First Baptist Church
Fairbanks, Alaska
805 Sixth Avenue
(907) 456-4923
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Fairbanks, Alaska 805 Sixth Avenue (907) 456-4923 |
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“Faith Hall of Fame “ (The Test) A Study of the Book of Hebrews (Part 11) Hebrews 11 Mark Howdeshell (July 6, 2008) Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Introduction What are the top 3 words that a student at any level hates to hear? I mean, some of them cringe and almost cry at their mention. Some are better at them than others, but I don’t think anyone enjoys them. SPEECH, TERM PAPER, and …………….TEST!!! For some, standing up in front of people and talking is something so feared that they physically react to it. Their body breaks out in a sweat, their throat dries up, and they get butterflies in their stomach. Believe it or not, I still get that way at different times!! Term papers are another animal feared by students. They normally come accompanied by words like, “10 pages” or “APA format”. The topic is often something that we don’t know anything about…..and for that matter, we never wanted to know anything about! To do it right, we know that it will take a great amount of time and energy. But in my opinion, the term “test” is still the most feared word in the students’ vernacular. “Test” can be defined as the method used to evaluate or measure the level of knowledge, retention, or desired result. For students, it normally evaluates the level to which they understand the material being tested. A student listens in class, takes notes, reads the text book, and studies intently with the purpose of “passing the test.” Then normally…….though not always, promptly forgets it all. This morning, I want to look at the other kind of test, the kind of test that we just don’t study for so you can “pass the test.” A surgeon, with a scalpel in hand, cannot be reading the text book to see how to operate. He has to KNOW what he/she is doing before. They have to have confidence in their abilities and knowledge of the operation they are about to perform. What they see when they cut into the flesh of another has to be as familiar to them as the skin on their own hands. This familiarity allows the surgeon to see when there is something that isn’t right, or allows him/her to react when something goes wrong…when they’re put to the real test. The Meat of the Message Heb 11:17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Gen 22:1-18 1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
John 6:5-6 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Ex 16:4 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. Ex 20:20 20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
i. We challenge the faith that we have in ourselves to do the right thing 1. We test our own limitations of the faith 2. We gain confidence as we continue to live by the faith 3. Wants us to experience victory and He has complete confidence in us that we will ii. God’s tests always have the same theme 1. “TRUST ME! I know how to handle it!” 2. He seeks our obedience to His Word and for complete trust in Him 3. Open Book test!!! 4. The answers are always the same…trust, faith, hope, love! Rom 6:17-18 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
1. The Fall of Man—Genesis 3--Satan attacked God’s Word in 3 ways a. Challenged the authorship/ authority of God’s Word i. “Did God really say” ii. Are you sure that is what He said? b. Once he created doubt in the authority, Satan then could question the accuracy c. Once the accuracy was questioned, then Satan was able to question the acceptability. He declared that God had an ulterior motive. i. “you will be like God, knowing good and evil” ii. God just doesn’t want to share in His power 2. Satan works the same strategy on us today. a. Challenge the authority b. Challenge the accuracy c. Challenge the acceptability
i. Cannot move away from something and towards it at the same time ii. Satan desires that our faith be in ourselves, in the world, and in selfish desires rather than on God 1. James 1:14-- but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 2. Reversible condition!!!
James 1:12-15 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire , he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
The Bottom Line Think back to your favorite teacher in school. Would you say that he or she was teaching for the benefit of the students? Most likely. Does such a good teacher give tests? Absolutely. But a good teacher only gives a test after adequate instruction. Would a good teacher give a test that a student could not pass, or even get a perfect score on if had he mastered the material taught? No. What is the motive behind a good teacher’s tests? Most assuredly it is the growth, maturing and learning of his students. Such are the tests of God. He has given us all the answers. He’s given us a Helper in the form of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to have confidence in the material we’ve been taught and to reinforce the positive lessons of life. But what about a bad teacher, one jaded by countless muggings in the halls? Does he give tests? Oh yes, but they are unannounced tests covering material he has never taught, and they must be taken while having wisdom teeth removed without an anesthetic. What is his motive? Obviously it is to do damage to the students. You might even say it is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10a). Such are the tests of Satan. Tests and temptations meant for harm rather than good. Let us learn from the Master and let us be prepared for the tests He’ll send our way. Invitation Are you in the middle of one of God’s tests? If you are, I invite you to give Him the opportunity to teach you one on one. Is it more than you can handle? Not with Him. If God is your co-pilot, change seats!! As we go into a time of invitation…move over and give Him control. Do as He asks. Come forward if He is telling you to. He wants to bless you in ways you cannot imagine…if you let Him. |
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