fbpx
P. O. Box 2252, Oak Park, Illinois 60303-2252 info@wordoflifeministries.org 773-544-0058

Test and Tribulations

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him – James 1:12.

Christians usually mistake tests with tribulations, but there is a slight difference between the two. Tribulation is a great trial such sources of vexation or distress that tests patience or endurance. Whereas test means employed to examine, try or prove. A series of questions or problems designed to determine knowledge or intelligence whether it’s naturally or spiritually.Everyone goes through test and tribulations whether there are believers or unbelievers. The difference with the Christian he or she has Jesus walking with them through what they are going through, He has promised that He would never leave us or forsake the believer whereas the unbeliever try to make it on their own without God and when test and tribulations come they will either try to drink it away, drug it away, enter into relationships they shouldn’t be in or they will go into depression. People are being taught when you receive Jesus all your bad days are gone, the truth is you surrender your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior, that’s when Satan really fights you to make you feel as though God does not love you or He’s not concerned about what you’re going through. Satan is the enemy of God, and if we have accepted His Son as our Lord, then Satan is an of our enemy.

In order for us to be perfected in Christ, we must go through some suffering. If we can go through the suffering without mummer and complaining we will receive a reward  (Hebrews 12:11 – Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (strengthen) thereby. Every test and tribulation we go through will either strengthen us in Christ or either it will make us backslide. Sad to say, many Christians have or are in a backslidden stage because they couldn’t stand the test, they looked at the test and trial rather than looking to Jesus. Say, for instance, you have a problem with anger, and every time you get angry, you curse. Now we know that Christians shouldn’t curse no matter what is going on in their life, but if you continue to curse when you’re angry; as soon as you curse, you quickly repent, but if you continue to curse, this would be an area you need to be delivered. Once God has delivered you, don’t think Satan will not try to influence you to return to his way of communicating.

People that have never been a problem will begin to provoke you. Your spouse will do or say something that will upset you. Your children will do something that will rattle you, everywhere you go there are confusions and something that will upset you, by this time you should know that you’re going through a test to see if you will allow Satan to take back what God has delivered you from.

Whatever area in your life that Satan has lost his grounds, don’t think he’s not going to try to recover what he has lost. The first test occurred in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were tested by Satan. Remember a test is to examine a person or to prove; it can also be accompanied by a series of questions designed to determine knowledge or intelligence. When God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat of the forbidden fruit; afterward Satan tested Eve and the first thing he asked her was “Did not God say for you not to eat of every tree of the garden”? God does not tempt us with evil, meaning things that are contrary to His character or attributes, but Satan will.

After she was told she would be like a god, knowing good from evil; her intellect kicked in and she wanted to be like a god, but what she didn’t realize was that particular time evil didn’t exist. There wasn’t a reason for her to discern good and evil, Satan was influencing her with her intellect and that’s what makes a lot of Christians get in trouble, our intellect cannot understand spiritual things. Because Adam and Eve fell to follow instructions they fell the test and was removed from the Garden of Eden. Anytime we’re tested to do something that is contrary to the Word of God and God’s character, we should know this test is not from God (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 – James 1:13).

There is not a test Satan can place upon us that God will not deliver us from and give us the grace to sustain in the testing. Whatever you may be going through, know that God will bring you out in His timing. God will never place on you more than you can bear. When God told the children of Israel to take the land of Canaan, He was proving them to see whether they were going to believe God or look at the circumstance. Ten of them looked at the circumstance and two looked at God. Sometimes we mummer when we’re going through difficult times, but if we would only look at the Shepherd instead of the snake we would know the door that was open for us to go into the test or trial will also lead us the back door to come out.

God will not allow us to go through a test or trial without Him and His Son being there to lead us through if we allow them. Some are going through in their homes with their spouse, hold your peace and look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. Your spouse is not doing something God is not aware of, draw from the anointing that is within you bring peace to a chaotic situation. Some have stopped praying for their loved ones because they have been hurt so badly by them. It’s not the person, but the spirit that is using them. We fight not against flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness. Just as God needs a vessel to use, Satan needs a vessel too.

Satan will use our unsaved loved ones to come against us, hoping we will stop praying for them and allow Satan to continue to rule them. Pray for those that are upsetting you, pray until you pray the spirit and the action out of them. God allows Satan to come against us to see what we will do. Some Christians when tested they get mean, hard to get along with. Some will stop praying and believing God. Your test is to prove you, to let you see what’s in you; God knows what you’re all about. The next time you go through some difficult times, know that you’re in a test and you are being proved to see what’s in you. You will not hear from God at this time because you’re being tested. Anytime a teacher gives a test he or she does not talk to the student while they are being tested, after the test the teacher speaks. Your faith is being tested, your faithfulness is being tried, your commitment to God is being tried, you can win, if you look to the author and the finisher of your faith, you can’t lose when you have God and His Son on your side!

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.