Growing through the subject test
Contents
Exams give you the opportunity to choose. Whereas Satan uses temptation as an important tool to destroy us, God wants to use it to grow us. Every time we choose to do good instead of sinning, we grow more like Christ. To understand it, we must understand the characteristics of Jesus' character. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that most intensively reveals His character. These nine qualities are an extended great commandment, a beautiful description of Jesus Christ. Jesus is perfect love, joy, peace, patience, and all the other qualities a single person could have. To bear the fruit of the Spirit is to become like Christ.
So how does the Holy Spirit produce these nine fruits in our lives? Are you making it on the fly? Do we sleep and wake up full of these fruits all night long? no. The fruits grow slowly and ripen.
God allows us to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives by allowing us to experience situations in which we may be tempted and display the opposite characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. The growth of character always has to do with choices, and tests give us that opportunity. For example, God teaches us to love by having unlovable people around us. Loving those who are lovable and love us has nothing to do with character. God teaches us true joy when we seek Him in our sorrow.
God grants true peace within us by letting us experience chaos and bewilderment when things don't go according to our plan. Anyone can enjoy peace while watching a beautiful sunset or enjoying a vacation. We learn true peace by choosing to trust God in situations that are tested by our worries and fears. Likewise, patience is cultivated in situations of pressure to wait and the tests of anger and impatience. God uses the opposite situation for each fruit to make us choose. You cannot claim to be good if you have never been tested. You cannot claim to be faithful unless you have had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Honesty is built by overcoming the temptation to tell lies, humility grows when we try not to be arrogant, and perseverance strengthens whenever we face the temptation to give up.
Every time we overcome temptation, we become more like Jesus.
How are the exams coming?
It is helpful to know that what Satan does is predictable. He has been using the same strategy and old tricks since the beginning. All tests follow the same pattern. We learn from the Bible that temptation follows a four-step process, which Satan did when tempting Adam, Eve and Jesus.
1) Satan creates desire in us. Beware of shortcuts It can be tempting. Satan whispers. “You deserve it. It will be fun, comforting, and even more pleasing to you!” We think temptation is high around us, but God says it begins within us. Tests always happen in our minds, not in the circumstances. Jesus said: “For from within, out of the heart of a man, come evil thoughts: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, a lustful eye, blasphemy, pride and madness. ” (Mark 7:21-23)
2) It is doubtful. Satan does everything he can to get us to doubt what God has said about sin. Is that really wrong? Did God really tell him not to do it? Couldn't God just forbid this to someone else or at some point? Doesn't God want us to be happy? The Bible warns: “Brothers, take heed, lest any of you harbor an unbelieving evil spirit and fall from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).
3) It is false. Satan has no power to tell the truth and is called the father of lies. Satan uses his lies to replace what God has already said. Satan says: “You will not die. You will become wiser like God. It can pass without anyone knowing. Your problem will be solved. And everyone is doing that. It is just a small sin.” But small sins are like early pregnancy. Eventually it will be revealed.
4) Disobedience. Eventually, we will put the ideas in our heads into action. What was initially just a thought becomes an action. It has passed on to something that caught our attention. We believe in Satan's lies and fall into the trap that James warned of.
“But each one is tempted, being drawn away and deceived by his own lust; and lust has conceived and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16).
win the exam
Knowing how the exam is approaching is helpful in itself. However, there are some specific steps you need to take to overcome the test.
1) Don't be afraid.
Many Christians feel guilty about not being tempted, fearful and demoralized at the thought of being tempted. They are ashamed just to be tested. This is a misconception about maturity. We can never escape the test. Be realistic about the fact that testing is inevitable. We can never avoid temptation. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). ).
It is not a sin to be tempted. Even Jesus was tempted, but he did not sin. It's not a sin unless you pass that test. Martin Luther said, "You cannot stop birds from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from making nests over your head." We can't stop Satan from making us think, but we can choose not to settle for those thoughts and turn them into actions.
In fact, the closer we get to God, the more Satan will tempt us. The moment we become children of God, Satan writes a contract to harm us, just as he hires thugs and murderers.
2) Identify the aspect of the exam and prepare for it.
Ask yourself. “When am I most vulnerable to tests? What day is it? What time of day is it? Where am I most tested? at work? At home? at the neighbor's house? Let's ask this question again. “Who is with me when I am most tested? friends? colleague? A bunch of strangers? When am I alone?” Maybe it's when I'm tired, lonely, bored, depressed, or stressed. Or maybe it's hurt, angry, worried, or after great success or spiritual fulfillment. We need to understand the pattern of our temptation and prepare to avoid it as much as possible.
3) Ask God for help.
If God is waiting to help us overcome temptation, why don't we ask Him for help more often? To be honest, sometimes we don't want to be helped. Knowing that we are wrong, we fall into temptation. In that moment, we think we know better than God what is better for ourselves.
God is not angry, bored, or impatient if we keep going back to Him. the bible says “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Temptation keeps us dependent on God. Just like the wind makes the roots of a tree stronger. So every time we face temptation, we become more like Jesus. Just because we fall doesn't mean it's fatal. Instead of giving in or giving up, look to God. Seek His help and remember that your reward awaits.
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for after being approved in this he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).