Have you ever stopped and taken an inventory of what you believe? Once you have done this, have you ever asked yourself, “Why do I believe what I believe?”
The greatest thing that God could have provided for mankind is the Bible, the Word of God, because it is literally God revealing Himself and communicating with humanity.
The Scriptures contain insight into everything that has to do with our lives.
Biblical Christianity teaches that the Bible was inspired and authored by the Holy Spirit using men and women.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
All that being said, there are many things that people who follow Jesus, go to church and even claim to believe the Bible who believe things that are completely unbiblical. This happens because some things are said that sound good, spiritual and biblical and they gain traction because people actually believe they are in the Bible.
For Example:
“God will not give you more than you can handle!”
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) (13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Trial or Temptation: (peirasmos) A putting to proof of what you believe by the experience of adversity.
Adversity = pressure in our lives.
The enemy is desiring to generate pressure to get you off what you believe through the adversity.
The first step to overcoming adversity and passing the test is found in James 1:13:
(James 1:13 TPT) When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation.
- Do not say that the temptation or trial is coming from God.
God does test us, but never with adversity. His tests are always tests of obedience to His Word.
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) (13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The Good News – There are three main points of this verse that are hugely important to us:
- You are NOT the only one that has ever faced this temptation.
In other words, even though you may think that no one else has been tempted in this manner, the temptation is something that is common to mankind and others have faced it.
- God will always make a way of escape for you with the temptation.
- In Him, you can resist and maintain consistency enduring the temptation.
(James 1:2-4 NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Amplified – “…so that you may be people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking nothing.”
(James 1:12 NKJV) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Endures = patience (same word in Greek)
Passing the test does require consistency but there is more to it.
How to develop endurance:
- You must train before the competition begins.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT) (24) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (25) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
- You cannot be entangled with the affairs of this life. (taking the cares).
If you are worried, you are contemplating how you can solve your own problems.
(2 Timothy 2:4 TPT) For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him.
(1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- Make the Word of God first place in your life by spending time in it.
(Psalms 1:1-3 NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. (2) But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (3) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
- Count it all joy when the test shows up.
(James 1:2 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- If you won’t quit because of weariness, you will win.
(Galatians 6:9 TLB) And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.