-A Faith That Has Not Been Tested Is A Faith That Can`t Be Trusted

James 1:3-4 (MSG)

3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:12 (GW)

12 Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

WORD OF GOD FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD

TOPIC -A FAITH THAT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED IS A FAITH THAT CAN`T BE TRUSTED

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT LIFE IS LIKE AN ONION

BECAUSE THE MORE YOU PEEL IT THE MORE IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY

AND THE HARSH REALITY IS THAT AS OUR DAYS UNFOLD

WE ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE

AND AS THE WORLD TURNS

SOMETIMES IT WILL HAVE YOU FEELING LIKE YOU`RE YOUNG AND RESTLESS

AND A PATIENT AT GENERAL HOSPITAL IN THE CUKOO FOR COCOA PUFFS WARD

BUT AS WE PRESS ON WITH THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

AND CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

WE WILL STILL HAVE TO ENDURE MORE -PROBLEMS --PERILS --PAIN AND PRESSURE

THAT SEEK TO PREVENT US FROM GETTING WHERE GOD REALLY WANTS US TO BE

BECAUSE ONE OF THE TEST WE WILL ALL FACE ON THIS CHRISTIAN JOURNEY IS CALL TRIBULATION

AND THE REASON WHY IS

TRIBULATION REVEALS TO US HOW MUCH FAITH EACH OF US TRULY POSSES

THAT`S WHY IT`S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND

THAT A FAITH THAT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED --IS A FAITH THAT CANNOT BE TRUSTED

BECAUSE GOD USES OUR TRIALS AS A SPIRITUAL TOOL TO DEVELOP OUR FAITH

NOT TO MAKE US BITTER BUT BETTER

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AND THIS IS WHERE OUR SERMONIC ADVENTURE WILL BEGIN

BECAUSE A FAITH THAT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED IS A FAITH THAT CAN`T BE TRUSTED

BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE AND OPEN BOOK TEST

THAT EACH OF US TAKE IN A

LABATORY CALL LIFE

WITH PROFESSOR PAIN AND DR DILEMMA

BECAUSE IN THE LABATORY OF LIFE

GOD PLACES THE HEAT ON OUR LIVES TO SIFT THE GOOD FROM THE BAD

AND THE REASON WHY IS

BECAUSE GOD WORKS ON US TO PUT IN US WHAT HE WANTS TO COME OUT OF US

AND GOD CAN`T USE YOU RICHLY UNTIL HE WOUND YOU DEEPLY

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NOTICE WHAT JAMES SAYS

KNOWING THIS –WHICH MEANS BY EXPERIENCE

IN OTHER WORDS

GOD WANTS US TO HAVE A KNOWING THIS TESTIMONY

BECAUSE EACH OF US SHOULD KNOW THE LORD BY EXPERIENCE

IN OTHER WORDS EVERY BLOOD BOUGHT SON AND DAUGHTER OF GOD

SHOULD KNOW WHO KEPT YOU WHILE WE WE`RE SLEEP LAST NIGHT

LET SOME OF US WATCH A MOVIE IN OUR SLEEP

AND DID`NT CHARGE YOU A DIME WHEN HE WOKE YOU UP THIS MORNING

TOUCH US WITH A FINGER OF LOVE

AND ALLOWED US TO SEE A DAY WE WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN

BLESSED US ALL DAY YESTERDAY

HEAL US WHEN WE WE`RE SICK

SAVED US WHEN WE WE`RE LOST

FED US WHEN WE WE`RE HUNGRY

IN OTHER WORDS

WE SHOULD KNOW WHO BROUGHT US OUT OUR LAST STORM

AND CARRIED US THROUGH OUR LAST VALLEY

GAVE US STRENGHT WHEN WE WAS WEAK

DIED FOR US WHILE WE WAS YET SINNERS

WE SHOULD KNOW THE ONE WHO IS

TOO STRONG TO BE WEAK

TOO FAITHFUL NOT TO FORGIVE

TOO RESPONSIBLE TO FAIL US

TOO GOOD TO BE BAD

TOO SWEET TO BE SOUR

TOO KIND TO BE MEAN

TOO LOVING NOT TO CARE

TOO GRACIOUS NOT TO PROVIDE

AND TOO PERFECT TO MAKE A MISTAKE

JAMES SAY WE SHOULD KNOW

THAT TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS ARE NOT TO DEFEAT AND DISCOURAGE US

BUT GOD ALLOWS THEM TO PROVE US

TO MAKE US STRONGER AND BETTER

IN OTHER WORDS

JAMES REVEALS TO US THAT WE HAVE TO KNOW

WHO WE ARE AND WHOMS WE ARE

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WELL NOT ONLY DOES GOD WANTS US TO HAVE A WE KNOW TESTIMONY

BUT JAMES ALSO REVEALS THAT GOD HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR TESTING OUR FAITH

(I KNOW THIS MAY NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY------- BUT IT WILL MAKE YOU HOLY)

BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER HAVE THE BLESSING OF THE LORD WITHOUT THE TESTING OF THE LORD

BECAUSE WE CAN`T GET ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER

IN OTHER WORDS GOD HAS TO TEST YOU BEFORE HE BLESS YOU

HE HAS TO BEND YOU BEFORE HE CAN MEND YOU

SOMETIMES GOD ALLOWS US TO GO DOWN A CROOKED ROAD

TO SEE IF OUR FAITH IS MATURE ENOUGH TO KNOW

THAT GOD IS------- ABLE TO MAKE A CROOKED ROAD STRAIGHT

JAMES SAYS THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH

NOW THE WORD TRYING MEANS TO TEST

SOMETHING FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPROVING IT

AND THE PURPOSE FOR THE TESTING IS TO ESTABLISH GENUINE FAITH