Being Tested

There does come a time when the Holy Spirit says, "Today this disciple is going to be tested." Tested is NOT the same as temptation. We should all be aware that every day is a day of testing. God have been using Satan through Pharaoh to persecute Jewish people for years. In Exodus 9:16 "But I (God) have raised you (Pharaoh) up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." In the New Testament, Romans 9:17 "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' " It is through the goodness of God we may go to the school of our failures. Spiritual growth requires Christians learn from mistakes. While examining our mistakes, we must be careful to avoid two opposite errors: the first is being too easy on ourselves and the second is being too hard. There are lessons in life we learn best from failure as we have in the past. Satan may not be aware that God is taking advantage of Satan's plans. God knows everything before Satan even think up a plan. Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." In Hebrews 12:10 "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness." Then we see the next verse, Hebrews 12:11, No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Without these temptations circumstances, your self-discovery of spiritual maturity will not be learned. Our greatest teachers are those circumstances you are facing because they are reminders that we are still sinners and we are to be trained into spiritual growth. When we most aware of our weaknesses, we are more inclined to collapse into God's strength and experience His amazing grace. "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9). Ephesians 6:4, "And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Parenting is loving your children so that they're not angry with you and bringing them up to know the Lord. Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law. Proverbs 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 5:12 You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! Proverbs 5:23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. Proverbs 10:17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 13:18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Proverbs 15:5 A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. Proverbs 15:10 Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die. Proverbs 15:32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death. Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. This is a daily sanctification process of repenting throughout our Christian life. We will never be perfect and at the same time we desire NOT to sin. This is an "inward" relationship with the Holy Spirit and His conviction in our hearts to repent which is why we are to pray as we breath because we will sin accidently. If you do not repent when the Holy Spirit tells you to repent, then you many not be saved in the first place. You cannot lose salvation because the Holy Spirit secures your salvation. I have more but this is enough for now.