There was a time as a young believer when the triple “T” scared me and it was also confusing to me. I honestly avoided scriptures that talked about tests, trials, and temptations.
There was one of the triple “T’s” I was more sure about than the others. The problem was a lack of understanding of the character of God and how God operates. It was the lack of understanding of His intentions and purposes for our lives. Where do all these tests, trials, and temptations come from? Who is behind it all? What is the source? I used to think at one time it was all God. The Bible is fantastic and will straighten out our crooked way of thinking if we stay with the Word of God. Religion, false teaching, personal experiences, and feelings can distort our view regarding God and how He operates. Religion and the Devil will tell you it’s all from God. It is more about man’s opinions, personal feelings, and experiences than the truth of the scriptures. If we base it upon those things it can distort our views of the triple “T”. (Tests, Trials, and Temptations) It can lead us in the wrong direction.
Let’s look at the word temptation and the words tempt or tempted. The Greek word for temptation is peirasmos (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary). The Word tempt or tempted is the Greek is the word peirazō (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.) Both Greek words have similar meanings. It means to try whether a thing can be done or not. To cause something to fail or not. To test, scrutinize, or entice. Let’s look at some scriptures:
Matthew 6:13 (NKJV) -13 And do not lead us into temptation But deliver us from the evil one.For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 26:41 (KJV) -41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Luke 4:13 (KJV) -13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. ( Cf-Luke 4:2 )
Luke 8:13 (KJV) -13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
James 1:13 (KJV) -13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:14 (NKJV) -14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
We see in context that temptation, and tempted are in a negative view. “Lead us not into, watch and pray that we enter not into, the devil ended all his temptations, fall away in the time of, God cannot be tempted with evil.” What is the source of temptation? It is our flesh and the Devil. There is nothing wrong with your spirit. It is righteous and holy. You are not a bad person because you have been tempted. Please know that it is not God who is tempting you. He is not leading us into temptation. We see temptation as something evil and that God is not associated with evil. We live in a sinful world, the Devil is the god of this world and he is bent on causing us to fail. To see us break under the pressures of life. To give up, fall away, and blame God. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy-( John 10:10 ).
What do we do in these times of temptation? We are to submit to God’s Word, be vigilant, sober-minded, and resist the devil-( James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9). It also tells us to let patience or endurance have its completed work. ( James 1:2-4 ). Remember it’s faith through patience or endurance that we inherit the promises of God. Our default position when facing temptation is Joy. Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) -25 Anxiety ( heaviness) in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. Temptations can cause anxiety, stress, or heaviness. God’s Word is a good word to remember in times of temptation. The Spirit of grace is imparted to us as we look to Jesus. It causes the joy inside of us to manifest. We experience overcoming power in whatever temptation is at hand. James 1:12 (KJV) 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. In times of temptation-loving God and determining to walk in a way that pleases Him is a key to overcoming temptations. We love Him more than what is tempting us. We will wear a crown of victory rather than a crown of guilt, shame, and condemnation.
We see in the life of Jesus that he overcame temptations by speaking the Word of God. He was putting his focus on the Word of God rather than on temptation. ( Luke 4:4 )You can’t be tempted by what you don’t focus on, think, or imagine. Temptation is to draw you away from the Word of God. To draw you away from righteous behavior. Romans 8:5-6 (KJV) -5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; (Death- separation) but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. What we think about matters, and what we feed ourselves either by watching, reading, or listening. Jesus in Jesus out. Word of God in, Word of God out. We need to be more Word of God conscience than sin or flesh conscience. We find in 2 Peter 2:8-9 (KJV) regarding Lot who dwelt in Sodom– 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations….” Lot chose to live in an ungodly place and it made life very difficult for him. Thank God he makes a way of escape. He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. It’s through the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have a choice to make!
Let’s look at James 1:2-4 (NKJV) -2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall ( be surrounded with ) into various trials, ( KJB- Temptation )3 knowing that the testing ( KJB -Trying ) of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The temptation here is peirasmos. ( Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.) so the source as stated above is from the enemy. We are in a spiritual battle. We are not cruising along on the Love boat but on a battleship! Lot’s soul was vexed, in pain, in torture, and toil because of all the ungodliness around him. Sometimes we have to remove ourselves from that which is tempting us. Notice it says to let patience or endurance have its perfect or completed work. It does not say to let whatever is tempting us have its perfect work. If you’re facing a trial, a sickness, or some difficulty it’s not coming from God. Resisting temptation is your faith enduring over the long haul. It causes us to overcome. Your faith has been proved by your resistance to temptation. Your faith in temptation (Trust in ) is God’s opportunity to promote and bless you!
The word trying or testing in James 1:2 is dokimion – ( Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.) This means the act of proving oneself true. This is the same Greek word in 1 Peter 1:7 (KJV) -7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. So dokimon is the God side of the equation. The proving of your faith. A faith that will not quit in times of temptation. It will bring honor and glory to God. The Amplified Bible puts it this way. John 16:33 (AMP) 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]. Everyone gets tempted from time to time but that doesn’t mean that you sinned against God. It is what you do with that temptation that matters. You can yield to that temptation or resist it. God is not the source of that temptation, The true source is Satan, demons, or our carnal fleshly mind or self that is not walking after the Spirit. (The Word of God). The Word of God is the proving ground where the genuineness of your faith is tested. The Word of God will put you over.
Finally, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 (KJV) -13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (Gk. let be, permit, leave alone ) you to be tempted above that ye are able ( Gk power, endure ); but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, ( Gk. way out, to go out, to escape ) that ye may be able to bear ( endure ) it. 4 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. The word Temptation is peirasmos (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.) The word tempted is peirazō (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary ). As stated above its source is the enemy of our souls. God is faithful, and trustworthy and equips us with His word to overcome. He will not leave us or forsake us and will provide or has provided a way to go out and escape the temptation. When I yielded to temptation in my life I would think to myself afterward, “God you said you would provide a way of escape.” He did I just didn’t choose His way but my way. It wasn’t God’s fault I yielded to the temptation. I didn’t flee when I should have. When there is temptation it’s an opportunity to prove the Word of God in my life that it is sufficient to meet and overcome the temptations. Temptations and trials we face every day. Look at John 16:33 (AMP)–33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] The testing or proving ground again is the Word of God. We think God sent the test, no He sent the Word!
You too can be an overcomer in life! The Bible says you are. Start today and count it all joy knowing who is on your side and who lives within you ( Philemon 1:6 ). Temptation is not more powerful than the Word of God. The temptation may seem at times like a locomotive bearing down the track towards you and you think you can’t stop it. The Devil would want you to believe that. What you believe in times of temptation is so very important. So get off that track and back into the Word of God and the loving arms of Jesus! If He overcame temptations you can too, because He lives in you! God will bless and promote you just like He did Jesus after the wilderness temptation. Luke 4:14 (KJV)-14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
Love in Christ
Brent and Linda
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