofing lost men.            

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

3)  God’s servants trust God, walking by faith, and God takes care of all the details.                                                                                                            

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

4) God’s power protects and preserves His will, His servants, His way.      

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

5)  Wise servants wait for and anticipate God to reveal Himself in His unmistakable way. V 27

6) Conformity to God’s will and way follows.                                         

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

7)  Earthly blessings as well as the greater heavenly blessings accrue to God’s servants in faith and obedience to God.                                  

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Meeting Up With the Truth Daniel 3: 24-29

Read the passage Daniel 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel+3&version=ASV

1)  Truth is staggering and extremely challenging, undeniably effectual.     

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

2)  Truth overrules natural order.

Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

3)  Truth awakens the conscience and lost men can begin to see.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

4)  Observers of truth get a God of power lesson.        

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

5)  Truth makes an indelible impression on the heart of the unbelieving. 

Man is in a position to believe and trust God in salvation (through trusting Jesus in the New Testatment) or to perish in his lostness even though he was exposed to the truth.

6)  Trusting in God and God’s truth is seen as the only way to live.        

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

7) A swift change presents new opportunities to further know God.   

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 

God needs no decree from men. Certainly God’s sovereignty was acknowledged. This does not equate with Biblical conversion or salvation.

Doubters Refuted Daniel 3: 24-29

Read the passage Daniel 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel+3&version=ASV

1)  God specializes in the impossibilities in life, where man has no influence.       

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

2)  The impossibilities God removes may not be explained away.                            

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

3)  God’s supernatural ways have no match.                                                        

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

4)  God’s path casts a long shadow across mans rebellious nature and man’s heart must yield. 

 and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

5)  Unbelievers have no authority over believers.                                               

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

6)  Truth demands a response; a correct response amplifies God’s position and place as God.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

7) Truth brings the unbeliever into acknowledgement of its veracity preparing the heart to trust in God for salvation.                                                       

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 

This illustrates man’s opportunity There is no indication the king was converted to believing in God for salvation.

Inspired Faith Psalms 71: 13-15

Read the passage Psalms 71

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+71&version=ASV

v.13 1. Order and blessing are not the enemy’s possession.

(Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries)

v.13 2. Continued purpose is not the enemy’s claim.

(and consumed that are adversaries to my soul;)

v.13 2. Honor is not available to the enemy.

(let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.)

v.14 4. Hope is only to the children of God.

(But I will hope continually, and will)

v.14 5. Praise to God is only from the children of God.

(and will yet praise thee more and more.)

v.15 6. Righteousness is only possessed by the children of God.

(My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; )

v.15 7. God measures increase to His children.

(for I know not the numbers thereof.)

What Your Problems Reveal Exodus 14: 4-29

Read the passage Exodus 14

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+14&version=ASV

v.4 1. His greatness.

(That the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord)

v.11,2. His counsel.

   12 (And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in 

Egypt, …Wherefore hast thou dealt with us, )…

v.13 3. His plan.

(Fear not, stand still …)

v.13 4. His control.

(and see the salvation of the Lord which He will show to you

today;)

v.14 5. His powerful presence.

(The Lord shall fight for you,)

v.21,6. His faithful hand.

  29 (…and the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; …)

v.30,7. His loving loyalty.

  31 (Thus the Lord saved Israel that day … And Israel saw that great work …)

To Be Tested Judges 3: 1-7

Read the passage Judges 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=judges+3&version=ASV

v.1 1. God gives opportunity to His people to demonstrate their understanding

that He is God.

(Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them,)

v.1 2. More than just a verbal agreement that God is God is required.

v.1 3. God wants His people to prove their loyalty and their love for Him under

circumstances that bring trial and testing to their experience.

v.1 4. The people of God who have not yet been proven before God must pass

the test.

(by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;)

v.2 5. God’s people need to be experienced in warfare with the enemies of God;

this requires complete trusting in God.

(Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them

war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;)

v.4 6. Victory only requires God’s people to follow God’s word of instruction; God’s

people are examined to determine their understanding and obedience.

(And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would 

hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which He commanded their 

fathers by the hand of Moses.)

v.7 7. It doesn't take long before evidence begins showing the intent and heart of

the people of God.

(And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the 

Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.)

Reproached for Christ 1 Peter 4: 14

Read the passage 1 Peter 4

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+4&version=ASV

(If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.)

1.When standing for Christ, there will be God's strength.

2.When standing for Christ, there will be God's defense.

3.When standing for Christ, there will be God's word alive.

4.When standing for Christ, there will be God's accompaniment.

5.When standing for Christ, there will be God's peace.

6.When standing for Christ there will be God's reward of joy.

7.When standing for Christ, there will be God's glory.