Passing the Tests of Life
Aug 13 - Oct 8 2017
The Test of Delay
October 1, 2017 • Jimmy Reyes
As we wait we will be tempted to take shortcuts or try to change our circumstances. See the story of Abraham and Sarah Genesis 12:1-4, 15:1-6, 16:1-6, 21:1-5 As we wait we need to remember: What God is doing in us is more important than the things we are waiting for.
The Test of Endurance
September 24, 2017 • Bill Dwyer
Endurance in Greek is HUPOMONE Luke 21:19 Stand firm and you will win life. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
The Test of Your Call
September 17, 2017 • Bill Dwyer
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Test of Failure
September 10, 2017 • Bill Dwyer
We are willing to admit many fears like snakes and spiders, but #1 fear is unspoken…FAILURE We are bombarded with images of success that run counter to God’s ways Comparison is the root of all inferiority All of us go through the test of failure What does it feel like? Betrayal, hurt, hopelessness, grief, gripping anxiety, anger, rage, doubt, like you are fighting to survive, loss of a dream, loss of relationship, loss of income… Understand the process: FAILURE > REJECTION> SHAME It is the shame we fear so we react with fight or flight. How you define success defines YOU. Habits determine our character and character determines our destiny (see “You Are What You Love” – James K. A. Smith)
The Test of Fire
September 3, 2017 • Bill Dwyer
Psalm 43:2 WHEN. not if THROUGH. He wants you to get through the fire. TEST. A process intended to reveal the quality, performance, or reliability of something or someone before putting it into widespread use. An ordeal to see if you are the real deal! FIRE. It has transforming power. Pancake batter becomes pancakes! Romans 8:28 Water-based Christians: some believers cannot accept that a loving God would test us with fire. See Deuteronomy 4:24; Psalm 66:10; Hebrews 12:29; Matthew 3:11 and John 15:5-6.
The Test of Faith
August 27, 2017 • Jimmy Reyes
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV) Throughout our lives we will all experience storms that will test our faith. Storms come because we live in a __fallen__world. Storms come because of our own__sin____. Storms come because we have an evil _enemy_who wants to destroy us. The storms of life reveal our own nature. Hebrews 11:1,6 We may be living with __false____assumptions. We may be living with a lack of ___faith/trust______. The storms of life reveal the nature of God. In the midst of the storm, we can experience his _presence_ in the midst of the storm we can experience his _correction__ in the midst of the storm we can experience his _love__ What are some of the false assumptions you have struggled with in regards to the character and nature of God? In what areas of your life are you tempted to respond with fear rather than faith? What valuable lessons have you learned from past storms? Take a few moments of silence and ask God why faith is so important and pleasing to him.
The Test of Temptation
August 20, 2017 • Bill Dwyer
The greatest sin of the past century is the loss of a sense of sin. Two things have caused this: moral relativism and secular psychology James 1:14-15 "http://...but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." High School age children were asked to identify which was worse, not recycling or pornorgraphy. The majority said that not recycling was the greater evil! 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Why does God allow temptation? Temptation exposes your heart in order to build your character.
The Four P's
August 13, 2017 • Bill Dwyer
Hold to the PROMISE Believe God for the PROVISION Take stock of your PROBLEMS Determine to learn God’s PRINCIPLES Hebrews 3:8 "Do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness…" Deuteronomy 13:3 "…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." Joni Earikson Tada “Love Jesus more, obey Jesus more.” PROMISE Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." 2 Corinthians 1:20 "For no matter how many promises the God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ." Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours." The Wilderness: no milk, no honey, no water, no food, no home, enemies PRINCIPLE Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge." Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." James 1:25 "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." The PROMISE comes with PROBLEMs to help us learn God’s PRINCIPLEs We confuse unconditional love with unconditional blessings John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit of itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."