JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 11, 2015 — God allows Christians to go through tests so he can give them rich rewards, Tennessee Baptist Convention President Michael Ellis told 黑料论坛 students Sept. 9.
Ellis, senior pastor of Impact Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, spoke in a chapel service in G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel. He said God will test every Christian鈥檚 purpose, praise and profession to mold them into his image.
鈥淕od wants us to have pure profession of faith,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淭he test of our purpose is not for him. The test of our purpose is for us.鈥�
Ellis said tests are opportunities to be witnesses for Christ, and Christians must enter into trials ready to praise God.
鈥淭he praises of the Lord ought to be on our lips at all times,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淚f you say you love the Lord, he鈥檚 gonna test to see if you really love him, so that somebody else can see that you love him. Others ought to see your praise.鈥�
Empty words do not glorify God, Ellis said, but rather he is glorified when hearts are changed and Christians praise his name with joy and sincerity.
鈥淲e ought to love him and serve him,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淭hat we might push back lostness from east Tennessee to west Tennessee. We ought to have a heart for professing faith that others would get connected to our profession and receive Christ.鈥�
Holding up the Bible, Ellis said all tests can be passed with God鈥檚 help. Every problem, he said, be it about a relationship or friendship, can be passed if time is spent studying the Bible.
鈥淭he ship is only a test,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to sink, because Jesus said that as long as he鈥檚 on board, it鈥檚 gonna continue to float no matter how many holes are in the boat.鈥�
Christians face tests and temptations, he said, but the devil tempts to destroy while God tests to reward. Reading James 1:12, Ellis said Christians should endure tests with hope.
鈥淵ou need to be encouraged that God is working it out for your good,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淕od has a crown of life for you at the end of the test.鈥�
Hope should be found in Christ alone, Ellis said, because Jesus passed every test given to him. Jesus, he said, even had a 鈥渂eatitude about passing the test.鈥�
鈥淛esus held on from the cradle to the cross that no one would be lost,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淣o man knows the day or the hour that God shall appear, but one thing we do know is that if you have him as your savior, it doesn鈥檛 matter when he appears. It doesn鈥檛 matter because you belong to him.鈥�
Video of Ellis鈥� address is available at .