Transcript of Sabbath Meeting - 12/31/99

Tonight I would like to talk about Tests, Trials and Tribulations

It is similar to the study on the site, but with more additions

The children of Israel in the wilderness are a shadow of what we endure as people of Yahweh.

The children of Israel were delivered from the hand of bondage/slavery thru Yahweh's mighty works and saved from death by the blood of the passover lamb on the doorpost.

We too have been delivered by Yahweh's mighty works thru His Son Yahushua and are saved from the blood of the Lamb, Yahweh's Messiah.

Just as we rejoice in this, when the children of Israel was saved from the Egyptians through the parting of the Red Sea, they rejoiced with a great rejoicing!

Exodus 15:21 - And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to YAHWEH, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

But lets continue reading this chapter where we will find that after the time of joy had come to pass, the first thing Yahweh did was test them:

Exodus 15:22 - So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Exodus 15:23 - And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Exodus 15:24 - And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Exodus 15:25 - And he cried unto YAHWEH; and YAHWEH shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

Exodus 15:26 - And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of YAHWEH thy Elohim, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am YAHWEH that healeth thee.

It is a fact that the people of Yahweh MUST endure trials and tribulations:

The disciples were well aware of this fact:

Acts 14:21 - And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Acts 14:22 - Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of YAHWEH.

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with YAHWEH through our Saviour Yahushua the Messiah:

Romans 5:2 - By whom also we have access by faith into this favor wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of YAHWEH.

Romans 5:3 - And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 5:4 - And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 5:5 - And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of YAHWEH is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.

James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

James 1:3 - knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

James 1:4 - But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

But we should know that Yahweh tested the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness:

We too are in the wilderness.

Deuteronomy 8:2 - And thou shalt remember all the way which YAHWEH thy Elohim led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

I believe that alot of the discomfort and internal agony we endure as a result of our tribulations is because we feel that we have somehow wronged Yahweh.

This sometimes leads lack of prayer to Yahweh at a time that we need Him most....and at a time when He would want us to pray to Him most.

There are other times that we feel we have done nothing wrong at all and we don't understand why we are undergoing this particular test which may often be misinterpreted as chastisement.

Some people have much difficulty enduring these kinds of tests be cause they get angry at Yahweh. However, this only makes it worse.

Trials from Yahweh to test our faith

There is such a thing as a trial that we must endure even though it may not be as a direct result of a particular sin in our life.

Yahweh often wants to test our faith:

Psalms 11:5 - YAHWEH trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Genesis 22:1 - And it came to pass after these things, that Elohim did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Genesis 22:2 - And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Genesis 22:3 - And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which Elohim had told him.

Perhaps some of us would have slept in..knowing what we had to do. This was an incredible test. This is Isaac/Yitsak through whom Yahweh had promised to give Abraham children as numerous as the stars!

But Abraham did not fail:

Genesis 22:4 - Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

Genesis 22:5 - And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,

Genesis 22:6 - And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Genesis 22:7 - And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Genesis 22:8 - And Abraham said, My son, Elohim will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Abraham believed Yahweh and His works showed it.

Genesis 22:9 - And they came to the place which Elohim had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Genesis 22:10 - And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Genesis 22:11 - And the angel of YAHWEH called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

Genesis 22:12 - And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest Elohim, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Genesis 22:13 - And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Abraham was willing to give his only son to obey Yahweh. When we think of this...our trials and tests pale in comparison.

Consider also that it was Yahweh who loved US so much that He was willing to give us His righteous Son (The lamb) to die for us so that we might have life. How great is His love for us!!

There are many different kinds of trials. If anyone tries to tell us that we need not obey His commandments, this is a test from Yahweh:

Deuteronomy 13:1 - If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

Deuteronomy 13:2 - And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other elohim, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

Deuteronomy 13:3 - Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for YAHWEH your Elohim proveth you, to know whether ye love YAHWEH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul.

This is consistent with Yahushua's teaching.

Matthew 7:22 - Many will say to me in that day, Rabbi, Rabbi, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23 - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What kind of response would Yahweh want from His people when we encounter a trial? Remember the earlier verse:

James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

James 1:3 - knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

James 1:4 - But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Why should we be joyful? Because these trials will perfect us and conform us into the image of Yahushua the Messiah who also underwent trials even though He was the Perfect One.

If we walk in Yahweh's ways, we will surely be reviled and cast out from the world. But Yahushua said.

Luke 6:22 - Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

Luke 6:23 - Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Why?

Yahushua knew what rewards are awaiting such a person...they truly must be awesome.

Though it is difficult to be joyful in the midst of a trial but Yahweh wants us to realize our reward for overcoming.

A key to overcoming these tests is walking in obedience:

Luke 6:46 - And why call ye me, Rabbi, Rabbi, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:47 - Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Luke 6:48 - He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Luke 6:49 - But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

If we fail a test from Yahweh are we hopelessly lost and without hope?

Are we condemned forever and counted as wicked in His sight?

This is where many of us have certainly stumbled.

We feel unworthy of praying to Him when we fail time and time again. We may often feel that our situation is hopeless and that we are lost.

We may feel rejected by Yahweh and have no hope for salvation.

Brothers and sisters, Yahweh says this is the time!

This is where we need to be!

It is when our hearts are truly humble and our spirit is broken that we can count on His mercy:

2Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Psalms 51:17 - The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 57:15 - For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

He also dwells with one that is of a contrite and humble spirit..to REVIVE them!

And deliver us from our affliction:

Psalms 34:18 - YAHWEH is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

1John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Yahushua the Messiah the righteous.

1John 2:2 - And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

1John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

These are not promises to those who think Yahweh is a robot and that He has no choice but to forgive our sins regardless of our attitude and proud heart.

All throughout the scriptures we see examples of Yahweh forgiving the sins of those who humble themselves and ask forgiveness. It was the difference between Saul and David, the Pharisees and the disciples, the children of Israel and Pharoah.

I know for myself that I am no stranger to tests, trials and persecutions.

I have failed many times

But Yahweh just kept on testing me until I passed

And when I did there was no better feeling in the world!

Still I'm not worthy of the least of the mercy and truth that He has shown me.

But I do know that the trials I have endured are really nothing in comparison to what is in the near future.

Brothers and sisters let us be humble in His sight for truly the days are coming when His saints will have to endure the ultimate test:

The Great Tribulation

Matthew 24:21 - For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matthew 24:22 - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Luke 21:35 - For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

That promise is deliverance. Deliverance for that end time Philadelphia assembly who will not deny His name:

Revelations 3:10 - "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Zechariah 13:8 - And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith YAHWEH, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Zechariah 13:9 - And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, YAHWEH is my Elohim.

But yes, a third witness says He will spare those end time people revere and think upon the name of Yahweh

Malachi 3:16 - Then they that feared YAHWEH spake often one to another: and YAHWEH hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared YAHWEH, and that thought upon his name.

Malachi 3:17 - And they shall be mine, saith YAHWEH of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Malachi 3:18 - Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth Elohim and him that serveth him not.

The doctrines of men have taken away the law of Yahweh as the measure for righteousness....as a measure for who serves Him and who serves Him not

But on that final day, it will all be brought out in the open. All the deceit will be uncovered and the truth revealed. And Yahweh will spare His people.

As we endure these things, let us remember the One who overcame the world.

John 16:32 - Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which YAHWEH has promised to those who love Him.

IF we endure:

Revelations 21:1 - Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Revelations 21:2 - Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from YAHWEH, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelations 21:3 - And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of YAHWEH is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. YAHWEH Himself will be with them and be their Elohim.

Revelations 21:4 - "And YAHWEH will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Revelations 21:5 - Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

Revelations 21:6 - And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

Revelations 21:7 - "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his Elohim and he shall be My son.

Let us step back and look at the big picture here!

Our life here is but a vapor that appears for a moment and then quickly vanishes away.

Can we indeed only live right and overcome these things that will afflict us in this short life so that we will receive His promises...namely trillions and trillions of years full of life eternal in a joyful, peaceful place full of love and light!!!!????

Let it be so!!

Revelations 22:12 - "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Revelations 22:13 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

Revelations 22:14 - Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Revelations 22:15 - But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Revelations 22:16 - "I, Yahushua, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

Revelations 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Revelations 22:18 - For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, YAHWEH will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

Revelations 22:19 - and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, YAHWEH shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Revelations 22:20 - He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." So be it. Even so, come, Master Yahushua!

Revelations 22:21 - The favor of our saviour Yahushua the Messiah be with you all.

Whenever we are in the midst of a trial, we should consider for a moment that all these things are temporary. We can't lean on our own understanding.

We need to trust in Yahweh with all our heart. All these things that we see around us will pass away. But Yahweh and His word will NOT pass away.

Let's hold onto the hand that does not change, lets hold onto Yahweh's hand which is eternal.

We are such spoiled little children. We can't even roll down a car window..we need to push a button.

I believe we need to prepare ourselves diligently to be able to survive without expecting the world to provide us with food, water and other necessities of life.

Let's wake up and be on FIRE for Yahweh lest we meet the fate of Laodicean assembly.

Let's prepare ourselves for the days to come and purify ourselves so that when the final days do come, we may be able to stand in His strength...prepared for our Master..accustomed to hearing His voice...ready to give our lives away..that we might live forever in His sight.

As a song I love speaks...

Are you prepared to take His yoke to bear? You must lay down your life to follow for only when you die...are you truly free to live.

And with that, I will close.. May Yahweh bless you all!