Recently I prayed for a friend who lives in Macedonia. Folks it not just going on here. The whole world is struggling out there today. And we seem to only see the many obstacles rather than looking beyond them. They are clearly only trials placed by God for the purpose of growing us. Yet we often become so troubled or burdened that we often cannot see past what is obvious and the truth. God promises us that we will have no burden no temptations which we are unable to bare.
1 Cor 10:13-17 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. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
The word temptation is broken down here in the Greek to demonstrate the breadth of this message:
Peirasmos, pi-ras-mos'
From Peirazō; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, examine try.
Peirazō, pi-rad'-zo
From Peira; to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.
Peira, pi'-rah
From the base of peran (through the idea of piercing); a test, that is, attempt, experience: - assaying, trial.
Peran, per'-an
Apparently the accusative case of an obsolete derivation of πείρω peirō (to “peirce”); through (as adverb or preposition), that is, across: - beyond, farther (other) side, over.
We read in the book of Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
God does not have it out for us. He loves us and when we understand what the true or root meaning is behind the term “love” we begin to understand that it has little to do with cuddling, hugs, and kisses. When a father loves his children he corrects them. As a father I too know that correcting a child does not come easy. I have a son that I love more than life itself; yet I have often failed because of my emotions of when I needed to correct him as it was required I failed.
God requires our attention, He requires our blood, He requires our service.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Acts 16:16-21 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
What just happened here brethren? Let me go over it again just to insure that all of you caught it. Re-read Acts 16:16-21. Here in verse 17 the same spirits are openly proclaiming to belong to or be of the same mind of Godly men, meaning that they were like minded and in agreement with Paul. Yet when Paul in the next verse casts out this spirit of “ divination.” Her masters, who profited from the deadly deception thus felt their loss, what did they do? They turned on them, they showed their true colors, they drug Paul and Silas to the rulers and saw to it that they were beaten with rods and finally imprisoned. Brethren its not any different out there today. The spirit of deception creeps in and works like a cancer. It eats away at the foundation of the church and man sits back watches, does nothing, and falls prey.
Man can be and is evil. He knowingly in submits to the Devil then draws from his evil spirits. These spirits whether you believe in them or not are all around us. Highly intelligent and they will confuse us. Refereed to as emotional battles, perhaps a woman coined that phrase. Now I admit that I watch TV with my wife and unfortunately her taste is towards the supernatural. There are TV shows embrace the lies of ghost hunters and mediums. I'm troubled when I overhear her watching these. I'm not able to control the “remote.” And when I challenge her choice of entertainment, DEADLY type of entertainment brethren. It only entertains the demons and Satan himself. The amount of deception out there is purposely misleading and is demonically designed for the pure purpose of leading man astray, or more personally leading man towards believing the deception and leading him “To Hell!”. Brethren when we take our focus off God we will pay a penalty. It is required of us to take heed, to follow, to listen to His mandates. When we choose not to, we will be found looking like fools or even dead in the wake of these trials.
Job 1:6-7 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
The Old Testament “sons of God” are fallen angels. Do not confuse these with the the New Testament “sons of God” meaning saved, adopted, and redeemed Christian's, otherwise known as the true men of God! This is what God is referring to when we are mandated to rightly divide. 2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
James 1:1-8 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
In Closing: Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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