Testing (Revealed)

The Test

For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.   - Deuteronomy 13:3b

And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him [Hezekiah] to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.   - 2 Chronicles 32:31

Genesis 22:1-2, 11-12  After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."   - 2 -   He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." - 11 -  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."   - 12 -   He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

*Deuteronomy 8:1-20  "The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers.   - 2 -   And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.   - 3 -   And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.   - 4 -   Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.   - 5 -   Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.   - 6 -   So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.   - 7 -   For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills,   - 8 -   a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey,   - 9 -   a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.   - 10 -   And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.   - 11 -   "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,   - 12 -   lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them,   - 13 -   and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied,   - 14 -   then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,   - 15 -   who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,   - 16 -   who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.   - 17 -   Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.'   - 18 -   You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.   - 19 -   And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.   - 20 -   Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Job 1:9-11  Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason?   - 10 -   Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.   - 11 -   But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."

Job 1:20-22  Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.   - 21 -   And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."   - 22 -   In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Job 2:4-5  Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life.   - 5 -   But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face."

Job 2:10  But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Psalms 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!   - 24 -   And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Proverbs 17:3  The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.

1 Peter 1:6-7  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,   - 7 -   so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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*Proverbs 30:1-9  The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.   - 2 -   Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.   - 3 -   I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.   - 4 -   Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!   - 5 -   Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.   - 6 -   Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.   - 7 -   Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:   - 8 -   Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,   - 9 -   lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Power, Love, Self Control, Adoption, Spirit of-

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,
but of power, love, and self-discipline.   - 2 Timothy 1:7

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. 

Instead, you received God's Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, "Abba, Father."   - Romans 8:15

Trample Under Foot

Jeremiah 12:6-17
 - 6 -   Even your brothers, members of your own family, have turned against you. They plot and raise complaints against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak.
 - 7 -   "I have abandoned My people, My special possession. I have surrendered My dearest ones to their enemies.
 - 8 -   My chosen people have roared at Me like a lion of the forest, so I have treated them with contempt.
 - 9 -   My chosen people act like speckled vultures, but they themselves are surrounded by vultures. Bring on the wild animals to pick their corpses clean!
 - 10 -   "Many rulers have ravaged My vineyard, trampling down the vines and turning all its beauty into a barren wilderness.
 - 11 -   They have made it an empty wasteland; I hear its mournful cry. The whole land is desolate, and no one even cares.
 - 12 -   On all the bare hilltops, destroying armies can be seen. The sword of the LORD devours people from one end of the nation to the other. No one will escape!
 - 13 -   My people have planted wheat but are harvesting thorns. They have worn themselves out, but it has done them no good. They will harvest a crop of shame because of the fierce anger of the LORD."
 - 14 -   Now this is what the LORD says: "I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave My people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them.
 - 15 -   But afterward I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own possession.
 - 16 -   And if these nations truly learn the ways of My people, and if they learn to swear by My name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives' (just as they taught My people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among My people.
 - 17 -   But any nation who refuses to obey Me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Hebrews 10:29-39

 - 29 -   Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us.

 - 30 -   For we know the One who said, "I will take revenge. I will pay them back." He also said, "The LORD will judge His own people."

 - 31 -   It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 - 32 -   Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.

 - 33 -   Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.

 - 34 -   You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

 - 35 -   So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

 - 36 -   Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

 - 37 -   "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.

 - 38 -   And My righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away."

 - 39 -   But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

Meat, Vegetables, and Teaching

Romans 14:1-23

 - 1 -   Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

 - 2 -   For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.

 - 3 -   Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

 - 4 -   Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

 - 5 -   In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.

 - 6 -   Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor Him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

 - 7 -   For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

 - 8 -   If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

 - 9 -   Christ died and rose again for this very purpose--to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

 - 10 -   So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

 - 11 -   For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God. '"

 - 12 -   Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

 - 13 -   So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

 - 14 -   I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.

 - 15 -   And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.

 - 16 -   Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.

 - 17 -   For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 - 18 -   If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

 - 19 -   So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

 - 20 -   Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.

 - 21 -   It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

 - 22 -   You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.

 - 23 -   But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Romans 15:1-2

 - 1 -   We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.

 - 2 -   We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

1 Timothy 4:1-5
 - 1 -   Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
 - 2 -   These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
 - 3 -   They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.
 - 4 -   Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.
 - 5 -   For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

If someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.
It is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.

Keep it between yourself and God. 

Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 

But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Be careful what you teach.

Make sure what you say is Bible truth.

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Your Word, O Lord

Psalms 119:41-48
 - 41 -   w Vav. May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your word;
 - 42 -   So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
 - 43 -   And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances.
 - 44 -   So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
 - 45 -   And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.
 - 46 -   I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.
 - 47 -   I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love.
 - 48 -   And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Go back

Psalms 119:65-72

 - 65 -   u Teth. You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.

 - 66 -   Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments.

 - 67 -   Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

 - 68 -   You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes.

 - 69 -   The arrogant have forged a lie against me; With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.

 - 70 -   Their heart is covered with fat, But I delight in Your law.

 - 71 -   It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

 - 72 -   The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Go back

Psalms 119:89-96

 - 89 -   l Lamedh. Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

 - 90 -   Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.

 - 91 -   They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants.

 - 92 -   If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction.

 - 93 -   I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.

 - 94 -   I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts.

 - 95 -   The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.

 - 96 -   I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Go back

Psalms 119:107-112

 - 107 -   I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.

 - 108 -   O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances.

 - 109 -   My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

 - 110 -   The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.

 - 111 -   I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.

 - 112 -   I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.

Go back

Psalms 119:169-176

 - 169 -   t Tav. Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.

 - 170 -   Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.

 - 171 -   Let my lips utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes.

 - 172 -   Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.

 - 173 -   Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts.

 - 174 -   I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight.

 - 175 -   Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.

 - 176 -   I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

Go back

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Financial Contentment

"So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.  - Matthew 6:31-34 NLT -

 "What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay."   - Luke 3:14 NLT -

Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don't have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment.  - 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 NLT -

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  - Philippians 4:11-13 NLT -

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.  - 1 Timothy 6:6-11 NLT -

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." So we can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"  - Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT -

First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.  - Proverbs 30:8-9 NLT


Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.  - 1 Peter 5:7 NLT


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