Tests Are Opportunities To Trust God

Understanding Adversity  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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God uses tests to show our character, build our character and reward good character. God tests us to demonstrate our faith, build our faith and as a basis for rewarding our faith.

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Introduction

We are in a series entitled Understanding Adversity. We are studying it because adversity is tragically misunderstood by many Christians. I don’t mean that we don’t know the meaning of adversity, we all know what it is, don’t we? Here a definition.
What are things that we test?
Intelligence, health, sound, electronics, chemicals, machines (rockets, airplanes), automobiles (battery, safety features), strength, performance in sports (martial arts)
Why do we test things? To see if they work. To demonstrate they can do what they are supposed to do.
TRANSITION: We are in a series entitled Understanding Adversity. We are studying what the Bible says about this because adversity is tragically misunderstood by many Christians. I don’t mean that we don’t know the meaning of adversity, we all know what it is, don’t we? Here a definition.
Adversity is trouble, difficulty, hardship, distress, disaster, suffering, affliction, sorrow, misery, tribulation, woe, pain, trauma; mishap, misadventure, accident, upset, reverse, setback, crisis, catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, trial, cross, burden, blow; hard times, trials and tribulations. For those who use the term “luck” which I don’t use adversity is bad luck .
mishap, misadventure, accident, upset, reverse, setback, crisis, catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, trial, cross, burden, blow; hard times, trials and tribulations; informalill wind
But you knew didn’t you?
I say that adversity is tragically misunderstood because there kinds of adversity which are bad for us and kinds that are good for us. I can easily prove this. Think about chemotherapy. According one medical website:
Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. It can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.
https://www.medicinenet.com/chemotherapy/article.htm#how_is_chemotherapy_used
So does chemotherapy fit into the definition of adversity? Sure. However, is it good for you? It can be, if you have cancer. If you don’t have cancer. Cancer is only bad for you. Chemotherapy is bad for you but it is also potentially good for you.
Adversity is more like chemotherapy than cancer. Most adversity can help us in our Christian lives. It’s painful but the advantages of adversity outweigh the disadvantages. I like that, “the advantages of adversity”. I think I’m going to rename the series. Instead of Understanding Adversity, I may call it the Advantages of Adversity. What do you think? I guess that all depends upon whether I can show you there are genuine advantages to adversity.
Would you think that injecting a chemical into your body that is painful, makes you feel horribly sick for days and kills cells in your body is good for you?
So far we have discussed two kinds of adversity, trials and discipline. Our goal as we work our way through the series is that you understand each kind of adversity and can distinguish them. Today we’re going to talk about the adversity of tests.

We live in a world that likes to test things!

What are some things that we test? Did anybody take a test this week?
We test things like: iIntelligence, health, sound, electronics, chemicals, machines (rockets, airplanes), automobiles (battery, safety features), strength, performance in sports (martial arts)
Great list. The next question is, “Why do we test things?” To see if they work. To demonstrate they can do what they are supposed to do.
God tests us and for similar reasons as we run tests on things. God’s tests focus on one particular area of our lives, our faith. He wants to know that our faith works.
Here’s a definition for you.
Tests are opportunities to demonstrate and build godly character by trusting God to do something difficult, unlikely or impossible.

Definition

Tests are opportunities to demonstrate and build godly character by trusting God to do something difficult, unlikely or impossible.

Bottom Line: Tests are opportunities to show and grow our faith.

Most of the tests we mentioned above just show that things work. God’s tests show that but they also do something else. They help us grow in our faith. Our first point is that

1. Tests focus on our faith.

ordinary
extraordinary
Tests are focused on faith.
Will you trust God to obey Him . . .
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is a Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is a spiritual muscle we need to use every day. It’s believing God is going to be with us, help us, protect us, bless us.
When life is good. Especially after seeing God work in your life in the past for many years. Israel entering the promised land after 40 years in the wilderness .
Faith is a spiritual muscle we need to use every day. It’s believing God is going to be with us, help us, protect us, bless us.
The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
After Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, just before they were to enter the promised land and enjoy all the benefits God promised them, Moses warned them about the necessity of faith, of following His commands.
Deuteronomy 8:1–2 NIV
Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Faith is especially important when our faith is challenged. Our world doesn’t honor God or like biblical values. If you stand for truth and righteousness some will openly reject you. An extreme example of this is what happened to Daniel’s three friends. They were commanded to bow down and worship an idol. They refused by faith.
When it costs you. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted in God’s promise to deliver them . It could cost you your job, financially, family, your life.
Daniel 3:16 NIV
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
Daniel 3:16–18 NIV
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Faith is important as God works in your heart to do things for Him. What has God led you to do lately? How has God spoken to you? He is speaking to you. He wants you to serve Him, live for Him, use your spiritual gift for Him. In the book of Acts He did something He’d never done before. We read about it in Acts 13.
When it is something new. Paul and Barnabas set out to evangelize .
Israel entering the promised land after 40 years in the wilderness .
To act on His promises
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted in God’s promise to deliver them .
To follow the leading of the Spirit
Acts 13:1–3 NIV
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Paul and Barnabas set out to evangelize .
reactive
God actively tests our faith. We think about it when we experience challenges, but there are opportunities every day for our faith to be tested.

2. Tests reveal our faith.

Every time we face a test it reveals our faith in God.
In ordinary times. This includes trusting God for food or give a tithe to God or using your spiritual gift or praising God for all you have
Matthew 6:11 NIV
Give us today our daily bread.
Trust God for food
This is a rather ordinary aspect of life, isn’t it? It is important enough that Jesus taught us to pray for God’s provision for our food. Do you have faith you’ll eat today?
There are other verses listed in your notes we aren’t going to be reading together. I’ve included them in your notes because I know you all go home and study the sermon notes throughout the week so the extra verses give additional information on each point. These verses highlight other daily, ordinary things for which we can trust God. They include giving a tithe and offering to the Lord. That’s an exercise of faith. Using your spiritual gift in service for Him and even praising God are other ordinary ways that reveal how much faith you have.
Give a tithe to God
Another time our faith is revealed is
Use your spiritual gift
Use your spiritual gift
In challenging times. Times like when those around you don’t honor God , or in times of affliction and suffering or extreme poverty or other extreme circumstances like prison, fire, water
Praise God for all you have
Obey God when those around you don’t
Reactive
Isaiah 48:10 NIV
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Affliction
suffering
This is what we think of most when we think of tests of faith, affliction. The other verses highlight other challenging times, suffering, poverty, prison, fire, water. God allows many experiences in our lives that test us.
extreme poverty
Have you ever felt like God dunked you under water like a tire to test you to see if there are any leaks?
extreme circumstances like prison, fire, water
Testing for leaks!
God also tests us in
In extraordinary times. Time like seeing God - Israel at Sinai , being told to build an ark or leave your country or sacrifice your son or feed 5,000+ people
extraordinary
These can be wonderful, special times when God speaks to us in different ways! God speaks in many ways. In the OT He spoke to people in person.
Genesis 12:1–4 NIV
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
extraordinary
Don’t you think it would be cool to meet with God? We’d all like that. The problem is meeting with God isn’t just about saying “Hi, how you doing?” If God is going to talk to you, it’s likely He’s got something special for you to do. When that happens, your faith is tested. It’s cool, but it is still a test.
I also want to call your attention to what I am calling.
In testing times. what we choose not to do such as not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil , not taking more food than you need for today , not following false prophets or teachers , .
Seeing God - Israel at Sinai
1 John 4:1 NIV
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Build an ark
It may seem redundant, it may seem redundant, it may seem redundant, but it’s worth considering none the less.
Leave your country
Sacrifice your son
Experience God in an unusual way as he reveals Himself
We need to be on our guard, watching for those who don’t have real faith in God, no matter how nice they seem. There are many who are not from God who say they are. We have to constantly be aware because God allows them to test us.
Feed 5,000+ people
prison, fire, water
suffering
extreme poverty
Start a ministry
Move to a country far away
Sacrifice your son
What we don’t do
Eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Don’t take more food than you need for today
Don’t follow false prophets or teachers ,

3. Tests build our faith.

Tests are opportunities to grow in character and faith because they teach us to
turn us away from sin
Test teach us turn us away from sin ,
to fear God
to keep God’s commandments
Tests teach us to fear God ,
false prophets and teachers
Deuteronomy 13:3–4 NIV
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
Tests teach us to keep God’s commandments ,
nonbelievers all around us
Tests teach us to recognize and avoid false prophets and teachers
Test teach us so that we mature and become complete us

4. Tests earn a reward for those with faith.

God tests everyone and gives to each what is deserved .
Jeremiah 17:10 NIV
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Those with no faith will earn judgment , while those with faith will be rewarded with having things go well and to reward us
to show our character
to mature and complete us
turn us away from sin
Those with no faith will earn judgment ,
to fear God
to keep God’s commandments
false prophets and teachers
nonbelievers all around us
Those with faith will be rewarded with having things go well
Tests are opportunities to get a reward
to have things go well for us
to reward us 0
Deuteronomy 8:16 NIV
He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

5. Tests honor God when we have faith.

reward in heaven
give God glory
T
Tests are frequent opportunities to demonstrate and build up godly character and faith by trusting God to do something, based upon a command or promise of scripture or the leading of the Spirit , that is difficult, unlikely or impossible to do.
Tests are when we have an opportunity to do something by faith, prompted by a command or promise of scripture or the leading of the Spirit, that is difficult, unlikely or impossible to do and thereby demonstrating and building up our godly character and faith.
Passing a test results in God doing something that would not otherwise happen and simultaneously producing spiritual maturity in us, giving glory to God, and earning us a reward.
When we have faith in the midst of severe trials, it gives glory to God and honors Him .
1 Peter 1:6–7 NIV
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The focus of tests are our faith.

Discussion Questions

TRANSITION: In what way are tests opportunities.
What is a promise from the Bible you have trusted in and walked by faith?
Describe a situation where you have had an opportunity to react in faith.
ordinary
extraordinary
What is one area where you’re often tested and challenged? Write down how you can pray for each other at your table.
In what we don’t do
What kind of opportunities?
ordinary
trust God for food - Lord’s prayer
extraordinary
proactive
Give a tithe to God
reactive
affliction
suffering

Tests are opportunities to trust God

They are opportunities to trust God in
To trust God by what we do
Ordinary events
Ordinary
Use your spiritual gift
Extraordinary events.
Move to a country far away
Sacrifice your son
Feed 5,000+ people

Nature of the Activity

To trust God by what we don’t do
Inaction - by what we don’t do.
Eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Don’t take more food than you need for today
Don’t follow false prophets or teachers ,

Who God tests

The righteous not the wicked
All His children

Tests are different kinds of opportunities

Tests are proactive, how we act and reactive, how we react.
Revelation
Opposition
nonbelievers all around us
Circumstances
affliction
suffering
extreme poverty

Why God tests us

to show our character
to mature and complete us
turn us away from sin
turn us away from sin
to fear God Deuteronomy 13:3-4
to keep God’s commandments
to keep God’s commandments
Improve our future
to reward us
Improve our impact
to
to fear God
to mature
to glorify God
to reward us
to glorify God

Results of tests

To give us a reward.
a reward Jeremiah 17:10
Faith to do something
Ordinary
Proactive
Reactive
Extraordinary
Faith not to do something
Tests can be proactive or reactive
Test can be ordinary or extraordinatry
Tests can be proactive or reactive
Tests can be fulfilling
Four tests:
God tells Abram to leave his home and God will bless him
Israel ready to enter the promised land
, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
Feeding of the Five Thousand
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