TEST TIME
2 Corinthians 13:5-6
You and I live in a “test-conscious society. No matter where we are in life, there always seems to be tests to be taken.
High School seniors must take the ACT or the SAT to gain college entrances. Accountants must take the their CPA. Real-estate salespersons must pass an examination.
A person driving a car must pass a driving test.
Our homes must pass a test before we can get a loan.
A athlete must pass physical tests before joining a team.
And we all have to take medical test from time to time for the benefit of our health.
The most feared words to some in High School and College, “take out a clean sheet of paper; this is a pop test”
Paul’s test was not a pop test but an open book test. The Corinthians had been examining Paul’s credentials of validity. Now he turned the tables on them suggesting they take a test concerning their faith in Christ and faithfulness to Him.
Lets look at a sevenfold test to examine one’s place in Christ.
I-THERE IS THE CONVERSION TEST: Luke 13:3
Have you ever been converted? Have you passed from death to life? Do you know beyond a shadow of doubt that if you died, you would go to Heaven?
Have you repented of your sins? Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Have you received Jesus Christ? John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Have you ever called upon His name? Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Salvation is a personal experience that no one can doubt, either he or she has or has not open the door of their heart and let Jesus in. Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
A group of men were carrying on a friendly conversation. One of them remarked that he had learned to be especially careful about small things. “Would you believe,” he said, “that a little thing like a pair of socks changed the entire course of my life?”
“I can hardly believe that,” replied another man. “Well, it’s true! Once I planned to take a trip with some of my friends on a canal boat, but two days before we intended to leave, I injured my foot while chopping wood. It was only a small cut, but the blue dye in the homemade socks I wore poisoned the wound, and I was compelled to stay at home. While my friends were on their journey, a powerful preacher came to our town to hold revival meetings. Since I didn’t have anything else to do, I decided to attend. The message touched me deeply, and as a result, I surrendered my heart to the Lord. New desires and purposes took hold of me. I determined also to seek an education, for I trusted that this would enable me to life more usefully for the Lord.”
The man who made these comments was a former President of the United States — James A. Garfield! *
Sad truth many think that they are all right but they are not for they never have been truly converted.
Some are like the man who jumped off the World Trade Center without a parachute. When he passed the 50th floor a window washer shouted out, “How’s it going?”
The jumper answered, “So far, so good!” *
II-THERE IS THE CHARACTER TEST:
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
When one is physically born, one inherits the characteristics of parents and relatives. At Conversion, we inherit the nature of our Heavenly Father. As we grow, we become more like Him.
An old man, a boy and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions. Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey. Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.
The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.
You can’t please everyone but you need to please the Lord As we grow in Christ, we
Begin to “ bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Cor. 15:49
But remember the Devil doesn’t want this to happen. He wants you by your life and character to embarrass the Lord.
Down in Texas where I was raised, the standard way to respond when someone sneezed was to say, "Scat!" It was common practice, but I never knew why we said it. Now I know. It’s an old custom dating back to ancient times, when folks believed that sneezing expelled the devil. You said "Scat!" to shoo him away.-Daily Bread
That’s mere superstition, of course. There are better, biblical ways to chase away the devil. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7
Do you resemble your Heavenly Father? Does your Character glorify your Heavenly Father?
III-THERE IS THE CONTINUATION TEST:
2 Tim. 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Our Country has over one million runaway children each year. We are also seeing drop-out parents who forsake the responsibility of the home.
A most revealing test for the Christian is the continuation test. On any given Sunday this year, less than 50% our denomination’s members will present for Church.
How is your continuance? Are you a dropout ? Some have been offended because of tribulation or persecution. Others have been led away by the deceitfulness of riches and the pleasures of this world.
In his book THIRTEEN DAYS TO GLORY author Lon Tinkle tells about Colonel Jim Bowie and the brave defenders of the Alamo. That sacred Texas shrine had only 183 defenders against a huge army led by Santa Anna. On March 3, 1836, two hours before dusk, the Mexican guns quit firing. William Travis lined his men up in a single line inside the Alamo. He told them no reinforcements were coming and that their destiny was sealed. "Our doom is certain," Travis told the weary men. Travis then pulled his sword from its sheath and drew a line in the dirt floor in front of them and asked every man who was determined to stay in the Alamo and die to cross the line.
Topley Holland was the first man across the line. Others quickly followed--Daniel Cloud, Micajah Utry, Davy Crockett. Colonel Jim Bowie was sick and unable to cross the line so he called for help and four men sprang to the side of his cot and lifted him over the line as the other men cheered. On March 6, the Alamo fell and the brave defenders within her walls died. They made the choice that counted most and the Republic of Texas was born out of their shed blood.
There are too many Christians who glibly say, "Oh, yes, we follow Jesus." But they know nothing of sacrifice--nothing of service. If you choose Jesus, you will need to make a very special kind of commitment.
IV-THERE IS THE CURRENCY TEST:
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
One of the popular tests Jesus used to examine people was the currency test. The majority of Jesus’ parables used the theme of stewardship.
Where is your treasure? Are you faithful in giving the Lord your tithes and offering?
As we obey in the giving our currency to our Church. , we are helping to reach the world for Christ. There is such a great need today to share the Gospel world-wide.
If you stood on a street corner and preached in Japan, 19 out of 20 people will have never heard of Jesus and will not even know there is a living God. It’s a rare thing to run into a Christian!
Although the command to take the gospel to “all people everywhere” is nearly 2,000 years old, the majority of the people on our earth have still not heard about Jesus.
V-THERE IS THE CRISIS TEST:
2 Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
A young man was learning to be a paratrooper. Before his first jump, he was given these instructions: Jump when you are told. Count to ten and pull the rip cord. In the unlikely event your parachute doesn’t open, pull the emergency rip cord. When you get down, a truck will be there to take you back to the airport. The young man memorized these instructions and climbed aboard the plane. The plane climbed to ten thousand feet and the paratroopers began to jump. When the young man was told to jump, he jumped. He then counted to ten and pulled the rip cord. Nothing happened. His chute failed to open. So he pulled the emergency rip cord. Still, nothing happened. No parachute.
"Oh great," said the young man. "And I suppose the truck won’t be there when I get down either!" HE WAS IN A CRISIS
When crisis or troubles comes, to what or whom do you turn? Do you depend upon your abilities or do you depend upon the strength of the Lord?
VI-THERE IS THE COMPANION TEST:
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
At salvation, we begins to experience a new family. We become uncomfortable around the old crowd where they curse, tell dirty jokes, and have no interest in God.
Righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness. Light has no union with darkness.
A grandmother was headed out the door to go to church one Sunday when she got a call from her daughter. ’Would Grandma like to have her three little grandchildren visit while her daughter and son-in-law took a five-day holiday trip?’ Grandma was so delighted she put five dollars in the collection basket at church and thanked the Lord.
The Sunday after the grandchildren had returned home, she put twenty dollars in the collection.
She was’t so delighted as she thought she would be around them. But not so with Saints of God. When we are right with the Lord, we will love the fellowship of the brethren.
What about your companion test? Do you still enjoy being around the same old, unsaved crowd? When you are saved, you will testify that your spiritual family is more meaningful than your unsaved or worldly family.
Who Flew the Kite? “I did,” said the wind! “I did,” said the paper! “I did,” said the string! “I did,” said the boy! But in reality they ALL flew the kite! If the wind had lulled, if the paper had torn, if the sticks had broken, if the tail had caught in the tree, or the boy had fallen, then the kite would have come down! EACH HAD A PART TO PLAY!
God has placed you in a strategic role! You are important to your Church ministry. Just use your gift to the Glory of God and leave the results to Him.
VII-THERE IS THE CONCERN TEST:
Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
How would you rate yourself on the concern test? When was the last time you shared your faith with someone?
A man once testified in one of D.L. Moody’s meetings that he had lived "on the Mount of Transfiguration" for five years. "How many souls did you lead to Christ last year?" Moody bluntly asked him. "Well," the man hesitated, "I don’t know." "Have you saved any?" Moody persisted. "I don’t know that I have," the man admitted. "Well," said Moody, "we don’t want that kind of mountaintop experience. When a man gets up so high that he cannot reach down and save poor sinners, there is something wrong."
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Remember as we share the Gospel we need to be a good representative of Christ.
Dr. J.H. Jowett told of seeing six lean men carrying an advertisement of a restaurant which read, "The best dinner in London." Lean Christians make poor witnesses for Christ. We must mature and be full of the goodness of God.
CONCLUSION-You have heard the test? Conversion, character, continuation, companion, currency, risis and concern. How did you measure up, how did you scoare?
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves
A Boy was very proud of the card he had received, which had a picture and a caption that read: “Have Faith in God.” Then to his dismay the card slipped from his hand and fluttered out the window. “Stop the bus!” he cried. “I’ve lost my ‘faith in God!’“ The driver pulled the bus to a stop, and as the lad climbed out and went to retrieve his card, one of the adult riders smiled and made a comment about the innocence of youth. Amore perceptive adult observed, “All of us would be better off if we were that concerned about our faith."
Note-Sermon Idea-Billie Friel
