Preparing To Take Our Test
Psalm 26:1-2 NAS
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
I have entitled this today: “Preparing To Take Our Test”
Sooner or later, we will all go through tests in our walk with the Lord.
When I go through my test, I need to make sure that I stand the test of time.
I need to know that even though I might not understand why I am going through this, that I will survive and I will be a better person because of it.
David, in our opening text, walked in integrity.
What we need to be willing to do is to walk our lives with integrity.
David understood that if he trusted in the Lord, he would not slide.
Whom do we trust in?
Do we walk in integrity and do we really believe that God can and will move in our lives?
What we need to understand is that the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and according to Psalm 25:14, He will show them His covenant.
In verse two of our opening text, David said: Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Every child of God should urge the Holy Spirit to probe deep within their hearts to see if we are abiding in the Word of God and not a man made Gospel.
We, as Christians, from time to time, will have to take a test but we need to remember that it is going to be all right and that we are going to be stronger for what we are going through.
When I go through a test I have to learn not to waiver in my faith.
I don’t want to be wishy-washy in my walk.
Ps 26:3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.
Ps 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Ps 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Tests will come but learn to walk in God’s truth.
God will withhold no good thing from them who walk uprightly.
Look at De 8:16 "In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.
Even though you are being tested, in the end it will be worth it all.
Jg 7:4 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."
Jer 20:12 Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause.
We, as believers, need to walk in integrity and trust in the Lord without wavering.
Trust is a must in our walks with the Lord.
Understand that a test and being tempted are two different things.
Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
A test will make you wiser and stronger in the things of Him.
Psalm 26:3
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.
Are we walking in His truth this morning?
God’s loving kindness is before your eyes.
This Psalm is rich with instructions for the people of God in all dispensations.
A fact full of consultation is prominent.
1. That help is sure to be given in response to such a pleader and such a plea.
I have entitled this today:
Preparing To Take Our Test
Dream 4:12-10
I dreamed that I was in some kind of school and I had to take a test. Peg was in this class and she was also taking a test. I was sitting at her table. The bell rang and I went into the hallway and got lost. I saw Susan in the hallway. She was also taking a test. We went to our room (hotel) preparing to take our test.
School is a place of learning
Peg was in this class, she has been going through a test.
I was at her table because I am her Pastor and in a sense I am going through it with her.
The bell rang and I went into the hallway and got lost.
How many have taken a test and have gotten lost in what they are doing and they seem to lose their way?
Susan, at times, helps me find my way.
We went to our room (hotel) preparing to take our test.
Psalm 26:1-2 NAS
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Jer 20:12 Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause.
At times, the Lord will test the righteous.
God sees our mind and our heart.
Jer 17:10 "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
Are you preparing for your test?
Psalm 26: 4-5
4 I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
The only way a believer can raise to such spiritual heights is through Christ; He becomes our substitute, and our identification with Him gives us perfection.
Look at verse seven:
Ps 26:7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders.
We, as believers need to talk about the wonders that He has done in our lives.
When I think about wonders in the Word, I think about the 3 Hebrew children even when they were in the midst of the fire, they saw Jesus walking around and they were not hurt.
When I think wonders in my life there are so many it would be hard to mention them all.
What I have learned is this; a test will lead to a bigger testimony.
What are we, as believers, learning about God and His Word?
Are we walking in His truth without wavering?
There have been many tests that I have had to go through in my life, but through it all I have learned to lean upon Jesus for understanding.
We have to learn to thank Him for the mountains and thank Him for the valleys and realize that through it all He has been there waiting on me to let Him lead.
1-7-03 Dream by Pastor Joe
Jesus leads me through a dark building
I dreamed I was in a dark building. I was being led by Jesus who had a gun. I didn’t have one. I knew this was some kind of game, but then again I knew that it wasn’t. I knew that it was serious. Jesus kept seeing the enemy. I didn’t, He would shoot him. Not one time did these enemies shoot back. I saw a dark figure standing in a room. I was pretty far away. The closer we got the more I could see him. I was wondering why he wasn’t firing at us. I realized that it was because of whom I was with. The dark figure got shot. He was doubled over. I knew that I had won.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
During our time of testing just learn to follow Jesus.
He sees what we do not see.
Are you prepared to take your test?
Would you pass it?
Trusting and obeying are the keys to passing your test.
Maybe this morning the bell rang and you have gotten lost, maybe it’s time to find your way.
God will equip you with what you need in order to pass your test.
Pick up the Bible and read it.
The instructions have been given to you!
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Psalm 26:1-2 NAS
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Church, walk with integrity, and trust in the Lord without wavering.
I want to be like David: Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Closing
Preparing to take your test!
Are you preparing, or are you ready?
The test might not make sense but pick up your cross and follow after Christ.
A test will help you to study to have knowledge.
A spiritual test will help you study to learn how to trust in Jesus for all of your needs.
