Will You Pass God’s Test?
In the sermon titled “How am I going to pass God’s test?” Pastor Mike Signorelli explores the concept of passing God's tests, using biblical stories and personal testimonies to illustrate the spiritual significance of trials.
God Will Test You
John 6 is a detailed examination highlighting the miraculous feeding of thousands with limited resources. Jesus already knew he would feed the 5000 men along with thousands more women and children but he questioned those around him about how it would be done as a test of faith. Approaching life’s challenges as tests from God should encourage followers of Christ to embrace the obstacles before them in faith knowing that He is faithful to do the unimaginable.
The chapter begins with Jesus crossing over the Sea of Galilee with a large crowd following him because of all of the miraculous signs he had already done. Pastor Mike pointed out that Jesus often ascended to the mountains before He performed a miraculous event. He highlighted the importance of repetition in scripture which regularly indicates significance and revelation for the readers.
When considering food for the large crowd, Jesus tests Philip by asking him what should be done. Philip did not consider that he was with the miracle worker Himself, answered Jesus with a natural response sharing that there was not enough money to feed all who were in attendance. The disciple Andrew then pointed out a boy with five barley loaves and fish. Answering spiritual questions with natural explanations limits faith.
No one understood what would happen next but Jesus knew if a miracle was to transpire he had to take the natural items in his hand and look up to heaven. Again in scripture upward carries great significance and believers are often encouraged to keep their focus in the upward direction.
Going up precedes the miraculous; examples in scripture that support the importance of upward actions in the believer include Elijah and Enoch, who both focused on heavenly things and were raptured as a result. Throughout the gospels, Jesus also encourages thinking upwards, particularly when contrasting with worldly concerns. In the feeding of the 5000 men, he lifted up the five loaves and fish and trusted God for the impossible.
“Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and He took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people,”
– Matthew 14:19
Jesus instructs everyone to sit and then he proceeds to perform the miracle. The miracle was so abundant that He instructed His disciples to gather baskets of leftovers.
In the sermon, Pastor Mike portrays tests as preparations for sustaining God's promises. Tests are a part of God's plan, and the story of Job illustrates God's presence during trials. The worst outcome in a test is being left alone by God, but as illustrated in Job's story we are shown God’s enduring presence even in the midst of the test.
When going through the test, Christ's followers are to stay under God's protection and not pursue worldly fixes and pleasures. Pastor Mike teaches V1 Church that tests are preparation for God's promises. They prepare individuals to sustain God's promises, which we can see through the life of Joseph in scripture. The personal accounts in the Bible illustrate the realization that challenges are tests but are only temporary.
Understanding tests are inevitable for those chosen by God helps maintain the believers faith and recognize eventual victory. Seeing difficulties from a spiritual perspective will cause you to overcome limitations. Jesus rose the barley loaves and fish up to heaven to transform limitations which allowed for the miraculous to take place.
Pastor Mike encourages Christ's followers to embrace tests as opportunities for spiritual growth, leading to completeness and alignment with God's will. Tests are a compliment in God's kingdom, indicating potential for greater use. Embrace the tests in your life as opportunities for spiritual growth and recognize that because of them, there is potential divine usage in your life. Completing tests leads to spiritual completeness.
Recognizing God's faithfulness through trials will give you the joy and strength needed to consistently overcome.
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
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