Tried, Tested and True Faith

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Are you a good Test Taker?

Maybe you can remember back to when you took the ACT/SAT GRE/ GMAT or the LSAT?

Hands on or in the classroom im Great…but tests are just not my thing

Maybe tests are a breeze for you

Tried Tested and True:

Something (or someone) that has been put to the test, used or experienced, and has proven to be reliable, trustworthy, and genuine.

Tried: You’ve Used it over time

Tested: It's been challenged or examined under pressure.

True: It held up. It was dependable, consistent, and authentic.

Uses:

It’s often used to describe:

Long-lasting friendships

Reliable methods or tools

Proven principles or values

Example: “We’re sticking with the tried, tested, and true method—it’s never failed us before."

Is your Faith Tried, Tested and True?

"My faith in Christ is tried, tested, and true. I've walked through seasons of doubt, faced trials that could've shaken me, but every time, He’s shown Himself faithful. It’s not just something I believe—it’s something I’ve lived, and it’s proven real and unshakable."

Have you walked through Seasons that Tried and Tested your Faith?

Seasons of:

Doubt

Discouragement

Uncertainty

Temptation

What seem like Silence from the Lord

Insecurity

Dig into James 1:2-8

See how the trials and tests we experience can establish true faith in our lives

James 1:2–8 “2 My brethren (He is Speaking to believers (GK: Adelphos)), count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:2 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”

Obstacles don’t dictate our Outlook

We can Consider ALL of our Trials and Tests Joyfully:

Because our victory isn’t dependent on our ability

2 Corinthians 4:7–9 “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—”

Life is Hard, Confusing, and filled with opposition

But we serve a God that is

More powerful than the pressures of this world

Matt 11:28-30- 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Provides peace to pacify all of life’s perplexities

Philippians 4:7- Peace that Surpasses ALL Understanding

He Is always present to protect our hearts and minds in the midst of persecution from people

Psalm 46:1- He is an ever present Help in time of need

Because our Trials and Tests are to give Glory to God’s Faithfulness in your life

1 Peter 1:6-7- (NIV) In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

The world will look on and wonder how you have navigated the storms of life

It will be your opportunity to declare that He is the one that has helped you navigate the

Storms of life

Worries of the World

The insecurities in our heart

REMEMBER- COME To HIM ALL Who are weary and heavy laden and HE will give you rest…

He wants to give you rest from your fears

Am I going to make it into the school I applied to

Am I going to land the dream job

I don’t hear from God, does He still love me?

"What if I’m not living up to the calling God has for me?"

He wants to quiet the insecurities

Why am I not accepted

Why do I feel this way around people

Why am I still single

"Am I really growing in my faith?

His Burden is light, but we often put a heavier burden on ourselves than we were intended to carry on our own

Put your faith in Him to take the load we were never meant to carry on our own

He will show himself powerful

You will experience His Peace

And you will experience the protection He provides our hearts, minds and lives

James 1:3–4 “3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Patience Produces Christ Like Character

Patiently persevere through Trials don’t passionately push through them

Don’t get worked up by what you are walking through, but allow Him to work in walking through

Galatians 3:3

“3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”

Don’t say, God has saved me, now I am going to fix me

It’s His work to complete

Philippians 1:6

“6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

He is going to faithfully build your character as your trust Him

We must submit to Him and trust Him in the process

1 Peter 5:6–7 “6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Humble yourselves: submit and Trust Him

Exalt you: Build you Up…

he wants to build your character so that you can be used by Him

Your Calling won’t take you, where your Character can’t keep you

It is through the trials and tests that we are strengthened by Him and For Him…we we faithfully Trust Him!

We must allow him to do the work

In our emotions we often want the trials and tests to end

Ask the Lord What and NOT WHY

What are you doing Lord

Not Why are you doing this

He will show you, that He is building Christ Like Character in YOU

James 1:5–8 “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Faithfully Seek our Faithful Savior

V:5- As we seek Him we will be given Wisdom

Matthew 7:9–11 “9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

V:6- As we seek Him we will be given Assurance

Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

V:7-8 As we Seek Him we will have Security

Matthew 14:22-33 -

Peter on the Water

When Our eyes were on Jesus he was secure and safe

We don’t see the waves and the wind of the trials and tests of Life, but we see the wonderful work that God is doing in our lives

He Moves Mightily and we get to Marvel at what He does, when we faithfully seek our Savior

When the Tests and Trials of Life come is your Faith, Tried, Tested and True (Genuine)?

You might be quick to say yes…

You might say it’s not

I want to encourage you that each test you faithfully walk with Him, will make you stronger as you set your eyes on Him…

Hebrews 12:2 “2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,