“ARE YOU READY TO BE TESTED?”
I. THE CENTRAL THOUGHT
People have asked me time and time again - Just what is the difference between a test and a temptation? Of course, I happily respond because we as Christians must come to the realization of what comes from who and why. While in this lesson we will deal with tests, please understand that temptations come from the devil and are designed to pull you off course or distract you away from your God given purpose's.
Here's a little equation to remember:
Temptations = The devil uses to pull you off course; Tests = God uses to take you higher.
While Temptations appease your flesh, Tests are designed to promote you in the spirit.
Keep in mind however that the devil uses what you have a proclivity for. In other words, he uses what you have a desire/lust for.
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
II Kings 1:8-20 Please read this passage of scripture
Paraphrased: Elisha the Prophet one day passed through Shunem and was greeted with great hospitality from what the bible calls a great woman. This woman fed the Prophet on that occasion. Later she said to her husband - make no mistake about it - this is a man of God. She then entreated him that they should build a room for him so that whenever he came into town, he would have a place to sleep. Well, on another occasion while he was in town and turned into chamber to rest, he called his servant Ghazi. The Prophet told him to call the Shunammite woman. As a result of her kindness, Elisha wanted to know what he could do in return for her. His servant said to him - hey, she doesn't have a child and her husband has gotten old. At this point, Elisha prophetically spoke into her life and decreed that she would have a son. The woman said to him - now you are a man of God - all these years I've been barren and my husband is now old - please don't lie to me. Keep in mind she didn't ask for this blessing. Well, when the child became grown, one day he caught a serious headache. His father took him to his mother and about noon day he died on his knees.
Can you image the pain she felt? All her life without a child and now the man of God had built her hopes up. I'm sure that after finding out she was pregnant she told everyone she knew - especially those who gossiped about her barrenness. And now her boy is dead!
Was God not able to perfect that which concerned her?
What about your situation?
Children - You raised him/her like the bible said but now he's strung out on drugs and she's living off of a sugar daddy (Prov 22:6)
Marriage - You trusted God and now the one you loved so much has left you for someone else (Matt 19:6)
Job - You know it was God who opened the door for you to get the job but now they're talking about firing you (Ps 75:6-7)
Sickness - You've been dealing with that sickness for years and yet His provisions are there for you to be well (I Pet 2:24)
Mortgage - God gave you the house - you know for sure - but now you're facing foreclosure (Mal 3:10-11)
Yes, God Does Perfect That Which Concerns You! You May Not Understand At The Present Moment BUT He's Working It Out For Your Good.
Ps 138:7,8 Though I walk in
the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand
against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord,
endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
III. Have You Considered My Servant Job? Why You??? - Why Not You?
Job 1:6-12 (Please read passage) In times of calamity and trouble, don't always blame the devil.
In this passage you will discover that it was God who said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job. God was setting Job up to bless him but was going to use Satan as an instrument.
Vs 8 - And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
More Trouble (Job 2:1-10)
If you endure - don't become weary - trust God - don't operate in fear, God will reward you "Double for your Trouble"
Job 42:10-17 (Please read passage) & (Isaiah 61:7(a))
Vs 10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
IV. God Has A Plan - Now, Change Your Why To A What
HERE ARE FOUR THINGS GOD IS WORKING OUT IN YOU AS HE CARRIES YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS OF YOUR SUFFERING:
1. Making You Perfect!
2. Stablishing You!
3. Strengthening You!
4. Settling You!
I Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
V. Pass The Test
Paraphrased: The woman took her dead son to the man of God. Listen my sisters and my brothers. Here's a lesson for you. If God gives you something, then God is obligated to keep it. If your situation is dead, instead of running to everyone else take it to God! So the woman took her dead son to the man of God. As she got close, Elisha sent his servant Gehazi to the woman to ask her if all was well with her - her husband and her child. She responded, "It is well." My God! How could she say this? The reason why was because of a resolution she made in a previous verse. In verse 23, before leaving home she said, "if I can get to the man of God it shall be well." If I can get to God, although my situation is dead, I know that He can bring it back to life. So, the woman said to the servant Gehazi, it is well. But when she got close to the man of God, she fell to her knees and caught him by the foot. I don't want to tell you the whole story ---- please read it you'll be tremendously blessed! Oh, the son was brought back to life! Just know that while you are going through God has not forgotten you. He's working some things out that apparently cannot be worked out any other way. Just don't quit! If He's going to elevate you to the next level, you are going to have to pass the test at this level.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
One last passage of scripture for your edification...Know that God wants to elevate you to a place where you experience no lack in your life.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Minister Rickey E. Macklin