Bulletins - New Day Community Church (Stockton, CA)

Forever Reign
Do It Again
Knees To The Earth
Nothing Else
“Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:2-3, 12
THE FOUR TESTS OF A REAL BELIEVER
(Life of Abraham – Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19)
I. TEST #1: A MAJOR CHANGE (vs. 8)
Hebrews 11:8 NIV84
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Genesis 12:1–7 CSB
1 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.) 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
For study: Genesis 12:1-7
A real believer will FOLLOW GOD’S LEADING without knowing WHERE
II. TEST #2: A DELAYED PROMISE
Hebrews 11:9–10 NIV84
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
A real believer will WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING without knowing WHEN
III. TEST #3: AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM
Hebrews 11:11–12 NIV84
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
A real believer will EXPECT A MIRACLE without knowing HOW
IV. TEST #4: A SENSELESS TRAGEDY
Hebrews 11:17–19 NIV84
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
A real believer will TRUST GOD’S PURPOSE without knowing WHY
Which of these tests are you going through now?
How do you rate as a believer?
- - Hebrews 11:8MESSAGE
- - Genesis 12:1–7MESSAGE
- - Hebrews 11:9–10MESSAGE
- - Hebrews 11:11–12MESSAGE
- - Hebrews 11:17–19MESSAGE
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
- - 1 John 3.16NRSV

THE FOUR TESTS OF A REAL BELIEVER

I. TEST #1: A MAJOR CHANGE (vs. 8)

A real believer will FOLLOW GOD’S LEADING without knowing WHERE

II. TEST #2: A DELAYED PROMISE

A real believer will WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING without knowing WHEN

III. TEST #3: AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM

A real believer will EXPECT A MIRACLE without knowing HOW

IV. TEST #4: A SENSELESS TRAGEDY

A real believer will TRUST GOD’S PURPOSE without knowing WHY

Which of these tests are you going through now?

How do you rate as a believer?

Hebrews 11:8MESSAGE

Genesis 12:1–7MESSAGE

Hebrews 11:9–10MESSAGE

Hebrews 11:11–12MESSAGE

Hebrews 11:17–19MESSAGE

1 John 3.16NRSV