TESTING, TESTING ONE, TWO!
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OUR FAMILY TRAVELED THE COUNTRY SINGING GOSPEL MUSIC. WHEN WE ARRIVED TO OUR DESTINATION, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SET UP AND CHECK OUT THE PA SYSTEM. AFTER THE SPEAKERS WERE PLUGGED IN, IT WAS VERY ESSENTIAL TO TEST THE MICROPHONES. WE WOULD NORMALLY DO THAT BY SAYING, TESTING, TESTING ONE, TWO. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!
ON ONE HAND, TEMPTATION SIGNIFIES ANY ATTEMPT TO ENTICE SOMEONE TO EVIL, ESPECIALLY SATAN. ON THE OTHER HAND TEMPTATION INDICATES A TESTING WHICH AIMS AT SPIRITUAL GOOD, WHICH IS ALWAYS ATTRIBUTED TO GOD. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THESE MEANINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AS YOU READ GOD’S WORD.
NATURALLY THE SIDE OF BEING TEMPTED BY GOD IS A TIME OF TESTING FOR SPIRITUAL GOOD. IT IS USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPROVING, IMPROVING, AND SOMETIMES REPROVING.
KEEPING ALL THIS IN MIND, WE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THESE TIMES OF TESTING. IN FACT, THE BIBLE SAYS WE NEED TO BE JOYFUL ABOUT IT.
JAM 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
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PRAISE GOD, MY COMPANY IS DOWNSIZING, AND THEY INFORMED ME TODAY THAT I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO GET A PINK SLIP.
PRAISE GOD, I INTERVIEWED FOR A NEW JOB, AND THEY OFFERED IT TO SOMEONE YOUNGER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE.
PRAISE GOD, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS COMING TO STAY INDEFINITELY.
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HEB 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
THE OBJECTIVE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN IS TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS.
JAM 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF TEMPTING OR TESTING CAME FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS. ALL TEMPTING OR TESTING FROM GOD IS ALWAYS FOR SPIRITUL GOOD FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPROVING, IMPROVING, OR REPROVING.
LET’S READ ALL ABOUT IT!
GEN 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
GEN 22:2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
GEN 22:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
GEN 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
GEN 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
GEN 22:6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
GEN 22:7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
GEN 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
GEN 22:9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
GEN 22:10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
GEN 22:11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
GEN 22:12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
GEN 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
WHEN TESTING COMES, WE NEED TO DO THESE THINGS:
1) HUMBLE OURSELVES-
1PE 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
PRO 6:16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
PRO 6:17 A proud look is the first one listed!
WHY DO WE THINK WE CAN ALWAYS SOLVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS WITHOUT GOD?
2) CAST IT TO GOD-
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
(ILLUSTRATE- HAND A BIBLE TO SOMEONE. SOMETIMES WE GIVE TO GOD WHILE WE HOLD ON TO IT!) HE SAID CAST IT!
YOU CAN’T FIX IT, LET GOD FIX IT.
3) SIMPLY TRUST GOD-
HEB 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
WHY PRAY IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE GOD CAN DO IT?
WE SHOULD DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM. (DILIGENT MEANS WITH PAINSTAKING EFFORT. YOU WANT PAIN, TRY FASTING FOR YOUR REWARD. JESUS SAID THAT SOMETIMES DEMONS CAN BE REMOVED ONLY BY PRAYER AND FASTING.
GOD WILL MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE, AND THE NATURAL, SUPERNATURAL.
1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
