B-A-C
Loyal
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 11,079
I have to admit, there have been many times in my life, I felt I was under spiritual attack. I have to admit I have said things like "Satan really has it out for me today".
I also have to admit I have prayed many times for God take the testing and temptation away from me. But often He doesn't. ... why not?
The Bible says we will be tested.
1Pet 4:12; Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
Jas 1:2; Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
Jas 1:3; knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Jas 1:4; And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If I'm honest here, I rarely "consider it all joy", when I'm going through a test or trial.
Heb 11:17; By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
I used to think Satan just had his way with me, whenever he wanted to torment me, he would just keep tempting me until I gave in.
But I don't see this in the Bible. It seems that whenever Satan wants to test us Christians, he has to ask permission from God.
In Job 1:6-12; we see that God offers Satan to test Job. But Satan has to do it according to God's rules.
In Job 2:3-6; we again see God letting Satan test Job. But again, he has to do it according to God's rules.
In Luke 22, Jesus tells Peter, Satan has asked permission to test you.
Luke 22:31; "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
So it seems Satan can't test us without God's permission. This is important to remember next time you feel like you are under spiritual attack.
If it really is Satan attacking you, then he has God's permission to do so. ( according to God's rules ). So maybe we shouldn't ask God to take away
the testing and trials. Maybe we shouldn't complain about them. Even Jesus asked if "this cup" could be removed from Him. But in the end,
God made Him go through it. ... why? God allowed us to be tested, because it reveals our nature and maturity. "The proof of your faith".
1Pet 1:6; In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1Pet 1:7; so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The "proof of our faith" is tested? What does that mean?
In the old testament, people were tested by God quite frequently it seems.
Deut 13:3; you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were told to bow down to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar the king. They were being tested. They told the king, we will not bow down to your image.
Dan 3:17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
So Nebuchadnezzar has them thrown into a fiery furnace ( after making it 7 times hotter ), The key here, is that these say "even if He does not" deliver us, we are still going to worship Him and not you.
Of course we know the story, their hair isn't singed, their clothes aren't burned, they don't even smell like smoke. Because of this the King tells the whole country to worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
Not only that, the king causes them to prosper after this.
Dan 3:30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
It's much the same with Daniel, he is told to bow down and worship another god, he refuses, and he is thrown in the lion's den. ( Daniel 6 ). We know how this story ends also. In fact the king says..
Dan 6:26; "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.
and again...
Dan 6:28; So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
.. the king causes Daniel to prosper after he has passed the test. I don't know if it always happens, but it seems often in the Bible people are rewarded for passing a test from God.
Even Jesus was tested. ( Matt 4:1; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2; ) .. again you might be tempted to say, this was Satan's idea. But no.. who leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted?
Matt 4:1; Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Now it seems a lot of the time, God uses Satan to test us... but sometimes we are tested even without Satan's help.
Heb 11:17; By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
God Himself tested Abraham's faith directly. It doesn't say Satan was involved in this test at all. But God never allows us to be tempted past what we can bear.
1Cor 10:13; No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
So next time you are going through the battle, the testing and trials, don't ask God to remove it. Pass the test!,.. you can do all things through Him.
I also have to admit I have prayed many times for God take the testing and temptation away from me. But often He doesn't. ... why not?
The Bible says we will be tested.
1Pet 4:12; Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
Jas 1:2; Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
Jas 1:3; knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Jas 1:4; And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If I'm honest here, I rarely "consider it all joy", when I'm going through a test or trial.
Heb 11:17; By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
I used to think Satan just had his way with me, whenever he wanted to torment me, he would just keep tempting me until I gave in.
But I don't see this in the Bible. It seems that whenever Satan wants to test us Christians, he has to ask permission from God.
In Job 1:6-12; we see that God offers Satan to test Job. But Satan has to do it according to God's rules.
In Job 2:3-6; we again see God letting Satan test Job. But again, he has to do it according to God's rules.
In Luke 22, Jesus tells Peter, Satan has asked permission to test you.
Luke 22:31; "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
So it seems Satan can't test us without God's permission. This is important to remember next time you feel like you are under spiritual attack.
If it really is Satan attacking you, then he has God's permission to do so. ( according to God's rules ). So maybe we shouldn't ask God to take away
the testing and trials. Maybe we shouldn't complain about them. Even Jesus asked if "this cup" could be removed from Him. But in the end,
God made Him go through it. ... why? God allowed us to be tested, because it reveals our nature and maturity. "The proof of your faith".
1Pet 1:6; In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1Pet 1:7; so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The "proof of our faith" is tested? What does that mean?
In the old testament, people were tested by God quite frequently it seems.
Deut 13:3; you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were told to bow down to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar the king. They were being tested. They told the king, we will not bow down to your image.
Dan 3:17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
So Nebuchadnezzar has them thrown into a fiery furnace ( after making it 7 times hotter ), The key here, is that these say "even if He does not" deliver us, we are still going to worship Him and not you.
Of course we know the story, their hair isn't singed, their clothes aren't burned, they don't even smell like smoke. Because of this the King tells the whole country to worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
Not only that, the king causes them to prosper after this.
Dan 3:30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
It's much the same with Daniel, he is told to bow down and worship another god, he refuses, and he is thrown in the lion's den. ( Daniel 6 ). We know how this story ends also. In fact the king says..
Dan 6:26; "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.
and again...
Dan 6:28; So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
.. the king causes Daniel to prosper after he has passed the test. I don't know if it always happens, but it seems often in the Bible people are rewarded for passing a test from God.
Even Jesus was tested. ( Matt 4:1; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2; ) .. again you might be tempted to say, this was Satan's idea. But no.. who leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted?
Matt 4:1; Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Now it seems a lot of the time, God uses Satan to test us... but sometimes we are tested even without Satan's help.
Heb 11:17; By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
God Himself tested Abraham's faith directly. It doesn't say Satan was involved in this test at all. But God never allows us to be tempted past what we can bear.
1Cor 10:13; No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
So next time you are going through the battle, the testing and trials, don't ask God to remove it. Pass the test!,.. you can do all things through Him.
