WORD Watchers Ministry
Bible Studies

WE ARE PROVED, TRIED AND TEMPTED

 

 

WHO DOES THIS?

 

HOW IS IT DONE?

 

WHY IS IT DONE?

 

 

    

I really enjoyed doing this study.  I was reading my Bible and the phrase ‘God tries us’ jumped out at me. I started following the word out and it included ‘proved’ and eventually ‘tempted’.  I wanted to really know what that meant.  Another word that I kept seeing was the word ‘reins’.  Below you will find more about the idea of reins. I studied the words out and found this amazing study.  All of the Bible studies you will see on my web site are things that have touched me in a deep way. Usually I find myself wanting to change.  This study taught me some very important things about myself and my relationship with God.  I hope you will find yourself amazed and touched deeply also while reading this study. 

 

So come on along and lets check it out and see what you might find for yourself. 

We will also learn about proving, trying, temptation and tribulation along the way. 

 

 

               WE ARE PROVED AND TRIED

 

REIN

 

     HEBREW - the mind (as the interior self.)

 

     GREEK - the inmost mind.

 

     KING JAMES - once believed to be the seat of emotions hence coupled with the heart.

 

     WEBSTERS - a narrow strap of leather attached in pairs to a horses bit and manipulated to control the animal.  2) a means of controlling etc.   3) to guide or control as with reins.

 

 

 

Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even

          to give every man according to his ways, and

          according to the fruit of his doings. (KJV)

 

 

              

Ps 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but

       establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the

       hearts and reins. (KJV)

 

 

 

Jer 11:20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that

          triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy

          vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my

          cause. (KJV)

 

              a. God judges righteously.  Not out of prejudice or selfishness or if he is in a good mood or bad mood or `got up on the wrong side of the bed' type of thing.  His judgments are not clouded like ours can be.

 

Ps 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my

        heart. (KJV)

             

              b. We can ask God to try us.  To show

              us where we are letting God be in

              control of our thoughts and our

              actions and where we are not.

 

 

Ps 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my

        reins also instruct me in the night seasons. (KJV)

 

               c.  The night time just before falling

              asleep seems to be a good time for God

              to talk to me and give me things that

              I write down.  I think it is because my

              mind is the most open then and less

              cluttered.  The night season could mean

              hard times I’m not sure. But we need

              His counsel and we need to accept it

              and decide to use it.  He gives it but

              we have to let his instructions turn us

              in what ever direction He wants us to go

              do or say.

 

             

 

Ps 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my

         reins. (KJV)

 

              d.  When I read this verse I think of

              what I always thought of as being my

              conscience. That is God speaking to us. 

             

 

 

Jer 12:2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root:

         they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near

         in their mouth, and far from their reins. (KJV)

 

          a. This is in the study in hypocrisy. This is

very sad to me.  We can talk about God as if we know Him and love Him but if we are not doing what we know He wants us to do then it shows we are in control of our reins not Him.  

 

 

 

 

 

                        PROVE     #5254

 

 

Strong's # 5254 nacah (naw‑saw');

                a primitive root; to test; by implication, to

                attempt:

                KJV‑‑ adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.

                (DIC)

 

 

    

     PROVE

 

     DICTIONARY - to establish the truth or genuineness of  2)to establish the quality of, as by a test or demonstration.

 

 

Strong's # 974 bachan (baw‑khan');

               a primitive root; to test (especially metals);

               generally and figuratively, to investigate:

               KJV‑‑ examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).

               (DIC)

 

 

 

     TRY

 

     DICTIONARY - to endeavor to evaluate by experiment or experience.

 

 

     TEST

 

     DICTIONARY - the means by which the presence, quality, or genuiness of anything is determined: a means of trial.

 

 

              

Exodus 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain

            bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go

            out and gather a certain rate every day, that I

            may prove them, whether they will walk in my law,

            or no. (KJV)

 

              a. Whether they will walk in my law, or no.

 

Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God

             is come to prove you, and that his fear may be

             before your faces, that ye sin not. (KJV)

             

              a.Keep the fear of God before us.

              b.That you sin not.

 

Deut 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD

         thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,

         to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was

         in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his

         commandments, or no. (KJV)

 

              a.To know what was in thine heart.

              b.Whether you will keep his commandments or not.

 

 

Deut 8:16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy

          fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and

          that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy

          latter end; (KJV)

         

              a.To do you good in the end.

 

Deut 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that

          prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD

          your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the

          LORD your God with all your heart and with all your

          soul. (KJV)

 

              a.To see if you love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul.

 

              .            

Judges 2:19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that

            they returned, and corrupted themselves more than

            their fathers, in following other gods to serve

            them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not

            from their own doings, nor from their stubborn

            way. (KJV)

 

Judges 2:20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel;

            and he said, Because that this people hath

            transgressed my covenant which I commanded their

            fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

            (KJV)

 

Judges 2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from

            before them of the nations which Joshua left when

            he died: (KJV)

 

Judges 2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they

            will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as

            their fathers did keep it, or not. (KJV)

         

Judges 2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without

            driving them out hastily; neither delivered he

            them into the hand of Joshua. (KJV)

 

              a.To see whether you will keep the way of the Lord and to walk therein.

 

  

TRYING

 

 

 

               James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your

                         faith worketh patience. (KJV)

 

               Strong's # 1383 dokimion (dok‑im'‑ee‑on);

                               neuter of a presumed derivative

                               of 1382; a testing; by

                               implication, trustworthiness:

                               KJV‑‑ trial, trying. (DIC)

 

 

                         LORD TRIES US

 

Ps 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him

        that loveth violence his soul hateth. (KJV)

     a. I think God is saying here that he tries us because he loves us. His attentions are not on the wicked whom His soul hates but on the righteous whom He loves.

 

Ps 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us,

         as silver is tried. (KJV)

 

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath

          tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (KJV)

 

 

TRIES OUR HEART

 

Prov 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for

          gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. (KJV)

 

             

Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and

          know my thoughts: (KJV)

 

Ps 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead

          me in the way everlasting. (KJV)

 

     a. When we experience things in this life we see how we

react to them.  We can judge ourselves. We know if we are reacting after the flesh, which is after our own way, or God’s way, which is after the Spirit. It is good for us to ask our precious loving God to prove us and test us and try our hearts and know our thoughts.  We need His help to know what is really in our hearts and thoughts.  We should want to get all the stuff out of our hearts and minds that are things that clutter up our relationship with Him.

 

 

 

WE CAN TRY GOD

 

AS YOU READ THE SCRIPTURES BELOW I WILL LEAVE THEM TO YOU TO SEE IN EACH INSTANCE HOW GOD WAS TEMPTED AND TRIED AND WHY. I THINK YOU MIGHT FIND LIKE I DID THAT IT IS BETTER TO HAVE GOD TRY US THEN FOR US TO TRY HIM.

 

AFTER THIS WE WILL STUDY A LITTLE ON TEMPTATION AND TRIBULATION.

 

 

Exodus 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and

            said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses

            said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do

            ye tempt the LORD? (KJV)

             

Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and

            Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of

            Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying,

            Is the LORD among us, or not? (KJV)

 

             

 

Num 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and

          my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the

          wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times,

          and have not hearkened to my voice; (KJV)

 

Num 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware

          unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that

          provoked me see it: (KJV)

 

Num 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit

          with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I

          bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed

          shall possess it. (KJV)

 

 

 

 

Deut 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the

          people which are round about you; (KJV)

 

Deut 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you)

          lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled

          against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of

          the earth. (KJV)

 

Deut 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted

          him in Massah. (KJV)

 

Deut 6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the

          LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his

          statutes, which he hath commanded thee. (KJV)

 

 

 

 

Ps 78:18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat

         for their lust. (KJV)

 

 

 

 

Ps 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited

         the Holy One of Israel. (KJV)

 

 

 

 

Ps 78:56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and

         kept not his testimonies: (KJV)

 

 

 

Ps 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as

        in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (KJV)

 

Ps 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my

        work. (KJV)

 

Ps 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation,

         and said, It is a people that do err in their heart,

         and they have not known my ways: (KJV)

 

Ps 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not

         enter into my rest. (KJV

 

 

 

 

Ps 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:  KJV

 

Ps 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. (KJV)

 

Ps 106:15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.  KJV

 

  

                          TRIBULATION

  

 

               Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in

                          tribulations also: knowing that

                          tribulation worketh patience; (KJV)

               Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and

                          experience, hope: (KJV)

 

               Strong's # 2347 thlipsis (thlip'‑sis);

                               from 2346; pressure (literally

                               or figuratively):

                               KJV‑‑ afflicted (‑tion),

                               anguish, burdened, persecution,

                               tribulation, trouble. (DIC)

                                    a.  I really like these scriptures on tribulation.  What a great list of things it does for us. It gives us PATIENCE, EXPERIENCE, and HOPE.  These are great things for us to have in our lives.  They make us more complete, happy and whole.  Yucky who wants to go through tribulations?  Well Jesus just comes right out and tells us.  John 16:33   33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. KJV  I think a couple really neat things come out of tribulations. 

 

1. PATIENCE – Oh most of us do not enjoy that word. But to have EXPERIENCE AND THEN HOPE we first have to have patience.  Don’t be in a hurry, or be anxious.  God has your situation in control.  He is with you.  He is helping you and you will make it through.  So be patient there will be an end to what ever you are going through.  It may not be the end we want but it is the end that God knows is the best for us. That is our HOPE.

 

2.  When someone comes to us with a problem it can be a great help that we have experienced hard things ourselves.  It gives us a platform to share with other people how we got through it and that they will make it too.  We can share Jesus with them if they don’t know Him and we can pray with someone who knows Him but needs encouragement.  That’s having EXPERIENCE.  a.  Experience is also for ourselves.  The more things we go through and trust Jesus the more we learn about Him and ourselves.

 

3.  That leads to HOPE.  Jesus tells us up in the scripture He wants us to have peace.  After experiencing things we do get more peaceful as we learn that tribulations do end and that Jesus will get us through as He promises.  That always brings HOPE because we learn that we can and do trust Jesus and that He is our HOPE.

                  TEMPTATIONS

               James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye

                         fall into divers temptations; (KJV)

                              

               Strong's # 3986 peirasmos (pi‑ras‑mos');

                               from 3985; a putting to proof

                               (by experiment [of good],

                               experience [of evil],

                               solicitation, discipline or

                               provocation); by implication,

                               adversity:

                               KJV‑‑ temptation, X try. (DIC)

 

GOD CANNOT TEMPT US:          

 

    

          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:

 

 

                                 

     THIS IS WHERE TEMPTATION COMES FROM: 

 

 

          JAMES 1:14-15  14)BUT EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED, WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY OF HIS OWN LUST, AND ENTICED.  15)THEN WHEN LUST HATH CONCEIVED, IT BRINGETH FORTH SIN: AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH.

 

a. Try to take a minute and give this scripture some thought.  We would like to blame others for our problems

and situations but it says here that it is our own lusts that get us. When it shows it’s self in whatever form we need to turn away and get away from whatever it is. If we do not then we bring life into the thing then we follow through and do whatever the thing is then it becomes sin to us and sin brings death. 

 

 

 

                          TEMPTATION

 

 

Strong's # 3986 peirasmos (pi‑ras‑mos');

                from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment

                [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation,

                discipline or provocation); by implication,

                adversity:

                KJV‑‑ temptation, X try. (DIC)

 

 

 

2 Pet 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy

          conversation of the wicked: (KJV)

 

2 Pet 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in

          seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from

          day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (KJV)

 

2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of

          temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day

          of judgment to be punished: (KJV)

 

              a.Lot was affected by the circumstances around him.  By the deeds of the people, by hearing and seeing what they did. 

 

              b.We live in this world.  We are affected by what goes on around us.  We make choices weather we will join in or be obedient to God and follow him.  We choose.

 

              c.If we look to God for our help, he will help us to know how to react and to act and how to get out of situations that are not good for us.

 

 

                              

                            EXAMPLE

 

 

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is

            common to man: but God is faithful, who will not

            suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;

            but will with the temptation also make a way to

            escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (KJV)

GOD’S WAY OF EXCAPE FOR CAIN

 

Gen 4:6-7

6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

 

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  KJV

 

Cain did not listen to the advise of the Lord and did not stop the sin that lieth at the door.  HE DID NOT RULE OVER IT

 

Gen 4:8

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.KJV



God talked to Cain before he killed Able his brother. God told him what could happen because of his attitude. Be careful God was telling Cain. You have a chance to do what is right here or a chance to blow it. Each choice has consequences.


Sadly as many people do today, Cain did not listen to God andhad to pay the price of his actions.

 

LORD JESUS PLEASE LET THESE SCRIPTURES STAY WITH US LONG AFTER WE HAVE READ THEM.  HELP THEM BE USED IN ANYWAY POSSIBLE THAT MIGHT HELP US IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. 

      


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