This study was first taught on June 11, 2013

Topic: The Essence of the Holy Spirit In Our Lives (5.3): Temptation or Testing (2)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we took a deeper look at the word ‘temptation’, which as used in the King James Version of the bible could denote temptation by the devil, or, testing by God; and which for ardent King James Version readers, can be difficult to differentiate. To differentiate between temptation and testing, we defined the former as the lure, seduction, and deception of the devil, or the devil’s appeal to the flesh, with the intention of making a believer in Christ to sin, fall from the grace of God, and end up in hell; and, the latter as, the proving by God of a believer in Christ’s faith (reliance, dependence, trust) in God, and his faithfulness (loyalty, devotion, dedication) to God. Hence, while temptation in the real sense of the word is of the devil, testing is of God.

We said that the response of the believer in Christ to temptation or testing will reveal either the failure of the believer in Christ to adhere to God’s word, or his resolve to hold fast on to God no matter what; and we made the following observations:
1. God cannot and does not tempt the believer in Christ to do evil; but He can, and does test him to see whether or not he will obey God.
a) God’s test really is to prove to the believer in Christ, and the devil, the believer’s absolute dependence on, and unflinching devotion to God.
b) God can, and does orchestrate tough and rough times, and then watches to see whether or not the believer would follow Him and do His word.
c) One of two things can then happen: if the believer’s response is positive, God comes into that situation and stays with him, through the difficulty so that he is able to endure it; and if not, the believer invariably opens himself up to the devil who brings condemnation upon him.
2. The devil is the tempter, and he tempts believers in Christ to do evil. His goal in tempting them is to make them sin against God, so that they can be condemned and confined to hell with him (the devil) and his demons.
3. As much as God will never tempt believers in Christ to do evil, He nonetheless takes advantage of the devil’s role of ‘tempter’, allowing the devil to tempt the believer in Christ, to prove to the devil that His children (believers in Christ) will not yield to the devil’s temptation.
a) And for this purpose, the believer in Christ has been given resources with which to overcome the devil and his wiles; and they include the whole armour of God, and the weapons of the word of God and prayer.
b) Furthermore, God is nearer to the believer in Christ in times of temptation and testing, than can be imagined; suffering, sharing, comforting, and strengthening, him in his afflictions.
4. Where the believer in Christ successfully overcomes temptation, God’s glory is revealed in the believer, to the shame of the devil, but to the delight of God; and unfortunately, where the believer fails, he shames God!

Scripture Text(s)
James 1:12-16
Tonight, we shall be concluding on the difference between ‘temptation’ and ‘testing’, as we look at the ways to ensure success for the believer in either case. May the Lord grant us eternal success in overcoming temptation, and in proving our loyalty and devotion to God, through the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Regardless of the difference between ‘temptation’ and ‘testing’; in practice, the difference is not as glaring; and it will require more than the knowledge of the difference between temptation and testing, for the believer in Christ to be standing at the end of the day.
James 1:14-15; 1 John 2:15-16; Genesis 3:6; 4:3-8; Matthew 16:21-23; Philippians 2:21; Galatians 5:17; Acts 7:51; Romans 8:5-8; 7:15-23; 6:1-4; John 12:24-25; 1 Corinthians 6:12; Colossians 2:11-15; 3:5-9, 1-2; Galatians 5:24-26; Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 6:14-16; 1 Peter 1:2.

Conclusion
Temptation is an attempt to get the believer in Christ to act or live contrary to the word of God. Temptation is successful, when the desire of the believer in Christ is at variance with the desire or will of God, resulting in the believer being drawn away by the lure of the devil. Sin is born as a result of the intercourse between our selfish desires and the devil’s appeal to, or lure of the flesh, ultimately resulting in eternal death! Similarly, many believers in Christ fail the test of God, and fall into the hands of the devil because they are mindful of the things of the flesh and its concerns.

One thing that can make for the success or failure of the believer in Christ in times of testing or temptation is the flesh! If the flesh is alive and active in a believer in Christ, he will fail the test of God and fall into the temptation of the devil; but if the flesh has been crucified and put to death, the loyalty and dedication of the believer in Christ to God is proven, and he is able to overcome temptation. Hence, if we are to succeed in our endeavour to be fruitful, we must deal decisively with the flesh. And the way to do this is to submit ourselves to the circumcision of our hearts by the Lord, which will then enable us to obey God and His word regardless of the circumstance or condition under which we live. The ‘circumcision of the flesh’ is really the ‘cutting off’ of that part of man that desires to sin and do evil. It is the getting rid of things that can defile a believer in Christ and the things that do not glorify God in his life. It is a work of grace by the Holy Spirit, and is really what is known as sanctification.

The sanctified believer in Christ is not concerned with whether or not a situation is one of testing or temptation; all he is concerned with, is doing the will of God! Let us, therefore, resolve to mortify the flesh which is in us, so that God can be glorified in our lives, through our obedience to God.

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