“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.
The Lord that night took me to the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 were Abraham was lead by God to do something but at the last minute God threw a change up.
Abraham and Isaac are one of the most famous stories in Scripture which reflect and portray that God does do tests and he can lead us to a certain point and then send the change up. Let’s read the text to gain some spiritual insight into what to do when God sends the change up:
Scripture Text:
Genesis 22: 1-18:
1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
3Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
T.S. – “Yes” God does give out tests to those who follow after Him. No one is exempt from times of testing. Times of testing will always measure 2 areas in our lives – Our spiritual level of faith and our level of obedience. We will learn through a test whether we are 100% obedient to God or less obedient to God.
I. Why does God give tests?
a. God gives tests to His followers for a variety of reasons:
i. Tests will measure our level of faith.
1. In our story about Abraham and Isaac I see faith statements by Abraham before the actual sacrifice of His son.
a. Verse 5 – 5He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
b. Verse 8 - 8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
2. Isaac also amazes me at his faith level because he cooperates through the whole ordeal.
ii. Tests will measure our commitment level to the Lord.
1. Abraham is shown to be 100% committed to obeying God through this spiritual test.
iii. Tests will teach us spiritual lessons which may or may not be known right away.
1. Abraham and Isaac learned spiritual truths through this test.
2. I do not believe that even Abraham knew the impact this act of obedience had on the whole of mankind.
a. This act of faith opened the door for God to offer His one and only Son for the redemption of mankind.
iv. Tests will measure our knowledge of God and His Word.
1. Abraham proved through the test that he knew who God was and what God would do through the ordeal. He trusted in God’s provision and goodness.
v. Tests will stretch us in our personal lives and get us to evaluate our hearts and our focuses.
1. I am sure Abraham had to work through this test and had to commit to seeing through.
vi. Tests will fulfill some spiritual plan of God that we see or may not even see in this life time.
1. Abraham not only paved the way for God’s great act of grace but he himself received the promise written about in the following verses:
a. 15The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
vii. Tests do have a divine eternal purpose.
1. We may or may not always see what they are or understand what they are but there is a purpose for the test.
viii. Tests measure how obedient we will be to the Lord.
1. We will discover if we are 100% committed and knowledgeable in the Lord or if we are only 50% committed to the ways of the Lord.
a. Note only being 50% committed to the Lord is still failure in the eyes of the Lord. Listen to his warning to a church in Revelation:
i. Revelation 3:16: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
ix. Tests will measure what is in our hearts and what is in control – The Spirit or the flesh.
1. Tests will show us who is in control of our lives.
a. We will either be lead through a test by our spirt or by our flesh.
b. One of the two is dominant and the times of testing will reveal which one is.
2. The questions to be asked and answered are the following:
a. Is the Spirit in control?
b. Or is the flesh in control?
x. Tests will humble us so that God can use us better.
xi. Test will reveal our attitudes and our motives behind our actions.
1. Tests reveal why we do what we do!
2. Tests reveal if we really believe in what we say we believe in.
xii. Tests will reveal the sincerity of our love for Jesus.
1. You will either grow more in love with the Lord or bitter toward the Lord in your time of testing.
xiii. Tests will examine our minds to see were they are at in the understanding of God and His ways.
1. They will measure how renewed our minds are or are not.
xiv. Tests will make us study harder spiritually and cause us to be prepared for pop quizzes from God.
1. Test will help us to always be ready!
2. Tests will keep us alert and on our toes in the spiritual realm.
xv. Tests will cost us something personally and spiritually.
1. Just look at the book of Job.
xvi. Tests which we complete and pass will propel us to a higher level in our spiritual walk.
1. Abraham went to higher level in his faith walk because he passed this test.
xvii. Tests completed will bring us a great eternal reward that we do not fully understand in this era of our life. But one day we will see their validity.
T.S. – Test do teach us spiritual lessons and we need to make sure that we learn the lesson from the test.
II. Tests should be looked at as a time to grow and as a time to mature in our faith.
a. Tests need to viewed in a positive light not in a negative light.
i. The truth is God does not want us to fail in our testing times but to pass with flying colors.
ii. For us to be able to properly handle a test from God we must have the right mindset.
1. Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so he is…”
2. Joyce Meyer states, “If we think fleshly thoughts, wrong thoughts, negative thoughts, we cannot walk in the Spirit. It seems as if renewed, God-like thinking is a vital necessity to a successful Christian life.”
3. The truth is if our thoughts are wrong then we will not be able to pass a test from God. Therefore we have to change the way we think. We must think like God!
4. I learned very early in my college life that I had to understand what a teacher was thinking so that I could know what to know for a test. When I understood them and what they were looking for to teach me I always aced their tests. But if I could not figure out their intent I could not ace their tests.
b. Listen to what these Scripture texts tell us about times of testing:
i. 2 Corinthians 13:5: 5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
ii. James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
c. The truth is God wants us to pass His tests so that He in turn can turn around and bless us. But our willingness and our mindset will determine if it is possible for us to pass God’s test or not.
i. You cannot pass God’s tests with a negative mindset because this is not the mind of Christ.
T.S. – Tests need to be received with a right attitude and then we must apply the lessons learned to our spiritual faith walk. If we do this then we will continue to mature in our relationship with the Lord.
III. So what have we learned from our recent time of testing here at New Life?
a. The spiritual lessons that I personally learned.
i. I must humble myself in the sight of the Lord and follow His direction no matter how I look to others.
1. This is the greatest thing that I can do for the Kingdom of God – that is to humble myself in the eyes of the Lord.
a. Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
b. Proverbs 15:33: “The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”
c. Proverbs 22:4: “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.”
d. Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
2. I must continue to die to “My pride!”
a. Pride told me to, “Take the job – it’s prestigious and you will look like you have arrived to others – you will become a VIP in the FCA because of this position.”
b. Others will look up to you and you will have a position were others will respect you.
c. Pride said “You deserve the salary – take it!”
3. But humility also kept speaking to me through this time of testing and it said, “Ruthlessly drive out your pride and humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will lift you up in due time.”
ii. I learned that I needed to be content with were God had placed me.
1. I needed to dispel the myth that bigger was better.
a. It’s not – what’s better is to be were God has placed you!
2. I needed to drive out the thought that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and in another ministry.
3. The Lord told me to be content – to be at peace with where He has positioned me in the Kingdom of God.
a. He brought me to Paul and reminded me to be as Paul was content with His ministry position in life.
i. Philippians 4:11-13: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
4. The Lord revealed to me to learn to be content right where I am planted and do not compare this ministry to any other ministry.
a. New Life is unique and my position here is just as important as Rick Warren’s is at Saddleback church.
iii. I heard from God to resign and I heard from God to stay and be re-voted on.
1. When I decided to approach the Board about possibly staying “pride” had to die.
a. When I suggested that I must be re-voted on pride had to die again.
2. When I got the affirmation vote from the Board that this was good. I then went and sent off a 7 page letter to the pastor in Chicago about my journey through this process.
a. He called a few hours later after receiving the letter and asked “What happened?”
b. We talked and I shared my situation and he asked me to pray about it for a couple of days because it was a go on their side for me to come. The door was not closed but open.
c. So we agreed and the next morning after Pastor had a late night with the Lord he called me to tell me that he also knew that he needed to release me and not be selfish.
i. So we talked and prayed and God confirmed to him and I that this was the right move for me to stay in Amery.
3. What I learned in this time of testing was God speaks to me and to others and He will make the path clear even if there is a last minute change of direction.
a. God does and will bring clarity to times of testing.
b. God will speak but we must be listening and obedient to the change of plan.
b. The lessons learned by the McCartney family:
i. God had us go through this period of time to test to see if we as a family would respond to His call and be willing to go to a place where we did not really want to go at this time.
1. Would we listen and obey even when we wanted to stay.
a. This especially became true for the girls who had to wrestle this through with the Lord themselves.
b. The girls grew spiritually through this process and they themselves learned to say “yes” to the Lord even when they wanted to say “no.”
2. The struggle was would we seek His direction and say “Yes’” even when it meant we had to sacrifice personally.
a. We would have to give up great jobs and a great school for a place in the city?
b. We would have to give up boating and the beauty of the land for the life in a city?
c. We would have to give up great people and life in a small city?
d. We would have to sacrifice for the Lord and be content and happy with the sacrifice.
3. We had to re-learn if we would as a family say, “Lord not my will but your will be done.”
a. This time of testing measured and revealed to us our level of obedience to the Lord’s way.
b. Could we, “Choose to lose to God and go!”
4. The answer was “yes” we would follow the direction of the Lord.
ii. Remember times of testing will measure our spiritual level of faith and it will stretch us to go further in our faith walk.
1. These times will reveal how well we trust God!
a. We learned were we were at with the Lord.
2. These times will reveal how sold out you are to the Kingdom of God.
a. We discovered our commitment level to the Lord.
3. These times will measure how willing you are to sacrifice your pleasures and even friendships to serve God in another place.
a. We saw the pain involved in this but we also knew that we had to trust the Lord for new friendships and new experiences.
4. These times will measure and show you how selfish or unselfish you really are.
a. We struggled to die and god helped us in turn to live.
5. Our family spiritually matured through this process and it was good for the family.
c. The lessons for New Life Community Church which were learned from this time of testing.
i. The main lesson was who do you follow?
1. Do you follow Jesus or Pastor Mike?
a. The truth is you need to follow Jesus not me!
b. I meet with some of you and I told you that you could not leave if I leave because God is the one that called you here not me.
c. John Bevere taught us from the “Bait of Satan”
i. They (Christians) think churches are like cafeterias; they can pick and choose what they like! They feel the freedom to stay as long as there are no problems. But this does not agree at all with what the Bible teaches. You are not the one who chooses where you go to church. God does! The Bible does not say, “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as they please.” Rather it says, “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (1 Cor. 12:18). Remember that, if you’re in the place where God wants you, the devil will try to offend you to get out. He wants to uproot men and women from the place where God plants them. If he can get you out, he has been successful. If you will not budge, even in the midst of great conflict, you will spoil his plans” (49).
2. Is your faith walk based on an individual pastor or on a intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
a. Does He direct you?
b. The truth is we must be rooted in Jesus!
3. Have you chosen this church or are you called to this church.
a. The truth is everyone here is called by God!
b. So you need to have a strong relationship with Jesus so that when times of testing like this come you lean on Him and not on someone else.
ii. Another lesson is the church needs to step up and do the work of the Lord rather than having only a few do it.
1. Some felt that the church would flounder and fall if Pastor Mike and his family left.
a. This should never be the case – I should be able to go to a new calling and this church should progress on with out us. This is your church and Jesus is the head of it not me or any other pastor.
b. The truth is this Body needed a shake up to see the importance of everyone doing their part.
i. If everyone is serving in the church and doing their God given part then the church will continue to fulfill the vision God has for it.
ii. To refresh your memory on the vision get the handbook and re-read the philosophy of ministry of New Life Community Church.
1. Do you know the vision of New Life?
2. If not go re-read it!
iii. This is the vision the church voted on years ago it has not changed!
1. It’s not just my vision its your vision!
2. New Life needs to have more leaders in leadership positions so that if a leader leaves others can step into the place and fill the void.
a. We learned how important it is to be developing our leadership skills.
b. We were reminded through this time of testing how important it is to be servant leaders and not leaders pushing their own personal agenda’s.
iii. Life will bring change to churches and we need to be willing to listen to the Lord and celebrate the calling of God for others.
1. When Mike Ingham left and went to Chicago we rejoiced with Him. He sent him off with our blessings!
a. We have missed him greatly but the church must press on.
b. He left and God brought others in to fill his spot.
2. When James and Amy went off to Cambridge we blessed them and sent them off with a blessing.
a. We have missed them too but the church must press on.
b. This is how we need to react if God chooses to move someone in leadership in to a new calling.
c. We need to pray for them and lose the anger and the hurt and the selfish resentment.
3. We cannot get angry at them and say they are missing God.
a. We need to pray for them and support them in their willingness to follow the call of God.
b. Remember we always need to rejoice with a person who follows the call of God because it’s the right thing to do.
4. We must show that we love them and will miss them but that we are firm in the belief that God has a change and it’s good for the church.
iv. New Life learned to work together in unity and learned that this is about “us” not “me!”
1. This church is here to reach the lost and “To Lead People From Here To Eternity.”
a. We are here to lead people to Jesus and heaven.
b. We are not here to lead people to me or to others!
2. Unity is a major lesson that must be learned by a church if it wants the full blessing of God.
a. This means I must die to what I want and ask God what He wants!
b. I must respect others views and love them even if we disagree.
3. When you have a change in leadership we must understand that we must hear from God who the next leader is to be.
a. We learned its not what, “I want Lord! “ but “Who do you want us to have Lord?”
v. One leader of the church said we learned not to take people for granted and we need to learn to appreciate who is leading in the church and stand behind them rather than criticize them.
1. Some heard from God about how they needed to apologize for this wrong attitude.
vi. Another leader said it was a shake up for the church.
1. The church had to be shaken to wake up and see what needs to happen in the Body for it to go to the next level of ministry for the Lord.
Conclusion:
God sends times of testing into our spiritual journey and we need to make sure that we learn from these times.
Robert Leroe from Sermon Central said this about Testing -
I’d like to propose what I think is perhaps a clearer translation (from Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation." He adds - Instead of “lead us not into temptation” it could read): "Preserve us in testing." In other words, "Help us while we’re facing the inevitable hardships and enticements of life." A test is a challenge to prove the character of our convictions. Paul assures us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (I Cor 10:13). When we pray this prayer we’re asking God, "Please spare me this trial, but if I must endure it, strengthen me and protect me from any potential sin." We can turn trials into temptations. God tests us so we can know how strong we are, and need to be. They also show the genuineness of our faith.
So today we find ourselves evaluating ourselves. We should be looking at our spiritual level of faith with the Lord. We need to measure how obedient have I been through this time of testing. What have I learned about my spiritual maturity level through this process?
I need ask what do I need to learn through this time of testing and then what do I need to change?
