roadrunner570
June 11th, 2006, 04:06 PM
This is from the sermon notes I took today at church. The outline I got from my pastor, but the notes and commentaries are mostly mine except for a few lines. I haven't done one of these in awhile, but I thought todays message was a really important one.
This is a Test-This is Only a Test
Genesis 22:1
Life is full of tests. Every day, each of us encounters a test of some type. These are designed to measure our abilities. Understanding and recognizing tests for what they are will better equip us to pass them.
Five Observations about Testing:
1.) Seasons of testing are normal for spiritual formation
All through the Bible, God tested people. For those who passed the tests, they stronger spiritually.
2.) In the midst of a test, we often fail to see it for what it is.
How many times have we been going through hard times or trials and can’t seem to figure out why God is letting this happen, or where he even is? That is the best time to consider that it may be a test.
3.) Testing precedes promotion
Think of any job, or even through school. Before you can move on to the next level, you need to take a test. Discipleship is the same way. God will put us though tests before passing us on to the next level.
4.) Tests vary as to duration and intensity.
Some of us might go through a test that lasts one day or even a few hours. Others might go through a test that last many years. Personally, our family just came off a three year test. I wasn’t even a Christian when it started, but I was working a good paying job at the police department, yet we were in debt way over our heads. We were spending like crazy, we were rude, selfish and all sorts of stuff.
Well, some really bad things happened at that job, I ended up leaving. Over the next few years, I worked a series of low paying jobs. Granted, they were all very rewarding jobs. I was a CNA in a nursing home, worked in some factories (I really hated those jobs though) and was a tech in a psychiatric hospital. All taught me the importance of serving and helping others, but all of them paid very poorly, at least half of what I made before. I didn’t think we’d make it, but we did, we always found away, God always provided.
Recently, I just started a new job as a field officer for people on house arrest. It pays just a little less than I was making at the police dept. and has much better conditions and such as my last several jobs. I truly feel this was God’s way of knocking us down a few notches and teaching us what is really important.
5.) We never graduate from testing.
No matter where we are in our walk, or how far along in life, there will always be tests. Moses was not exactly a spring chicken when God called him to lead Israel.
One thing to note, the further we are along, the harder the tests will become. Much like a video game where each level is harder than the one before it.
Eight Types of Tests we Must Face
1.) The test of small things–
Lk 16:10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
I think this verse says it all. Much like my personal story above. We all have big dreams, and hope for big opportunities with big responsibilities. Yet, if we can’t even handle the little things early in life, then we’re sure not ready for the big things.
2.) The test of motives–
Mt 6:5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Mt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Its great if we do good works, or give to the church, etc. But what God looks at is why we are doing that. Our pastor told a story of a small church he once pastored. Often, people would stop in off the street asking for money for groceries, gas, etc. At first he was very generous, but then he started to feel as if folks were taking advantage of him.
So, he made a test. He kept a bucket of paint in his office with a roller. When someone would come in and ask for money, he’d ask if they’d help him paint one of the offices in the church and he’d give them money they’d need. He said if someone would go to open the paint can, he’d stop them and give them the money. However, he said not one person ever did. Every single person he asked to help him, turned and walked away. They failed the test of motives.
3.)The stewardship test–
Lk 12:16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
Lk 12:17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
Lk 12:18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
Lk 12:19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
Lk 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
Lk 12:21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
What are the gifts God has given us? Are we using them to their fullest extent? Or are we being selfish with them and hoarding them for ourselves? This is something that I struggle with as well. Its hard to remember that what we have is not ours, but is God’s.
This test proves how wisely, strategically and generously we handle all the resources we presently control.
4.) The obedience test–
Ex 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
Ex 16:5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
I think we all know what happened in this story. Many kept more manna than they could eat for one day and it spoiled. Sometimes, God will tell us to do something, just to see if we’ll obey.
5.) The wilderness test–Luke 4
Jesus spent time in the wilderness, we must also at times. It may feel as if God has left us, but this is how he strengthens us. Much like a sword, being heated at extreme temperatures, then cooled, then heated, and cooled again. All this makes the metal stronger.
6.)The integrity test–1 Samuel 15
Every day at work, many of us face tests of our integrity. Maybe our boss wants us to fudge the facts on a report, or not be completely honest with a customer. There are many other ways. These are all ways God can test our integrity. We need look no further than recent events in the corporate world to see what happens when people begin to compromise their integrity. This test will see if we will compromise under pressure.
7.)The forgiveness test–
Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
This is one of the hardest tests. Its so easy to want to hold on to anger, hate and bitterness toward those who have wronged us. Some of you have had horrible things done to you by others. While our most basic human reaction is to cling to hatred for those people. Our spiritual reaction should be to imitate Christ. Each time we sin, it is a horrible act in the eyes of God, yet he is always faithful to forgive us. As hard as that might be for us, the Bible clearly says it is our duty to forgive others.
8.)The Lordship test–
Lk 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Lk 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Lk 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Lk 5:7 So they signaled 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.
The fishermen here did what made little sense to them, just because Jesus told them too. How many times has God told us to do something that didn’t seem to make sense? This test reveals your heart’s response to whom or what has the final authority in your life.
In all of these tests through our lives, this should be our goal:
Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
This is a Test-This is Only a Test
Genesis 22:1
Life is full of tests. Every day, each of us encounters a test of some type. These are designed to measure our abilities. Understanding and recognizing tests for what they are will better equip us to pass them.
Five Observations about Testing:
1.) Seasons of testing are normal for spiritual formation
All through the Bible, God tested people. For those who passed the tests, they stronger spiritually.
2.) In the midst of a test, we often fail to see it for what it is.
How many times have we been going through hard times or trials and can’t seem to figure out why God is letting this happen, or where he even is? That is the best time to consider that it may be a test.
3.) Testing precedes promotion
Think of any job, or even through school. Before you can move on to the next level, you need to take a test. Discipleship is the same way. God will put us though tests before passing us on to the next level.
4.) Tests vary as to duration and intensity.
Some of us might go through a test that lasts one day or even a few hours. Others might go through a test that last many years. Personally, our family just came off a three year test. I wasn’t even a Christian when it started, but I was working a good paying job at the police department, yet we were in debt way over our heads. We were spending like crazy, we were rude, selfish and all sorts of stuff.
Well, some really bad things happened at that job, I ended up leaving. Over the next few years, I worked a series of low paying jobs. Granted, they were all very rewarding jobs. I was a CNA in a nursing home, worked in some factories (I really hated those jobs though) and was a tech in a psychiatric hospital. All taught me the importance of serving and helping others, but all of them paid very poorly, at least half of what I made before. I didn’t think we’d make it, but we did, we always found away, God always provided.
Recently, I just started a new job as a field officer for people on house arrest. It pays just a little less than I was making at the police dept. and has much better conditions and such as my last several jobs. I truly feel this was God’s way of knocking us down a few notches and teaching us what is really important.
5.) We never graduate from testing.
No matter where we are in our walk, or how far along in life, there will always be tests. Moses was not exactly a spring chicken when God called him to lead Israel.
One thing to note, the further we are along, the harder the tests will become. Much like a video game where each level is harder than the one before it.
Eight Types of Tests we Must Face
1.) The test of small things–
Lk 16:10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
I think this verse says it all. Much like my personal story above. We all have big dreams, and hope for big opportunities with big responsibilities. Yet, if we can’t even handle the little things early in life, then we’re sure not ready for the big things.
2.) The test of motives–
Mt 6:5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Mt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Its great if we do good works, or give to the church, etc. But what God looks at is why we are doing that. Our pastor told a story of a small church he once pastored. Often, people would stop in off the street asking for money for groceries, gas, etc. At first he was very generous, but then he started to feel as if folks were taking advantage of him.
So, he made a test. He kept a bucket of paint in his office with a roller. When someone would come in and ask for money, he’d ask if they’d help him paint one of the offices in the church and he’d give them money they’d need. He said if someone would go to open the paint can, he’d stop them and give them the money. However, he said not one person ever did. Every single person he asked to help him, turned and walked away. They failed the test of motives.
3.)The stewardship test–
Lk 12:16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
Lk 12:17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
Lk 12:18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
Lk 12:19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
Lk 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
Lk 12:21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
What are the gifts God has given us? Are we using them to their fullest extent? Or are we being selfish with them and hoarding them for ourselves? This is something that I struggle with as well. Its hard to remember that what we have is not ours, but is God’s.
This test proves how wisely, strategically and generously we handle all the resources we presently control.
4.) The obedience test–
Ex 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
Ex 16:5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
I think we all know what happened in this story. Many kept more manna than they could eat for one day and it spoiled. Sometimes, God will tell us to do something, just to see if we’ll obey.
5.) The wilderness test–Luke 4
Jesus spent time in the wilderness, we must also at times. It may feel as if God has left us, but this is how he strengthens us. Much like a sword, being heated at extreme temperatures, then cooled, then heated, and cooled again. All this makes the metal stronger.
6.)The integrity test–1 Samuel 15
Every day at work, many of us face tests of our integrity. Maybe our boss wants us to fudge the facts on a report, or not be completely honest with a customer. There are many other ways. These are all ways God can test our integrity. We need look no further than recent events in the corporate world to see what happens when people begin to compromise their integrity. This test will see if we will compromise under pressure.
7.)The forgiveness test–
Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
This is one of the hardest tests. Its so easy to want to hold on to anger, hate and bitterness toward those who have wronged us. Some of you have had horrible things done to you by others. While our most basic human reaction is to cling to hatred for those people. Our spiritual reaction should be to imitate Christ. Each time we sin, it is a horrible act in the eyes of God, yet he is always faithful to forgive us. As hard as that might be for us, the Bible clearly says it is our duty to forgive others.
8.)The Lordship test–
Lk 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Lk 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Lk 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Lk 5:7 So they signaled 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.
The fishermen here did what made little sense to them, just because Jesus told them too. How many times has God told us to do something that didn’t seem to make sense? This test reveals your heart’s response to whom or what has the final authority in your life.
In all of these tests through our lives, this should be our goal:
Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.