According to GhanaChurch.com analyst, the best way to determine if a person is able to be relied on as honest or truthful in any given leadership position, a proof of their character is needed in the form of references, referrals, and testimonials through the method of testing. Even in schools, you take examination (test) to proof yourself as a good student.
After Yeshua (Jesus Christ) was baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the Judaean Desert. During this time, Satan appeared to Jesus and tried to tempt him. Jesus having refused each temptation, the devil then departed and Jesus returned to Galilee to begin his ministry.
Jesus was tempted three times, John the Evangelist in his epistle calls these temptations as “lust of eyes” (materialism), “lust of body” (hedonism or pursuit of pleasure) and “pride of life” (egoism).
Jesus was tempted (Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-13), but He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). Sin occurs when we mishandle temptation.
From the book of ACTS 5: 1-11, Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?. Ananias and Sapphira died because they were tempted but they failed.
The betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot is also attributed to Satan’s influence (Luke 22:3; John 13:2).
“The Lust of the Flesh, The Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life” – 1 John 2:16
For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life comes not from the Father but from the world.
Testing is the best way to obtaining proof of a Person’s character.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is a Ghanaian politician who represents Assin Central in parliament for the New Patriotic Party.
Agyapong has vowed to commit suicide if former President John Mahama’s brother, Ibrahim, is not jailed by the Akufo-Addo government for some alleged corrupt activities which, according to Agyapong, have led to the state losing money. He said on Adom TV’s Badwam on Thursday, 30 March 2017 that he would drink poison if Ibrahim were not jailed.
Agyapong is also noted for insulting people of higher office. His insults on the Electoral Commissioner of Ghana Charlotte Osei for trading sex for her position as the Electoral Commissioner (EC) boss brought upon him criticisms from various leaders including Queen mothers and human rights activists as well as other members of parliament.
Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi is Ashanti regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Wontumi, who was former student of Prempeh College and completed in 1996 and continued to a security school in London, believed to own about 100 houses in Kumasi.
There are many verses in Scripture that talk about temptation and testing. Many are given in the form of warnings, some verses show how Jesus was tested, and then one verse shows one instance where God invites us to test Him with our giving.
Bible Verses about Temptation
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Luke 11:4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Luke 22:40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
Bible Verses About Testing
Exodus 17:2 There- fore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?”
Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
Deuteronomy 6:16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.
1 Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.
2 Chronicles 32:31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
Verses Where God Tests Man
Psalms 26:2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind
Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do, because of my people?
Jeremiah 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
One Verse Where God Welcomes Us To Test Him
Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Verses Where People Were Testing Jesus
Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 22:18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?
Mark 8:11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
Mark 12:15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”
John 8:6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
Source: GhanaChurch.com – Ghana Churches News Portal
