Untitled Sermon

Testing

Synopsis

God allows his people to pass through certain experiences, so that he may see, and prove to them, that their faith in him is genuine. Believers sometimes doubt God and test him, to see if he is true to his word, but this is forbidden in Scripture.

God tests his people

Jas 1:2–3; 1 Pe 1:7

James 1:2–3 (ESV) — 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

1 Peter 1:7 (ESV) — 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

See also Job 7:17–18; Job 23:10; Ps 11:5; Is 1:25; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:3; Jas 1:12

Job 7:17–18 (ESV) — 17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, 18 visit him every morning and test him every moment?

Job 23:10 (ESV) — 10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Psalm 11:5 (ESV) — 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

Isaiah 1:25 (ESV) — 25 I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy.

Zechariah 13:9 (ESV) — 9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”

Malachi 3:3 (ESV) — 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

James 1:12 (ESV) — 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Examples of God testing his people collectively

Ex 16:4; Dt 8:2–3

Exodus 16:4 (ESV) — 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

Deuteronomy 8:2–3 (ESV) — 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

See also Ex 20:20 at the giving of the law; Dt 8:16 over the gathering of manna; Dt 13:3–4 by their attitude to a false prophet; Jdg 2:20–3:4 by leaving nations in the promised land

Exodus 20:20 (ESV) — 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

Deuteronomy 8:16 (ESV) — 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.

Deuteronomy 13:3–4 (ESV) — 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.

Judges 2:20–3:4 (ESV) — 20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” 23 So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua. 1 Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. 3 These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Examples of God testing his people individually

Ge 22:1–2

Genesis 22:1–2 (ESV) — 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

See also Jdg 7:4–7 Gideon; 2 Ch 32:31 Hezekiah; 2 Co 12:7–9 Paul

Judges 7:4–7 (ESV) — 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”

2 Chronicles 32:31 (ESV) — 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (ESV) — 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jesus Christ tested the faith of people when he was on earth

Jn 6:5–6

John 6:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

See also Mt 15:22–28 a Canaanite woman; Mk 8:17–21 his disciples

Matthew 15:22–28 (ESV) — 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Mark 8:17–21 (ESV) — 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Believers have a responsibility to test the quality of their lives

Ro 12:2

Romans 12:2 (ESV) — 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

See also Ps 17:3

Psalm 17:3 (ESV) — 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

David prayed to God to test him:

Ps 26:2; Ps 139:23

Psalm 26:2 (ESV) — 2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

Psalm 139:23 (ESV) — 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

La 3:40; 2 Co 13:5; Ga 6:4; 1 Th 5:21

Lamentations 3:40 (ESV) — 40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) — 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Galatians 6:4 (ESV) — 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (ESV) — 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

God will make a final test of believers’ lives and service

1 Co 3:12–15

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 (ESV) — 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

People may test God as an expression of faith and obedience

Mal 3:10

Malachi 3:10 (ESV) — 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

See also Jdg 6:39

Judges 6:39 (ESV) — 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.”

People must not test God as an expression of doubt and disobedience

Ex 17:2

Exodus 17:2 (ESV) — 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”

See also Ex 17:7; Nu 14:22–23; Dt 6:16; Dt 33:8; Ps 78:18; Ps 78:41; Ps 78:56; Ps 95:8; Mt 4:7; Dt 6:16; Mt 19:3; Ac 5:9; Ac 15:10; Heb 3:8–9

Exodus 17:7 (ESV) — 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Numbers 14:22–23 (ESV) — 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.

Deuteronomy 6:16 (ESV) — 16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.

Deuteronomy 33:8 (ESV) — 8 And of Levi he said, “Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah;

Psalm 78:18 (ESV) — 18 They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.

Psalm 78:41 (ESV) — 41 They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 78:56 (ESV) — 56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies,

Psalm 95:8 (ESV) — 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

Matthew 4:7 (ESV) — 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Deuteronomy 6:16 (ESV) — 16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.

Matthew 19:3 (ESV) — 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”

Acts 5:9 (ESV) — 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

Acts 15:10 (ESV) — 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Hebrews 3:8–9 (ESV) — 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.

The command to test the spirits

1 Jn 4:1

1 John 4:1 (ESV) — 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.