How to Take a Test - Test Format

Intro

Teacher asks, “any questions about the upcoming test?”

How many questions

Essay, short answer, fill in the blank

True/false, matching, multiple choice

we want to know the format of the test

test from God have a certain format, and we will review that format today

Genesis 22:1 NASB95

1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

God gives tests

Old Testament (judges)– “God did this in order to test Israel”

If you know the story of Job, you know Job was being tested

In John, chapter 6 - Jesus asked Philip, “where can we buy bread to feed these people” . . . it was a test

and God has tested you, or is testing you, or will test you

So it’s wise to learn how to take a test . . . from God

This is the first of a two part series

Today will go over the test format that God uses

next week we will discuss test strategies

let me start by giving you a “cliff notes” version of the story, so you know where we are headed

God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son

Abraham has to faith to obey, and is about to go through with it

God stops him at the last moment, and tells him to sacrifice a ram instead

Abraham thus passes the test

now back to verse 1

Now it came about after these things,

After what things:

Son, Isaac was finally born – the promised miracle has come to pass (25 years)

Ishmael is sent out – baby mama drama has ended, peace in the home

Agreement reached with Abimelech – peace on the job

Finally, things are looking up, but after these things . . . God decided to test Abraham

When God gives a test, the timing will seem unfair

You just got out of a tough situation

you just made it through a rough patch

Just had a breakthrough, just gave your testimony

Still catching your breath . . . and here comes a test from God

the timing will seem unfair

there is no syllabus with the test schedule, no official announcement, just one day you will have to take the test

in school, the teacher would say time for a pop quiz, and you at least you were given a few seconds to wrap your brain around it

not so with God . . . you’ll be taking the test before even realizing it . . . and the timing seems unfair

Abraham didn’t get to read verse 1, and brace himself, he just found himself in a test

You won’t get to read the verse 1 of your life, but all of a sudden you will find yourself in a test

and the timing seems unfair

You’ll be on your way to school/job/picking up dinner/opening the mail/answering a phone call/Responding a text

And next thing you know, you are taking a test from God

and I warn you that the timing of the test will seem unfair.

that God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am,”

When God gives a test, it is personalized

Your test is made just for you, it has your name on it

God has the knowledge, power, and ability to give individualized tests

This is Abraham’s test

Job’s test was completely different and was a two part test

Part 1 - Lose all your children and possession

Part 2 – lose your health

Taught in private school, we kept classes small, so I knew each child really well

So well, that on test day, I could give individualized tests

Test each one on what they needed to be tested on

so, Don’t get caught up in comparing tests

“Why me?” is our common question and complaint?

Because that’s the test that had your name on it, is the answer

God is sovereign: He can do whatever he wants to do

when he wants to

how he wants to . . . because God is sovereign

and in His sovereignty he makes each test personal

Genesis 22:2 NASB95

2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

When God gives a test, he sets up the test, not you

God gives the time, place, people, and conditions

let me say it this way, a test from God is not a result of you acting up

If you cussed everyone at the job and got fired, that’s not a test, that’s the result of not keeping your mouth shut

if you cheated on your spouse and they left you, that’s not a test, that’s results of your unfaithfulness

Tough situations that come to our lives because of our disobedience and bad decisions are called . . .just that

God will help you with mistakes too, but today is about tests

don’t start calling everything problem a test

When God gives a test, the test will come in the area of your purpose

You give a fireman, a fireman’s test

You give an electrician, an electrician’s test

You give a plumber, a plumber’s test

Abraham, The father of many nations is tested in fatherhood

Look at the kind of your test you’re taking and find your calling/purpose

Daniel, known for hearing from God through prayer was tested in prayer - Lion’s den story

Test how bad you want to hear from God

David, the future warrior king of a nation, was tested in being a warrior

As a kid, He probably used to wonder, why do the wild animals always show up when I’m watching the sheep?

Lion one time, a bear another time!

Because this is preparation for future battles

A giver – don’t be surprised if your money dries up

counselor – if you are facing some stuff that is about to drive you crazy

caring the sick/healing the sick – there might be disease in your body

Praying – going through so much, don’t feel like praying

Prophecy – it seems you don’t know which way is up

Encouragement – if things keep bringing you down

identify your test, and identify your calling

identify your calling, spot the test

When God gives a test, something will be disturbing

Abraham had to be wondering, “Am I hearing God right? Kill the promised son?”

you gave me a son, now you want me to kill him?

that’s disturbing

Job would say, I did everything right, and I have to suffer? That’s disturbing

Joseph would say, I was a man of integrity, and I go to jail for it?

David would say, I defeated Goliath, I won many battles, I play music to sooth your soul, and Saul repays me by trying to kill me?

The test won’t even seem to fit God’s character, find yourself saying, “this makes no spiritual sense! Why has God put me in this situation?”

God opened the door for you to get that new house/new car, and then lost your job

you did the right thing, and people are mad and upset with you . . . that’s disturbing

You just committed to a new venture, and everything was a go, but then the most unexpected thing happens

the better you treat someone, the worse they respond towards you. . . that’s disturbing

it doesn’t seem right, it doesn’t seem fair, does God know what he’s doing? . . . . this test is disturbing

but that leads to my final point about God’s test . . .

When God gives a test, you are forced to completely trust God’s word

that’s how God formats his tests, everything will look so off, so weird, disturbing, not right

that you are forced to decide if you really believe in God’s word

forced to choose if you trust his word completely

and that’s what we see in Abraham, Hebrews teaches us that Abraham thought that we would kill Isaac and that God would raise Isaac from the dead

He was truly relying on God’s word

the word from God is that I have to kill Isaac, so I must

the word of God is that Isaac would be my offspring, that the family line would continue through him, that the world would be blessed through him . . . so he has to rise again

so I will fully trust God’s word, all of it, and let God work it out

and when we are faced with a test from God, we need to come to the same conclusion

fully trust God’s word, and let God work it out

turn it over to the lord and let him work it out

i’ll trust, he’ll work it out

i’ll believe, he’ll turn it around

i’ll have faith, he’ll make a way

don’t be like the little girl, who cried and cried when I gave her a math test

i told her any number times zero is zero

she said this is so easy, she was so happy . . .

until I gave her a test

she was doing well until the last problem

and on the last problem, tears began to fall

“I don’t understand the last problem”

yes you do . . . more tears

“can you show me how to do the last problem?

I already have . . . tears

the last problem was this giant number x 0

how could he give me a problem with a number so big that I can’t even say ii

how could he give me a number I’ve never worked with before

he won’t even help me or give me a hint . . . this is unfair, not right, . . . .disturbing

tears of sadness, frustration, and some anger at me

all I would say was, “remember what I told you”

trust what I told you . . . it looks different, it looks impossible

but the word I taught you still works in this situation

Some of you are facing some disturbing situations, that you’ve never faced before

and I’m here to tell you, remember what God told you

the same word that got you through those smaller problems, those earlier difficulties, is still good for what you are going through right now

continue to trust fully in his word

When you get a test from God

The timing might seem unfair

It is personalized

He sets up the test

the test will come in the area of your purpose

something will be disturbing

and thus, you are forced to completely trust God’s word

There is another test . . . death

the timing always seems unfair

it’s very personal

God sets that up to, he knows how many days, hours, minutes, seconds, we all have left

and death is very disturbing, doesn’t seem right or fair

and you are forced to believe or not believe Jesus

I have put my trust in the word of God

Romans 10:9–10 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

I’ve failed some test in my life, but I will not fail that one . . . I put my full trust in Jesus as both Lord and savior

And he worked it out

He Suffered, bled, died, and rose again so that I might have eternal life