[July 30. 2008] AFTER THE TEST
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)
GEnesis 22:1-2, 9-10, 12-13
Now it came to passafter these things that God tested Abraham, andsaid to him, "ABraham!" And hesaid, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now your son, youronlyson Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering onone of the mountains of which i shall tell you."
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abrahan built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar; upon the wood. And abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
And He said, "Do not lay yourhand on the lad. or do anything to him; for now i know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then abrahan lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
1. No matter sho you are, you will be tested and go though trials and difficult times.
a. Everyone has trials and tribulations to face; but after these things, you will see your victory.
2. There's somethings about the tests of life that will prepare you for your future.
a. Tests will make you stronger.
b. Tests will cause you to exercise your gaith and trust God in a greater way.
3. God will ask you forthe thing you love the most, to find out where your heart is.
a. He wants to find out how much you love Him.
b. He will allow you to go through tests in order to prepare you for your victory.
4. The Word says, "...Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
a. If you love the Lord, you will be tested.
b. The test will prepare you for greaer things.
c. It's all about having faith in Him instead of yourself.
5. When you are going through a test, your spiritual enemy's plan os for you to get mad at God.
a. The enemy's plan is for youto blame God in the middle of your test.
b. The enemy's plan isto put so much pressure on you that you will puit.
c. God wants you to trust in Him with all yourheart, and lean not on your own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5)
6. Blessed is theman whoispatient under trial andstands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
a. If you are still walking around with a chip on your shoulder, then you have failed the test.
b. If you have un-forgiveness toward a person, then you have to retake the test.
c. If youare tired of going in circles, then you have to learn to pass the test.
7. Beloved, donotthink it strange concerning thefiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange things happened to you. 1 Peter 4:12
a. No one likes to be tested, butit's necessary for your faith to grow.
b. It's all a part of God squeezing things out og you that need to come out.
c. If you pass the test, then you get to graduate and go to the next level.
8. Abraham had to be tested before he could be know as the father of faith.
a. Abraham and Isaac had to walk up the mountain by themselves to be tested.
b. There are times when you're tested that you have to yoto the mountain alone.
c. If you pass the test, the blessings wil come your way.
9. If you are struggling today, it could be because yougave a hard time giving up the thing you love most.
a. God wants you goget to a point where you say, "Lord, not my will but Your wil be done."
b. God didn't want Abraham's son, He just wanted to know if he was willing to give Him the thing he loved the most.
10. In your times of thesting, you have to believe that God is working everything out.
a. You have to believe that He will turn tragedy into triumph.
b. You have to believe that He's turning yourtestintoa testimony.
c. You have to believe that His goodness and mercy will endure forever.
11. After the tests, you will receive the victor's corwn.
a. God will let you go through tests because He has big plans for you.
b. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all thatwe ask of think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20)
