#1seasons Of Testing Series

This is Part #1 Seasons of testing...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr

Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew; and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the ROCK!

James 1:13 -15, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of HIS OWN LUST, and enticed.

Rom. 1:20 ... we are without excuse...

Rom. 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, ...

Luke 14:18 - 22. With one consent, they began to offer excuses ...

Let’s us ponder test and the roll of testing in our spiritual walk.

What is the purpose of testing?

Can we avoid being tested?

Are tests bad?

1. WE DON’T LIKE TEST, AND THEREFORE CONCLUDE WE DON’T NEED TO BE TESTED.

As water takes the path of least resistance, so we are prone to take the path of least persistence.

We fail to see evaluation has great value?

Would you want a doctor to operate on you that has never been tested? Would you pay a lawyer mega bucks an hour, that attended a law school that never gave a student a test?

A diploma without any test could be worthless?

2.Test defined:

A. critical examination, observation, evaluation.

B. Trial,

C. basis for evaluation,

D. check actions and reactions,

E. apply a means of analysis or diagnosis,

F. check qualifications,

G. process of verifying progress.

We might break testing into several categories. Evaluation by others,

self evaluation,

peer evaluation.

We must develop a system of priorities or values and a means by which to determine how we are carrying out God’s plan and our purpose.

3. TESTING IS NOT ONE EVENT, REAL TESTING IS A PROCESS.

Testing should have a goal of learning/ teaching and adapting and changing.

So, a good test is not an end but rather a means toward an end.

We need a course of action, a plan ... we must BE PREPARED.

It is easy to spend a life time flying in circles and never progress or advance. Life daily unfolds by your actions and reactions.

As a school teacher, I would often test to see the depth of the individual, then I would teach based on what the test would show me.

After teaching, I would re-test.

Some compare themselves as to where others are, not where should I be? Milk vs. meat?

4. IT IS A DEMONIC ASSUMPTION TO PRESUME THAT YOU SHOULD BE FREE FROM TESTING!

Nothing creates more deep seated anxiety than a false assumption that Christian living should be free from anxieties and tests.

We will all have "solemn days" of testing.

5. TEST ARE NEUTRAL, TEST OF themselves, NEITHER MAKE YOU STRONG OR MAKE YOU WEAK, TEST JUST SHOW WHICH YOU ARE.

What happens in you is more important than what happens to you!

The same heat that melts butter, will harden an egg.

6. WISDOM LEARNS TO IDENTIFY TEST AND PREPARE FOR THEM.

Few today learn to identify the testing process of daily living, because we refuse to identify what test are and why we are tested.

I had a student named David Rock. He was waiting very excitedly for a copy of his test.

I asked David, why are you excited?

He said, "I want to prove I studied!"

Joe, dreaded the test, as he never prepared or studied, he thought knowledge was a process of osmosis, just absorb it?

7. WHERE WILL I BE TESTED?

I find in the Bible, you will be tested in your weak areas, and test will come regarding the PROMISES OF GOD, promise, test, provision.

(Joel 3:10, Rom. 15:1).

You are a product of your choices, there for you will tested to make poor choices and not have telescopic vision to see ahead and see the results of your choices.

8. TEST OF WHO WILL YOU BLAME?

Adam started the "blame game."

Eve, it is your fault.

God, that woman "YOU" gave me ... and we still pass the buck.

Many blame the devil? a few blame God?

Read the Bible...James 1:13 -15, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of HIS OWN LUST, and enticed.

We bash our parents? it is the school? The preacher? Where is the individual’s responsibility?

9. WHEN TEST COME, WE LEARN HOW TO OFFER EXCUSES?

Rom. 1:20 ... we are without excuse...

Rom. 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, ...

We cannot justify wrong priorities.

Luke 14:18 - 22. With one consent, they began to offer excuses ...

to excuse from testing is habitual and chronic!

There are three excuses and they cover

everything ...

A.Land.. materialism;

B. Oxen.. business/ pleasure..

C.marriage.. relationships.

10. SICKLY OAKS FROM SICKLY ACORNS GROW.

All foundations will be tested.

If there are no roots, then there shall be no fruits!