Testing: Our Pathway To Kingdom Promotion (4)

IF Necessary, You Will Be TESTED By Fire!

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,”

1 Peter 1:7 “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire . . .

Joseph heard from God when he was 17 years old, but how often was Joseph tested after he heard from God?

Psalm 105:19 “Until the time that His word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.”

Testing is Universal, Unavoidable, and Continual but always Beneficial!

So far we have learned from Joseph about the Hearing test, the Wilderness test and the Discouragement test. Today, I want us to learn about two additional tests!

I. The SERVANT-HOOD Test!

Genesis 39:1 “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.”

Joseph passed the Hearing test, and then Joseph passed the Wilderness test and the Discouragement test.

But how would he do with the Servant-Hood test?

Genesis 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.”

How can you be a SLAVE and a SUCCESSFUL man? This seems like a contradiction of terms, being a slave and being a successful man?

Joseph understood that being a slave was part of his test, not a life-long assignment!

Here is something Joseph understood that many of us do not understand: Genuine Servant-hood is Genuine Success!

Our ability to serve, regardless of our occupation, regardless of our calling, regardless of our place in life, will govern our success!

After hearing from God, and then facing a wilderness season assignment, in discouraging circumstances, Joseph faced another test, would he be a faithful servant until God fulfilled His word to Him?

Psalm 105:19 “Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.”

I wonder how many of us recognize that we are being given the servanthood test?

The most successful Churches are the ones that see themselves as servants to each other!

Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

I personally believe one of the most difficult tests we will ever face is “servanthood.”

Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””

When I survey our needs at TToP, I wonder who is facing the “servanthood” test?

If we don’t pass the servanthood test, we will keep being given the servanthood test!

But notice what is said about Joseph during his season of being tested until God fulfilled his Word to him:

Genesis 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.”

Bob Dylan might not be your source for Theology, but he certainly did hit the nail on the head with his 1980 project named Slow Train Coming!

The biggest hit was called You Gotta Serve Somebody!

The chorus said, It may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna serve somebody!

The question all of us must ask is this; Are we serving others or are we serving ourselves?

You Gotta Serve Somebody, it might be the Devil or it might be the Lord, but you’re gonna serve somebody!

Joseph was successful at serving, so he received a promotion:

Genesis 39:3 “Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

Genesis 39:4 “So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; AND he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.”

II. The TIME Test!

Genesis 39:20 “So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.”

What do we learn when we face these tests? God is obligated to fulfill His word to us, but He is not obligated to do anything on our timetable!

The temptation we face when we are experiencing the TIME test is to take matters into our own hands to “help God out!”

Better people than you or I have failed their initial TIME test! How does this work?

Stage One—God Gives you a dream!

Stage Two—You make a Decision to Believe!

Stage Three—You experience a Delay!

Stage Four—You encounter Difficulties!

Stage Five—You hit a dead end!

Stage Six—God delivers you and or comes through for you!

There are at least three dangers you will face during the TIME test!

One is WORRY!

Two is FEAR!

Three is DOUBT!

What’s the secret to passing the TIME test and overcoming the temptations of Worry, Fear and Doubt?

A. REVIEW:

B. REMEMBER:

C. REJOICE:

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,”

1 Peter 1:7 “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

1 Peter 1:8 “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

Joseph stayed busy being the best servant he could possibly be;

Those around Joseph noticed that the God of Joseph was with him;

Practical Points To Ponder:

When was the starting point for your faith in God?

Has God’s will ever resulted in you doing things that did not appear to others like you were successful?

Is serving others a challenge for you to do with great joy?

Has waiting on God ever resulted in you doubting God’s word for your life or circumstances?

What is your most frequent struggle when waiting on God, fear, worry or doubt?

What do you do to alleviate these struggles?