VFNRadio Second Hour March 27, 2014

LISTEN NOW! John, Pat, and Steve discuss the importance of not despising the “Test” and understanding that God loves you enough to test you; he’s just preparing you for the next season in your life.  God desires to reveal himself to us that we may learn of Him and of His ways.  In Deuteronomy 8: 1-3 “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.  Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” There is always a testing period.  They continue to discuss how God humbled them for forty years to test them in order for them to know what was in their heart and for them to know that God is able to provide them daily with everything they need.  They further discuss significance of the number 40 and how it marks a season of testing.  Events discussed were…

–          the rain that fell during Noah’s time forty days and forty nights –  Genesis 7:4

–          Israel ate manna for 40 years- Exodus 16:35

–          Moses met with God on a mountain for 40 days and night-Exodus 24:18

–          The spies searched out the land of Canaan for 40 days – Numbers 13:25

–          40 stripes was maximum  whipping penalty Deuteronomy 25:3

–          Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days – 1 Samuel 17:16

–          Jesus fasted 40 days and nights – Matthew 4:2

–          Jesus was tempted 40 days- Luke 4:2

–          Jesus remained on earth 40 days after his resurrection –Acts 1:3

They continue to share how we are all on a journey with the Lord and the whole idea is for us to grow and mature until Christ is formed in us.  It is only through the test that we come to know what we know and what we don’t know.  When we have passed the test, confidence in God and in His ways is instilled in us causing us to want to know and obey Him more.  James 1:2-5 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Faith is one of those kingdom principles we must pass if we are going to truly walk with God.  The whole nature of faith is to believe to have or receive something that you don’t have in your possession.  They encourage us not to despise the days in which we are tested because it is through the test that we can see the fruit of implementing and practicing the word of God daily in our lives.  God loves you and is testing you because He has a new season for you. 

 Steve, John, and Pat discuss about being hungry for more of God.   They continue to discuss how in the midst of Jesus’ amazing ministry where blind eyes were opened, healings, deliverance, signs and wonders, and authoritative teachings were  common occurrences yet the Pharisees often missed what Jesus was doing.  They further discuss how Jesus was fully God and fully man and how He said greater works will we would do because we go to the father.  They continued to share about what God did in past moves of God and men of God and how they all came before us.  This is a moment in history that is very dark and yet there are many who are hungry for more of God and God will fill their hunger.  Hunger is what moves God.  Proverbs 27:7 says “One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.” No matter the bitter situations we may face in life if we are truly hungry and desire God’s presence that will carry us through every situation.

 The Greatest Artist Ever

 John, Steve and Pat discuss Jeff Bethke’s “The Greatest Artist” ever.  They discuss how they can appreciate art of all kinds and fully recognize the one who is the Greatest Artist.