Facing Faith's Tests: Trusting Jesus in Trials
Summary
In John chapter 6, we encounter four profound tests of faith that every Christian will face at some point in their journey. The first test is the test of personal limitations, illustrated by the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Here, Philip is confronted with an overwhelming need that surpasses his resources, teaching us that we will all face situations beyond our strength. Yet, Jesus shows that when we place our limited resources in His hands, He can multiply them beyond our imagination.
The second test is the test of spiritual darkness, as seen when the disciples are caught in a storm without Jesus in the boat. This reminds us that there will be times when we feel alone and the winds of life are against us. However, we must remember that Jesus is interceding for us, and nothing can separate us from His love.
The third test is the test of theological offense. The crowd takes offense at Jesus' teachings on the uniqueness of the Incarnation, the necessity of the atonement, and our dependence on grace. These truths remain offensive to many today, as our culture often promotes self-sufficiency and subjective truth. Yet, these are foundational to our faith.
The fourth test is the test of cultural pressure. As the crowd turns away from Jesus, He asks His disciples if they will leave too. This is a poignant picture of our current culture, where many are moving away from faith. The pressure to conform is immense, especially when those we love walk away. Yet, Peter's response, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," reminds us of what is truly at stake—eternal life.
In facing these tests, we must ask ourselves three questions: What's at stake? What's the alternative? Who is Jesus? These questions help us remain steadfast in our faith, recognizing that only Jesus offers eternal life and that no alternative can compare to the life He offers.
Key Takeaways:
- Test of Personal Limitations: We will all face situations that seem beyond our capacity. Like Philip, we may feel inadequate, but when we place our trust in Jesus, He can multiply our efforts and resources beyond what we can imagine. [01:12]
- Test of Spiritual Darkness: There will be times when we feel alone and overwhelmed by life's storms. In these moments, we must remember that Jesus is interceding for us, and His love is unbreakable. [02:18]
- Test of Theological Offense: The truths of the Incarnation, atonement, and grace are foundational to our faith but remain offensive to many. We must hold fast to these truths, even when they conflict with cultural norms. [05:25]
- Test of Cultural Pressure: As many move away from faith, the pressure to conform is immense. We must remember that only Jesus offers eternal life, and no alternative can compare to the life He offers. [09:36]
- Questions to Anchor Our Faith: In times of doubt, ask yourself: What's at stake? What's the alternative? Who is Jesus? These questions help us remain steadfast, recognizing the eternal significance of our faith in Christ. [20:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to Tests of Faith
- [00:34] - Test of Personal Limitations
- [01:45] - Test of Spiritual Darkness
- [02:38] - Test of Theological Offense
- [07:28] - Test of Cultural Pressure
- [09:00] - Cultural Relevance Today
- [11:15] - Turning Point in the Gospel
- [12:36] - Jesus' Response to the Crisis
- [15:23] - Personal Impact of Cultural Shift
- [18:40] - The Challenge of Personal Relationships
- [20:03] - Questions to Anchor Our Faith
- [23:20] - The Alternative to Following Jesus
- [31:22] - Who is Jesus?
- [33:04] - Testimony of Returning to Faith
- [36:58] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 6:1-71
- Matthew 10:37
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Observation Questions:
1. In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, what was Philip's initial reaction to the overwhelming need, and how did Jesus respond to it? [00:54]
2. How did the disciples react when they were caught in the storm without Jesus, and what does this reveal about their faith at that moment? [02:02]
3. What were the three main reasons the crowd took offense at Jesus' teachings, and how did these reasons reflect their understanding of Jesus' message? [03:08]
4. How did Peter respond to Jesus when asked if the disciples would leave too, and what does this reveal about his understanding of Jesus' identity? [20:38]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the test of personal limitations teach about the importance of relying on Jesus when faced with challenges beyond our capacity? [01:12]
2. How can the test of spiritual darkness be understood in the context of feeling alone during life's storms, and what assurance does Jesus provide? [02:18]
3. Why might the truths of the Incarnation, atonement, and grace be offensive to people today, and how should Christians respond to such offenses? [05:25]
4. In what ways does cultural pressure challenge a believer's faith, and how can Peter's response serve as a model for remaining steadfast? [09:36]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a situation that seemed beyond your capacity. How did you respond, and what role did your faith play in that situation? [01:12]
2. When you feel alone or overwhelmed by life's challenges, what practical steps can you take to remind yourself of Jesus' intercession and love? [02:18]
3. How do you personally handle theological truths that might be offensive to others? What strategies can you use to communicate these truths with grace and understanding? [05:25]
4. Have you ever felt pressured to conform to cultural norms that conflict with your faith? How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Peter's response to Jesus? [09:36]
5. Consider someone in your life who has walked away from faith. How has this affected your own faith journey, and what steps can you take to remain anchored in your beliefs? [17:57]
6. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of what's at stake in your faith journey, especially when faced with doubt or pressure? [20:03]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel challenged to choose between cultural acceptance and faithfulness to Jesus. How can you address this challenge in the coming week? [18:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting Jesus with Our Limitations
When faced with overwhelming needs, like Philip during the feeding of the 5,000, we often feel inadequate. These moments reveal our personal limitations, reminding us that our resources alone are insufficient. However, when we place our trust in Jesus, He can multiply our efforts and resources beyond what we can imagine. This teaches us to rely not on our strength but on His power to provide and transform. [01:12]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a situation in your life where you feel limited. How can you invite Jesus to work through your limitations today?
Day 2: Finding Light in Spiritual Darkness
The disciples' experience in the storm without Jesus in the boat illustrates the test of spiritual darkness. In life, there will be times when we feel alone and overwhelmed by challenges. Yet, we must remember that Jesus is interceding for us, and His love is unbreakable. Even when we cannot see Him, He is present and working on our behalf, ensuring that nothing can separate us from His love. [02:18]
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: When have you felt alone in a storm of life? How can you remind yourself of Jesus' presence and intercession during these times?
Day 3: Embracing the Offense of Truth
The test of theological offense arises when the truths of the Incarnation, atonement, and grace challenge cultural norms. These foundational truths of our faith can be offensive to a world that values self-sufficiency and subjective truth. As believers, we must hold fast to these truths, recognizing their eternal significance and the necessity of grace in our lives. [05:25]
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)
Reflection: What biblical truth do you find most challenging to accept or explain in today's culture? How can you deepen your understanding and commitment to this truth?
Day 4: Standing Firm Against Cultural Pressure
As the crowd turned away from Jesus, the disciples faced the test of cultural pressure. In today's world, many are moving away from faith, and the pressure to conform is immense. Yet, Peter's response, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," reminds us of the eternal life at stake. We must remain steadfast, knowing that no alternative can compare to the life Jesus offers. [09:36]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to conform to cultural pressures? How can you renew your mind to stand firm in your faith?
Day 5: Anchoring Faith in Christ
In times of doubt, asking ourselves three questions—What's at stake? What's the alternative? Who is Jesus?—helps anchor our faith. These questions remind us of the eternal significance of our faith in Christ and the incomparable life He offers. By focusing on who Jesus is and what He promises, we can remain steadfast in our journey of faith. [20:03]
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25-26, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment of doubt. How can asking these three questions help you anchor your faith more deeply in Christ today?
Quotes
"Remember that Philip was calculating without Jesus Christ and that Jesus multiplied the Loaves and the fish that were placed into his hand and this great multitude had as much to eat as any of them wanted that was the first test." [00:01:30]
"There will be dark times in your life times when the wind is against you and what you need to know at these times is what we saw in the story that Jesus Christ is interceding for you and that nothing nothing nothing can ever separate you from the love of Jesus Christ." [00:02:15]
"The uniqueness of the Incarnation, the necessity of the atonement, and our absolute dependence on Grace were utterly offensive to the people of Jesus' time and guess what nothing has changed these are still the three primary offenses of the Christian faith in our culture that is fast moving away from Jesus." [00:05:13]
"Jesus knows that when vast numbers are moving away from faith in him the pressure will be on his own disciples to do the same and so he forces the question he confronts us with the question what are you going to do you're living in a time when vast crowds of people are moving away from Faith." [00:08:07]
"Thousands walking away from Jesus in disgust and in Outrage and you stand there with the few remaining disciples and you wonder how many of us are going to be left and there are 12 and then you scratch your head as you look at the crowds receding into the distance and you say can it really be that so few are right when so many and so many wrong." [00:10:45]
"Someone you know personally someone you really love walks away from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ there will be intense pressure on you to do the same it may be your father it may be your mother it may be your brother your sister it may be your son or your daughter your husband your wife your best friend or your Mentor." [00:17:07]
"Because you know that if you stay with Jesus when that person who you love is walking away there will be a distance between them and you you will still love them but you will not be on the same page and you will not be on the same page in the things that matter most to you in this world." [00:18:07]
"Ask yourself three very simple questions number one what's at stake number two what's the alternative and number three who is Jesus and I put these questions to you because very clearly they underly The Marvelous answer that Peter gives to our lord Jesus when he confronts the disciples with this question." [00:19:43]
"Peter says this Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life and I'm saying to you when you find yourself under pressure to move away from the Lord Jesus Christ the first thing that you must do is you must remember what is at stake." [00:20:30]
"Eternal life is at stake in regards to your response to Jesus' question now four times in this chapter Jesus speaks about eternal life follow it with me if you would verse 27 do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life." [00:21:19]
"Why would you walk away from Jesus Christ when eternal life can be yours but eternal life is what is at stake when you are considering Under Pressure whether to continue following Jesus you got to have that clear second question what's the alternative notice how Peter puts this here Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go." [00:22:49]
"Who else has got the world words of eternal life why would you walk away from Jesus Christ when eternal life can be yours but eternal life is what is at stake when you are considering Under Pressure whether to continue following Jesus you got to have that clear." [00:22:54]
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