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Last week we examined the word "tribulation" for a better understanding apart from the
false doctrines and the lies fed to the church. We found it was an outside stimulus from the enemy to
prove mankind, and in fact all creation, unworthy of this planet. His argument, mankind has adapted to his ways,
chosen his knowledge and reacted to life's tests in the same manner he would. He claims
man has been assimilated into his world and his culture, and along with all creation has
developed a nature closer to his image than that of God. He argues, many of the born again belong to him also as they have
legally given up their birthright to the Kingdom of God. This is based on the evidence they have
returned to their Adamic ways, entered back into his world and have become once again a part of the human race already pronounced guilty by God in the garden.
Esau prophetically portrayed a type of this sector of humanity, and has set a precedent for the enemy's case. Even
Mount Seir, the home of Esau, is the mountain that stands in opposition to Zion, God's holy mountain.
As I said in
the last blast, I realize it is quite boring to read from a dictionary, but how else will we understand or recognize the tactics of the enemy or even know when we are personally on the stand as the accused? If we are
unaware of the spiritual court, no telling how we will react to the harassment of
the accuser of the brethren as we are being tried, so let us look first at the word "tried" in the Strongs dictionary so as to not incriminate ourselves or end up in contempt of court.
Greek:
4448. puroo poo-ro'-o from 4442; to kindle, i.e. (passively) to be ignited, glow (literally), be refined (by implication), or (figuratively) to be inflamed (with anger, grief, lust):--burn, fiery, be on fire, try. (Jesus says, "be angry, but do not sin".)
4442. pur poor a primary word; "fire" (literally or figuratively, specially, lightning):--fiery, fire. (Have you ever felt on fire with anger during a heated argument? Did you pass that test or trial?)
3985. peirazo pi-rad'-zo from 3984; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try. (Satan entices us, tempts us, looking for us to fail, scrutinizing our every move to report to God.)
3984. peira pi'-rah from the base of 4008 (through the idea of piercing); a test, i.e. attempt, experience:--assaying, trial. (Assay can mean to test the nature, or purity of a thing, analyzed, tested.)
4008. peran per'-an apparently accusative case of an obsolete derivative of peiro (to "pierce"); through (as adverb or preposition), i.e. across:--beyond, farther (other) side, over. (Have you ever experienced a situation that left you devastated, pierced to the core of your being? I hope you didn't blame God. Death of a loved one or even a pet can stir this reaction and many times we accuse the wrong one.)
1381. dokimazo dok-im-ad'-zo from 1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:--allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-)prove, try.
1384. dokimos dok'-ee-mos from 1380; properly, acceptable (current after assayal), i.e. approved:--approved, tried. (We can pass our tests if we know truth and stand firm in the laws of God and be approved after assayal.)
1380. dokeo dok-eh'-o a prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of 1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly):--be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow. (Trow means to have faith or believe, to suppose a thing a certain way.)
Hebrew:
6884 tsaraph tsaw-raf' a primitive root; to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively):--cast, (re-)fine(-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try. (As God's treasure, His silver and gold, we are purged and refined in the fire. When a test is severe we come through it much more pure and matured, especially if we understand who it is that gives us the test and react appropriately.)
974 bachan baw-khan' a primitive root; to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate:--examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).
976 bochan bo'-khan from 974; trial:--tried. (We must examine or investigate a situation to prove our innocence or guilt. How well do we know God's laws? To win we must know them plus the truth that pertains to that situation. Remember also, God's laws supersede man's.)
"Our Father which is in heaven (we are designating which is our Father), Holy is Your name. (It is the name above all names.) Your Kingdom come (We are tired of being constantly in tests and tribulation. We hate what the enemy does to humanity, bringing sickness, death, sorrow, in fact, the enemy is enslaving all creation.) Your will be done (let Your will be carried out through our obedience to the law that You wrote on our hearts and the Word penned in what we call the Bible) on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread (take care of Your creation as You topple man's systems that are empowered by the enemy) forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us (let the blood of the Lamb wash clean our spirits, souls and bodies, and we ask that you protect all creation from their mistakes as we have evidence that Satan is at the core of their sin). (Now look at the next part of the prayer Jesus taught us how to pray!) Lead us not into temptation (trial), but deliver us from evil, (give us witness protection as we bring evidence against Your enemies) for Yours is the Kingdom, the power, the glory, forever - amen."
Let us take a quick look at the word "trial" in the Strongs.
Hebrew:
4531 maccah mas-saw' from 5254; a testing, of men (judicial) or of God (querulous):--temptation, trial. (Lead us not in temptation or trial.)
5254 nacah naw-saw' a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt:--adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. (Satan attempts to prove us unfit through temptation. We must be able to stand against him, fully armed in our armor, and guided by God's law. Not the law of Moses, but the law of God on our hearts.)
974 bachan baw-khan' a primitive root; to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate:--examine, prove, tempt, try (trial). (We are His silver and gold, his treasure if, after investigation, or being examined we are proved pure.)
Greek:
1382. dokime dok-ee-may' from the same as 1384; test (abstractly or concretely); by implication, trustiness:--experience(-riment), proof, trial. (Will we be proved trustworthy?)
1384. dokimos dok'-ee-mos from 1380; properly, acceptable (current after assayal), i.e. approved:--approved, tried. (Are we acceptable at the current assayal? Our past does not count, good or bad, it is what we are today.)
1380. dokeo dok-eh'-o a prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of 1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly):--be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow. (We must think from the Tree of Life, speak Truth, make sure the things that bring us pleasure are acceptable to God, certainly not being concerned with being someone special, but being content to be known as a child of God.)
1166. deiknuo dike-noo'-o a prolonged form of an obsolete primary of the same meaning; to show (appear) (literally or figuratively):--shew.
Jesus promises at Revelation 3:10,
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Romans 8:19-21
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing (showing - shew) of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.