Tests of Faith: Growing Character Through Challenges

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, God is more interested in our character development than our comfort. This life is a preparation stage for eternity, where happiness is derived from holiness. God uses various tests to grow our character and strengthen our faith, much like how physical muscles are strengthened through resistance. These tests are not arbitrary; they are purposeful, designed to help us become the individuals God intends us to be.

The first test is the "What Test," exemplified by Noah, who was tasked with building an ark for a flood that had never happened before. This test challenges us to face the future without knowing what lies ahead. The second is the "Where Test," as seen in Abraham's life when God called him to leave his home without revealing the destination. This test requires us to follow God's leading without knowing where it will take us.

The third test is the "When Test," which involves waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled, as Abraham did for the promised land. This test teaches us to wait for God's timing without knowing when it will happen. The fourth is the "How Test," illustrated by the seemingly impossible promise of a child to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. This test encourages us to expect miracles without knowing how they will occur.

The fifth test is the "Why Test," or the test of senseless loss, where we trust God's purpose without understanding why things happen. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac is a profound example of this test. Lastly, the "How Long Test" involves enduring prolonged pain, as Moses did, and persisting without knowing how long the trial will last.

These tests are opportunities for growth, not obstacles. They are designed to deepen our faith and develop our character, preparing us for the eternal joy that awaits us. In every test, God provides the answers through His Word, and our role is to trust Him, even when we don't have all the answers.

Key Takeaways:

1. Character Over Comfort: God's primary goal is to develop our character, not to ensure our comfort. This life is a preparation stage for eternity, where true happiness is found in holiness. Embrace the challenges as opportunities for growth. [01:48]

2. Facing the Unknown: Like Noah, we are often called to face the future without knowing what lies ahead. Faith involves trusting God's plan, even when it seems impossible or unprecedented. [16:54]

3. Following Without Knowing: Abraham's journey teaches us to follow God's leading without knowing where it will take us. This requires a deep trust in God's guidance and a willingness to step into the unknown. [21:26]

4. Trusting God's Timing: The "When Test" challenges us to wait for God's promises without knowing when they will be fulfilled. Patience and trust in God's perfect timing are crucial in this journey. [26:34]

5. Persisting Through Pain: Moses exemplifies enduring prolonged pain and persisting without knowing how long it will last. Faith is about continuing to trust and obey God, even in the face of ongoing challenges. [48:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Character Building
- [01:00] - God's Goal: Spiritual Maturity
- [02:15] - Testing and Growth
- [03:16] - Purpose Behind Problems
- [05:25] - Six Tests of Faith
- [06:33] - Noah's Test: The What Test
- [14:19] - Abraham's Test: The Where Test
- [22:14] - Delayed Promise: The When Test
- [27:02] - Unsolvable Problem: The How Test
- [31:25] - Senseless Loss: The Why Test
- [43:06] - Prolonged Pain: The How Long Test
- [52:23] - Perseverance Through Faith
- [54:39] - Summary of Living by Faith
- [55:34] - Prayer and Closing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

3. Hebrews 11:8-10 - "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does James 1:2-4 suggest about the purpose of trials in a believer's life? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on character development over comfort? [01:48]

2. In Hebrews 11:1, how is faith described, and how does this description relate to the tests of faith mentioned in the sermon, such as the "What Test" faced by Noah? [16:54]

3. According to Hebrews 11:8-10, what was Abraham's response to God's call, and how does this illustrate the "Where Test" discussed in the sermon? [21:26]

4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and character development, particularly in the context of enduring tests? [04:53]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the concept of finding joy in trials, as mentioned in James 1:2-4, challenge a believer's understanding of happiness and holiness? [01:35]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith involves stepping into the unknown, and how does this relate to the biblical examples of Noah and Abraham? [21:26]

3. How does the sermon explain the importance of trusting God's timing, and what lessons can be drawn from Abraham's experience with the "When Test"? [26:34]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of prolonged pain in spiritual growth, and how does Moses' experience illustrate this? [48:29]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you respond, and what might it look like to view it as an opportunity for character growth rather than an obstacle? [01:48]

2. Consider a situation where you are uncertain about the future. How can you apply the lesson of Noah's "What Test" to face this uncertainty with faith? [16:54]

3. Have you ever experienced a major life change that required you to trust God's direction without knowing the outcome? How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now? [21:26]

4. Think about a promise you are waiting on God to fulfill. How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's timing during this waiting period? [26:34]

5. Identify an unsolvable problem you are currently facing. How can you shift your perspective to expect a miracle, even if you don't know how it will happen? [30:54]

6. Reflect on a time of senseless loss in your life. How did you seek God's presence during that time, and what might you do to deepen your trust in His purpose now? [42:49]

7. If you are dealing with prolonged pain, what practical steps can you take to persist in faith, drawing inspiration from Moses' endurance? [48:29]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Growth Through Challenges
In our journey of faith, God prioritizes the development of our character over our comfort. This life serves as a preparation stage for eternity, where true happiness is found in holiness. Embracing challenges as opportunities for growth is essential. Just as physical muscles are strengthened through resistance, our character is refined through the tests we face. These tests are not arbitrary; they are purposeful, designed to help us become the individuals God intends us to be. By focusing on character development, we align ourselves with God's ultimate goal for our lives. [01:48]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing that you can view as an opportunity for growth? How can you invite God to work on your character through this situation today?


Day 2: Trusting God in the Unknown
Like Noah, we are often called to face the future without knowing what lies ahead. Faith involves trusting God's plan, even when it seems impossible or unprecedented. Noah's task of building an ark for a flood that had never happened before exemplifies the "What Test." This test challenges us to step forward in faith, trusting that God knows the future and has a purpose for our lives. By embracing the unknown, we demonstrate our reliance on God's wisdom and guidance. [16:54]

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 11:7, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel uncertain about the future? How can you take a step of faith today, trusting that God has a plan for you?


Day 3: Following God's Lead Without Knowing the Destination
Abraham's journey teaches us to follow God's leading without knowing where it will take us. This requires a deep trust in God's guidance and a willingness to step into the unknown. The "Where Test" exemplified by Abraham's call to leave his home without a revealed destination challenges us to surrender our plans and embrace God's direction. By doing so, we open ourselves to the incredible journey God has prepared for us, even if we cannot see the entire path ahead. [21:26]

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God's guidance without knowing the outcome? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?


Day 4: Patience in God's Timing
The "When Test" challenges us to wait for God's promises without knowing when they will be fulfilled. Patience and trust in God's perfect timing are crucial in this journey. Abraham's experience of waiting for the promised land exemplifies this test. It teaches us to rely on God's timing, even when it seems delayed. By cultivating patience, we align ourselves with God's plan and trust that His timing is always perfect. [26:34]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a promise or desire in your life that you are waiting for God to fulfill? How can you practice patience and trust in His timing today?


Day 5: Persevering Through Pain
Moses exemplifies enduring prolonged pain and persisting without knowing how long it will last. Faith is about continuing to trust and obey God, even in the face of ongoing challenges. The "How Long Test" involves enduring trials with perseverance, trusting that God is with us every step of the way. By persisting through pain, we demonstrate our unwavering faith and reliance on God's strength. [48:29]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of prolonged pain or challenge in your life? How can you lean on God's strength to persevere and find hope in the midst of it today?

Quotes


Now Kay said this last week, it's one of the fundamental laws of spiritual growth and one of the values in our church is that God's number one goal in your life is to make you like Jesus. God's goal on earth is not to make you happy; God's goal on your life is to grow you up the spiritual maturity. Happiness comes from holiness. And in heaven you're gonna be happy for trillions and trillions of years. This is the growing stage. This is the development stage. Not everything works perfectly and not everything goes the way you want it to go because God is much more interested in your character than He is your comfort. [00:74:707]

Now the good news behind that is that there is a purpose behind every problem in your life. Problems are not simply arbitrary. Problems are not simply by chance. The problems that come into your life are there to test your character, to grow your character, to grow your faith to help you become all that God wants you to be: the man God wants you to be, the woman God wants you to be. So every problem has a purpose and it's designed to help you grow. [00:171:271]

Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. Now if we just stop there, that wouldn't make any sense. But then it gives you the reason for the joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, let it grow, for when it is fully developed you will be, read it with me, strong in character and ready for anything. I want you to be strong in character. I want you to be ready for anything that happens in life that you're able to handle. [00:229:696]

The way you become strong in character is to have your faith tested. And Kay talked about this and George and Tondra talked about this, and Jason talked about this, and I talked about it in the first message of series that God uses the conflicts and the problems and the pressures, and the trials, and the difficulties, and the disasters and the dangers, and the dead-ends, and the disappointments. He uses all of it to test your faith and to grow you strong in character. [00:296:229]

Now what I'm gonna do today is just take you through six of the many test you're gonna go through. Fortunately, God wants you to pass the test. Okay, He wants you, so He gives you the answers in advance. Didn't you always like those open book tests? The answers are right there. You gotta go look it up. Well, the answers are all right here. This is the answer book for all the test of your life. And God gives us many examples in the Bible to prepare us for the many different kinds of test. [00:334:300]

Faith is facing the future without knowing what. Noah built an ark by faith. In Hebrews 11:1 it says, faith is being sure of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see. Faith is facing the future without knowing what's gonna happen. And you've got this big task, this new task, it's impossible, you've never done it before. You're gonna have that test many, many times in life. God will ask you to do something you've never done before. [00:1014:680]

Faith is following God's leading without knowing where. Sometime God might say, I want you to quit your job. What's the new job? I'll let you know. I want you to sell your house. Where are we gonna move? I'll let you know. That is the second test of life, the where, that builds your character: the what and the where, the new task and the major change. Faith is following God's leading without knowing where. [00:1276:008]

Faith is waiting for God's timing without knowing when. Now here's the fourth test. These are many, many test but I'm just covering a few this weekend. Number four is an unsolvable problem. Now you've all had this one. And this is what I call the how test. You get a problem and you go, how in the world we gonna solve this one? This is a test. [00:1583:582]

Faith is expecting a miracle without knowing how. That's what faith is. I'm teaching you today what it means to have faith. Faith is facing the future without knowing what, following God's leading without knowin' where, waiting for God's timing without knowin' when, expecting a miracle without knowing how. That is the test of your character, that is the test of your faith. [00:1854:452]

Faith is trusting God's purpose without knowing why. If you can explain everything in your life, you are not living by faith. There are some things in your life that just aren't explainable and you have to live by faith. Now I could do a series on the test of God and go for a year, but let me just give you one more. This is test number six and it's a tough one too. The sixth test is prolonged pain. [00:2559:890]

Faith is continuing to persist without knowing how long. This is the how long test of life. Now how do you develop persistence? How do you develop endurance? How do you keep on doin' the right thing year after year after year when you don't always feel like doin' the right thing? You don't always feel like staying married. How do you keep on doin' the right thing when you don't feel like it? [00:2898:195]

With our heads bowed, with human tests, the key is knowing all the answers. But with God's test, the key is not knowing all the answers. With God's test, the key is trusting God to know the answer. Pray this prayer in your heart. Follow me as I say this prayer. Dear God, say it in your mind. Dear God, I wanna be a man or a woman of faith, I wanna be a man or a woman of character that you can use in a mighty way. [00:3319:616]

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Transcript
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