3-T's TRIALS, TRIBULATION & TEMPTATION

What are TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS & TEMPTATIONS??
Are they from God or satan?
Are they good? Are they bad?
What can I do if I find myself in one?
Do Trials happen to Christian's & Non?
If we are Christian's, and God is on Our side, why do bad things still happen to us?
If God is Love, and He Loves us, Why do we sometimes suffer?
If God disciplines us, is that the same as a trial?
Are temptations from God? Can God tempt us?
Who temps us? What happens when we get tempted?
Is a trial like a temptation or a tribulation?

Paul tells us continously to renew our minds. Part of this is 1.) Not thinking on what is actually there (in the natural, but understand the supernatural) 2.) Think God thoughts; cast out any thought that is Not God's.
Everything first enters the mind-what stays in there, grows-good or bad. We have that choice.

TRIALS- are a form of training and discipline. A form of teaching and growing. Trials are from God! It is NOT a way to bring harm or hurt into your life. It is like your dad teaching you, or allowing you to go through a hard time but teaching you through it. Being there for you as you learn. This is a time of positive spiritual growth. It is NOT to teach you a lesson in a negative form. I would say, they are more for the younger Christian then the more mature. But I will not say they are not for the old, because even though you may be mature, you may still lack something God wants to teach you.

TRIBULATION- is a hard time/place to be in. In essence it is a time/place in persecution for God. It can even be to the point of death (Martyr). This is not the will of God, however it is a part of life of a Christian. If you want to understand more on the perfect will of God, read Genesis 1-3, we see what God intended for us before the sin (fall) of man ruined that. Jesus came to restore that. We still have to face the sin in the world, but we have redemption in Jesus. We still have to face the struggles, persecution, and pain because of the sin in this world. These issues we face in the name of Christ are Tribulations.

TEMPTATION- is an act of surrender to a desire on your own free will. God does not tempt us, satan does! Jesus taught us to pray, "God, lead us not into temptation..." This was said so we can ask for His guidance to keep us safe (away) from temptation. Satan makes issues of life sound so sweet we are tempted to do them. It is usually a simple twist of the truth that we buy into that gives place to our willingness to give in because it is easy, makes sense, and at times feels like no-one else will find out. The good news is, God will always give you a way of escape, but again that is your choice to make.

DISCIPLINE- Disciplines goes together with TRIALS but I wanted to cover this more in depth. This is a great area of LOVE. If a father disciplines his child he loves them. It doesn't always feel great for the parent to do so, but disciplines keeps a child going straight. The child doesn't always feel great about it at the time, but this brings up a child correctly. Disciplines is NOT a form of releasing anger out onto a child. Disciplines usually comes after Disobedience. A parent does NOT Disciplines their children when they are doing good. So Disciplines is a form of correcting ones behavior with the observation and guidance of the parent. We sometimes don't understand the correct way of doing this as humans because of past wounds with our parents, but done in a correct manner, disapline does not turn the child into rebellion, shows love, and the child learns something from it. So let's see an example: I am sining (let's say my mind starts to wander, lustfully) the Holy Spirit say, Ah hey Frank, whatcha doing? What your doing, it kind of hurts my feelings. Do you think that is healthy for our relationship? No, sorry Lord! I am pretty weak today. I agree, this is not healthy for me to be doing since it could lead to other things. I am sorry! How about another example: My son (3 years old) is doing something he shouldn't. Standing on the table lets say. Ah, son, do you think that is a good idea? You could fall and get hurt, not to mention you are disrespecting me in my house. You know we are not supposed to stand on the table. Please get down. No! Well I am sorry then, I will have to spank you. (or in the case with God, I believe he takes away His hand of protection off of us.)



Hebrews 12:1-13 (God Disciplines His Children)
1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6. because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
8. If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
10. Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
11. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
13. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
----
1 Peter 4:12-19 (Suffering for Being a Christian)
12. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
13. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15. If you suffer, it should NOT be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but PRAISE God that you bear that name.
17. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18. And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
19. So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
----
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3. because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8. he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
----
Luke 22:31-32
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
----
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2. through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4. perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
----
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under TRIAL, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
----
2 Thessalonians 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
----
Hebrews 12 (God Disciplines His Sons)
1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6. because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10. Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13. "Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

TEMPTATION-
James 1:13
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
----
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
----
Matthew 4:3
The tempter (satan) came to Him (Jesus) and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."



"So, why do bad things happen then?" you are probably asking.
One reason is because we are not walking with the Lord. If we are doing what we want to do and ignoring Him or being disobedient, we walk away from His protection, from His blessings. If we learn to ignore His voice from Him telling us what we should do, then How can we hear Him if He tells us to be careful? We can't. We stuck our fingers in our own ears because we want what we want. We walk away from Him. Thus walking away from His protection.

When bad things happen to us, some believe this is God's way of bringing us back in line with His will. I think that is poor wording. I say God uses any situation for His Glory. If God is dealt a bad hand in cards, He will use any hand dealt Him and turn it around for His WIN! (for His glory) So if you walk away from God, and satan starts pounding on your door, (bad things start to happen to you) God will use that to bring you back home. This is not God's perfect plan for you, but that perfect plan was forfeited by you when you decided to do what you wanted. God is just using this to get you back in line with Him.

"We have to have faith in God that He is in control" I feel this is a cop-out for those who don't understand God's Will. They will often blame sickness or problems in life on God, thinking God is teaching them something. TRIALS have been misunderstood to the point that we are blaming God for what we don't understand, and we then give up on, because we can't figure it out.





Always keep in mind the scripture in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." No matter what, if you love God, the things that are happening are happening for good. We may never know what the good was. The good may be for other believers, or even for the salvation of non-believers. We have to have faith in God that He is in control.

According to the scripture in Ephesians 1:3 God has blessings for us in heavenly places in Christ. We need to get some of those blessings out of the spiritual world into this world. Get closer to God. Turn your mind on Him. Do all things for Him as it says in Colossians 3:23. Spend time talking to Him throughout the day. Find out what He wants you to do.