TEST OUR FAITH The LORD tests the righteous

TEST OUR FAITH “The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates” (Psalm 11: 5 NKJV)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1: 2 -4, NKJV)

Tested From Without n little or no concern from others/insults Matthew 15: 21 -28

Tested From Without little or no concern from others n discouraging circumstances n “Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they. . . ” (Luke 5: 18, 19, NKJV)

Tested From Without little or no concern from others n discouraging circumstances n “Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus” (Luke 5: 18, 19, NKJV)

Tested From Without little or no concern from others n discouraging circumstances n n scoffers “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment” (Heb. 11: 36, NKJV)

Tested From Without little or no concern from others n discouraging circumstances n scoffers n divine delays n “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? ” (Ps. 13: 1; cf. Ps. 69: 3; Jn. 11)

Tested From Without little or no concern from others n discouraging circumstances n scoffers n divine delays n unbelieving friends n “While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further? ’” (Mk. 5: 35, NKJV)

Tested From Within n difficult commandments Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am. " 2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. " (Gen. 22: 1, 2, NKJV) 1

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n Romans 7: 14 -23

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas. 1: 12, NKJV)

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n choices n “However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chron. 32: 31; cf. 2 Kin. 20: 8 -19)

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n choices n n sickness/physical infirmities “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Eccl. 12: 1)

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n choices n n sickness/physical infirmities “You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me” (Gal. 4: 13 -15, NKJV)

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n choices n sickness/physical infirmities n insecurity/anxiety of future/fear n “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2: 3)

Tested From Within difficult commandments n struggle with sin n choices n sickness/physical infirmities n insecurity/anxiety of future/fear n “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Cor. 7: 5, 6)

1 Peter 1: 7 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (NKJV)

A Carrot, An Egg, A Cup of Coffee?

What Did Paul & Silas Resemble? n “ 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them [Paul & Silas], they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. . . 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ” (Acts 16, NKJV)

May you. . . elevate yourself above the dark hours n have enough happiness to make you sweet n have enough trials to make you strong n have enough sorrow to make you human n have enough hope to make you happy n have enough courage when you fall to rise again n

The happiest of people don’t have the best of everything n make the best of everything that comes their way n builds their future on hope, not from past failures n