How to Pass a Spiritual Test with Flying Colors! (2)

Introduction

This morning we move into chapter 6 as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John. As we finished chapter 5, we came understand the importance of Christ’s deity. He is God. As such, He is the only One through Whom a person can be spiritually resurrected. There are many who question and do not believer or accept Christ as God. The religious Jewish leaders were the first of many. Even today, there are those who reject Christ. It is their choice. The wonderful thing about God is the freedom that allows men to choose. Unfortunately, there are some eternal and dire consequences for those who reject God’s Son. All of which we have discussed and realized throughout Christ’s entire dialogue with the religious leaders of Judea.

As we come to chapter 6, the Holy Spirit through the apostle John’s testimony shares two very important miracles. The first of these is the feeding of five thousand people. It is is the only miracle found in all four gospel account. On that merit, we realize that there is something unusual and extremely important that God desires for us to know. Personally, I believe that this miracle was intended to teach His disciples are valuable lesson about spiritual tests. It is a lesson that remains for us today. Therefore, if you claim to be a true disciple of Christ, then the lesson of this miracle applies to you as well.

There are four very distinct characteristics of this miracle that sets itself apart from the rest. First, it was done in very public setting. There could not be any denial that it happened for well over five thousand people witnessed as it took place. Second, it concerned food. Everyone loves food. Everyone loves good food. And, in this miracle, the Creator feeds everyone with the best meal they have ever eaten. Third, there is no denying that fact that much of this miracle spoke directly to the person of Christ. Last, but not least, is the fact this miracle has universal application as Christ fed the hungry multitude.

Now, as you can see, there are many applications we can draw from this miracle. There is application of evangelism and our task to take the Bread of Life to all who are hungry for spiritual nourishment. In fact, I have sermon that I have prepared and preached using that very application. However, for today, I want to see this miracle in a different light. However, before we get there, let’s read the entire miracle and see the different parts of it. Then, we will get into today’s message and see what I believe God wants to know and understand.

John 6:1–13 KJV 1900

1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Note the movement of this story.

First, Christ is followed into Galilee by a great multitude as noted in verses 1 and 2. Then, according verse 3, Christ retires to a mountain with His disciples in an effort to rest from the weariness of ministry. The Holy Spirit notes also the timing of this great miracle. It took place just before the Passover as noted in verse 4. As Christ is with His disciples, He looks up and the entire crowd has come up the mountain to where He and the disciples are resting. It is then that Christ upon seeing the multitude and their need of nourishment places a challenge, a test, before His disciples. He specifically calls out Philip and poses the question to him. In doing so, we find the key verse for today’s message.

John 6:5–6 KJV 1900

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

What I find interesting is the fact that Christ posed the question to Philip already knowing what He would do and what would be accomplished.

As I was studying this message, I could not help but think about 1 Corinthians 10:13. As many of you may already know, it is a verse that I quote often and a verse that I keep in mind every day.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Why this verse? Well, first, we must understand that the word “temptation” is a broad term that includes not just temptation as we know it, but also the idea of any trial or test put before us. In fact, let’s define a few terms here.

A spiritual trial or test is an opportunity for you to practice Christlikeness by obeying God’s Word, thus giving honor to Jesus Christ.

A temptation, which cannot originate from God, is a solicitation for you to disobey God’s Word and to gratify your fleshly desires.

Even though God does not tempt us to sin, there are times when God allows our failure to overcome temptation as means of teaching us and helping us grow. However, no matter the trial or the temptation, each one is a unique opportunity to grow spiritually. I love 1 Corinthians 10:13 because it provides some vital information about these opportunities. What does it teach us?

Tests and temptations are common to all people. We all experience them and are challenged by them.

Tests and temptations cannot undermine the faithfulness of God. He is always faithful. He never changes and His promises are always true.

Tests and temptations are not impossible to overcome. God will not try us above what we are able to handle.

Tests and temptations always have an avenue of escape. God has the solution.

Now, as we work our way through this message today, I want you to keep those principles in you mind. We see them all in this miracle.

By the way, the title of today’s message is this.

How to Pass a Spiritual Test with Flying Colors!

This miracle is a demonstration of what NOT to do and what TO DO when God places a test in front of you.

Let’s begin with this.

Realize the Purpose of the Test!

John 6:5–6 KJV 1900

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Remember I said earlier how interesting it is that Christ tested Philip and the disciples even though He already knew what He was going to do. You see the purpose of each test is not for the Lord’s benefit even though, in the end, He is glorified. The real purpose of each test is to help us grow spiritually and become more like Him.

Note James 1:2-4

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Again, as in 1 Corinthians 10:13, the word temptation is a broad term that encapsulates both tests and temptations. Thus, if you understand the purpose of these tests and temptations, you know that that you can rejoice in them. Such emotional reaction seems odd. Most people loathe tests. I know I do. Yet the Holy Spirit encourages to rejoice and be excited about it spiritual tests. He wants us to be spiritual nerds who can’t wait to take them.

What is the purpose as noted in James? The trying of our faith works patience. Patience, in the original Greek, means steadfast endurance. In other words, God is seeking to build within you a steadfast endurance of obedience to Him and His Word. Thus, each test is another building block helping you build up your spiritual endurance. As you respond with obedience, you become perfect (mature) and entire (complete). You go through growth spurts that promote a healthy, spiritual life. It is continued spiritual development through which God can use as His useful instrument.

It was no different in this miracle story. Christ already knew what He would do and He knew that these men needed some spiritual growth. So, He offers a challenge to them that they could not possibly meet on their own. He did not do so to frustrate them as we often think. No, He do so for their benefit.

However, as with all tests, there are both wrong and right answers.

How did Philip respond along with Andrew?

They failed initially. They responded with the wrong answer. As a lesson to us, we must...

Recognize the Wrong Answer!

John 6:7–9 KJV 1900

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

So let’s begin with Philip’s answer. What does his answer reveal?

Philip was occupied with the circumstances. Christ gives him the task of feeding the multitude. He looks around. He starts counting. I imagine he probably gave up around the number 1000 and realized just how big this crowd really was. Immediately, his mind turned to finances. There are over 5000 people here. How much money is going to take feed this many? He automatically determines that “two hundred pennyworth of bread” is not going to cut it. Now, if you are wondering, 200 pennyworth is worth about $3.00 today. In other words, they did not near enough money to even think about feeding these people. I mean, think about it, even they bought a loaf of bread and were able to break it up in small piece for each person to have some, how big do you think that piece would have to be? It would definitely take a miracle to feed these people. For Philip, it was literally impossible. There is no way. Lord, you are asking me to do something that I cannot do.

Have you ever been there? How many times have we found ourselves in situations we knew were beyond our ability or capability? Perhaps, in those moments, you might have said to yourself and the Lord, “You have got to be kidding me! Lord, how do you possibly think I can handle this. You must have a much higher opinion of my abilities than I do.”

Now, here is the more interesting part of this story and Philip’s answer. Who was Philip really talking to about this test? He was talking to the God of infinite power and grace! The very Creator of the Universe was the one who said to Philip, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Philips answer, which was the wrong answer, demonstrated that Philip was more concerned with the circumstances than he was with his own faith in Christ. I mean come on Philip was a man who witnessed first hand the water turning to wine and the formerly lame man lying beside the pool of Bethesda take up his bed walking for the first time. We must not fail to mention all the other wondrous acts that Philip witnessed Christ perform.

Are we not like Philip? We often get so caught up with the circumstances that we immediately lose sight of who Christ is and we immediately become negative about the test set before us. Instead of rejoicing, we see the wind, waves, the multitude, the lack of finances, and the list goes on and we become depressed, despondent, and filled with anxiety. That is not the response God is looking for when He presents us with a test.

Ok, Philip attempts to pass the test and fails. Now it is Andrew’s turn.

John 6:8–9 KJV 1900

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

One of the commentaries I was reading this week made this statement.

Unbelief is infectious.

No sooner than Philips responds with unbelief, now Andrew does as well. What is interesting about Andrew’s answer is this. He saw the answer, but he did not believe it was the right answer. He questioned, “What are they among so many?” Sometimes the answer lies right in front of us, but too many times we questioned whether or not God can use such means. Isn’t strange how our unbelief brings out helplessness? We often respond to the Lord in the very same way Andrew did. We say to Him, “Lord, here are my loaves of bread and my small fish. However, I just don’t see how you can use them.” We make the same mistake that both Andrew and Philip made. We calculate our circumstances and what is available to us without ever considering the Christ who presented the test to begin with. All we can see is our own helpless and hopeless lot. Again, such responses to spiritual tests reflects how truly self-centered, skeptical and sinful creatures we are. The God of the Universe is standing near offering a wonderful opportunity to increase our faith and all we can see is the difficult circumstances He is set before us.

The wrong answer to the spiritual test is always unbelief. We get our eyes away from Christ and place them our circumstances. When we do, we stop walking by faith and begin walking by sight. In doing so, we completely and utterly fail the test.

However, remember the words of 1 Corinthians 10:13. God is faithful. Along with each test comes a way of escape. In this story, Christ not only provides the way of escape, but He also teaches the disciples an important lesson. He helps them, and us, to see the right response to the test. Thus, He encourages us to...

Respond the With the Right Answer!

Watch carefully what Christ instructs the disciples to do, how they respond, and the method He uses to help them ace the test!

The right responses to each spiritual test placed before us is...

Be Obedient to Christ’s Commands

John 6:10 KJV 1900

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

Before I continue, I want to emphasize something about this verse. When God tests me, I often feel overwhelmed. It's like everything falls into chaos. But with God, there's always order, bringing a sense of calm and control. Notice that Christ does the same in this situation. Philip, Andrew, and the other disciples are scrambling, trying to figure out what to do, how much money they need, and whether it's possible to use the little boy's lunch. Everything is chaotic. Then, Christ calmly says, "Make the men sit down." You'll find additional insights if you read Mark's account.‌

Mark 6:39–40 KJV 1900

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

Here, we see Christ bringing order to chaos. He not only instructs the disciples to have the people sit down but also specifies that they should sit in groups of one hundred and fifty. It's amazing to serve such a God who values order. Order is crucial because it prevents chaos. By having the people sit in an organized manner, Christ brought calmness to the situation, which could only be achieved through order and authority.‌

Now, here is the crucial point: He said to the disciples, "Make the men sit down." Note that Christ did not rebuke Philip or Andrew. There was no frustration demonstrated on Christ’s part with them. Instead, He patiently and calmly instructed all the disciples to begin moving among the people and having them sit down on the grass. Christ is now testing an essential element of their discipleship—their obedience.‌

Stop and think about it. It was a simple command, “Make the men sit down.” If it had been us, what would have happened? I imagine that some of us would have started complaining or tried to argue with the Lord. We do it all the time. The important thing to understand is that whenever our Lord, Jesus Christ, gives a command, it is our duty to obey, not to reason or argue. Why were Adam and Eve not allowed to eat from the Tree of Knowledge? Because God said so. Why should Noah build an ark when no one had ever seen rain, let alone a flood? God commanded him to do so. Why should a believer be baptized? Why should women not take over the authority of men in the local church? Because God commands it. Yet, even now, as I listed those last two commands, I can imagine someone silently protesting before the Lord. We are very quick to argue with God, but very slow to obey.

As we reflect on the disciples, we observe that while their faith faltered, their obedience remained steadfast. They excelled in this trial, with their initial test of faith resulting in failure, but their test of obedience yielding a perfect score.‌

Whenever our faith falters, we must rely on obedience. The disciples’ obedience demonstrated their sincere desire to follow Christ. Despite having little faith, they genuinely loved the Lord and willingly obeyed Him. The remarkable thing is that when we obey, our faith grows. When it comes to facing spiritual tests, obedience is the initial requirement. We may not have the faith that God can do the impossible, but we can carry out the simple act of obedience.‌

Hebrews 11 is a great illustration of this. In fact, each person listed in that great chapter was known as a person of faith. However, as you read each of their stories, you are also struck with overwhelming evidence that they were people of obedience as well. You see, faith and obedience go hand in hand. Take Abraham, for example.‌

Hebrews 11:8 KJV 1900

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Abraham had no idea where God was leading him, but he obeyed. Through his obedience, his faith increased, and eventually, God counted him righteous. Sometimes, faith leads to obedience, and other times, obedience leads to greater faith. Abraham went wherever God led him. The disciples were once noted as men of little faith, but there were occasions when their faith increased through obedience. This miracle was one of those occasions.‌

These men obeyed Christ. All the men present in that crowd sat down as instructed. Then Jesus initiated the miracle.

Obedience leads to increased faith and having every need supplied.‌

Christian, there are times when trials come, and we must simply be obedient disciples. Obedience is the best way to show not only God but also others around us that our complete trust and confidence are in the Lord.‌

Here is the next thing we must do to pass the test!

Commit Whatever You Have to Christ’s Control

John 6:11 KJV 1900

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

In a few weeks, we will explore the concept of stewardship, which is a central theme in Scripture. According to this concept, everything belongs to God, and he entrusts us with varying degrees of wealth and resources. Regardless of the amount we are given, it is our responsibility to manage it wisely.‌

The loaves of bread and the two small fishes didn't seem like much to Andrew and the disciples. However, Christ never scorned the meager amount of bread and fish. Too many times, we belittle what God has given us. We think it is not enough. We determine within our hearts and minds that God surely can’t use such small portions. Yet, Scripture is filled with small things that God uses. He used a baby’s cry to move the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter. He used a wooden and crooked shepherd’s staff in the hand of Moses to work mighty miracles. He used a small stone and a simple sling to slay a giant. He used a small child to teach the disciples the importance of humility. Now, Christ takes what is offered. It was just five loaves and two small fish. In His hands, it was more than enough to feed 5,000 people. We must be careful not to ignore this powerful lesson. We must remember the words of 2 Corinthians 10:4.‌

2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV 1900

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Instead, we must take whatever we have, no matter how small it may be, and commit it to Him. "Little is much when God is in it." Trials may be hard, and tests may be difficult. But as 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, God always provides a way of escape. Sometimes, the way to escape is right in our hands or standing in front of us. However, we overlook it because we forget that God can use anything or anyone as a means of escape. Therefore, whenever we are faced with a spiritual test, we must not only commit to obey but also commit whatever belongs to us to Him. We must trust His ability to turn water into wine and feed thousands with loaves of bread and a few fish.‌

Note further the right answer as demonstrated by this miracle. We must...

Be a Humble & Willing Servant for Christ and Others

John 6:11 KJV 1900

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

It's interesting to note that Christ chose to involve His disciples in this miracle. Some believe that the miracle happened solely through Christ's actions. However, upon reading the account of the miracle, I didn't find any mention of Christ blessing the food and it suddenly multiplying. Instead, I see Christ blessing the loaves of bread and small fish, and then handing them to His disciples. As it's written in Scripture, the disciples then distributed the food to the people, and miraculously, the loaves and fish remained.

What's incredible about God is that He enjoys using human instruments to fulfill His purposes.‌

1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV 1900

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

Christ did indeed the feed the hungry multitudes. In doing so, He did it through His disciples. It was just as much their work as it was His. He gave the increase, they simply distributed the bounty. God works in the exact same way today. God desires to use us. He wants us to be laborers with Him. Thus, even in the midst of a spiritual test, God is looking to see if we will obey, commit what we have to Him, and then humbly serve alongside of Him.

1 Corinthians 3:6–7 KJV 1900

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

2 Corinthians 9:8–11 KJV 1900

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

There is no doubt that God can give the increase. This miracle is a beautiful illustration of this very principle. However, it is also a beautiful illustration of how much God loves using us to distribute the increase. He desires that we abound to every good work. Perhaps God is allowing the spiritual test in your life just so He can use you as an instrument by which “all grace” may abound. It is quite possible that God is using such a test to help you see how truly important you are to Him.

Think about the joy these disciples must have felt as their worry, anxiety, and fears dissipated as they participated in this great miracle. The doubt and skepticism washed away as they handed each person their portion of the meal. Literally, they saw the miracle talking place. They witnessed as each person ate until they were filled and satisfied.

Now, there is one crucial element that must not be overlooked. Read again our text.

John 6:11 KJV 1900

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

These men, the disciples, recieved the bread and fish from Christ. It was then their job to give to all the people sitting there. For this to happen, these disciples had to be humble and willing to serve not just the Lord, but also the people. They could not allow their own will, wants, and desires be met. Instead, they had to simply trust the Lord and humbly obey.

One of the things that we often get wrong when faced with spiritual tests is humility. Instead, our pride and self-worth raises its ugly head. We feel we have been wronged or that the test is not fair. We look around at the people involved and we become indignant towards them. We begin to entertain thoughts such as, “How dare these people interrupt our time with the Lord!” or “Why should I feed all these people when I need to be fed myself.” Our response to the test is not humility. Yet, that is the very thing that Christ requires. He wants to work through us, but for Him to work through us we must respond with humble hearts.

Proverbs 16:19 KJV 1900

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

James 4:10 KJV 1900

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The proper response to every spiritual test is that we humble ourselves before Him. Do as He instructs! No arguments, no reasoning, and no push back! God wants us those who willingly and humbly does He as commands.

Our simple duty is to obey and let God do the rest!

Here is one last important part of the right answer in the midst of a spiritual test.

Enjoy the Bounty of Christ’s Work in Your Life

John 6:12–14 KJV 1900

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Note the Holy Spirit states, “When they were filled.” Now contrast this with Philip's response to the challenge.‌

John 6:7 KJV 1900

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Philip responded with unbelief to the test, but we know that unbelief is the wrong answer. Christ demonstrated his divine grace by ensuring that nobody left hungry or unsatisfied that day. This miracle was a real-life illustration of John 6:35.‌

John 6:35 KJV 1900

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

By the way, each true believer understands how “filled” a person becomes when accepting Christ as their Savior. We are filled with His peace, joy, and Spirit.

‌Christ instructed the disciples to “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Nothing is wasted with the Lord. There was an abundance of food left over, and nothing was to be lost. Ultimately, they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers of the five barley loaves. The loaves and fish increased as Christ divided them. After all was done, the loaves increased through multiplication as they filled twelve baskets.

Here is the point: we often see spiritual tests as a negative in our lives. We envision the worst possible outcomes and think woe is me and woe is the end of this situation. However, when we respond to spiritual tests as God intended, without fail, God answers beyond our comprehension. We come through the tests with the same equivalent value of twelve baskets full. This miracle all started with a challenge: feed five thousand people. Christ did not provide a solution but asked where they should purchase bread so that they might feed these people. He left the disciples with the task of figuring out the answer. They started out scratching their heads and frantically trying to devise a solution, yet the answer was the One who gave them the challenge. In the end, each disciple leaves with their own basket of bread.

The disciples who were challenged walked away from the trial enriched by it. Christ taught them an important lesson, enriching them not just with physical satisfaction from food, but also with spiritual satisfaction from serving the Lord and others. They saw their needs met and were used by God to meet the needs of others.

One of the greatest blessings of our obedience and faith amid trials is the joy of helping others.‌

Psalm 126:5–6 KJV 1900

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

There is no doubt that there are many trials and tribulations when serving the Lord. Christ himself said there would be. This miracle affirms it, as it was Christ’s way of preparing His disciples for the many trials they would face. Additionally, there are many tears shed amidst the storms of life. However, as the psalmist noted, the believer who perseveres even though they might shed many tears is promised a harvest. From my own personal experience, I have come through several storms of life, rejoicing and seeing God’s bounty in my life. I believe that many of you can testify to the same. Yet, in a tragic comedy sort of way, we seem to quickly forget the bounty as soon as the next storm arrives.

Let’s determine to meet each spiritual test God places in our lives by responding His way, the right way.‌

Conclusion

What have we learned from this great miracle recorded in all four gospels? God intentionally places spiritual tests before us. He does so for the sole purpose of helping us grow and become more like His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As with any test, there is a wrong and right way to respond. The wrong answer is unbelief. If we fail to remember that the Teacher giving the test is the God of the Universe and has promised a way of escape, we will not pass the test. However, if we respond with the right answer, the Biblical answer of faith and obedience, we can ace the test. Responding the right way means I must obey Christ’s commands, commit whatever I have to Him, and serve Him and others with a humble and willing heart. Then, I can enjoy the bounty of Christ’s working through me.