Category: test

Posted on

Numbers 16 The Cost of Sin

God was clear as to His choice to lead the nation out of Egypt and into the wilderness where God would test them to see if they would wholly follow the Lord. We don’t know when this took place, but it was after the anointing of the men who would care for the Tabernacle. They had seen the miracles, witnessed the building of the Tabernacle, witnessed the anointing of Aaron and his sons. God’s mercy had been clearly revealed even when Aaron led the people astray with the golden calf. And yet…the sin of pride and the sin of grumbling raised its ugly head. 

We have seen this even today in churches that split and we have experienced it in three different churches we attended, yet God protected us in ways that we could never have expected. He removed us before the final crushing blow so that we would not be there. The devastation it brings to the body is beyond description. Satan knows our weakest point and in the case of Korah, his weakest link was bending his ear to the gossip, as was the sin of our former churches, which led to grumbling and finally to the division of those churches. For Koran it was death by the hand of God. God hates grumbling and He hates when we selectively choose whom to disregard. God will bring it to its conclusion either by us humbling ourselves or by some other means. 

Oh Father, keep us from grumbling, keep us wholly devoted to you and your servants whom You have chosen. Give us a discerning spirit to know what is truth and what are lies from the enemy. Believer, put your armor on for the battle is real and certain. 

Posted on

Job 38-39 God’s ways are unknowable to men

Praising God

After 37 chapters in which Job has sought to defend himself against all the cries of his friends that he is a sinner, Job finally has his audience with the Lord God Almighty. God challenges Job to rethink his assessment of his questions and instead, God presents the case for Him as creator of all that lives and moves about the earth. These chapters remind us of the words of Isaiah: “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,” says the Lord, “for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.” [Is 55:8-9] 

When we think we want an audience with the Lord, it would be wise to consider that God is Creator, He is Master, He is LORD! He knows the ways of men and He alone is offering Himself to each one that they might consider who they are in the realm of all that is and will be. Look about the world as you see it and experience it through His eyes and stop and praise Him for He is great and greatly to be praised. 

Posted on

12.19.24. This is NO Fairy Tale~

Revelation 13 Be discerning! Evil is just around the corner! 

Fairy tales are full of wonder as we walk through the lives of each character. Grimm wrote several and one of the most famous is Little Red Riding Hood with the big, bad wolf. In fact, most of Grimm’s fairy tales include the hero and the villain and the hero wins in the end. Revelation 13 has both the villain as the beast and the dragon. But, unlike Grimm, this is not a fairy tale but the real thing that will happen all over the earth.  

Let’s dig in and learn the lesson from John’s vision. Dr. Constable writes: “. He recorded this to enable his readers to identify these individuals and to respond properly.” Both the beast and the dragon have mighty powers, so much so that the entire world is deceived through lies and deception. John wrote about this to the early church: “2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!” Precious believer, be discerning so you can detect error from truth.  

John used the imagery of the sea which in other places refers to the sea of humanity. The beast who arises has no power until the dragon gives him power, a throne, and great authority to rule. We wonder why the whole world chooses to follow him, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” Instead, he uses deception and blasphemy to deny the One True God. The saints must be discerning so they do not fall prey to him and his power. John tells us the truth behind him: the beast’s number is 666 which is the number of man.  

Remember this will truly happen and we must be aware of lest we fall victim to his advances. Are you ready to be discerning?  

Posted on

10.17.24. Exam Time!

2 Cor 13 Examination Time

As long as we were students, we faced the ultimate exam to test our understanding of the material the master had taught. In our personal examination often are we ready to exam others before ourselves. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they should first examine themselves before taking the exam from the Lord or anyone else. Self examination often reveals more about our spiritual walk than any other word or deed outside of ourselves. Where do you need to do a self examination? What questions are needed to see where you are spiritually? We can easily say, I have been in the Word each day. But, that is a deed and does not reveal what is in the heart. The point Paul is making is this: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”  (Guzik)

Remember the words of Jeremiah: The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it? God knows and He has given each believer the indwelling Holy Spirit who will fulfill the words of 2 Tim 3:16: “teaching, rebuking,correcting, and training in righteousness.” In this way, He becomes our inward examination and reveals where we need cleansing or encouraging. 

So where do you need to do a self-exam today? 

Posted on

Trials, Tests, and Challenges

Do you revere God or just fear Him?

Gen 21-24

We all face these at one time or another, but it is our response that catches the eye of God. How do you face car problems or rats in your attic? These are our everyday challenges, but Abraham had a much bigger test, and it was to see how much he would trust God. If God asked you to slay your child, what would you do? Would you be like Abraham, who told Isaac: God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering? [Gen 22:8] Would you honestly believe his words, “we will worship and then return to you?” Would you vacillate in your thinking or stand firm? I doubt many of us have faced such a tough test as Abraham, but we can glean some principles for the tests we do face.

First, we have to trust God that He knows us as He knew Abraham and Job, blameless and upright men who feared God. So that brings us to the next question; how big is your fear of God? Is it a fear that means you are afraid or a fear that means you reverence Him and, therefore, can trust Him? The psalmist wrote: Yes, indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way. [Ps 128:4]

If your fear is that of being afraid, pray and ask God to change it to a reverential fear so He can bless you. (I need to do that more often than I would like to admit) .

Posted on

God is immutable…

God is immutable

Ps 111 His precepts are sure.

John MacArthur writes: Two polar opposite views of God’s will can cause Christians to have faulty understandings of prayer and the accomplishing of God’s purposes. The same can be said for how people view the character of God. On the one hand, some believe the words of the song “que sera sera” or whatever will be will be, and on the other hand, some see that God will hear prayer and as the king of Nineveh said, “Who knows? Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die.” [Jonah 3:9]

One thing is certain; God is immutable; He is unchanging. However, like the mercury in a thermometer, He “changes” according to the “mercury” of men’s hearts. The author of Hebrews notes: that his purposes are unchangeable, and it is impossible for God to lie. [Heb 6:17-18] His precepts are sure; we can trust that what God says will always be true. Men may change, but God is immutable.

Posted on

Partial or Complete Obedience?

Trusting God

Genesis 12 to 15 We do not know what lies ahead for 2022, but we can trust God that He is a promise keeper.  As we begin this year, we can take a page out of Abram’s life to learn to trust God “each step of the way.”

God told Abram to leave and go to a land He would show him, and Abram obeyed.  He “went forth as the Lord had spoken to him.” [Gen 12:4] Yet, Abram did not leave his relatives or his father’s household as God had said.  How often does God say leave, but we cling to what is familiar and comfortable?  That was Abram’s first test, and he failed, and that is us as well.  Next, God sent a very severe famine into the land.  Would Abram believe that if God gave him the land, He would also provide?  Instead of trusting God, Abram went down to Egypt, not to visit but to sojourn.  Then, Abram lied about Sarai because he feared for his own life; “when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.” [Gen 12:12] Truly “the fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.” [Prov 29:25]

Abram is a man called by God, and he obeyed partially.  Partial obedience is disobedience.  Like us, we fail to trust in the God of provision and protection when a test comes.  This year choose to believe that “what God had promised, He [is] able also to perform.” [Rom 4:21]

Posted on

James, A Practical Book

James is a practical man

James 1 to 5 Trials Abound, but God is greater than any trial.

James knows that life comes with trials, and each trial proves whether our faith is true or false. and how we handle a trial proves where our faith is. He begins with this statement; “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [trials].” [James 1:2] That is the foundation. You either prove your faith by facing a trial with a joyful spirit, or you don’t. Agreed, trials are NOT FUN! We want them to go away, but James says we should be joyful because there are different trials that everyone will face. What we need is practical advice for each one so we can pass them and be successful.

James begins by laying the foundation: Be joyful. Unfortunately, we get ‘hung up on the “why” when  God wants us to know the “how.” First, go to God! Seek His face! Ask Him what to do and how to do it! That is a beautiful lesson from James. Then step by step, James takes us through the various trials of life we all face, and his advice for each one.

There is a life lesson here for all of us: Study and memorize the book of James so you can discern the trial and seek the wisdom of God to know how to face it and pass the test He has allowed.

Posted on

The Faith Kernel is Tested

we are all given a kernel of faith

John 7 and 8 If you plant a kernel of wheat in the ground, it cannot grow without tender care. Nicodemus was given that kernel with the words “you must be born again.” [Jn 3] Now, it is months later, and that kernel of faith has been growing in small incremental steps. Will it pass the test of the doctrine of men? He steps up to the religious leaders whose intent is to kill Jesus and asks them this question: “Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?” [Jn 7:51] But in an instant, he is silenced! “Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!” [Jn 7:52]

How often do we hear challenges to our kernel of faith, and when put on the spot we too are silenced. They were the religious leaders and should have recalled that both Jonah and Nahum were from Galilee and were prophets called by God. But, when you are intent on your way, no amount of evidence will sway you otherwise.

Nicodemus might have been silenced then, but when Christ is crucified, it is he and Joseph of Arimathea who take his body down and place it lovingly in a tomb. Nicodemus’ faith had grown exponentially.

Be sure of this; each faith kernel will be tested. Is your kernel of faith growing?

Posted on

“Our Response Reveals our Heart.”

My heart reveals who I am

2 Kings 20 God has placed this story of King Hezekiah to teach us several wise lessons. The backdrop began in the life of Hezekiah when he endured a terminal illness. Perhaps you can relate because you, too, are facing a terminal illness. When we hear devastating news, do we go to God, who is the author and finisher of our lives as Hezekiah did? How we respond reveals our heart. God not only heard Hezekiah’s plea but, in His graciousness, chose to heal him miraculously. God was gracious and gave him a sign of his answered prayer for healing, and the addition of fifteen years added to his life. How do we respond to the good news?

Not long after, some Babylonian visitors came supposedly to encourage Hezekiah and he revealed all of the treasures of Israel. Did all of their false overtures blind Hezekiah? Why did he not take them to see the House of the Lord? By showing them the riches of Israel, Hezekiah revealed a proud heart. When confronted by Isaiah, Hezekiah’s response in vs. 19 seems out of character, but is it? How we respond reveals our heart. Hezekiah was like those who accomplish much and take the credit upon themselves. How do we respond when others gush over our accomplishments?

The lesson we can glean from Hezekiah is that our words and actions reveals who we truly are. What is your response?

Optimized by Optimole