Christ Does the Testing, the Devil Tempts, We Trust

Devotional

Day 1: God Uses Every Circumstance to Make Us More Like Christ

Every situation in life, whether joyful or painful, is allowed by God for the purpose of shaping us into the image of Christ. When we encounter trials, setbacks, or even daily frustrations, we can choose to see them not as random obstacles or attacks, but as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper dependence on God. Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?” we can ask, “How is God using this to make me more like Jesus?” This perspective transforms our hardships into divine appointments, reminding us that God is always at work for our good and His glory. [01:47:20]

Romans 8:28-29 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Reflection: Think of a current challenge or frustration in your life. How might God be using this very situation to shape you into the likeness of Christ, and what would it look like to cooperate with Him in that process today?

Day 2: True Love for God Results in Growing Love for Others

When you fall more deeply in love with God, He fills you with His agape love—a love that enables you to love even those who are difficult, unkind, or even hostile toward you. This supernatural love is not about giving people what they want, but what they truly need, and it flows from a heart surrendered to God. As you grow in your relationship with Him, you’ll find yourself loving people you never thought you could, even those who have wronged you or made your life harder. This is the kind of love that shows the world what Christ is like, and it’s a sign of real spiritual maturity. [01:29:21]

1 John 4:7-8 (ESV)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you find difficult to love? Ask God to fill you with His agape love for them, and consider one practical way you can show them Christ’s love this week.

Day 3: Faith Means Leaning Fully on God, Not Ourselves

Biblical faith is not just believing God exists or agreeing with certain truths; it’s putting all your weight, trust, and hope on Him—like leaning completely on a crutch that would let you fall if it failed. This kind of faith means surrendering your own solutions and strength, and depending on God for every need, big or small. When you face situations with no clear answers, instead of scrambling for your own fix, you can lean into God, trusting that He will provide the wisdom, strength, and direction you need at just the right time. [01:36:26]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you tend to rely on your own understanding or strength? What would it look like to lean fully on God in that area today?

Day 4: Serving Others Is the Natural Outflow of Loving and Trusting God

When you love God and trust Him, He will lead you to serve others in practical ways, even when it’s inconvenient or outside your comfort zone. True service isn’t about drawing attention to yourself or doing what feels good, but about being available and obedient to God’s prompting—kicking up dust as you move from one Spirit-led opportunity to the next. This kind of service is not self-focused, but others-focused, and it’s a tangible expression of God’s love working through you. [01:40:13]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Reflection: Ask God to show you one specific person or need you can serve today—not for your own benefit, but simply out of love and obedience to Him. What step will you take?

Day 5: Endure Trials with Joy, Knowing God Has a Purpose

Patient endurance—joyfully bearing up under a heavy load—is a mark of spiritual maturity. When you step out in faith and face resistance, setbacks, or suffering, you can endure with joy because you know God is using these trials to strengthen your faith and grow your character. Instead of quitting or complaining, you can press on, trusting that there is a purpose and an end to every trial, and that God is with you every step of the way. [01:43:18]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: Recall a recent or ongoing trial. How can you choose to endure it with joy, trusting that God is using it to make you more complete in Christ? What would a joyful response look like for you today?

Sermon Summary

Life is full of challenges, obstacles, and unexpected turns, but every circumstance is an opportunity designed by God to shape us into the image of Christ. From the earliest days of our faith, we’re reminded that the journey isn’t about comfort or ease, but about growth—about learning to love God more deeply and, as a result, loving others more authentically. The colored stickers we use—black for sin, red for Christ’s sacrifice, gold for our eternal home, and green for growth—are daily reminders of the gospel and the ongoing process of sanctification. Even after salvation, we’re called to continually become more like Christ, not by our own strength, but by leaning wholly on Him.

God’s plan for us isn’t just to save us and take us to heaven immediately. Instead, He leaves us here so we can grow in love for Him and for others. Every trial, every hardship, every “kidney stone” moment in life is a tool in God’s hand, meant to deepen our faith and refine our character. Rather than seeing these moments as attacks or setbacks, we’re invited to see them as tests—opportunities to trust God more, to lean on Him fully, and to let His love and power shine through us.

The church at Thyatira, which we studied, was commended for its growing love, faith, service, and patient endurance. Their love wasn’t just for those who were easy to love, but even for those who persecuted them. Their faith was a total dependence on God, like leaning all your weight on a crutch. Their service was active, always looking for the next opportunity to serve as God led. And their endurance was joyful, even under heavy loads, because they knew God was using every circumstance for their good and His glory.

We’re reminded that Christ does the testing, the devil does the tempting, and our role is to do the trusting. When we see life’s challenges through this lens, we can face them with hope and perseverance, knowing that God is at work in every detail. Our greatest asset isn’t our own strength or righteousness, but our total dependence on Christ, who gives us everything we need to pass the tests He allows. As we grow in love for God, we’ll find ourselves loving others more, serving more eagerly, and enduring with joy, all for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Every circumstance in life is a test from God, designed not to defeat us but to grow our faith and make us more like Christ. When we view challenges as divine opportunities rather than mere obstacles or attacks, we can approach them with hope and perseverance, trusting that God is using them for our good and His glory. [60:34]
2. True faith is total dependence on God—leaning all our weight on Him, not just in the big crises but in the everyday decisions and moments. This kind of faith isn’t partial or reserved; it’s a full surrender, trusting God to provide the answers and the strength we need, even when we don’t understand the timing or the outcome. [95:19]
3. Love for God naturally overflows into love for others, even those who are difficult or hostile toward us. This agape love isn’t about giving people what they want, but what they need, and it’s only possible as we stay deeply connected to Christ, allowing His love to flow through us in every situation. [88:14]
4. Service and endurance are the fruit of a life rooted in love and faith. When we love God and trust Him fully, we become eager to serve wherever He leads, and we’re able to endure trials joyfully, knowing there’s a purpose behind every load we carry. This patient endurance isn’t passive resignation, but active, joyful perseverance under God’s hand. [103:18]
5. Our greatest value isn’t found in our own righteousness or achievements, but in our total dependence on Christ and His finished work. Pride keeps us from relying on Him, but humility opens the door to His grace, wisdom, and power. When we admit our need and trust Him completely, we experience the supernatural life He intends for us. [72:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:09] - Realities of Ministry in Difficult Places
[51:20] - Transition to Revelation and Church Community
[51:49] - The Gospel Colors Explained
[53:01] - Sin, Salvation, and Sanctification
[53:56] - Heaven and Our Eternal Home
[55:07] - Righteousness by Grace Alone
[55:59] - The Purpose of Growth (Green)
[57:03] - Using Life’s Challenges for Growth
[59:05] - God’s Loving Discipline in Trials
[60:34] - Christ Tests, the Devil Tempts, We Trust
[67:08] - God as the Teacher in Life’s Tests
[73:37] - Learning from Repeated Tests
[77:03] - The Church at Thyatira: Context and Commendation
[81:09] - God Sees and Rewards Our Growth
[87:07] - Agape Love in Persecution
[93:19] - Faith as Total Dependence
[99:35] - Service and Spirit-Led Action
[103:08] - Joyful Endurance Under Pressure
[106:17] - Becoming More Like Christ Through Every Trial
[107:10] - Seeing Life’s Junk as God’s Design
[108:36] - Invitation to Surrender and Trust Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 2:18-19 (ESV) — > “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.’”

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) — > “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.”

Romans 8:28-29 (ESV) — > “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Observation Questions

In Revelation 2:19, what four qualities does Jesus commend the church at Thyatira for? ([01:21:09])
According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, what does God promise when we face temptation or testing? ([01:01:51])
In the sermon, what do the different colored stickers (black, red, gold, green) represent in the Christian life? ([52:09])
What does Romans 8:28 say about the purpose behind the circumstances believers face? ([01:31:28])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus highlights “love, faith, service, and patient endurance” as marks of a healthy church? How do these qualities relate to each other? ([01:21:09])
The sermon says, “Christ does the testing, the devil does the tempting, and we do the trusting.” What does this mean for how we view hard times or suffering? ([01:00:57])
The colored stickers are described as daily reminders of the gospel and sanctification. How might these visual reminders help someone in their walk with Christ? ([52:09])
Romans 8:28-29 says God uses all things to make us more like Jesus. How does this change the way we see “bad” or difficult situations? ([01:31:28])

Application Questions

The church at Thyatira was known for growing in love, even toward those who persecuted them. Is there someone in your life right now who is hard to love? What is one practical way you could show them Christ’s love this week? ([01:28:14])
The sermon compared faith to leaning all your weight on a crutch. Is there an area of your life where you’re only “partially” trusting God? What would it look like to fully lean on Him in that area? ([01:35:19])
When you face a challenge or “kidney stone” moment, do you tend to see it as an attack, a setback, or as a test from God? How might your response change if you saw it as an opportunity for growth? ([58:20])
The pastor said, “Our greatest value isn’t found in our own righteousness or achievements, but in our total dependence on Christ.” Are there ways you’ve been relying on your own strength or trying to prove your worth to God or others? What would it look like to surrender that? ([01:12:58])
Service and endurance are described as the fruit of a life rooted in love and faith. What is one area where you feel God is calling you to serve or endure with more joy? ([01:43:18])
The sermon encouraged us to ask God for the answers to life’s tests, rather than trying to figure everything out ourselves. Is there a current situation where you need to pause and ask God for wisdom or direction? ([01:08:19])
The green sticker stands for growth. Looking back over the past year, where have you seen God grow you the most? Where do you sense He wants to grow you next? ([55:59])

Sermon Clips

God didn't take us to heaven, we got saved, and that's what the green is for, the green is for growth, that is God's plan while you're here. He has set everything in life up for you to be able, and me, to be able to grow more in love with Him, and that's what everything, again, Ben, I heard him mention doom and gloom because people look at it that way, but everything is set up as an opportunity for us to grow more in love with Christ. [00:55:57] (30 seconds) #GrowInFaith

When it comes to God, I play dumb because I am. God, I'm nothing without you. God, this is a test. What do I do? And you got to wait until you get the answer. And if you want to argue, argue, but don't put down the wrong answer. Just put down the answer he gives you. And then everybody's like, well, wait a minute. Chip's like, dude, I did this on my own and I got a C minus minus. And you, dude, you just got, you got a hundred on this. Plus the bonus question. How'd you do? You know what? I asked the teacher and guess what? Chip, you know what? If you want, if you want, I'll introduce you to the teacher and he'll do the same for you on every test. [01:12:29] (43 seconds) #LearnThroughTesting

Your most valuable asset is a fact or your most valuable, most valuable thing about you is that Christ paid it all for you. He paid for you with everything and your total dependence on him helps you realize that that's a value you can't get in anything else. [01:13:30] (21 seconds) #ResistTheDevil

So Christ does the testing. Christ does a testing every single thing that comes into our life. It's a test that he wants to give us a solution to and the power and ability so we can pass it the way he wants us to pass it. And if we don't pass it, he's going to give us the test again. But we need to do a better job in following him in faith. We learn from that, but it's a good thing. It's a good thing not to make the same mistake over and over again, but to learn from it. [01:14:01] (37 seconds) #TrustInChrist

The devil is always willing to do the tempting. He's the flip side of the coin, trying to get you to trust anyone, but God, trying to get you to, to, to really be, we're going to talk about this next week or the week after about doubting your faith and being discouraged because you think you're not doing very good in the walk and being depressed. All of these things. That's why the devil tries to test you. He's trying to test you. He's trying to surprise. He's so willing to do the dirty work and there's no dirty work. He does that. God doesn't give him permission for it to do. He is totally under submission of God almighty, but God can use even him, but we're not supposed to listen to him. [01:14:39] (39 seconds) #StandFirmInFaith

What does it mean to trust? What is it? Kathy, did you pick that seat out? Did you choose that seat today? Did somebody make you sit in it? Yeah. And before you got in and I'm sure you were like looking at it, making sure all the welds were solid. I know that's what Trent was doing, man. All the welds were solid and everything was good, right? So that you could like, okay, all right. I'm just going to try. I'm going to put one, you know, when you sat down, how much, how much of you did you trust to the chair? So if the welds were bad, you would have ended up on the floor, but it didn't let you down. And you're still trusting your chair. You guys are still trusting these chairs. I don't know how old they are. I don't know when they were born. I don't know where they were made, but we trust these, but we know a lot more about Christ. And that's what trust is putting all your faith, all your weight, all of your energy efforts, everything into him. [01:15:38] (58 seconds) #DivineAppointments

If you love God, he calls you to love others and the benefits you. The whole garbage about, well, I got to love me first and then everybody gets my baloney. That's straight out of the pit of hell. Show me that in scripture. It's not about you. Never, never has. Your salvation is. But once you belong to God, you're a tool that he wants to use. [01:41:16] (22 seconds)

So I guess the main point I have for y'all today is this, that when the junk comes, don't, don't view it as junk. Understand that everything that comes in our life is there by God's design to make us more like him. And you figure out what God wants you to do with it. But see it from that perspective because it's so much more positive and it's the way God wants you to see it. And you figure out what he wants you to do with it. And watch him work. [01:47:08] (29 seconds)

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