You will be Tested, therefore, Worship God

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-14

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.  If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Insights:  Today we will learn how we are to worship in the midst of our testing.  There are three aspects to this testing that today’s verses bring to light.  Firstly, Satan is the one who causes the fiery ordeals.  Think back to Ephesians chapter six.  What does the shield of faith defend against?  It defends against the fiery arrows or darts of Satan.  Those darts are these fiery ordeals with which we face in these verses.  Just like with Job in the Old Testament, God allows Satan to sift us like wheat and his ordeals prove or disprove our faith.  Secondly, our fiery ordeals are no different from that of Christ Jesus.  In fact, they are no different from Eve back in the garden.  Satan only has three types of arrows with which he attacks us.  They are found in 1 John 2:16.  Satan tests us with the lust of the flesh (LOF), the lust of the eye (LOE) and the boastful pride of life (POL).  Jesus was first tempted to make bread out of rocks and this was an appeal to the LOF of Jesus.  Next Jesus was tempted with the desire of position.  In other words, Satan said that if Jesus would jump form the pinnacle of the temple the angels would protect Him.  This prophetic word was spoken of regarding the Messiah.  Only the Messiah could have had that happen.  Satan was appealing to the POL in Jesus life.  The final temptation took place as Jesus looked over the kingdoms of the world and Satan said if He would just worship him, then he would give Jesus all these kingdoms.  This final attack was showing Jesus things He would have desired (LOE).  Jesus resisted all of these temptations and this leads to the final truth today’s verses reveal.  Thirdly, if you resist the temptation, then it will result in blessing.  Angels came an attended to Jesus after His temptation experience.  God’s grace and blessing is bestowed on those who remain faithful to Him.  This blessing may or may not come on this side of eternity, but we can take it to the bank, that these blessings will come to those who are faithful and worship during these times of testing.

Questions:

1.  In what way is Satan being used to test your faith?

2. Have you come to realize Satan uses the same old tricks to test your faith that he has used from the beginning?

Prayer: Father, bless me as I draw near to You and resist the devil.  Let Your strength be my strength and may I pass these test with victory all for Your glory!  Amen.