The Laws of Trials

Surprise Test

A young Robert came into class on Friday morning to the alarming sound of his teacher telling the class take out your pencil and paper for a surprised test. Robert’s heart literally tries to leap out of his chest and then it drops to his stomach. The fear of not being prepared for this test sets in quickly. Sweating and pulse racing Robert begins to think about the worse, He sees himself getting back the test with an extra large F on it, and his teacher shaking her head in shame at Robert. But oh how could this be? Why would the teacher do this? Can she do this? Is this even fair? Is it even legal? Walking to the chalk board the teacher begins to scribble out an equation and while doing so Robert looks around the class and half of them are looking as distraught as he feels and then some just look as calm as when they first walked in. How can they be calm in a time like this! What is wrong with them are they some kinda of special breed of super humans who knows all of the answers to life’s problems? Wait maybe the knew we were having a test today? Maybe the teacher said something last week in class and some of us missed it and some of us didn’t.... Robert leans over to his classmate Jackie and whispers to her; Did she tell us were having a test last week and I just missed it? Jackie replies no, not that I know of. Robert proceeds to ask Jackie why are you so calm then, Jackie looks at Robert and says I have been preparing for this all semester, When I got home in the evening I would spend about an hour reviewing and preparing all that we went over in class that day, then sometimes I would have my mom or sister quiz me on what I had learned so far. Weekends I would get together with Brenda and Matt and we would test each other. So we honestly just have prepared to get an understanding of what we studied.

The moral to the story is that God has just been preparing us for this surprised test. As a follower of Christ we shouldn’t be surprised by what we see happening in the world. If we have been studying the Word of God the answers are all in the book we call the Bible of what the test will be on and how to pass it.

1 Peter 4:12

1 Peter 4:12 NLT

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

There is the first point, don’t be surprised. God can give a pop test anytime he feels like it. Like Roberts teacher, she has been giving instructions and teaching her class over and over again, what Robert did or didn’t do with the information was up to him and his classmates.

Listen God has been giving information over and over again, what you do or don’t do with the information is up to you and those around you.

so heres the suggestion study God’s Word more seriously. Now I’m not saying that you do or don’t I don’t know that, only you do. but if you are finding this time to be very hard and causing unruly stress in your life. Then this is a great time too dig in even deeper into God’s Word. All the answers are there and you have nothing fear or worry about. God will take care of you, so just trust him. Listen even the Christians of the first century knew that God would take care of them, even to the point of death. This is not our permanent home listen to what

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 The Message

1 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not hand-made—2 and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! 5 The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

God is preparing you for what’s to come and what’s to come is so much better! So don’t sweat it, don’t fear. The test was going to come eventually, don’t be surprised, the test was going to come and can I tell you a secret, it’s going to be more test my friends. Life is full of test. Again have you been preparing for them though ask yourself that question and if not start today. It’s never to late, Amen!

Which brings us to our second point fiery trials you are going through these trials purify us and bring out only the best part of us. When you melt any precious metal down to use for important components, components that people rely on for life saving systems or even income relying tools, you have to know that those parts will be able to stand up and last during hard and long strenuous conditions they’ll be subjected to. This is why God or Silver is used in really great quality products because they are amazing conductors and will last a long time under brutal conditions. They are proven metals and most professionals only want to use what is proven to be the best. God can only use what is proven to be the best.... Are you allowing God to make you out to be the best? Are you going through this trial and are you asking God to make you to be the best. See ask God to make you the best through this situation and He will... well Minister I don’t really care about that. Well my friend let me tell you something… Your going to go through the test so you might as well come through the other-side of this better then when you went in.

Romans 8:28 CEV

28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,

James

We as children of God could’ve been born at anytime but God chose us for this time because we are the ones He needs right here, and right now to fulfill His purpose. Are you going to allow Him to use the best parts of you?

Matthew 5:45 GNB

45 so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil.

Matthew 5:44–45 NLT

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Which brings me to my final point as if something strange were happening to you. There is nothing strange about this,

James 1:2–4 NLT

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Robert needed that test in order for him to become more proficient in his learning , in order for him to be able to get better prepared for the next test to come. Ohh it’s coming again and Robert knows that now and he also knows what to do now!

Oh it’s coming again my friend for we are in the last days and if that be tomorrow or one hundred years from now or a thousand years from now we are here.

But fear not look at what the bible says about this:

Luke 21:11 NLT

11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.

Matthew 24:3–9 GW

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. 5 Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people. 6 “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. 7 Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All of these are only the beginning pains ⌊of the end⌋. 9 “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me.

We are seeing all of these things and we must not think this is strange here is why. It is here to mature us in the things of God. We must see them as being maturity developers. Every test you go through is put in your your life to make you a more mature believer in the things of God.

Matthew 24:

So hold fast my friends, stand with courage of of thousand lions and know that God has you at all times. Amen!

Let’s pray.

Let’s pray.