Simple Tests? Series

LET US LOOK AT TESTING!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

James says Count it all JOY when you have many tests.

Exodus 16:4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go and gather a certain rate every day, THAT I MAY PROVE THEM, whether they will walk in My Law, or not.

Exodus 16: 8 Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord.

Exodus 16:8 .... for the LORD hears YOUR MURMURINGS WHICH YOU MURMUR AGAINST HIM: and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord.

We hear a growing cry from within the church that if I give, if I pray right, if I love right I will be exempt from the testing processes

of life.

In my opinion this teaching exemption from testing is foolish and dangerous.

All the great people and small people of the Bible have know test.

Great test, make great testimonies.

We need to define testing?

Critical examination --- evaluation --- trial --- temptation --- statement that leads to proof or disproof --- value ---

a series of questions or exercises for measuring skills, intelligence, capacities, aptitudes

to apply a means of analysis or diagnoses.

I had a student while I was a school teacher that learned to love the test.

Once he asked to take a test early, I asked WHY?

He said, I want to prove I have studied and finished my work.

We learn to dread the test and the student process.

This is so sad, you will be tested like it or not.

Being a student is part of the journey and we must learn to love the journey,

not just the destination.

HOW SMART WOULD WE BE TO:

A. Expect tests.

B. PREPARE for testing.

C. Thrive during the testing process.

D. Learn while in the test and apply the lesson to growth.

Let us study some of the test of the Bible.

1. A TEST OF FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS.

Exodus 16:4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven

for you; and the people shall go and gather a certain rate every day, THAT I MAY PROVE THEM, whether they will walk in My Law, or not.

The simple test was gather an omer, about a quart, of bread daily.

An omer will be enough. If they gather more than an omer worms would invest the

manna.

Who wants the protein of worms if their food?

Many will fail the testing of following directions.

Why can’t I do what I want to do?

I don’t like your rules?

2. THE TESTING OF AUTHORITY.

Exodus 16: 8 Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord.

People don’t seem to realize the danger of undercutting authority.

Moses is just a man like us?

Exodus 16:20 Not with standing they hearkened not unto Moses, ---

and the manna stank by morning.

3. THE TESTING OF MURMURING.

Many people fail to see the weight and potential sin that can follow those

that grumble and complain all the time.

Exodus 16:8 .... for the LORD hears YOUR MURMURINGS WHICH YOU MURMUR AGAINST HIM: and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord.

4. THE TEST OF REMEMBERING

Exodus 16:33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it to be kept for generation

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the TESTIMONY, to be kept.

God keeps records of how we handle the testing process.

We need to remember where we have been, where we are, and where we need to be.

5. TEST OF DISTANCE.

You determine the distance at which you walk with or from the Lord.

Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

GOD HAS COME TO TEST YOU. So that the fear of the Lord will be with you

to keep you from sinning.

21. And the people stood afar off and Moses drew near where God was.

Remember when Peter warmed by the fires some distance away from Jesus.

I was having to discipline a young boy when I was a school teacher.

He kept standing very close to me.

I would move him away, and he would move close to me.

I said, Joe, what are you doing?

He said, Mr. Hughes, I have found the closer I stand to the teacher, the less the punishment hurts.

I said, Joe, go to the room and tell your teacher I have taken care of it.

Have you found the closer to our Father you are, the less the world hurts?

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.