Bokeh

Living as Christ Facing Trials

Our last Bible study we looked at facing temptation. In the same way we must face trials.

John 16:33 – Jesus said we would have tribulation in this world.

  • The Gk word is thlipsis, meaning pressure, what constricts and rubs together. A narrow place that hems someone in, in ternal pressure that causes someone to feel confined, restricted, without options. When feeling no way of escape.

  • James 1:2 – the Gk word for temptation is the same for trial and either can be used according to the context.

  • Just like temptation, the purpose of both trial and temptation is to draw us away from our face to face, union and tempt us to act independent of our inChristness.

Tribulation, trials, etc. Are a result of people who either do not know Christ or those who do and are living out of the unrenewed mind and when you place mankind in a community you will have trial.

  • Satan has no power, only the ability to tempt. (Thus, the tree of KGE)

  • Satan knew the separation that would occur

  • Man would be his (Man’s) worst enemy

  • This one act in the garden would be all it would take; the rest would be history.

  • So, in this world you will have tribulation.

How do we handle tribulation, face it?

  • John 16:33 - ...be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

  • The key is Jesus overcame the world, all that is within this system of man.

  • All that has evolved and still is from the tree of KGE.

  • Whatever else it may mean, if we are in Christ and He has overcome, so do we from our oneness in Him. (Our face to face)

In the same way we must face trials.

Isaiah 40:31 – the Hebrew word for wait is qavah – (pronounced kaw-wah)

  • This word means to bind together like strains of rope.

  • This speaks of our union, as one, we can face any storm, trial. Temptation, because it is not I, but Christ together with me and as me.

James says to count it all joy. If you see these things as opponents, designed to draw you away, and Christ already won, then the joy is in living out the victory.

  • Back to my Michael Jordan analogy.

  • We get to participate in the win, the victory over the opponent.

  • By faith we as those in Hebrews 11, can perform acts of courage, victory and perform the miraculous and more.

We are not alone (Hebrews 13:5 ampc)

  • Jesus said He was never alone (John 16:32)

  • Jesus as 100 percent man and God relied on the Father and the Spirit to live life.

  • The Spirit came upon Him at the river Jordan.

  • Led by the Spirit to the wilderness and face temptation (Not alone)

  • Man shall not live by bread alone but from the words that proceed from the mouth of God, not a book, This speaks of relationship, hearing, face to face.

1 Cor. 10:13 – What is the way of escape?

  • Jesus is the way of escape.

  • Jesus at that point and time, in any situation or circumstance, whatever you are facing, you face Him, and He lives His life through you and delivers us from whatever it is.

As we face trial or temptation, we face it from the face to face with the Godhead. We live life from within Him, through Him, never apart from Him.

  • When Jesus said, “I only do what I see My Father do, I only speak what I hear My Father speak” He was showing us life from union, life lived from the face to face.