An Invitation - Part 3 - Testing - the Door to an Open Heaven — Phil Beach Jr.

Our father to grant us eyes to see this morning and ears to hear. Father, we thank you for your Holy Spirit and We thank you Lord for the evident grace that is working in our lives. Lord we do pray that you would be gracious to us Lord and give us eyes to see and ears to hear and then Lord help us not to Take lightly what you show us and what we hear.

Lord help us not to Resist or grieve your Holy Spirit, but Lord we would ask for a heart That is able to receive your word. A neat part Lord. Please help us to understand What you're doing in the church today and what you're looking for in our lives.

Now we commit these next few moments into your hands. Take the word quicken it. Make it a ministry of life Lord. Administration of the Spirit. We pray father for Jesus sake. Amen. Today we're going to Look in the book of Daniel and we're going to see a remarkable truth that God has recorded in the book of Daniel.

Testing and the Open Heaven

And this truth is Applicable to what the Lord is doing in our life Today what he has done yesterday and what I'll continue to do as you're turning your Bibles to the book of Daniel. I want to read a few scriptures in the New Testament that have to do with being tested and Being tried as a foundation before we get into the book of Daniel.

Matthew chapter 5. You can write these down if you like just so you have the foundation. Matthew chapter 5 verses 10 and 11. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Now brothers and sisters. This Is a statement that? Is not understood by many Christian less it are those Who are persecuted? For righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. That scripture is wonderfully Expanded upon as we read through the book of Daniel.

Blessed. Was Daniel. He was persecuted wasn't he. And what. What was the reward that Daniel received? The kingdom of heaven. Was his. The kingdom of heaven was opened to Daniel. He saw things He heard things He understood things he perceived things that Others had no clue of.

And this is the function of the church in this age we are to be living in such a Relatedness to our Lord Jesus Christ so that in sharing in his Sufferings and in Persecutions and in trials and in testings as A direct result of our relatedness to him.

The kingdom of heavens. The kingdom of the heavens should be opened to the church. They should have a unique perspective On everything that's happening in their life in others lives and in the lives of the world.

That comes uniquely from heaven's perspective. The failure to see from a heavenly perspective to interpret from a heavenly perspective. To understand from a heavenly perspective is a shameful commentary against the church today.

Notice the connection being persecuted for righteousness sake and The kingdom of heaven becoming ours. Now we're going to see this theme opened up in the book of Daniel. But these are the foundational scriptures you'll notice in Matthew chapter 4 that Jesus Was tempted or tested of the devil for 40 days and 40 nights and As a result of that the kingdom of heaven was open to him and that's found in Matthew chapter 3.

Jesus and the Heavens Opened

And After Jesus was baptized he went up out of the water and lo the heavens were opened unto him. The heavens were opened unto Jesus. Jesus while he walked on earth as a man. Having given up his glory and the privileges that he had in heaven.

He walked as a man, but heaven was open to him. He lived in earth, but didn't receive counsel from her. He walked on earth, but he lived in heaven. He had a heavenly council a heavenly understanding. The kingdom of heaven was open to him.

The dove of the Holy Spirit rested upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He walked through this world and he interpreted everything That he saw that he heard from the heavenly perspective. He never walked on earth as an earthly man.

Interpreting life from an earthly perspective. He never fell into the trap like a mere man. He was never seduced by his culture into ordering his life or his priorities or his lifestyle based on the cultural of his day.

Which by the way have a remarkable resemblance of today's cultural standards. Rome was a city of sin a city of hedonism and pleasure a City where men saw to build up themselves. To indulge in all of their pleasures.

To store up for themselves treasure on earth. But Jesus never ever ever once as a man did he fall trap? To governing his life the way his peers Governed their life. Why why? Because the heavens were open to him.

He wasn't bound to a mere earthly existence. Matthew or mark chapter 4 you'll find here that Jesus teaches us in Mark chapter 4 16. This is the parable of the sower and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground.

Who when they had heard the word immediately receive it with gladness? And have no root in themselves and so endure for a time afterward when affliction or persecution arises For the word's sake immediately.

They are offended. They are they stumble and so here Jesus makes mention of persecution and affliction as in some people become a snare resulting in them becoming offended and stumbling and Drifting away from the Lord.

Then there's the thorny ground Verse 19. Which means the cares of this world? Marcus down mark these down the cares of this world. The cares of this world act as a big test to every one of us here. The many concerns of this life act as a big test.

There are constant trial a constant Source of tribulation are they not? But what are the cares of this world do when the heart is a stony heart? The cares of this world the deceitfulness of riches. There's another big trial the deceitfulness of riches.

The Deceitfulness of Riches

Why does the Bible call riches deceitful? Because they're beguiling. Riches have a beguiling effect on those who get a hold of them because riches Make you believe Something that's not true. Wealth makes you believe something that's not true.

That's why riches are called deceitful. They give you the illusion wealth gives you the illusion that you've got something Good that you've got something that Satisfies that you've got something that can empower you to get what you want.

Riches give you the illusion that you suddenly become in need of nothing. That's why the word deceitfulness Describes riches. That's why the whole world including most of the church world is after wealth and A part of the church world is actually after wealth in the name of God.

The deceitfulness of riches trials tribulations tests all of these are Tests that the church is in the midst of right now and brothers and sisters these tests and How we come through them will determine?

The measure the extent to which the heavens are open to us as we'll see in the book of Daniel John chapter 16 verse 33. Jesus's own words. Again, we're just laying a foundation now. These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace in the world.

You shall have tribulation. That's an interesting word. It means to squeeze to crush to afflict. To be subject to that which causes hurt and pain in the world you shall have tribulation in The world you will be subject to that which crushes which hurts you which gives you pain which acts as a test.

Why is God doing this? Why is God allowing this is the heart cry of so many of us when we're? Thrown into the midst of a test into a trial. Why is God doing this? He's doing it in order to prove and test the genuineness.

To prove and test the Genuineness of the faith that we profess to possess. In order to establish firmly that which comes from his hand the work of his grace. In order to establish firmly in the church.

The stature and measure and likeness of his son the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I are in a big test now. Big test acts 1422. The words of Paul to the young church. Here's what he said verse 21. And when they had preached the gospel to that city he had taught many they returned again to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch.

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 God. Much tribulation through much tribulation. We enter in to the kingdom of God.

James. James chapter 1. My brethren verse 2 count it all joy. When you fall into all kinds of temptations. Count it pure joy when you fall into all kinds of temptations. Brothers and sisters if we can understand the purpose of God in Trying us and allowing us to be tested and if we can understand the prospect that is before us.

If in fact we come through the trial and through the tribulation victorious. Through the power of Jesus Christ and what God is offering us at the other end of the trial at the other end of the tribulation.

We would truly count it pure joy. The only reason why we don't count going through trials as pure joy is because so often trials reveal our self-centeredness. Trials reveal how concerned we are about us and how things affect us in our comfort and our little world and.

So often they reveal how little we are really concerned about the Lord's glory and about the Lord's Interests and about what the Lord can get in my life through this through this trial. We're often too conscious about what we're not getting.

Or what we're feeling in a trial. Rather than what the Lord is getting out of this trial. Remember the profound words of John the Baptist. I must what? Decrease and he must increase. That's the thought of the Lord.

Decrease of Self and Increase of Christ

Never think never think that God's thought is ever that you might increase. That's not his thought his thought is you must decrease. Diminish and He must increase and so in every trial and tribulation we go through.

The Lord's thought is he wants to become bigger in our life, and he wants us to become smaller. But without that perspective What will trials do? They'll really really be a pain in our neck. Really a big pain in our neck they'll cramp our style.

They'll frustrate our plans and our purposes and There'll be a source. Whereby if we're not careful seeds of bitterness anger resentment unforgiveness grumbling spirit. Complaining spirit a critical spirit will begin to possess us a few more scriptures.

Peter first Peter Chapter 5 verse 10. But the God of all grace who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after after that you have suffered a while. Make you perfect establish strengthen and settle you.

So you see this theme is all through one more scripture in the book of Revelation. This theme is all through the New Testament Revelation chapter 2 verse number 9 and 10. Revelation 2 9 and 10. I know thy works and tribulation and Poverty, but you are rich and I know the blasphemy of them.

Which say they are Jews and are not but are of the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which you shall suffer. Listen. Behold the devil Shall cast some of you in prison that you may be tried my my my Jesus is telling his beloved church that the devil is going to cast some of them in prison and that they're going to be tried and You shall have tribulation ten days.

Now by the way, the word the number 10 in the Bible is consistent with testing consistent with a time of testing a time of trial so oftentimes when God's people are in some kind of a test the number 10 is being used as is the number 40.

Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. Now let's turn our Bibles to Daniel chapter 2 or Daniel chapter 1, I'm sorry and in light of the New Testament Revelation that we just saw in light of the fact that Tribulation and testing is an inevitable part of the Christian journey.

Let's look and capture some things that the Lord wants to speak to us today regarding this. This whole issue of testing before we begin I want to write down on the board two inevitable spiritual laws and please write these down in your Bible write them down in your notes and remember this as We look through the Bible we see That there's two laws working in the life of Daniel and the life of the three Hebrew children.

The Law of Testing and the Law of Revelation

Number one. It's the law of testing and then following the law of testing every single time is the law of Open Heaven and Revelation. The law of testing followed by the law of an open heaven and Revelation the Lord governs The Revelation and the open heaven that he gives to his people.

By the law of testing there is no law of open heaven and Revelation that comes to the people of God and remains with the people of God if there is not a Continuous law of testing going on in their life.

We'll see that principle in the book of Daniel. There's three different types of tests that Daniel is subject to and the three Hebrew children three different types of tests. So here under the law of testing We have three different types of tests.

These three different types of tests resulted in a subsequent open heaven and Revelation that came to Daniel and the three Hebrew children. Likewise as we see in the book of Daniel we are continuously being subject in all different ways to one of these three types of tests and Depending listen carefully depending on What we do in the test.

Depending on what is revealed in the test is what depends on the law of an open heaven to us there is a very limited open heaven and understanding today. Among the Lord's people of the spiritual things of God's heart and the spiritual things of God's Word.

It's related directly to Much failure in the realm of the law of testing. For example when God tests his people over wealth. How many people? Triumphantly succeed in being able to forsake the God of money and not worship it very few and.

So what does that mean if God tests us in the area of wealth? And it is found to be something that we want and Desire and Once we get a hold of our knuckles turn white because it's hard to let go of it.

What does that mean about the law of an open heaven in Revelation? It closes up to us. See God doesn't open his heaven to that kind of a man. There's only one kind of a man that an open heaven is given to and that's what the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah. He's the man. He's the man. He's the man. He's the man who through the law of testing. Each one of the tests which we're going to go through he triumphed in every test and as a result He lived with an open heaven, but that open heaven that Jesus lived with is promised to the believer.

It's in Matthew blessed our object to all manners of trials and tests for yours is the kingdom of heaven. You will have an open heaven just like the Lord Jesus Christ as the master. So his servants See the church wants an open heaven, but they don't want the heart of the man inside.

We want an open heaven, but we want the things of this life at the same time and God says foolishness. It'll never happen. We want we want the Lord to minister to us when at the same time our hearts are divided and after pleasures of this life and Then we wonder why the Bible becomes a dead book and We create a religion because there's no substance.

No reality. That's why and so remember this beloved this is a prophetic word this morning remember this. The law of testing and the law of revelation and an open cannot separate one from the other and There's no listen.

There's no going on with the Lord to spiritual maturity and To union with Christ. Which is something we've been covering in John chapter 14 through 17, but temporarily we've laid it aside more Foundation needs to be laid before we can get back into that and see the beauty of what Jesus is trying to teach us there.

Because those things are meaningless to us unless we have a history of being tried and tested and We fail and and we're tried again and we learn to trust the Lord and we learn that our life is Christ and we start passing the test because Christ is now our life and Christ is the the reason for our existence and the Heavens start opening and we start realizing what it is to walk in an open heaven in the eternal Treasures of God are open before us and our heart no longer delights in the things of this world and we no longer go to bed at night with the joy of thinking about What we're going to do as the source of our happiness.

But God becomes the one that is our sustainer and our joy and our peace and we don't want anything else. We're after him. We're after him alone. The heavens are open that comes that only comes as We are subject day and day and week and week and month after month and year after year to the law of Testing the law of testing and the old is dislodged and the new the Christ the Lord Jesus is Established as our life only to the measure only to the measure that Christ Becomes established in our life through the test.

Can we know an open heaven? We're never forget the heavens are only open to one kind of a man and that's the Lord Jesus and His likeness Being formed in us. God can't listen. God can't trust you and he can't trust me.

The only person God trusts is his son and the character that his son possesses the godly character and It's only in the measure that that character is Etched into us by the power of the work of God's grace and God's Spirit that God can trust us.

Daniel's Three Tests

All right. The three tests and we'll look at them briefly in the Bible and then we'll give practical application for each test. Okay. The three tests that were subject to the first test That Daniel was subject to is found in Daniel chapter 1.

What happened to my glasses? Daniel. Daniel chapter 1 listen closely. What time is it here? Daniel chapter 1. I'm praying the Holy Spirit will make this life a ministry of life to our hearts and That we will be encouraged and that we'll get a different perspective on what we're going through and why we're going through it.

See, all right. Daniel chapter 1 we have the three Hebrew children along with Daniel Who were brought into the Babylonian kingdom and the king verse 5? Appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat and of the wine which he drank.

So nourishing them three years that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Verse 8, but Daniel purposed in his heart listen. This is the first test. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself With the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine which he drank.

Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of eunuchs and the prince of the eunuchs said Unto Daniel I fear my lord the king Who hath appointed your meat and your drink for why should he see your faces worse?

Liking than the children which are of your sort then shall you make me in danger my head now watch. Then Daniel said to Melzar whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel Anaya Mischiel and Azaria listen prove thy servants I beseech thee Ten days, there's that ten days.

Oh God help us to see this prove thy servants ten days and Let them give us pulse to eat that is fruits and vegetables And water to drink then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat and As thou seest deal with thy servants so he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days and at the end of ten days listen their Countenances appeared fairer and Fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

Okay brothers and sisters Here's the first test. Back to verse 8 chapter 1. This is the grace that we need to pass the first test chapter 1 verse 8. Daniel purposed in his heart. Have you come to the place where by the grace of God?

You are purposing in your heart every single day Not to defile yourself With the things of this world. The first test is a test of Of purity. While their test was a natural test. That is Daniel didn't want to eat the literal food of the king.

He didn't want to drink the literal wine. He wanted to only eat the food that was acceptable by the standards of the Old Testament by the standards of the book of Leviticus. Those laws are no longer in effect in the New Testament Church.

Those Old Testament laws are good. There's a lot of healthful Benefits, but they represent a spiritual truth that's what we have to get a hold of. As Daniel refused to defile himself with the king's meat so likewise the church you and I must Purpose in our heart that we will not be defiled by the things of this world.

Which people are living on. Which people are feasting on. Which people are consuming. Into their minds into their hearts into their very beings. The test of purity before God. Turn your Bibles to first John.

Keep your finger in Daniel first John verse 15. Love not the world. Neither the things that are in the world. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not love the world. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the things.

That those in Babylon ate in order to sustain themselves. What are you feasting on. What are you feasting on. What are you being nourished by. The things that the world offers. Are you being nourished by Christ?

Are you drinking the living water that comes from his heart? Are you feasting on the meat that Jesus ate? Hello John chapter 4. I have meat that you know not of Jesus was eating meat. He refused to be defiled by the things of this world.

He was feasting on a continuous communion with his father. He wasn't being defiled by the things of this world. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man loved the world the love of the father is not in him.

For all that is in the world. The loss of the flesh. The loss of the flesh the desires of The flesh the desires of the flesh. Do you live to fulfill the desires of your flesh? Is that what you live on?

What are some of the desires of the flesh are you living for them. The loss of the flesh the lust of the eyes. Oh Oh God preserve us. We live in a generation where everyone is after what they see. Oh Isn't that nice?

I want that Daniel purpose not to defile himself with the food of Babylon. The lust of the eyes and the pride of life. The pride of life. Is doing something? Or wanting something. So that you can brag in it so that you can boast in it.

So that your identity is wrapped up in that thing so you can compare yourself with someone else and come out better. The pride of life. Daniel purposed in his heart. That he was not going to be after these things.

Back to Daniel chapter 2. What was the what was the result of Daniel? Purposing in his heart that he wasn't going to be defiled. I'll tell you what it was. Read Daniel chapter 2. We won't go into it. But Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and no one in the kingdom could understand the dream.

No one all of the Kings wise men and all of the King sorcerers and all of the Kings Magicians fail to understand the dream. But look what happened verse 10 chapter 2. The Chaldeans answered before the king and said there is not a man upon the earth.

Oh, I like that how true it is. There's not a man upon the earth that can show the Kings matter. Therefore there is no King no Lord. No ruler that asked such things at any magician or astrologer or Chaldean verse 12 for this cause the king was angry and very furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon and The decree went forth that the wise men should be slain and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

Watch this. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Ariok the captain of the Kings guard. Which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. He answered and said to Ariok the Kings captain Why is the decree so hasty from the king.

Then Ariok made the thing known to Daniel then Daniel went in and Desired of the king that he would give him time that he would show the king the interpretation House and made the thing known to Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

His companions watch this. That they would desire mercies of God of heaven. Concerning the secret that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men then watch was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

There you go brothers and sisters the law of testing. Daniel purposed that he would remain pure and what did it result in an open heaven. Daniel saw What no other man saw he understood what no other man understood.

He had heavenly Insight in the affairs of earth. I wonder how many of us long To understand what God is saying what God is doing and what God has said in his word. This is the way to understand. Oh God.

Give me a heart. That when I'm in a trial. When I'm in a test when I'm in a tribulation Christ. And his way can be revealed. Number two, the first test is purity. Always remember that beloved. The first test is purity.

Ten days. That means it's a lifetime. Please listen when we compromise on the test of purity the heavens will close and If the heavens close and your heart does not become troubled and you do not begin to cry out and say Oh God.

Is there something in my heart that has turned to this world? Resulting in the heavens being closed if that doesn't happen. You'll birth religion. You'll continue in an outward form with no open living Revelation of the Lord and you'll start a spiritual decline in your life.

There's good religions in the world that look real good, but the heavens are closed and You can sometimes meet people who talk really good about the things of God. They seem to really have it a good understanding up here.

But there's a there's a sense of death in their spirit. There's no open heaven. There's no living reality. No living revelation of the Lord in his word. What's wrong? What's wrong? Somewhere here. There's been a failure without a repentance and a turning back to God number two revel.

The Test of Worship

Nebuchadnezzar King made an image of gold. Verse 2. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King sent to gather together the princes the governors the captains the judges the treasurers the counselors the sheriffs and all the rulers of the Providences to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the King had set up then the princes the governors the captains the judges the treasurers the counselors the sheriffs and all the rulers of the Providences were gathered together.

Unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the King had set up and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up then a Herald cried out to you. It is commanded. Oh people nations and languages.

That at the time when you hear the sound of the cornet the flute the harp the sack The Psalter the dulcimer and all kinds of music listen you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the King had stood up set up and Whoever falls not down and worships shall the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

There you go brothers and sisters. There's our second test. The first test is the test of purity. The second is the test of worship. Listen heart. Devotion. There has been a decree that has been made in all the world today and that decree is that all men all people must serve the image of gold Nebuchadnezzar which represents listen.

Nebuchadnezzar's image represents all of the beauty and splendor of the Create the the creatures work all his hands all what he has done. Devote your heart and worship the creature. Worship our own interests worship our own desires worship the things of this world worship.

Someone other than the Almighty God who are you worshiping today? Not that listen this is not with your lips. Isaiah said Israel worshiped him with their lips, but where was their heart? Far from him.

Now God's not interested in what you're saying with your mouth. You can't fool God. You might fool the one sitting next to you. You can't fool God. What are you doing? What's your heart to me? What are you bowing down and worshiping?

Who are you giving your allegiance to? Watch out. You're in a test right now brothers and sisters and God will see to it. Just like in the purity test the worship test God will see to it that you are subject to trials of His own making that will test the very depths of your being to see what you are ultimately devoted to.

He'll do it. And in that hour of trial and in that hour of test When you have to choose like Joshua choose who you will serve this day. That's for me in my house. We will serve the Lord. What did the great prophet Elijah yell out if?

Bail is God serve him if that thing that God is putting his finger on in your life. That you're devoted to if that's God then go ahead and serve it. But if it's not forsake it. Lay it down and serve the true and living God because if you don't the heavens will close to you.

Because God says I'm sorry. You can only serve me. You said well, how do I know Phil? I mean, I'm sure there's something in my life. That's not right. Don't you worry? God will find it out. You don't have to get all worked up and fret it up and try to do this stuff on your own.

Oh, no, oh no, all you have to do is say father I know that I'm one of yours and because of that You are going to bring me through the fires in order to bring the beauty of your holiness. Evident in my life God it'll happen.

Listen right now. Every one of us are being tested over this issue of purity. You can't listen. I Please don't get upset you cannot. You cannot sit in front of that television or in front of the movie theater Without compromising your purity.

You can't do it. Is this legalism? Is this law? Am I trying to implement a law now? No simply stating the fact if you drink in The cesspool of garbage that comes out of that TV and out of the movie theaters today.

You're compromising purity. Doesn't the Bible say in Psalm 1 blessed is the man that what Walks not in the council beyond golly nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Nor stands in the way of sinners. But his delight is where in the law of the Lord and in his law.

He meditates day and night. Now how can we find ourself being entertained and Taking into our mind and into our heart and into our memories the corruption that comes out of that television and out of the movie theaters and think for any second that we're not compromising the purity of of Only feasting on that which is what is Paul said think on these things pure holy just worthy of praise.

Virtuous think on these things. How are the two compatible? They're not see we're in a test. We're in a test. People who are discipled by the TV do not have an open heaven. They have religion. But they don't have an open heaven they continue in religion.

They don't have an open heaven when God tests us over areas of devotion in our life, what are we worshiping? What are we devoted to and we resist his grace? During that time The heavens may very well close.

May very well close. Neil they refused to bow down and what happened. They got thrown into the den of lions, right? What happened. They got thrown into the fiery furnace, but who was there with him. It's just testing you who was there with him.

Son of man the Son of God now after that test what happened. Nebuchadnezzar had another dream and guess what? Nobody in all Babylon could interpret it except to are you seeing the connection here? Glory to God you want to be able to walk through life and Interpret it properly.

Do you want to be able to sit down with your brother and sister who might be confused and troubled and be able to? Properly interpret the Lord's heart what's going on in their life. Do you want to be able to live in the earth?

But walk in the heavens and and be able to understand what's going on then pray. Oh God. Help me to stay pure. Oh God. Give me a heart of worship and devotion to you alone and during the times when I'm being tested and when you're showing me that There's an area of devotion of my life to another God.