Tried And Tested

The Holy Ghost is the presence of God with us. He defines in us the character of a son of God. It is he that transforms us into the image of the Father, and the personage of Jesus Christ.

Many in the Body of Christ do not understand the reality of being led by the Holy Ghost. This is important; because, except we are led by the Spirit of God, we will never accomplish the will of God on the earth.

Mark 1:12-13

12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

The very first place the Spirit of God led Jesus was to the wilderness that he might be tried by God. However, this trying or testing was to be done by satan.

Nevertheless, the backdrop to this testing is the fact that Jesus has spent years studying and communing with the Father. But before he can begin his mission and purpose on earth, He must be tested. Why? The passage below will shed some light on this question.

Luke 14:31-33

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

The king in the parable is the Lord Jesus Christ; who considers whether he is able to defeat satan with the army he has. He knows that his soldiers are only powerful against the enemy when they have forsaken all, Including denial of self. Otherwise he would be forced to surrender to satan, leaving mankind to eternal damnation.

Therefore, those of us who are unwilling to give up all things pertaining to this world, are not able to be the disciples of Christ. This fact however, is not taken seriously by the Body of Christ. It seems that most saints don't believe it. In spite of the fact that there are other scriptures that reiterate this principle.

Luke 14:25-28

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

This is interesting. This passage confirms that Jesus is speaking of those who would become believers, but who do not bear their cross. This is a direct reference to our walk after the salvation experience.

Thus, it is possible to be born again, but not be the disciple of Christ. This may sound like an inconsequential option, but it is not. Those sons of God who choose not to deny themselves of this world and even their own life, will be condemned to eternal damnation.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

The Lord intimately knows each of us. He knows our spiritual disposition. Therefore, he is able to declare that only total abandonment of this world as well as total self abandonment is sufficient to defeat satan and his purpose to hold captive the human race.

Salvation is the plan of God. Jesus is the son of God, chosen to carry out the plan. Jesus was tried and tested to determine if he was spiritually fit to carry out his mission here on earth.

Because Jesus is our example; wouldn't it be prudent of the Father to make sure we understand, that we will be subject to the same scrutiny, (trying and testing). We will be subject to the same spiritual operations that will reveal the steadfastness of our embrace of righteousness.