The certainty of temptations, trials, and tests for believers
There is no place in the bible where believers are promised of freedom from temptation. Tests and temptations come to all classes of people in life. Jesus who is our perfect example was severally tempted. Tests come to reveal our inner strengths or weaknesses. Revelation 2:26-28; 3:4, 5.
Why believers are tested
Tests come to prove our faith, loyalty, and faithfulness. Satan, the most subtle creature brought the first temptation on earth, using the closest woman to man.
What does God expect from us when temptations come?
No matter where the source of the temptation is, we are all expected to overcome it. Most deliverance candidates have prayed themselves out of bondage but before you know it, they fall back to temptation. Our deliverance can never be perfected until we overcome certain temptations, especially from besetting sins.
Tests and temptations can come in different forms and from different people
Your test may come through a well-respected minister who is too close to you. Familiarity or your closeness to the tempter can make temptation difficult to overcome or hard to resist. You may be carried away by the position, wealth or the wisdom of the tempter, and before you know it, you fall to it.
“The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink“. Jeremiah 35:1, 2
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed“. Galatians 1:6-8
Most victims of temptation think that once the tempter is a well-respected man or woman of God, it is not a sin. But Paul said that even if he is the tempter, the brethren in Galatians should take their stand for God. We need to overcome the temptation that comes from our enemies, close friends, or well-respected people in the church or government.
“Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem“. Jeremiah. 35:3-11
Your temptation may come from someone you can never resist or say no to. Watch out because that may be your next temptation. To overcome temptation, we must be conscious of the presence of God at all times and everywhere. God may be waiting for you to break out of a sinful entanglement or an evil relationship before your deliverance can be perfected.
There are blessings attached to overcoming temptations
True overcomers are people who have succeeded in overcoming temptations from any source at all. There are many levels of temptation; each level you overcome determines how God will bless you.
Joseph overcame the temptations that came his way
If you limit your involvement mainly to morally strong people, then you are likely to overcome immorality. But sometimes, God may want to promote you to another level spiritually and so you may come across morally loose people. In your exposition, you may come in contact with people who may only offer you free sex. In some other places, you may be exposed to those whose offers are in a particular place. In other places, you may meet people who are ready to take you out to any part of the world and offer you anything you want on earth materially, in exchange for sex. Joseph was a young man of remarkable moral strength. He overcame his temptations with a courageous sense of responsibility and high moral standard.
“And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out“. Genesis 39:7-12
Joseph passed through all levels of temptation. He was hated by his brethren for no just cause; they conspired against him, sold him for silver and he became a slave and a prisoner. He was tempted but not conquered. He was falsely accused but he stood his ground without complaining, murmuring, bitterness, self-defense, petitioning, regretting, or taking revenge. He exhibited a strong moral courage before both the least and greatest immoral ladies in homes, offices, and in all places who were specially anointed by the devil to ruin his destiny. He trusted and remained faithful to God and never allowed adverse conditions or sudden promotion to make him forget God.
God is waiting for you to overcome a certain temptation before your full promotion and deliverance can come. Prepare to overcome temptations in the midst of those who walk by sight. Maintain your relationship with God everywhere you go. Don’t allow a change in the physical environment to change your attitude, character or faith. Your physical circumstances may change but Christ remains unchanging.