Trials, Temptations and Suffering For Christ

Trials, Temptations and Suffering For Christ

A.   TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

Key Scriptures:

                              1 Peter 1:6-7               1 Corinthians 10:13

                              Hebrews 4:15             James 1-2-15

Hebrews 2:18

“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.”

                                                                                                                        1Corinthians 10:13 {NKJV}

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

                                                                                                                        1 Corinthians 10:13 {Msg}

“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.”

                                                                                                                        Hebrews 4:15 {NKJV}

“We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin.” 

Hebrews 4:15 {Msg}

“For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”     

                                                                                                                        Hebrews 2:18 {NKJV}

“It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.”

                                                                                                                        Hebrews 2:16-18 {Msg}

Introduction

We are born with a bias to go off course just like a lawn bowl. The Bible says our old nature is responsible for this (Romans 7:25). As a result we always turn from the straight course set by God's Word. When we are born again and we become children of God we are still able to sin, but we no longer have to. We are free to learn to achieve what God wants and not to mess it up as we did in the past.

What Are Temptations?

"Over the past 2,000 years the word 'temptation' has undergone a change in meaning. It once meant both ‘testing’ and 'seducing to evil' thus, having a positive and negative significance. The positive side is that temptation is a testing of our lives permitted by God, with the intent of producing spiritual growth. The negative side is that temptation is Satan's seductive enticing of the believer to live contrary to God's plan for his life.”

                                                                                                            {Arthur Wallis: Living God’s Way}

The Origins of Temptation

God never tempts anyone (James 1:13). Temptation comes from the evil one (Satan) as he plays on our own evil desires (James 1:14), or by other sinners enticing us (Proverbs 1:10). Temptations come in three basic forms:

1. Lust of the flesh.

2. Lust of the eyes.

3. The pride of life (1 John 2:15-17 AV).

Satan tempts us in many ways including:

·         Encouraging disobedience (Genesis 3:1-7).

·         Enticing to sexual immorality (Genesis 39:7-10).

·         Encouraging us to love things or people rather than God first (Malachi 4:9).

·         Encouraging love of money (John 12:6).

·         Boosting our pride (Acts 12:21-23).

·         Encouraging grumbling, murmuring and gossiping (1 Corinthians 10:10; Colossians 3:8—9).

Satan tempts us because he wants to destroy us. He wants us to desire to sin and, therefore, to go away from God. This would mean we would miss out on God's best for us. We would be burdened with guilt and, therefore, have no confidence before our heavenly Father. If we sin and do not confess that sin and ask God's forgiveness, it can become a foothold for Satan in our lives. We then serve Satan in that area and he will attempt to lead us into even greater bondage, not only in that area, but also in other areas of our lives. It is like Satan getting a hook into our lives which he uses to manipulate us.

The Purpose of Trials and Temptations

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials (temptations) of many kinds because you know
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."                                                (James 1:2—3)

In Job 1:12 and Job 2:6 we see that God actually gave Satan, within certain boundaries, permission to tempt Job, who was a righteous, blameless man. In the end Job overcame the trials and temptations with the help of God and so became a more mature, fruitful servant of God as a result (Job 42:1-17).

Reasons why God allows Christians to undergo trials and temptations include:

1.       They show us what we are really like. Temptations show us what we will do if given the opportunity.

2.                              They establish the pattern of our future decisions. The function of trials and temptations is
always to trigger a choice and provoke a definite stand or action. The more we give into
temptation, the easier it is psychologically to give in again. This also weakens our resolve not to
sin in other areas of our lives. The more we resist temptation, the more mature we become and the
more likely to make mature decisions in the future.

3.                              They are designed to assist in the preparation of our lives to receive the good things God desires to
give us. The question is whether we have the capacity to receive what God has promised.
Untempered steel, given too much pressure, will break. Trials and temptations are designed to
prepare us to receive what we long to have in God. The fact that we are faced with a certain
temptation is proof in itself that we are able to deal with it successfully in God. God never allows
us to be tempted or tested beyond our 'breaking point'. For a temptation to come your way, it must
have the full permission of God. You must play your part, however, and live in obedience to God,
and thereby not place yourself where you are tempted to sin.

4.                              They expose our weaknesses so that we can discover where we need God's strength and grace
(2 Chronicles 32:31; Deuteronomy 8:2).

5.                              They are allowed by God to come upon us in order to:

• Humble, teach and discipline us (Deuteronomy 8:2-5).
• Refine us (Psalm 66:10).
• Check our foundations (1 Corinthians 3:10—15).
• Remove what can be shaken (Hebrews 12:25-29).
• Develop perseverance which, when it finishes its work, yields maturity, completeness and no lack in anything (James 1:2-4).
• Strengthen our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). —        
• Enable us to be an overcomer (Revelation 2 & 3).

How to Deal with Temptation

1.                              By using the Word of God as Jesus did (Matthew 4:1 — 11).

2.                              Being watchful (keep your eyes open, be aware of the tactics of the enemy) and prayerful (be
continually developing a close relationship with God) so that you will not enter into tempt;
(Matthew 6:41; Mark 14:38).

3.                              By a deliberate decision and act of the will (2 Timothy 2:22; Proverbs 4:14-15; 1 Peter 2:1

4.                              By cultivating in increasing measure faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance,
godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2 Peter 1:5—9).

5.                              By not giving Satan an opportunity or opening in your life (Ephesians 4:27).

6.                              By submitting to God and resisting the devil (James 4:7).

7.                              By putting on your spiritual armour to enable you to stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18).

8.                              By looking to Jesus. He was tempted in all respects as we are (Hebrews 4:15), therefore, He is able
to help us to overcome temptation as He did (Hebrews 2:18).

Immediate Restoration

It is easy to sin when we are tempted. In fact, every Christian has experienced this! Just confess it to C and ask Him to forgive you and He will (1 John 1:9 — this verse was written mainly to Christians)

The Results of Temptation

(i) If yielded to: that is, if the wrong decision is made, it becomes sin.

Temptation may lead to sin but only if we make the definite choice in that direction.
Temptation is not the cause of wrong doing: it just presents us with a choice. A continual giving in to temptation will result in destruction because we are responsible for decisions (James 1:15).

(ii) If resisted: that is, if the right decision is made:

·         The Lord is glorified.

·         The Christian grows stronger in that particular area of life,

·         The Christian's love for and obedience to the Lord is confirmed,

·         The Christian's capacity to receive from God is enlarged.

·         The Christian becomes an overcomer. (Victory means nothing unless a battle is involved).

·         The Christian grows in faith and in maturity.

·         The Christian is refined and less likely to be shaken.

Conclusion

Every Christian, young and old alike, knows what it is to be tempted to sin. It is one of the most familiar experiences of the child of God. However, it is not necessary for a Christian to sin, because God has given him the power to resist temptation.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful: He will not let you
be tempted beyond that which you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out
so that you can stand up under it."                                                                              (1 Corinthians 10:13)

We do not have to yield to temptation, as God will give us strength to resist and overcome if we look to Him. Temptation is not sin. Even Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). It is yielding to temptation that is sin. Even if we do fail, we have forgiveness available to us in Jesus. Jesus was judged, condemned and punished for all our sins, therefore, if we ask God for forgiveness we can forget about that sin and go on with life, clean and right before God (1 John 1:9).

"For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have
one who has been tempted in every way, yet without sin."                                      (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus experienced the same temptations as we do and yet He resisted them all and did not sin once. He can help us, as Christians, to do the same if we give our lives over to Him. God tests us for our good but Satan tempts us for evil (James 1:12-16). However, as disciples of Jesus, whether we face trials or temptations, God is in control.

Courtesy:

Understanding the Dept of Discipleship

{The Foundations of Christian Living}

By: Bob Gordon with David Fardouly.