Everyone has to get their faith tested

Hebrews 12:1-3, part 2

Matthew 7:13, Luke 13:23-24, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, James 1:12

All blessings come from the Lord.

Everyone has to get their faith tested.

When faith has been tested, and it passes the test, the believer will then receive the Crown of Life.

The Lord has promised eternal life to all who love Him, and not riches or the things of this world.

Blessed is the language of Psalm 1:1; 32:2; 34:8; 84:12; Proverbs 8:34; Isaiah 56:2; Jeremiah 17:7; Matthew 5:3-11.

Blessed in Greek is “makarios.” The most simple form means happy.

Spiritual joy is an example of being blessed.

James describes the enviable state of the man who doesn’t give up when confronted with trying circumstances but remains strong in faith and devotion to God.

“Endures temptation” refers to the test of faith.

These tests are sometimes entirely by the Lord and at other times allowed by the Lord.

For example the offering up of Isaac from his father Abraham was entirely by the Lord. satan didn’t have anything to do with this test.

There is nothing the believer can do to stop temptation.

satan is going to be allowed by the Lord certain latitude in this respect. While satan means harm, even our destruction, the Lord means it for our good.

A great faith is going to be greatly tested.

1 Corinthians 10:13—through the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:18

To overcome temptation, the believer must have the power of God and it is found in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

We must make the cross of Christ the object of our faith while the Holy Spiri does His work.

Luke 9:23-24, Romans 8:1-2, 11

The greatest truth you will ever know other than the salvation of your soul and your baptism is the Holy Spirit.

We cannot attempt to overcome temptation by reciting the Word.

People try to do what Jesus did when He got led up to be tempted by satan and quote Scripture (Matthew 4).

Jesus wasn’t so much using the Word of God to overcome temptation, as He was to answer satan. Everything that satan was tempting Him to do, in some way was a corruption of the Word and Jesus answered accordingly.

In effect, when the believer is putting His faith in the cross of Calvary, He is standing on the Word more so than any other way.

Endure—Greek word is “hypomeno,” and means “to undergo, to bear, to persevere.”

“For when he is tried,” refers to such temptation as a test.

Tried in the Greek is “dokimos,” which indicates that the man has stood the test.

This word used in ancient Greece is to describe the successful testing of precious metals and coins. It tests if they are genuine.

The spiritual man knows that God will give him everything he needs. God will take care of him, and God will watch over him. He can rest himself in God.

Understand this is all a process and we grow to maturity. That natural man goes and the spiritual man comes as we feed on the Word of God.

So the problem within us is that the Christian has in him these two natures. It can be referred to as the “sin nature” and the “divine nature.” He has in him both the flesh and the Spirit and because these two are opposed to one another, we at times feel an inner sense of frustration.

We cannot commit evil, or don’t want to, because the Spirit is pulling us. But at the same time, he cannot do good, even though he wants to, because we all have some kind of problem with the flesh.

Understand the flesh isn’t within itself the sin nature.

It’s simply the efforts and strength of an individual functioning without the Holy Spirit.

The sin nature need not be a problem at all for any believer, and will not be a problem, unless we rely on the flesh, which will cause us to sin, bringing the sin nature to life once again.

Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:17; 6:8

Denying the flesh is simply looking to the cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit the latitude to work in our hearts and lives With His power we are able to do anything.

The Crown of Life refers to a reward which is so much greater than the price paid. It is so great we can’t comprehend.

Crown in Greek is “stephanon” and means a victory crown. It is far greater than any first place metal.