THE TESTED LIFE

By Graham Bauer

Introduction:

All go through hard times.
God says "Yes" but we get "No"
Why hard times? They are testing our metal!

[A] The inward life tried

Psalm 17:3 God comes to us to do three things.

(1) Prove our heart

To test us, to investigate us, to examine us
To check out our heart i.e. mind, will and emotions
Is our mind for him - do we learn His Word like in Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:15 (workman)
Is our will for him - do we keep our every imagination for him. Do we do his will 1John 2:17
Is our heart for him - do we love him

(2) Visit us in the night

He oversees our life and gives us direction. He cares for us. He puts or deposits things, such as talents, abilities, revelations and burning desires, into us.
Ephesians 4:20-24 tells us to put on the new man.
The "Night" symbolises adversity
As we go through adversity God is able to re-create us with new things, new life and new power.

(3) To try us

He comes to refine us, to melt us down and remove the dross To prune us and purge us to greater fruit
Romans 8:18 the trying of us does not compare with the glory that shall be revealed in us.
Galatians 5 lists 9 fruits that the Lord causes to grow in us.
Spiritual fruit that has been planted and grown in the soil of our heart.
What is in you?

[B] The refining process

Zechariah 13:9
(1) Through the fire of fiery trials and situations. God burns off the stubble
(2) Refining is to melt, purge - a pruning work to generate fruit
(3) God shall try us i.e. test us, test our motives, examine us thoroughly, see what we really are.
Malachi 3:2-3
(1) The Lord shall sit i.e. to judge, to settle us.
(2) Purifier is to remove contamination, to make pure, to make bright.
Silver is purified by heating, as the dross rises to the top it is scooped away. God heats us up so what is inside us will come up and be revealed - the good stays while the bad goes.
(3) The Lord shall purge us i.e. to strain us, extract the goodness and burn up the rubbish or works of the flesh.
Zechariah 13:9
(1) We shall be tried as gold i.e. as oil. We shall be made pure - oil of gladness
(2) We shall call out to God as we go through tests and trials, not looking at our ability but God's ability.
We shall stand in righteousness, having a right standing.
(3) God shall "hear" i.e. pay attention to our prayer.
(4) God shall say or boast "This is my people" eg. My servant Job - none like him for goodness.
(5) We shall be called "God's people" i.e. nation, tribe, flock - one people locally and globally.
(6) Our relationship with God shall be strengthened and established more deeply.

[C] The test of the storm

Luke 6:48
We must build/construct our lives on the rock of Jesus.
We must learn from God and put into practice those things that we have heard. Be not hearers only but doers of the Word. Put the Word deep into our lives so whatever comes cannot shake us - no test, no trial, no situation, no condition.
We are laid i.e. actively standing on the foundation of Jesus Christ

[D] The final test

1 Corinthians 3:13
Every man's work (effort, deeds, building) shall be made manifest (apparent).
All shall be revealed (have the cover taken off and exposed) by fire (Holy Ghost fire) and tested to see what sort and manner and how excellent it is.

Summary

God is love, truth, life and a consuming fire.
We know his love - He gave Jesus.
We know his fire - Holy Ghost fire to purify us.
Yield to the fire particularly when we get heated up.
Have only God's work stand in our life.

Location: http://members/fortunecity.com/bauerg/testlife.html