by Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
I. God knows the hearts of men<\/p>\n A. I Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at\n\tthe outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”\n B. Luke 16:15 “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God\n\tknows your hearts.”\n C. God knows whether we have chosen to follow him or to follow Satan -Psalm\n\t139:1-16\n
II. Then what is the purpose of the tests that God sends our way?<\/p>\n
A. If God already knows where we stand, the who benefits from the test?<\/p>\n
B. We are the ones who benefit.<\/p>\n
1. We may claim to believe<\/p>\n
2. We may think we follow our Savior<\/p>\n
3. But until we have to stand with Him in the face of trial, we cannot be sure.<\/p>\n C. But we must also keep in mind that we are free moral agents. We have been given\n\tthe right to choose – Proverbs 16:1, 9\n
1. Until a choice is made, where a person stands is not known<\/p>\n
III. Examples<\/p>\n
A. Abraham’s offering of Isaac was a test by God – Genesis 22:1<\/p>\n
1. Hebrews 11:17-18 says Abraham considered the command a sentence of death<\/p>\n
a. He intended to carry it out<\/p>\n
b. He believed God could raise Isaac from the dead, if necessary.<\/p>\n 2. God knew Abraham’s faith without putting Abraham and Isaac through\n\tthis pain.\n
a. But notice the statement: “Now I know” – Genesis 22:12<\/p>\n b. Abraham made a choice and God understood all the reasons and\n\tdepth behind that choice – Genesis 22:16-18\n 3. But could Abraham, or Isaac, or anyone else be sure of Abraham’s faith\n\tuntil Abraham raised the knife to carry out God’s command?\n
a. We talk about the great faith of Abraham<\/p>\n b. But we cannot see Abraham’s mind. We aren’t privy to his\n\tthoughts.\n c. Rather, we recognize his faith by the deeds recorded for us. –\n\tRomans 4:16-25\n
B. God could have delivered the promise land to the Israelites<\/p>\n
1. Intact, with no work on their part.<\/p>\n a. A disease could have wiped out the entire population and the\n\tIsraelites could have settled in the empty cities.\n
b. There would have been no risks of battle, facing the enemies.<\/p>\n
c. But God said it would be little-by-little – Exodus 23:27-30<\/p>\n 2. But God wanted each man’s faith tried, so he would know where the land\n\tcame from.\n
a. They wandered for 40 years to be tested – Deuteronomy 8:2<\/p>\n b. When Israel stopped following God, God withdrew His help. Why?\n\t– Judges 2:20-22\n 3. It could not have been easy facing larger, better equipped soldiers who\n\twere fighting to preserve their homes.\n
a. They needed to be brave – Judges 3:1-4<\/p>\n b. Even believing God’s promise of victory, does that mean I will\n\tsurvive my particular battle?\n
c. Am I destined to enjoy the promise land?<\/p>\n d. If God just handed them the promise land, would they have known\n\tfor sure where they stood and on whom they must rely?\n 4. Yet, even with their effort, they didn’t earn the land. It was given to them –\n\tJoshua 24:11-13; Psalm 44:1-8\n
IV. Baptism<\/p>\n
A. Most of the religious world sees no necessity for baptism.<\/p>\n
B. After all God already knows the condition of each man’s heart.<\/p>\n
C. So when we say we believe, is that not enough?<\/p>\n
1. Abraham had to act on his faith to show where he stood.<\/p>\n 2. Each Israelite had to face the enemy to let it be known where he had placed\n\this faith.\n 3. We must act on our faith to perform what may seem to be an unnecessary\n\tact to receive salvation.\n D. Abraham could have declared his faith in God from every housetop, but if he failed\n\tto sacrifice his son, he would have failed the test.\n E. We too may declare our faith in Jesus, but if we cannot perform the simple act of\nbeing baptized for the remission of our sins, then we too fail the test – Romans\n\t16:25-27\n
V. Not the last test<\/p>\n
A. Our tests only begin with our baptism<\/p>\n B. Each day, in many ways, the Christian like the early Israelites must face the daily\n\tbattle and declare his faith in the Son by standing with him come what may.\n C. If an Israelite’s faith failed, he may die physically. If a Christian’s faith fails, he\n\tmay die spiritually – Hebrews 3:14-19\n D. When a Christian passes the test, he is made stronger. Even failure can show a\nChristian his true condition, his need to rely on God, and make him stronger –\n\tHebrews 6:11-15\n E. If a Christian will ask forgiveness and try again, God will make him to stand. In\n\tthis way, trials purify as fire. - I Peter 1:6-7\n
VI. Trials are never easy or enjoyable<\/p>\n
A. View them as an opportunity to show where we stand.<\/p>\n
B. To find out where we need more work<\/p>\n C. There are some here who have yet to obey God’s calling to become a part of His\npeople. I don’t know why each of you hesitate. Perhaps there is some sin in your\nlife that makes you think you are not good enough. I would rather not know what\nthe sin is, but I do know this: there is no past sin that God cannot wipe out for an\nobedient child of His and there is no future temptation or sin that is not easier to\n\tdeal with within His church.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. God knows the hearts of men A. I Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” B. Luke 16:15 “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32],"tags":[52,49,182,188],"class_list":["post-63627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-baptism","tag-faith","tag-suffering","tag-trials"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":95647,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/trials-of-life-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":63627,"position":0},"title":"Trials of Life (Behle)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jack Behle via\u00a0Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 2, June 1995 If it is not certain that God knows the condition of our hearts at all times, it is certain that He could know. In I Samuel 16:7 we find, \"The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39677,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/god-knows-my-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":63627,"position":1},"title":"God Knows My Heart","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Marilyn LaStrape Those of us who have evangelistic courage for the lost and continuing concern for the unfaithful probably have heard the title of this article in defense of their lifestyle choices. When questioned or challenged about accountability, God \"knowing their hearts\" is often the response. \"I know I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/heart-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":60488,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/trials-of-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":63627,"position":2},"title":"Trials of Life (Article)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 27, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, believers have been told that God knows our hearts (I Samuel 16:7, Luke 16:15). He not only knows what we at thinking at this moment, but he also understands our inclinations and desires. God knows each of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/04\/cocoon-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3260,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-god-cleansing-the-earth-with-these-recent-storms\/","url_meta":{"origin":63627,"position":3},"title":"Is God cleansing the earth with these recent storms?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 23, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is God cleansing the earth with these recent storms? If so, is it because of divorce and the return of the Nephilim? Answer: While the Bible discloses that God has used storms in the past to accomplish His will, the Bible warns man not to try and second guess\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1512,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/subtle-references-to-the-trinity-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":63627,"position":4},"title":"Subtle References to the Trinity of God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 1, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Isaiah 48:12-16 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Often I find people making statements, such \u201cthe Holy Spirit is never said to be Deity, Divine in any way.\u201d Or, statements that Jesus is the first of creation and thus is not fully God (or divine). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The problem is that proof or denial often requires\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62359,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-heart-that-devises-wicked-plans\/","url_meta":{"origin":63627,"position":5},"title":"A Heart that Devises Wicked Plans","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 27, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prov. 6:16-19 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is the reason that the world was destroyed by a flood - Gen. 6:5-7. All man thought about was evil continually. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It did not halt with the flood - Gen. 11:6. Mankind did not learn their lesson. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sounds much like modern mankind. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63627\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}