
The Truth About Tests and Trials - Part 1
Part of The Truth About Tests and Trials
August 11, 2024
The Truth About Tests and Trials – Part 1
- We have learned that right thinking produces right believing, which produces right living!
- Conversely, wrong thinking produces wrong believing!
- Proverbs 23:7 – As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
- John 8:32 – And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free!
- All of our lives, in church and outside of church, we have heard people say that God uses, sends, and allows temptations, tests, trials, bad events, and hard times to come into our lives to teach us, correct us, punish us, perfect us, strengthen us, cause us to get closer to Him, perfect us, grow our faith, humble us, break us, chastise us, etc.
- Is it the TRUTH?
- FACT: We must always be careful that we don’t build believing on doctrine out of personal experience, widespread ideas, or around one man!
- FACT: Jesus told us there would be temptations, tests, and trials in life.
- John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- All of us will encounter temptations, tests, and trials in life.
- TRUTH:
- John 10:10 – The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that you might have life and have it more abundantly!
- Jesus draws a clear line between His ways and the devil’s ways.
- Confusion happens when we allow the line to be erased!
- Mark 4:14-17 – The Sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
- “Doesn’t God test us to make us better or to see what’s in us”
- Hebrews 4:13 – And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Think it through – more people will never come to church because they were told God was doing something to them.
- Let’s not forget – There is a THIEF!!
- God corrects us through His Word!
- John 15:1-2 – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
- MSG – I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
- God is not the author of temptations, tests, trials, etc.!
- Confusion comes because we are unsure!
- God is not a God of confusion.
- He is a God of order.
- James 1:8 - A double-minded man is unstable in all His ways.
- Settle in your heart who God is and what God does!
- TRUTH: John 1:16-17 - And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.