Good Afternoon Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
One of the most misunderstood topics in Christiandom is “can or will God tempt a person?” Short answer, absolutely NOT!
James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:
There you go in black and white. End of controversy. God cannot and will not tempt a man. But Larry, in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus said, “and lead us not into temptation…” This sounds like He could lead us into temptation. What do I always say? When in doubt, study to show thyself approved (II Timothy 2:15).
Temptation = Greek word “peirasmos” = “trouble or difficulty OR temptation to sin.” Since we know from James 1:13 that God cannot tempt a man, He cannot lead a man into temptation. He would break His own Word. Therefore, in this case, it is saying, “don’t allow us to enter into trouble or difficulty.” If you don’t ask, it’s NOT happening. God wants the very best for us, but it is based on our confession (Joshua 1:8) with our mouths. If you don’t want yourself and your family to enter into trouble or difficulty, then ask the Father, as Jesus instructed, to keep you from entering into trouble or difficulty. If you don’t open your mouth in faith-based confession, you’re going to run into trouble and difficulty. It’s that simple. It has taken religion to screw it up for us.
The next question is “can or will God test a person? Short answer, yes, but not in the way taught by religion. God NEVER puts a Believer in a test where sin or harm is a possible outcome of a choice. God ONLY tests to promote a Believer. For example, God speaks to me and says, “write a check for $10,000 and give to this family to help them pay a certain bill and tell them Jesus loves and cares for them.” Now, I have a choice. I can disobey God and not write the check. Is anything bad going to happen to me? No. However, if I obey God and write the check willingly and cheerfully, God will bless me with a hundredfold increase. This is called a promotion. God tested me to see if I would accept His promotion for me. Do you see the difference? God only “tests” to promote you, NEVER to punish you. Only good for me can come from the test. God would never “test” His children by putting them into a situation where they could fail and suffer consequences. Would you do that to your children? Of course not. Why then would anyone believe that God would do this to His children? It’s pure ignorance and lies.
I Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
How do we “humble” ourselves? Verse 7 tells you how. By casting all your cares and concerns on God. How? By believing and trusting His Word, decreeing it, and receiving it. How does God “exalt” you? By promotion. That’s what “exalt” means. When will God promote you? At the “due” or “appropriate” time. God will always promote you at the very best time to give you the greatest possible good, IF………you will trust His Word and be patient (James 1:2-4).
Religion has come up with ALL kinds of absolute hellish garbage such as “God gave me cancer to test me, to help me grow spiritually, to be an example” or “God took the little boy home because He needed another angel,” or “God humbled me by crashing my business so He could teach me,” or “God allowed my accident so other good could come from it,” or some other insane, inaccurate rhetoric from the pit of hell. Look, this is ignorance gone to seed. I’m sorry to be so blatant, but sometimes we need a swift kick in the behind.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
God can ONLY give good and perfect gifts to His Children. If He didn’t then there would be “variableness,” and there would be a “shadow of turning” in Him. This would mean God is a liar and is not the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6). We know this is not true. If it were, all of creation would implode, God included.
Temptation to sin and tests with a possible outcome of sin or harm to the Believer is from Satan. Our “Father of lights” only gives good and perfect gifts – such as a test to sow and reap to promote the Believer. Our Father is ONLY interested in promoting us, in having our needs met, and the desires of our heart given us. He’s a Heavenly and good Father. Do you want bad, mediocre, and just getting by for your kids? Of course not. So, God being a good Father with no evil, His desire is the prosperity of His children. Look up Psalm 35:27 or III John 2 if you don’t believe this. If you won’t accept it, you are calling God a liar. I know this is tough to swallow, but it is the Truth. If God did anything other than James 1:17, He would violate His own Word in James 1:13.
In closing, get rid of the garbage doctrine and thinking that God “tempts” you for His own good or your own good, or God “tests” you with something that has sin or consequences as a possible outcome based on your choice. It is from Satan’s own pulpit, designed to “pull you into the pit.” Don’t let him put you in bondage with stinking thinking. Believe and decree God’s Word and walk each day as “more than a conqueror in Christ.” Your will, your choice.
Much love in Christ.
Larry