02/11/2021
GOD WILL MAKE AWAY 2
In our last reading from the book of 1cornt. 10 :13 we are told that.
No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]. 1 Cornt. 10 : 13 AMP
Very often the word Test and Temptation are used interchangeably, it is pertinent to distinguish both in this study.
Temptation is to entice or allure someone to sin or evil. God is not capable of tempting us to sin because he is good, there is no evil in him. So, when you are tempted with evil do not say God tempted you.
“ let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God, for God can not be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. (James 1:13).
However, as we are taught in the bible, Jesus was tempted, and he over came the devil Heb. 2:18 it is based on this that we know that Jesus can help us over come temptation no matter the nature of it. If only we trust him. He will make a way for us to come out victorious. Over all types of temptations
While God will not tempt us with evil, God will Test us Ex 20: 20, when God tests us it is his way of trusting us to exercise our free will to choose. Man is not a robot but was created as an object of Gods affection to worship him. That worship though, must come from a place of pure love which we offer to God freely not by compulsion or selfishness but rather, admiration, appreciation, and devotion.
Det. 30 :19 “ this day I call heaven and earth as witness against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Also in the book of Gen.22:2 we see that Abraham’s faith in God was tested with the demand that he sacrifices his only son Isaac. So, it is not uncommon that God will test us to measure our faith in him. in doing so, God would have given us all the tools to ensure that we pass the test just as he provided all that Abraham required to make the sacrifice ahead to him. though unknown to Abraham at the time.
Similarly, today God has given us all the tools that is required to over come all test and temptation. His only begotten Son Jesus. He also gave us his word the bible, as well as our bible teachers and helpers in the ministries of help. All that God has done would be of no effect if we do not believe in him if we do not trust in his word. God wants us to exercise our free will, to Choose today life or death. To trust in him or Trust the devil’s lies.
In Gen 22: 12 – 13 Abraham lifted his eyes and looked , and behind him a ram caught in a ticket by it’s horn , he took it and offered a sacrifice to the Lord. Imagine what would have happened if Abraham did not obey or trust the God. Certainly, after this event the relationship between God and Abraham was taken to a higher level.
The best way to express what becomes of us when we obey and put our trust in God like Abraham did is captured in these words.
“ I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as silver is refined and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people and they shall say, the Lord is my God. “Zac. 13 :9.
When we receive Jesus into our life, we receive grace. The grace of God upon our life transforms us into spiritual precious metals. For the beauty of a precious metal to be revealed it MUST go through the furnace and fire. To do otherwise in the words of Charles Spurgeon is to choose the viler part – like Esau, to take the pottage and give up the covenant. The fire only refines, it does not destroy. We are to be brought through the fire not to be left in it.
My prayer for you today is that as you walk through your trials and temptation, you come out on the other side purified by the refiner’s fire. That you would be a diadem in the hands of the Almighty God. in Jesus name. Amen!
Rev. KENNY THOMPSON