The 7 tests of the “Wilderness Christian”.
The test of baptism. (The red sea)
The test of Bitterness. (The test of Marah and Elim)
The test of manna. (The bread of God)
The test of Massah and Meribah. (Quarreling)
The test of Amalek. (The flesh)
The test of Mt Sinai. (Hearing from God first-hand)
The Sabbath test.( The rest of God)
The test of Amalek.
1 Corinthians 10:1-13.
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
The test of Amalek.
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (continued)
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
And do not grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
The test of Amalek.
Exodus 17 8-9.
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
As soon as the people drank from the living waters that came from the rock, that the Amalekites came and attacked God’s people.
Amalek was a type of the flesh. He was descended from Esau; and Esau represented the carnal nature.
This is the first battle that Israel is called to fight in. Before now, the message had been ‘stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.’ Exodus 14:13.
Now the message is ‘choose some of the men and go and fight the Amalekites.’
The fight against the flesh is something we have to be actively involved in, God can help us, but he cannot do it for us.
The test of Amalek.
Exodus 17:10-11.
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
This is no ordinary fight, it is not won through having great skill or great forces. While Joshua and his men had to fight in the battle, the outcome didn’t rest on their strength or weakness. Victory rested in Moses lifting his hands! Victory was gained as Moses lifted his hands to Heaven, a symbolic act of prayer and surrender.
The test of Amalek.
We need each other. Exodus 17:12-13. When Moses hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.
Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on one side, one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Look out and help other Christians that are struggling, the flesh attacks when we are weary and worn out! Deut 25:17-18. Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
Two great promises concerning Amalek.
Exodus 17:14-16 .
Then the LORD said to Moses, Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD.
The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.
We see two great promises of God. Firstly: He will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Considering that Amalek is a type of the flesh, this provides a great reminder of the day when the sinful nature will be no more. Our full salvation purchased for us at the cross involves a new body. That which is corruptible shall put on the incorruptible. That which is mortal shall put on immortality. No more selfishness, no more sinfulness, no more Amalek! All traces of Amalek blotted out!
Two great promises concerning Amalek.
Romans8:22-27.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to son-ship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
Two great promises concerning Amalek.
1 John 3:2.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
The second promise is with us until that day…
A promise that the Lord will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation. As we fight in this battle, victory is God given.
Keep your eyes on Him. God hasn’t just left us to try and clean ourselves up and gain victory over the flesh.
The work of salvation has been provided to us by God, but there is an internal battle going on within you that begins the moment you receive the living waters of the Holy Spirit at salvation?
Amalek must not be spared.
Deuteronomy 25:17-19.
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Bear in mind too that nations like the Canaanites engaged in human sacrifice, even offering their children to their gods.
Amalek must not be spared.
Deuteronomy 12:29-31.
The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same. You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
It’s an imperfect illustration, but often infected cattle or poultry are destroyed for the purpose of stopping an epidemic and saving vastly more livestock. Likewise, left unchecked, these nations would have plagued the world with such depravity that they simply were not redeemable.
Amalek must not be spared.
The Consequences of disobedience.
The Amalekites were a source of constant woe to Israel. Shortly after the Israelites left Egypt, the Amalekites attacked the weary people, slaughtering the weak and elderly (Deuteronomy 25:18).
Even the Babylonians had a bad opinion of them, calling them “Khabbati,” or “plunderers.” The Amalekites and Caananites, among other nations, practiced child burning, torture as public entertainment, and sexual immorality as sport.
The Israelites later avenged the attack and defeated the Amalekites, but failed to completely eradicate the nation. Israel was then plagued with continuous Amalekite raids
(Exodus 17; 1 Samuel 15:2; Numbers 14:45).
Amalek must not be spared.
God knew Amalekite decedents would always be against His people.
In the book of Esther, Haman the son of the Agagite, who was an Amalekite king, sought to exterminate all the Jews. Even today, the name Amalek is a symbol for hatred against Jews. How different things might be had Israel obeyed God to the letter?
Remember the story of the Ninevites. God was warning them through Jonah to change their ways or be utterly destroyed, and they repented. God deals far more justly and mercifully than most people are willing to admit.
Saul spared Amalek.
1 Samuel 15:1-3 & 9, 19. Samuel said to Saul, I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys…
But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out. Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?
Saul spared Amalek.
1 Samuel 15:21-24.
The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God
at Gilgal. But Samuel
replied: Does the LORD
delight in burnt offerings
and sacrifices as much as
in obeying the LORD. To
obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king. Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.
See NOTE 1
Saul spared Amalek.
Unlike us, God knows the future. God knew what the results would be if Israel did not completely eradicate the Amalekites.
If Israel did not carry out God’s orders, the Amalekites would come back to trouble the Israelites in the future. Saul claimed to have killed everyone but the Amalekite king Agag.
Obviously, Saul was lying, just a couple of decades later, there were enough Amalekites to take David and his men’s families captive
1 Samuel 30:1-2.
David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
After David and his men attacked the Amalekites and rescued their families, 400 Amalekites escaped (v 17)
No confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 3:3-9.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh, though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Who was Amalek?
Amalek was son of Eliphaz, who was the son of Esau, so Amalek was the grandson of Esau.
Just as Esau was the greatest rival of Jacob, so four hundred years later, the Amalekites choose to be great enemies of Israel and were the first to attack them.
God has no intention of making Adam, or Amalek, attractive or pretty. The only solution God has is the Cross. If we want to truly glorify God, and to truly manifest Christ, then our flesh – our natural man – must be crucified. There must come a death there in order that Christ can take charge in us and shine through. Christianity is never a matter of God making us look like Jesus. It is a matter of God crucifying us so that the Christ who is already in us might shine through. Neither is Christianity a matter of God making us naturally strong. It is a matter of God making us weak so that the power of Christ might rest upon us, and work in and through us
No confidence in the flesh.
The flesh wants instant gratification and values that above the inheritance that God has promised .
Esau sold his birth-right for a plate of food and many carnal Christians trade their spiritual inheritance to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Hebrews 12:16-17.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. what he had done.
Remember that Amalek was the grandson of Esau.
No confidence in the flesh.
Christians, have a tendency to recognise the weak and horrible areas of the flesh and want to turn from them, but the big danger is not realizing that God doesn’t want any part of the flesh, even that which we think is good and worthwhile.
Luke 18:9-14.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other people, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
No confidence in the flesh.
Matthew 21:23 & 31-32.
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him.......
Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Matthew 5:20.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Peter’s conversion from walking in the flesh.
Carnal (Vines description)
Having the nature of flesh ie: Sensual, controlled and governed by the human nature and it’s appetites, instead of by the Spirit of God.
Signs of carnality (Don’t say “I’m only human, say I’m carnal”)
1 Corinthians 3:1-5. Envying, strife, divisions. (CHRISTIANS!!)
Peter was amongst the disciples who were arguing as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God.
Luke 22:24 & 31-34.
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.....
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. But he replied, Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Jesus answered, I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.
Peter’s conversion from walking in the flesh.
Gal 5:16-18.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that ye would.
Matthew 26:40-41.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
John 18:10-11.
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?
Jesus did not commend Peter for his bravery. He was acting in the flesh
Peter’s failure.
Matthew 26:33 &35.
Peter replied, Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will…. Peter declared, Even if I have to die with you, I‘ll never disown you..
Matthew 26:57-58.
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.
But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.
He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
Peter’s failure.
Matthew 26:69-75.
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. You also were with Jesus of Galilee, she said. But he denied it before them all. I don’t know what you’re talking about, he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth. He denied it again, with an oath: I don’t know the man! After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away. Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, I don’t know the man! Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.
And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter’s faith.
Before we judge Peter too harshly, let us look at him more closely.
He acknowledged his sinfulness.
Luke 5:6-8.
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, Go away from me, Lord;
I am a sinful man!
Peter’s faith.
Peter confessed that Jesus was “The Messiah”
Matthew 16:16-17.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
Peter walked on water.
Matthew 14:28-29.
Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
See NOTE 1
Peter’s faithfulness, he could take a rebuke.
He never left the Church when Jesus rebuked him. Matthew 16:22-24.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Never, Lord! he said. This shall never happen to you! Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Peter’s love for Jesus.
John 21:15-19. Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me!
Simon Peter strengthens the brethren.
After Pentecost Peter is a different person in that he considers others and their spiritual needs and exhorts fellow believers to press in the abundant life of Godliness by adding certain vital attributes to their faith.
2 Peter 1:3-11
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Simon Peter strengthens the brethren.
2 Peter 1:3-11 (continued)
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
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