God's Tests

“God’s Test!”

On the lighter side of life:

Three old men were at the doctor’s office for a memory test. The doctors said to the first old man, “What is three times three?” “Two-hundred seventy four,” he replied. The doctor said to the second man, “it’s your turn. What is three times three?” “Tuesday,” replied the second man. The doctor said to the third man, “Okay, your turn. What’s three times three?” “Nine,” said the third man. “That’s great,” said the doctor. “How did you get that?” “Simple! I subtracted 274 from Tuesday.”

Thesis: Why do you think God administers tests in our lives? Tests from God always have a spiritual purpose and a spiritual growth process for us in our faith walk with the Lord.

Introduction:

During my school years I learned a lot but I never liked taking tests. Tests were always hard, and you had to study extra to prepare and if you did not study the right stuff you could still fail even if you studied. But sometimes you would study and nail it and you would get the A. But I never liked teachers who would mislead you as to what would be on a test. I did not like the professors who tested me on things they never taught on. I at times went in and complained to a few professors who did this. I did not like those last minute change ups by these types of professors.

Have you ever thought why do we have to take tests in school? What is the purpose of taking a test? Well let’s look at what the purpose of tests are:

• Test (student assessment) or assessment, in education, (also called an "examination") serves to assess or measure students’ performance, knowledge or skills

Tests measure our knowledge of a subject, our skills in a subject and our level or performance on a certain subject. Tests are very revealing about what we know and don’t know. They are a good learning tool to helps us see were we are proficient and were we lack.

This is good for us academically as well as spiritually.

The question could be asked, “Does God give tests?” The answer is “Yes” He does. We find references to those in history who received “tests” from the Lord.

In the Old Testament God tested Abraham and the truth is God will also test us in our faith walk. We are not exempt from going through times of testing!

Testing from God always challenges us in our spiritual walk and in our faith. They stretch us to place more faith and trust in the leading of the Lord. Even when there is a change of plan and the situation does not act out like you imagined it would. This does not mean that you missed God or even misunderstood His voice. It means God has a spiritual purpose for the change of plan.

Currently Kathy and I find ourselves in this position in life where we have gone through a time of testing. We honestly believe that we received a directive from God to resign New Life Community Church. We felt in our hearts and spirits that it was time to move and a time to follow a new call to a new position in Chicago. But at the last minute we experience God’s change up. In the midst of getting ready to move we all of a sudden heard God say, “Stop you are not moving! Look around and learn the spiritual lesson! Then commit to stay and take New Life to the next level!”

This happened on Wednesday May 10, 2006 after Bible Study. Right after our prayer time I started receiving a message ringing in my spirit which said, “You need to stay at New Life Community Church!” I was up most of the night praying and seeking clarity about the change of direction from the Lord. I must admit that I once again had a wrestling match with God and I threw many questions at Him, “What’s going on Lord?” “Why would you have me resign and then stay?” I also experienced some attitudes like this, “Pride spoke up and said this is not God He would never make you look foolish.” “He does not humiliate you like this!” “God would never humble you like this!” As I wrestled with the Lord until 4am I came to conclusion that we were to stay. That next day Kathy came to me and said, “I feel that God said we are suppose to stay and not go to Chicago.” I replied and shared my late night struggle with her. We both felt that there was a change in spiritual realm. Then later on that day Ashley came and said she felt we were suppose to stay also.