Chapel 8/23

Intro

We all went to school

We all have taken tests

What is the purpose of a test? It’s to prove something, to show something

Can you name some of the “tests” you’ve taken?

With school, it’s to prove whether or not you know the information the teacher has been teaching

A drivers test, first the written test, do you know the traffic laws, signs, the right way to drive

Then the driving test, can you do what is right and necessary to be able to drive safely. This takes hours and hours of practice

In a trade school, the test is to see if you know how to do something necessary in that trade

Or a belt test in Karate, are you able to perform the moves, break the boards etc. to advance to the next level

In life, we will take countless numbers of tests.

In fact, life can be a test, the different circumstances we encounter, all are tests to show something,

to prove something, whether something is real or not

Our character, the kind of person we are

our ability to adapt or handle the stress,

or disappointment,

or forms of suffering.

The test can Revealing things

It can show we are not in control, which we are not,

or weak and need the help of others, which is ok,

or prideful when we won’t ask for help and try to go it alone, or

unable to handle adversity

They can show the opposite,

that we are strong, didn’t know we could handle the different things life throws at us

Or that we are humble, and can ask for help

Most importantly, they can show whether or not we have faith and trust in God, to get us through whatever it is we are going through

Knowing that He is good and not doubting that just because our life isn’t going the way we want at times

That being said, our passage today, 2 Cor. 13:5-9 talks about a test

Let me pray and then I’ll read it

Father

Holy Spirit

Jesus

Amen

1st Corinthians 13 verses 5-9

5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6 As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.

New Living Translation Chapter 13

7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

Paul starts this section in verse 5 saying to “Examine” yourselves,

the latin is scrutinium, like scrutinize, which means to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.

We live in a culture where self-examination isn’t the highest or priorities.

And by self-examination I mean, looking inward, introspectively to see where we are lacking, not mature, seeing our faults

Looking to see if we have a character flaw, like being impatient, or easily angered,

or not kind to others, especially those we see as inferior,

or prideful, we think too highly of ourselves, or just think of ourselves too much.

We can all act and think right when our lives are good and things are going smoothly,

but how are we when things aren’t going well, how do we think and act then??

Well Paul says in verse 5, to examine yourselves, why, to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.

So what are you trying to prove?? that your, I’ll call it threefold faith, is genuine.

What do I mean by threefold faith??

Faith is not just what we believe in our heads,

and not just what we have faith in, the object

but how that faith changes us, causes us to act in public and in private.

That faith has moved from our heads to our hearts and affects our will.

It transforms us from the inside out, makes us the kind of people God would want us to be regardless of our circumstances,

the Bible calls this fruit, the visible evidence of God’s work in us.

This is what true faith does.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Now, if you don’t remember, two recent issues in this letter,

1 was financial support to Paul, his ministry, and the need in Jerusalem.

The second was sinful issues within the church that Paul had previously warned them about, and called them to repent.

Now these issues are still going on as Paul writes.

In both cases he’s calling them to examine themselves, to check and see if their faith is genuine.

Apparently, these are two indicators of true faith

The first is how we view money, is it ours, does it have a hold on us, can we freely give knowing that it is God who first gave it to us?

the Bible says that the Love of money is the root of all evil, we think we have money, but money has a hold on us at times.

The second is how we act, treat others, are we selfish, self-absorbed, do we look down on others, treat them differently than how we would like to be treated.

He says in verse 5, surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you,

so you should be acting the same as if Jesus was literally standing there among you.

Why, because in His Spirit, He is, and God sees everything

But in reality, we shouldn’t need Jesus to be standing right next to us to act right

We should do it anyway because of our love for Him, that is what spurs on obedience, love.

And if we truly have the Holy Spirit living within us, we should be internally motivated and strengthened to live right.

Paul continues, if you don’t realize Jesus is there, by His Spirit, then you have failed the test of genuine faith.

If you’re not living in awareness of His Presence, you are missing it.

In verse 6, Paul writes, as you test yourselves, he’s assuming they will,

that it is good to do this, like getting a check up at the dr. a physical, or taking your car in periodically, to make sure it’s good

Paul goes on in verse 7 to say, we pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction,

our trying to help you by pointing out what is wrong and pointing you in the direction of what is right.

So, now, as we close, this is where I feel it is right to give you all a test.

Not literally,

but to give you some questions or thoughts so that you can examine your faith, you can test yourselves, to make sure your faith is genuine

These are not in order of importance, just as I wrote them down

Would you say your doing what is right is motivated by love for God that leads to obedience, or is it just religious compliance

If you were to take an honest inventory of your thoughts and actions, are you selfish, self-absorbed or selfless and others focused

Are you pursuing spiritual growth through spiritual practices like Bible reading and reflecting, prayer, listening for God to speak, listening to pastors and podcasts, etc.

Are you a peace maker, a forgiving person, do you seek community and unity?

How do you respond to the authority that God has put over you? How do you respond to God’s authority in His word?

Does His truth in His word guide you as you live and the decisions you make?

Do you have joy, not just circumstantial happiness, but joy in the midst of your trials and “Sufferings”?

Are you accountable to someone in the faith? Does someone know you and your struggles for the purpose of encouraging you and spurring you on to godliness?

What is the purpose of your faith in God, is it so He can serve you, make your life great, or are you His servant and your purpose is to glorify God and make His name and kingdom great? (Idolatry)

Are you ashamed of Jesus? Are you willing to talk about Him and the difference He’s made in your life?

That was 10, not that that is all, or if you don’t give all the right answers your not a Christian, but if you hardly got any right, I’d question my faith.

Am I believing in the true Gospel, believing in the One True God and His Son Jesus, or is it possible I might be believing a false gospel and in a god of my own making??

Maybe I do believe in the right Gospel, but I’m not living the way I should, the way I want

That’s a pretty good checklist to examine ourselves with from time to time.

Let me pray