God's Exquisite Garden TESTING OF OUR FAITH Print version The meaning of the word testing is the act of subjecting to an experimental test in order to determine how well something works. A second definition is an examination of the characteristics of something. Another meaning is the act of questioning students or candidates to determine what they know or have learned. Larger image We read in I Peter 1:6-7,"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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 " Whenever we face trials in life, many times they can become our greatest blessings. Each one teaches us a lesson. We sing a song Will Your Anchor Hold In the Storms of Life (lyrics). Our anchor is our faith and the storms of life are trials or crises. Is our faith strong enough to help take us safely through the trials? When a person's faith is tested and he /she handles the trials as God wants, our Lord God blesses through those trials. Once we realize that God does not send trials our way to weaken our faith, but to strengthen it, our faith is strengthened as we face these trials. "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. " Romans 5:3-4 A Biblical example of testing used here is Abraham. His faith was tested over and over again. (Genesis 12:1-4) God tested Abraham by telling him to leave his home and go to a far country. " Now the Lord had said to Abraham: ' Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. " Genesis 12:1 Then he commanded him to offer his son Isaac. "Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him,' Abraham! ' And he said, ' Here I am! ' 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.'" Genesis 22:1-2 Abraham was willing to obey, but God stayed his hand to spare the boy's life. This is another way of looking at the testing of our faith. If we look at this testing as a ladder with each trial being a rung on that ladder, we can accept these trials easier. We can never merit our way to heaven, but our faith grows stronger as we endure each trial. People are careful when they are on a ladder. We need to be careful in handling trials, handling them just as God wants us to. The Devil is constantly putting road hazards in our way. These hazards can be our rungs up the ladder if we handle them correctly. The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Psalm 11:5 (NKJV) I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say,"This is my people." Zechariah 13:9 (NKJV) ...who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good in the end Deuteronomy 8:16 (NKJV) We need to consider the various ways Job's faith was tested. He lost everything he had and still praised God. How we handle trials reveals our true character to others .. " But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."Job 23:10 Another Biblical example is Moses. When Moses was an infant, his parents hid him so he would escape the king's command for midwives to drown the Hebrew baby boys. " Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other was Puah; and he said, ' When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.'" Exodus 1:15-16 The midwives as well as the parents of Moses underwent testing and trials. Years later Moses was asked by God to lead the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt. We read of Moses' life where he is listed among the faithful in Hebrews 11:23-29. Our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted, tested, suffered persecution, yes, even death. He is our supreme and ultimate example. We should follow in His steps. We learn in Matthew 4:1," Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. " Matthew 19:3," The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, ' Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?'" They tried time after time to trap him in his words. It was necessary for Christ to suffer. " Then He said to them, ' Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day." Luke 24:46 Discussion and study questions: (1) Why do we have brushes with testing in our lives? (2) When we endure various trials, are we able to merit our way into heaven? (3) When we go through trials, what is noticed by others? (4) Why do we go through testing of our faith? Lookup a word or passage in the Bible Include this form on your page Copyright 2007 Linda Lawrence Lessons in this Series About The Author Print Version of All Lessons Lesson 1 Attitude Lesson 2 The Mind of Christ Lesson 3 Imitate Christ Lesson 4 Communication Lesson 5 Taming the Tongue Lesson 6 Our Legacy Lesson 7 Compassion Lesson 8 Confidence Lesson 9 Courage Lesson 10 Gossip Lesson 11 Honesty Lesson 12 Profanity Lesson 13 Improper Language . . Lesson 14 Faith Lesson 15 Encouragement Lesson 16 Humility Lesson 17 Assurance Lesson 18 Perseverance Lesson 19 Strength to Endure Suffering Lesson 20 Grieve Not The Spirit Lesson 21 Understanding Lesson 22 Knowledge Lesson 23 Wisdom Lesson 24 Purity in Heart Lesson 25 Trust Lesson 26 Obedience . . Lesson 27 Happiness Lesson 28 Contentment Lesson 29 Optimism Lesson 30 Inner Peace Lesson 31 Self-Control Lesson 32 Our Example Lesson 33 Patience Lesson 34 Concern Lesson 35 Testing Of Our Faith Lesson 36 Mercy Lesson 37 Grace Lesson 38 Problems Concerning Failure Lesson 39 Practical Results . . Lesson 40 Good Works Lesson 41 Women Teachers in Bible Times Lesson 42 Women Teachers Today Lesson 43 Having Good Friends Lesson 44 Choosing a Husband Lesson 45 Choosing a Wife Lesson 46 The Exemplary Daughter Part 1 Lesson 47 The Exemplary Daughter Part 2 Lesson 48 The Ideal Mother Part 1 Lesson 49 The Ideal Mother Part 2 Lesson 50 The Home As God Would Have It Part 1 Lesson 51 The Home As God Would Have It Part 2 Lesson 52 Impurity, . . Lesson 53 Marriage As God Would Have It Part 1 Lesson 54 Marriage As God Would Have It Part 2 Lesson 55 The Virtuous Woman Part 1 Lesson 56 The Virtuous Woman Part 2 Lesson 57 The Virtuous Woman Part 3 Lesson 58 Love Lesson 59 Morality Lesson 60 Pride & Haughtiness Lesson 61 Kindness Lesson 62 Respect Lesson 63 Modesty Lesson 64 Lying Lesson 65 Lewdness . . Lesson 66 Incomprehensible God Lesson 67 Unsearchable Riches Lesson 68 Infinite God Lesson 69 Holiness of God Lesson 70 Righteousness of God Lesson 71 Attendance Lesson 72 Omnipresence of God Lesson 73 Omniscience of God . .

The Eve Factor: Resisting and Overcoming Temptation By Shirley Rose / Nav Press In The Eve Factor, Shirley Rose shares wise insights for women who want to overcome the subtle temptations that keep them from experiencing God's best in life. Jealousy, gossip, worry, anger, and other temptations can ruin relationships and stunt spiritual growth. Discover the temptations you are most vulnerable to and learn how to build safeguards to resist them. Included in this book is a Personality Profile and a Bible Study for personal application and group study.