“Will You Pass the Test”
Sunday August 12, 2012
scriptures: Ephesians 6, James 1, Romans 5, 1 Peter 1
keywords: armor, spiritual, money, fame, truth, faith, mind, feelings, problems, pray, hear, test, grace, tribulations, commitment
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
Ephesians 6:10-18
Review of the armor of God. There are so many people tripped out. People who you would think have it
all. You have to realize that we are in a spiritual warfare. People let things affect them spiritually and they
end up tripped out and doing something evil. Micheal Vick had it all from the outside, money and fame, but
ended up participating in something like dog fighting.
Verse 14- People talk about their truth. This is “my truth”. There is only one truth and it is God’s truth. If
you are dead, you are dead- that is the truth. You can’t debate whether someone is dead or not.
Verse 15- You want to keep your feet under you. Have that good news all the time. Think about God’s
salvation and his goodness.
Verse 16- Some people don’t have faith. You need to trust God no matter what happens to you.
Verse 17- Don’t let things seep in your mind which can defile your soul. Don’t let your feelings define truth.
Verse 18- People talk about their problems more than how much they pray about an issue.
James 1:19-25 You want to be a hearer of the word and not just a church goer. If you do the things in God
you will be blessed. Verse 24 and Verse 25- Sometimes people have stuff in their nose and this would be
like seeing something in your nose and not doing anything about it. Sometimes people have a clear issue
or problem but don’t do anything about it. Some may say that you stepped on my toes preacher but they
kept on doing same thing- this is an example of some who is a just a hearer of the word.
Romans 5:1-3
Verse 1- Do you have peace with God? At a funeral, people try to make it seem like everyone who dies
has peace with God. However, if these people were able to speak they may say something else. You
need to know that you have peace with God.
Verse 2- Grace which is also often talked about at funerals is something that is supposed to give you
power. A lot of people don’t know what grace really means.
Verse 3- A measure of man is how they respond when things are not going well. Do you praise God when
you have tribulations and problems? How do you respond when people die for example? God tests you
and tries you to see if you are going to stand. What are you going to do when the heat comes? In school
at the end of the semester, people get serious which is too late by then.
1 Peter 1:5-7
God needs to test your faith. Parents sometimes test children and see what they might do before they
give them something. If the child starts to whine, the parent may change and not give it to them.
Are you willing to make a commitment in God? If you were going to marry somebody and they were
wavering would you make a lifetime commitment to that person. If you respond in a way that is not right
then you have not passed the test. When you stop tripping on the same thing, then you have passed the
test.