Sermon Central
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I Hate Test
Contributed by Harry Wood on Jan 4, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: To be reminded that we are going to have test, and how from an example from Christ we are overcomers.
I Hate Test!
James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
The other day I over heard a High school student make this statement. “I Hate Test.” She went on to explain how she was to have a test in a particular class that day. I don’t recall the subject, and don’t remember much more of her conversation with the other students. For my thoughts were bouncing off the wall of my head about the statement she had just stated. “I HATE TEST!”
I began to ponder that statement over and over. Then I concluded with NO ONE IN HIS RIGHT MIND LOVES TEST.
My thoughts concluded with that statement, but not before I had reached a deeper understanding of what the purpose of test are for. I hope that we all will conclude with more than I hate test, as we examine this thought. So, let us look at what the scripture will reveal about Test.
I. Divers Temptations.
a. The word Divers means: various trials, different kinds.
b. Applicable to our situation.
1. Jesus our example.
“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God,command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
Look at these scriptures, they tell us of Jesus being tempted by the enemy, (satan). Three different or divers test. Each test or temptations was in reference to an area that would be applicable of who Jesus was, or a present situation in His life at the moment.
Jesus’ first test was in the physical realm of where he was living or in need of. He was hungry. He was tempted to make stones to bread.
The second was the test of Jesus’ faith in His Father’s ability to be truth as the Word.
Thirdly, we find the creator of the universe being tempted to fall down and worship falsely to a god that promises to give Him what he already owns, controls.
All three of these test where directed to belittle the fact that Jesus was the ‘Son of God.’
What does that tell us?
It explains that we are going to have test, and temptations. More than likely they are going to be in areas that we have weakness. Our lifestyles, characteristics, interest, family life, etc. etc. may be the classroom of test and trial.
II. No one is exempt of test, temptations, trials.
a. We could name numerous from the Scriptures who faced much testing.
Many of these would be the great patriarchs of the 11th chapter of Hebrews. In Hebrews 11:33-38; we are told of many of the things they faced.
“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
III. So how should we face or accept the test.
a. Recognize that we are God’s Children.
A test is not a statement that says we are not God’s property. We need to acknowledge that James was addressing the Jewish believers. He called them ‘My Brethren.’
