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Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. KJV

Hebrews 4:15
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. NLT

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. AMP

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. NASB

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. AMP

We hear a growing cry from within the church that if I give, if I pray right, if I love right I will be exempt from the testing processes of life.

In my opinion this teaching exemption from testing is foolish and dangerous.

All the great people and small people of the Bible have know test.

Great test, make great testimonies.

We need to define testing?

Critical examination --- evaluation --- trial --- temptation --- statement that leads to proof or disproof --- value ---

a series of questions or exercises for measuring skills, intelligence, capacities, aptitudes

to apply a means of analysis or diagnoses.

Oscar Wilde once said that he could resist everything except temptation.

An old cartoon had the two characters looking at each other with a caption below them saying, "How come opportunity knocks only once, but temptation beats the door down everyday?"

An ancient Jewish saying goes something like this, "God does not elevate a man to dignity till He has first tried and searched him: and if he stands pure through temptation, then He raises him to dignity."

Our reaction to trials and testing, our understanding of their purpose and their necessary place in life, where, when and how they will occur will help us to understand how God uses them in our lives for the glory of His Kingdom.

I. The Place of these Trials and Testing
The experience that Jesus went through cannot be understood by the finite mind. When we read that Jesus was taken to a place where He saw all the Kingdoms of the earth, we know of no such place. However, we can all imagine these temptations. There is a struggle in our minds. The battle is not over flesh and blood. It is for our minds. Our souls. Our very eternal lives.

Our minds are a place where battles are fought and won everyday

Matthew 4:1-2

We are not alone. Jesus was led by the Holy Ghost into the wilderness. It is the Holy Spirit of God who brings us to this point. And it is to show us that it is God who is testing us. It is God who is proving us and purifying us for His Kingdom.

We are never alone in the face of a wilderness temptation.

I Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

II. Our Reaction to Trials and Testing.
Mark tells us that Jesus was immediately driven out into the wilderness. Right after a great moment in His life. Jesus has just started his ministry. He has just been baptized, identifying Himself with the people He came to save. This was a high moment for Him. It was the conclusion of thirty years of study and preparation for the ministry He had been called to. And immediately, God takes Him down into a place of serious temptation. Jesus went from a great moment to a low moment.

After each great moment comes a reaction to the low moment. The danger is in our reaction.

We are all going to have great moments. Those great moments come as a result of passing previous tests. These great moments come to us gratefully and even mercifully after years of suffering, ridicule, or hard work and preparation. The trial has passed - but now life must go on. And in order to get ready for the next test, a trial, a time of tribulation, another period of testing must now occur.

Life is not stagnant. Life does not stand still.

III. The Consistency of these Trials and Temptations
The Frequency of these trials and temptations is something else we should be aware of.

The devil spoke to Jesus in Caesarea Philippi when Peter tried to talk Him out of going to the cross. Jesus said, "Satan, get behind me." Another time Jesus said, "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials…" (Luke 22:28) Jesus trials were daily. We all have heard about the gut wrenching time that Jesus had in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let alone all the mockery, name-calling, testing by the Pharisees… we could go on. The test of the cross we can never imagine. Knowing that you are suffering for everybody else's mistakes, murders, rapes, thievery, extortion, self-righteousness, gossip… you name it, you did.

We have a High Priest that can sympathize with us no matter what we are going through. Jesus lived His whole life in the light of the cross. He knows pain. Jesus taught the most stubborn fishermen you'll ever want to meet. He knows frustration. He knows letdown. He knows first hand that if anything on this earth would have given Him what He really needed, He could have had it anytime He wanted. But what He wanted was you.

Do you have a dynamite testimony and a firecracker test?
How do you respond to adversity?

How Were People Tested In Biblical Times?

Adam and Eve -- one tree was off limits, rules were clear from start.

Annias- Sapphira --- giving and attitudes.

Daniel --- faithfulness and prayer habits.

Widow --- obey and give her last meal to the Preacher.

Saul -- not waiting on the man of God and taking things into his own hands.

Jonathan --- watching his Dad mistreat a family friend, and still being a friend.

David --- facing the giant, respecting Saul even when he did not deserve respect.

Joseph --- dysfunctional family, dreaming, forgiving and not bitter.

Peter -- after fishing all night told by a carpenter to fish again.

Samuel -- little boy keeping the vision and light in the church aflame.

Gideon -- to trust and reduce the army to 300 men.

Ruth -- to stand by her mother-in-law, and to do physical work.

3 Hebrew children -- furnace 7x's hoter than the norm.

Samson -- very strong yet a weak woman had set a trap.

Paul -- to suffer beatings and imprisonment and still write God's word..

Namaan -- to listen to a little girl and humble self and dip in a dirty river.

Jesus was tested in the wilderness, in the garden, and each step of his journey.

Esther -- placed in a position and tested to approach the King for her people.

Jacob -- worked 14 years for his love.

Jonah -- to obey and reach out to Ninevah.

Cain and Abel in giving and jealousy.

Nebuchadnezzar -- forget the past and not humble himself, nervous breakdown.

How Does The Enemy Test Us Today?

Hard time in finances?

Giving offerings and tithing?

Demand and supply?

Prosperity and being blessed and forgetting God?

Anything, materialism, that would lead away from God and the church?

Health problems, poor diets, tiredness, lack of proper rest?

Lack of submission?

Lack of knowledge in head and heart of the Bible?

Weak families -- weak church?

Deception, lying, and falsehoods?

Palliation and making light of mistakes?

No evaluation system in place, justify self and not correcting problem?

Play to weaknesses?

Play to strengths?

Stress?

Relationships and wrong priorities?

Lack of self control and balance?

Miss using of time?

Lack of obedience? Half hearted obedience?

Not using talent, time, energy wisely?

Faithfulness to church?

Lack of witness and evangelism?

Lack of action and being a doer of the word?

Poor usage of words?

Distortions and misrepresentation of whole truth?

Wrongful focus?

Throwing up the past?

Blame game, blaming others?

Procrastination?

Emotions playing games, up, down, up, down?

Anger, temper, wrath?

Revenge and lack of forgiveness?

Pornography, erotic, sensual to excite?

Dirty words and dirty jokes?

Doubt?

Running out of oil?