There is coming a test
Matthew 4:1
(MSG)
Next Jesus was taken into the wild
by the Spirit for the Test.
(KJV+)
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit
into the wilderness to be tempted (G3985) of the devil.
Strong’s Concordance: G3985 πειράζω / peirazō (pi-rad'-zo)
From G3984; to test (objectively), that is,
endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove,
tempt (-er), try.
Barnes Notes: To be tempted - The word “tempt,”
in the original [Greek], means to try, to endeavor, to attempt to do a thing;
then, to try the nature of a thing, as metals by fire; then, to test moral
qualities by trying them, to see how they will endure; then, to endeavor to
draw people away from virtue by suggesting motives to evil. This is the meaning
here, and this is now the established sense of the word in the English
language.
Matthew 4:1
(AMP)
Then Jesus was led (guided) by the
[Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by
the devil.
2 Timothy 2:15
(AMP)
Study and be
eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested
by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly
analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully
teaching] the Word of Truth.
(KJV+)
Study to shew G3936 thyself approved G1384
unto God
Strong’s G3936 παρίστημι, παριστάνω /
paristēmi, paristanō (par-is'-tay-mee,
par-is-tan'-o)
From G3844 and G2476; to stand beside, that is, (transitively) to
exhibit, proffer, (specifically) recommend, (figuratively) substantiate; or
(intransitively) to be at hand (or ready), aid: - assist, bring before,
command, commend, give presently, present, prove,
provide, shew, stand (before, by, here, up, with), yield.
Strong’s G1384 δόκιμος / dokimos (dok'-ee-mos)
From G1380; properly
acceptable (current after assayal), that is, approved: - approved, tried.
James 1:12
(AMP)
Blessed (happy, [to be envied)
is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation,
for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive
[the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
(KJV+)
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation G3936 for when he is tried G1384
Mark 4:16-17
(AMP)
16 And in the same way the [seed]
sown upon stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at once receive
and accept and welcome it with joy;
17 And they have no real root in
themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or
persecution arises on account of the
Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful)
and they stumble and fall away.
(KJV+)
when affliction G2347
or persecution ariseth for the word's sake . . .
Strong’s G2347 θλίψις / thlipsis (thlip'-sis)
From G2346; pressure
(literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened,
persecution, tribulation, trouble.
The
Tribulation is coming because of the Word’s sake! Not because times are evil.
Not because the world is out of control. The Tribulation is coming to prove
Christians!
Daniel 11:32-35
(AMP)
32 And such as violate the covenant
he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God
shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].
33 And they who are wise and
understanding among the people shall instruct many and make them understand,
though some [of them and their followers] shall fall by the sword and flame, by
captivity and plunder, for many days.
34 Now when they fall, they shall
receive a little help. Many shall join themselves to them with flatteries and
hypocrisies.
35 And some of those who are wise,
prudent, and understanding shall be weakened and fall, [thus, then, the
insincere among the people will lose courage and become deserters. It will be a test] to refine, to
purify, and to make those among [God’s people] white, even to the time of the
end, because it is yet for the time [God] appointed.
God isn’t going to
take Christians out of The Tribulation – He’s bringing it on BECAUSE of the
Christians. He wants to prove to the world how sufficient His Word is – His
Word of grace!
2 Corinthians 12:9
(AMP)
[God] said to me, My grace (My
favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any
danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power
are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective
in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses
and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest
(yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!
1 Peter 1:7
(AMP)
So that [the genuineness] of your
faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the
perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to
[your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed
One) is revealed.
(KJV+)
That the trial G1384 of your faith, being much more precious than
of gold that perisheth, though it be tried G1381 with fire
Matthew 3:11
(KJV)
He shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost, and with fire:
(MSG) 11-12
[John] “I’m
baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life.
The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him
I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit
within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a
clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place
before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”
References:
King James Version
(KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of England
Amplified Bible
(AMP)—Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
The Message Bible
(MSG)—Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson
Barnes' Notes on the New
Testament (Barnes) by Albert Barnes Published in Philadelphia, August 25th, 1832
Strong’s Concordance: Greek & Hebrew
Dictionary; Published in 1890 by James Strong
