The Shakedown

Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.  Psalm 139:23-24  NASB Put me to the test – Does God really “test” us?  Is life an examination, a proving ground where we find out…

The One-Way Street

How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert!   Again and again they [v]temptedGod, and pained the Holy One of Israel.  Psalm 78:40-41  NASB Tempted – We’re all familiar with James’ declaration: “No one is to say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He…

David’s Duet – Rewind

That You examine him every morning and try him every moment?  Job 7:18  NASB Try – Job starts his declaration in very much the same way David does.  “What is man that You magnify him and are concerned about him?” (Job 7:17)  But maybe Job has a slightly different reason for his statement.  David’s psalm…

Did You Pass?

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:14-15 NASB Tempted – The Greek peirao needs some explanation. Today we often think that “tempted” is virtually the…

Led by the Spirit

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, Deuteronomy 13:1 NASB Sign – What is the difference between coincidence and sign? Answer—your point of view. If you are looking for a sign from God, you will find it. If you are not, you won’t….

David’s Duet

That You examine him every morning and try him every moment? Job 7:18 NASB Try – Job starts his declaration in very much the same way David does. “What is man that You magnify him and are concerned about him?” (Job 7:17) But maybe Job has a slightly different reason for his statement. David’s psalm…

Desire

They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. Psalm 78:18 ESV They craved – Have you tested God? Oh, I don’t mean, “Have you expectantly anticipated the fulfillment of His promises?” Nor do I mean, “Have you asked according to His will?” I mean, “Have you put God to the test?”…

Prosperity Tests

and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up,
so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Matthew 4:6  NASB Throw Yourself – Commentaries on the temptations of…

Spiritual Forensics

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.  1 Thessalonians 5:21  NASB Examine everything – It is more difficult to unlearn than to learn.  The problem is that as we grow older we discover that a great deal of what we learned has to be unlearned before we can gain new insight. …

The Great Deceiver

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1  NASB Test – When John wrote his letters, the messianic congregations were under attack.  Buffeted between Hellenism through Gnostic and pagan religions and the Judaism…