As Believers in Christ, we are all a Work in progress. God is working in us and through us to build His Kingdom. As we learn to listen to God’s Voice and to heed His instructions we become stronger spiritually. God uses Tests in life as one means to build Christian character. Recorded Live November 20th, 2011 at the A Word from God Bible Church in Springfield, MO.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:59 — 28.4MB)
When God Tests Us
All Scripture NIV1984
Key Verse:
James 1:2-3 (New International Version)
Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
1. Testing and Tempting is sometimes used interchangeably in the bible
2. God TESTS us to STREGTHEN us
3. Satan TEMPTS us to undermine God’s authority
► We are to have JOY when tested by God because of the Faith it grows in us:
James 1:12-13 (New International Version)
12Blessed 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.
13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
► God tests our hearts to see what is INSIDE of us:
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (New International Version)
4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
► Nothing is off limits to God’s Testing: God may ask you for the thing or things you LOVE the most:
Genesis 22:1-2 (New International Version)
Abraham Tested
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then 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.”
► God will test you for your provisions:
Exodus 16:4 (New International Version)
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
► God knows the outcome of every test: Its how YOU handle it: Even when we FAIL a test WE GROW:
John 6:5-6 (New International Version)
5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
► God uses TESTING to POLISH US:
Isaiah 48:10 (New International Version)
10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
► Jesus was tested and knows how it feels:
Hebrews 4:15 (New International Version)
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
► We are to pray we will NOT be TESTED BY GOD:
Luke 11:4 (New International Version)
4Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.‘ “
Luke 22:40 (New International Version)
40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”