“Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your FAITH IS TESTED, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when it is fully developed you will be STRONG IN CHARACTER and ready for anything!”James 1:2-4 (NLT)
6 WAYS GOD TESTS YOUR FAITH TO BUILD YOUR CHARACTER
1ST TEST:
A NEW TASK.
(WHAT Lord?)
“It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.” Hebrews 11:7 (NLT)
o FAITH IS
FACING THE FUTURE
without knowing “WHAT?”
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain OF WHAT we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
2ND TEST:
A MAJOR CHANGE
(WHERE Lord?)
“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING.”Hebrews 11:8-10 (NLT)
o FAITH IS
FOLLOWING GOD'S LEADING
without knowing “WHERE?”
3RD TEST:
A DELAYED PROMISE
(WHEN Lord?)
“Even after Abraham reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, LIVING IN A TENT AND SO DID ISAAC AND JACOB, to whom God gave the SAME PROMISE. Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”Hebrews 11:8-10 (NLT)
o FAITH IS
WAITING FOR GOD'S TIMING
without knowing “WHEN?”
4TH TEST:
A UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM
(HOW Lord?)
“It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children—a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.”Hebrews 11:11-12 (NLT)
o FAITH IS
EXPECTING A MIRACLE
without knowing “HOW?”
5TH TEST:
A SENSELESS LOSS
(WHY Lord?)
“It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises, was READY TO SACRIFICE his only son, Isaac, even though God had promised him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”Hebrews 11:17-18 (NLT)
“Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death!” Hebrews 11:19 (NIV)
o FAITH IS
TRUSTING GOD'S PURPOSE
without knowing “WHY?”
6TH TEST:
A PROLONGED PAIN
(HOW LONG Lord?)
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. HE CHOSE TO BE MISTREATED along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”Hebrews 11:24-26 (NIV)
o FAITH IS
CONTINUING TO PERSIST
without knowing “HOW LONG?”
“By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; He PERSEVERED because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NIV)
An Opportunity- God gives you a promise
An Obstacle or Opponent –that holds you back
An Ordeal - A waiting period or test
