TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS
& TRIBULATIONS

1. Trials &
tests are to be expected:

Psa.34:19                Many
are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them
all

Acts
14:22             We
must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom

1Cor.10:13a            No
temptation taken you but such as is common to man

1Thes.3:3               No
man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are
appointed thereunto

Heb.12:7 What son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

1Pet.4:12                Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try (test) you

1Pet.4:17                Judgment
must begin at the house of God...at us

1Pet.5:9  Knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren

(See
also Psa.26:2; 139:23,24.)

2. Trials often
result when things don't go our way:

Jam.4:2   Ye lust, & have not...desire to
have, & cannot obtain

A. Often God will
grant your heart's desire:

Psa.37:4  Delight thyself in the Lord; & He
shall give thee the desires of thine heart

Psa.84:11                No
good thing will He withhold from them (the upright) Psa.145:19a He will fulfil
the desire of them that fear Him

Pro.10:24b              The
desire of the righteous shall be granted

(See
also Psa.21:2; 145:16.)

B. But sometimes He
withholds it because it's not His time:

Eccl.3:1-8               There
is...a time to every purpose under the heaven

(See
also Psa.37:34; Eccl.8:5,6.)

C. Or because it
would choke out your fruitfulness:

Mk.4:7,19               The
lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, & it becometh
unfruitful (See Mat.13:22; Lk.8:14.)

D. Or seriously
stumble or offend others:

1Thes.5:22             Abstain
[even] from all appearance of evil

Rom.14:14-16,
21   Destroy not him with thy
meat, for whom Christ died (See also 1Cor.8:8-13)

E. Or bring
reproach on the Lord's work or ministry:

2Sam.12:14             By
this deed [murdering Uriah] thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of
the Lord to blaspheme

2Cor.6:3  Giving no offence...that the ministry be
not blamed

(See
also 2Pet.2:2)

F. Or because of
unrepented sin in your heart:

Jer.5:25   Your iniquities have turned away
these things, & your sins have withholden good things from you

(See
also Psa.66:18; Isa.59:1,2.)

G. Or because
you're asking with the wrong motives:

Jam.4:2,3                Ye
ask & receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts

H. It's not always
good to get the desire of your heart:

Psa.73:3,7,16-22    I was envious
at...prosperity...they have more than heart could wish...then understood I
their end

1Tim.6:9,10            They
that will (desire to) be rich fall into temptation...& many
hurtful lusts...erred from the faith

I. You may miss
something better God had planned for you:

Psa.81:10-13,16     He would have
fed them the finest of wheat...honey

J. Nonetheless, we
have trials when we can't have something:

1Sam.1:6b-8,
10     The Lord had
shut up her womb...therefore she wept... heart grieved...bitterness of soul

Pro.13:12a              Hope
deferred maketh the heart sick

(See
also 2Sam.13:1,2)

K. Warning against
stubbornly insisting on getting your way:

Psa.78:27-31          He
gave them their own desire...their lust. But...the wrath of God came (See also
Psa.81:12)

Psa.106:14,15         He
gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul (See
also Num.11:4-34)

(See
1Sam.8:4-22; 12:1,13,16-19 re: asking for a king)

L. What you give up
for the Lord, He will often return:

Gen.22:1-12            [God
commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, then stops him & lets him keep Isaac]               (See
also Heb.11:17-19)

Heb.6:15 After he patiently endured, he obtained the
promise

(See
also Eccl.11:1; Heb.10:36.)

3. Why the
Lord allows you to have trials & tests:

A. To draw you
closer to Him:

Psa.107:12,13         He
brought down their heart with labour...then they cried unto the Lord in
their trouble

B. To see what's in
your heart & if you will remain true:

Exo.20:20                God
is come to prove (test) you

Deut.8:2 The Lord...[tested you] to know what was in
thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments

Deut.13:3,4            God...proveth
you, to know whether ye love the Lord

Judg.2:21,22          [God
kept adversaries in the land to] prove Israel, whether they keep the way
of the Lord, or not

Jer.12:3a Thou knowest me...Thou hast...tried my heart

Jer.17:10 I the Lord search the heart...to give every man
according to his ways, &...the fruit of his doings

Jn.6:5,6   This He said to prove (test) him,
for He Himself knew

C. To draw you
closer to His Word:

Psa.94:12                Blessed
is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, & teachest him out of Thy law

Psa.119:71              It
is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes

D. To prune away
dead wood so you can be more fruitful:

Jn.15:2b  Every branch that beareth fruit, He
purgeth (prunes), that it may bring forth more fruit

E. To teach you
obedience:

Heb.5:8   Though He were a Son, yet learned
He obedience by the things which He suffered (See also Heb.2:10)

1Pet.4:1,2               He
that...suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin

F. To make you a better
& more useful vessel:

Jer.18:4   The vessel that he (the potter)
made of clay was marred ...so he made it again another vessel

1Cor.5:7  Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be
a new lump

2Tim.2:21               [If
purged]...he shall be a vessel...meet for the Master's use, & prepared unto
every good work

G. To purify
you as precious metal is refined:

Mal.3:3   He shall sit as a refiner &
purifier of silver

Zech.13:9a             I
will bring [them] through the fire, & refine them

Psa.66:10                Thou,
O God, hast...tried us, as silver is tried

Job
23:10                When
He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold

Pro.17:3  The fining pot is for silver, & the
furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts

Isa.48:10 I have refined thee...in the furnace of
affliction

Dan.11:35               [They]
shall fall, to try them...& to make them white

1Pet.1:7  The trial of your faith (is) much more
precious than gold ...though it be tried with fire

(See
also Isa.1:25)

H. To prepare you
for future blessings & exalted ministries:

Deut.8:16               That
He might humble thee...& prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end

Psa.105:17-22        [Joseph
imprisoned, abased & tested, then exalted]

Pro.18:12b              Before
honour is humility

I. To teach you
patience:

Rom.5:3b                Tribulation
worketh (teaches us) patience

Jam.1:3,4                The
trying of your faith worketh patience

J. To make you
wiser through sorrow:

Eccl.7:3,4                Sorrow
is better than laughter: for by...sadness...the heart is made better

K. To teach you
compassion towards others:

Heb.4:15 Be touched with the feeling of [others']
infirmities

2Cor.1:4  That we may be able to comfort them...in
trouble

4. Trials over
suffering personal loss:

A. Willingly &
joyfully suffer loss of position or possessions:

Job
1:21  The Lord gave, & the Lord
hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord

Acts
20:23,24        Bonds
& afflictions...none of these things move me, neither count I [even] my life
dear

Phi.3:8    I have suffered the loss of
all things, & do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

Heb.10:34               Ye...took
joyfully the spoiling of your goods

B. Lay aside
weights to run the race:

Heb.12:1 Let us lay aside every weight...& let us
run the race

1Cor.9:24                So
run, that ye may obtain (the prize)

Phi.3:13,14             Forgetting
those things which are behind...I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling

C. The futility of
trying to hang onto things:

Pro.23:5  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that
which is not? for riches certainly...fly away

Lk.12:15  A man's life consisteth not in...things
he possesseth

(See
also Eccl.5:13-15; 1Tim.6:7.)

D. Paul's trials in
missing loved ones:

(See
Phi.1:7,8; 1Thes.2:17,18; 1Thes.3:10 ; 2Tim.1:3,4 .)

E. The Lord wants
you to love Him first of all:

Psa.73:25                Whom
have I in Heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee

Psa.142:4,5             Refuge
failed me; no man cared...Thou art my refuge & my portion in the
land of the living

Isa.54:1,5,6             Sing...for
thy Maker is thine husband...the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken

Jn.16:32  Ye...shall leave Me alone: & yet I am
not alone, because the Father is with Me

5. Some Bible
examples of trials & tests:

Gen.21:9-11            And
the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight [to send away Hagar &
his son Ishmael]

Gen.26:34,35          [Esau
disobeyed & married pagans] which were a grief of mind to Isaac &
Rebekah (Also Gen.27:46; 28:8.)

Exo.4:10-13            [Moses
felt incapable to speak to the Hebrew nation]

Num.11:10-12,
14  [Moses said:] I am not able to
bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me

Judg.6:14,15          [Gideon
felt incapable to be the deliverer of Israel]

Ruth
1:12,13          [Naomi,
unable to help her daughters-in-law, said:] It grieveth me much for your sakes

1Sam.30:1-6           [David's
men grieved at the loss of wives & families]

1Ki.19:1-4,10          [Elijah,
persecuted & feeling all alone, prayed to die]

Psa.6:6-8                [David's
tears & grief because his enemies triumphed]

Psa.38:4-9              [David's
trials about an unhealed affliction]

Psa.102:1-8            [David's
deep trial because of his enemies' reproach] (See also Psa.69:16-20)

Jer.15:10 [Jeremiah's depths of despair over being
rejected, despised & mocked--See also Jer.20:7-10,14,18]

Jon.3:4,5,10;
4:1-9 [When things didn't work as he'd
hoped, Jonah was so angry & displeased, he wished to die]

Lk.10:40  [Martha, working alone, felt unfairly
over-burdened]

Jn.21:17  Peter grieved [because Jesus seemed to be
bringing his love & loyalty into question]

2Cor.1:8  [Paul's] trouble...we were pressed above
strength, so  we despaired even of
life (See also 2Cor.4:8; 7:5.)

Isa.53:3-9               [Jesus'
sorrows & trials]

6. Why it's worth
it to endure tests & temptations:

A. For the sake of
lost souls:

2Tim.2:10               I
endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain...salvation

Isa.53:10-12           [God
"put Jesus to grief" to save our souls]

B. Because you'll
be spiritually stronger as a result:

2Cor.4:16                We
faint not; (for) though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed
day by day

2Cor.12:9,10           My
(Jesus') strength is made perfect in weakness...that the power of Christ may
rest upon me (Paul)

C. Because God will
reward you after testing you:

Psa.66:12                Thou
hast caused [us to go] through fire & water: but Thou broughtest us out
into a wealthy place

Heb.12:11               No
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward...[good] fruit

Jam.5:11 Endure. Ye have heard of...Job, & have seen
the end...  the Lord is of tender
mercy (See Job 42:10-17)

(See
also Psa.118:5; Lam.3:32.)

D. Heavenly
rewards:

Rom.8:18                The
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be...in us

2Cor.4:17                Our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us (an)...eternal
weight of glory

Jam.1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation...he shall receive the crown of life

1Pet.4:13                Ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings...when His glory shall be revealed, ye may
be glad also

(See
also 1Jn.2:17; Rev.21:7.)

7. Be thankful
for your trials & temptations:

A. God uses your
trials & temptations for good:

Rom.8:28                All
things work together for good to...the called

Jam.1:2-4                Count
it joy when ye fall into diverse temptations

1Pet.1:6  Rejoice, though now for a season ye are
in heaviness

B. Chastenings
prove God loves you & that you're His child:

Deut.8:5 As a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord
chasteneth

Pro.3:11,12             My
son, despise not the chastening of the Lord

Heb.12:5-12           Whom
the Lord loveth He chasteneth...every son

Rev.3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten

(See
also Job 5:17; Psa.11:5; 1Cor.11:32.)

C. Remember that
sorrow will give way to joy:

Psa.30:5  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy
cometh in the morning

Mat.5:4   Blessed are they that mourn: for
they shall be comforted

1Pet.5:10                God...after
that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle
you

8. Helping others
who are going through trials:

A. How to help
them:

Job
6:14  To him that is afflicted pity
should be showed

Job
19:21                Have
pity upon me...the hand of God hath touched me

Rom.15:1,2             We...ought
to bear the infirmities of the weak

1Cor.12:25,26         Whether
one member suffer, all...suffer with it

Gal.6:2    Bear ye one another's burdens

Heb.13:3 Remember them...which suffer, as being
yourselves also in the body

B. Encourage &
strengthen them:

Job
16:4,5               I
would strengthen you with my mouth...asswage grief

Isa.50:4   Speak a word in season to him that
is weary

Pro.12:25                Heaviness
in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad

C. Admonish them
with hearty counsel:

Pro.27:9  Ointment & perfume rejoice the heart:
so doth sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel

Col.3:16  Let the Word of Christ dwell in
you...teaching & admonishing one another...singing

9. Temptations:
Where they come from:

A. From our own
lusts:

Jam.1:13,14            Every
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, & enticed

1Jn.2:15,16             The
lust of the flesh &...eyes...is of the world

B. They are also
instigated by the devil:

Gen.3:1-6,13           [Eve:]
The serpent beguiled me, & I did eat

1Chr.21:1,7,8          Satan...provoked
David to...(sin & do foolishly)

Mat.4:1-7               [Jesus
was tempted of the devil, "the tempter"]

Lk.22:31  Simon, Satan hath desired to...sift you
as wheat

(See
also 1Thes.3:5; 2Cor.11:3.)

10. Avoiding
temptation:

Mat.6:13a               [Pray:]
Lead us not into temptation

A. Avoid the
pathway to temptation:

Pro.4:14  Enter not into the path of the wicked,
& go not

Pro.4:15  Avoid it, pass not by it,
turn from it, & pass away

Mat.7:13,14            Enter
ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, & broad is the
way...to destruction

2Tim.2:22a             Flee
also youthful lusts

B. Beware of those
who would entice you:

Psa.1:1,2 (Walk) not in the counsel of the ungodly

Pro.1:10  If sinners entice thee, consent thou not

Pro.16:29                A
violent man enticeth his neighbour, & leadeth him into the way that is not
good

2Pet.3:17                Beware
lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your
steadfastness

(See
also Pro.22:24,25; 2Pet.2:18,19.)

C. Know your
weaknesses, & be on guard against them:

Rom.13:14              Make
not provision (forethought, plans) for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof

Gal.6:1b  Considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted

D. Warning re:
evil, beguiling influences & "entertainment":

Deut.7:25,26          [Do
not] bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like
it: utterly detest it

Psa.101:3                I
will set no wicked thing before mine eyes

Psa.106:35,36         They
were mingled among the heathen, & learned their works. Their idols...were a
snare unto them

2Cor.11:3                Lest...as
the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted

2Pet.2:7,8               Lot...in
seeing & hearing [filthy Sodomites], vexed (tormented) his righteous
soul...with their unlawful deeds

11. How to
resist & overcome temptation:

A. Keep your eyes
on Jesus:

Heb.11:27               He
(Moses) endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible

Heb.12:2,3              Looking
unto Jesus...consider Him...lest ye...faint

(See
also Pro.4:25; Col.3:2,3.)

B. Pray & ask
the Lord to help you:

Psa.17:5  Hold up my goings in Thy paths...that my
footsteps slip not

Psa.56:13                Thou
hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling?

Mat.6:13a               Lead
us not into temptation...deliver us from evil

Mat.26:41               Watch
& pray, that ye enter not into temptation (See also Lk.21:36)

Mat.18:19,20          [Have
others pray with you in special times of temptation] (See also Jam.5:16)

C. Resist the
devil:

Eph.4:27 Neither give place to the devil

Jam.4:7   Resist the devil, & he will
flee from you

D. Cling to the
Word:

Psa.119:80              Let
my heart be sound in Thy statues; that I be not ashamed

Jn.15:3    Now ye are clean through the
Word

2Pet.1:4  Precious promises: that by these ye
might...(escape) the corruption that is in the world through lust

Rev.3:10 Because thou hast kept the Word...I will keep
thee

E. Be willing to
give up your own desires out of love for Jesus:

Gal.5:16  Walk in the Spirit, & ye shall not
fulfil the lust of the flesh

Gal.5:24  They that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with the affections & lusts

Eph.4:20-23            Put
off...the old man...the deceitful lusts

(See
also Rom.6:16; Phi.3:8.)

F. Exercise
willpower & determine not to yield to temptation:

Rom.6:13                Neither
yield ye your members...unto sin

1Cor.9:27                I
keep under my body, & bring it into subjection

1Cor.16:13              Watch
ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you (behave) like men, be strong

2Tim.2:3 Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ

2Tim.2:22               Flee
youthful lusts: but follow righteousness

1Pet.1:14                As
obedient children, not (conforming) to former lusts

1Pet.2:11                Abstain
from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul

(See
also 1Cor.10:5,6)

G. Fear the Lord
& be afraid to disobey Him:

Pro.14:27                The
fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death

Pro.16:6b                By
the fear of the Lord men depart from evil

Pro.23:17                Let
not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day
long

1Sam.12:24             Fear
the Lord, & serve Him in truth with all your heart

H. Be serious
& sober about serving the Lord:

Tit.2:12   Denying...worldly lusts, we should
live soberly...in this present world

1Thes.5:8               Let
us...be sober, putting on the [armour of God]

1Pet.1:13                Gird
up...your mind, be sober, & hope to the end

1Pet.4:7  The end...is at hand: be ye
therefore sober

1Pet.5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil ...walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

I. Keep your heart
& mind on the final goal:

Heb.11:25,26          Choosing
rather to suffer affliction...than to enjoy pleasures of sin...for he had
respect to the reward

Heb.12:2 (Jesus) for the joy set before Him,
endured the cross

12. The Lord will
deliver you:

A. God's promises
to help you:

2Pet.2:9  Lord knoweth how to deliver godly out of
temptations

1Cor.10:13b           God...will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will...also make a way
to escape

1Cor.15:57              Thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

Heb.2:18 He is able to succour (help) them that are
tempted

B. Jesus has
compassion on us, knowing what it's like:

Heb.4:15 (Jesus) was in all points tempted like
as we are

C. He is with you
when you go through temptation:

Isa
43:1   Fear not: I have called
thee by name; thou art Mine

Isa.43:2   When thou passest through waters, I
will be with thee

1Pet.4:19                Let
them that suffer...commit the keeping of their souls to Him...as unto a
faithful Creator

(See
also Deut.4:30,31)

13. How righteous
men fell through temptation:

A. Example of Lot
going astray & losing all:

Gen.13:5,6              Lot...had
flocks & herds & tents...substance was great

Gen.13:8-11            [Lot
is attracted to the well-watered Jordan valley]

Gen.13:12,13          Lot...pitched
his tent toward [wicked] Sodom

Gen.14:11-16          [Lot,
living near Sodom, taken captive with Sodomites]

Gen.19:1,2              [Lot
"sat in the gate of Sodom" as a judge (19:9), & lived in a
house inside Sodom]

Gen.19:24-30          [Lot
lost everything he owned & ended up in a cave]

(See
also Ezk.3:20; Rev.3:11.)

B. Example of
Balaam the prophet:

(Compare
Num.22:1-21; 24:2,10,11,15,19; 25:1-3; 31:16; Josh.13:22;

2Pet.2:15;
Jude 11; Rev.2:14.)

C. The fall of King
Solomon:

2Sam.12:24             Bathsheba...bare
Solomon...& the Lord loved him

Neh.13:26               Solomon...was
beloved of his God...nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to
sin

1Ki.11:1-8               King
Solomon loved many strange women...his wives turned away his heart after other
gods

1Ki.11:9-11             The
Lord was angry with Solomon (& said), I will rend the kingdom from
thee, & give it to thy servant

D. Other examples
of people falling through temptation:

Gen.3:1-6                (Eve)
saw the tree was good for food...pleasant to the eyes, & to be desired to
make one wise...did eat

Gen.25:29-34          [Esau
sold his birthright to Jacob for some pottage]

Josh.7:1,20,21        (Achan
coveted) a goodly Babylonish garment...silver & a wedge of gold

1Ki.13:1-28             [Young
prophet tempted to disobey by the old prophet]

2Ki.5:20-27             [Gehazi
coveted Namaan's goods; was struck leprous]

14. When tempted by
worldly beauty:

A. Beware of
lusting after shallow, deceitful beauty:

Pro.6:25  Lust not after her beauty in thine heart;
neither let her take thee with her (eyelashes)

Pro.31:30                Favour
is deceitful, & beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the
Lord, she shall be praised

1Jn.2:15,16             The
lust of the flesh, & the lust of the eyes, is not of the Father but is of
the world

(See
also Isa.3:16,18-24; 1Pet.3:3,4.)

B. Beware of being
beguiled by the worldly:

Job
31:1  I made a covenant with
mine eyes; when then should I think upon a [worldly] maid?

Pro.7:6-21               With
her much fair speech she caused him to yield

2Pet.2:18                They
speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the
flesh...wantonness

C. The bitter end
result of being beguiled:

Pro.5:3-13               The
lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb... but her end is bitter...thou
mourn at the last

Pro.7:21,22             He
goeth after her...as an ox goeth to the slaughter

Pro.7:23  As a bird hasteth to the snare,
& knoweth not that it is for his life (See also Pro.6:26)

Pro.14:12                A
way which seemeth right, but the end thereof...death

(See
also Judg.16:4-6,16,21; Pro.7:25-27; 9:13-18; 23:27,28; 2Sam.13:1-3,28,29.)

D. Resist it
with the power of the Word:

Pro.2:1-13               My
commandments...preserveth the way of His saints... to deliver thee from the way
of the evil man

Pro.2:16,17             To
deliver thee from the strange woman (See also vs. 1-11)

Pro.6:23,24             The
commandment is a lamp; & the law is light...to keep thee from the flattery
of...a strange woman

Lk.4:5-12                [Jesus
resisted devil's temptations by quoting the Word]

(See
also Pro.7:1-5)

15. Examples of
resisting temptation:

Gen.14:21-23          [Abraham
refused rewards from the king of Sodom]

2Ki.5:15,16             [Naaman
urged Elisha to take gifts; Elisha refused]

Job
2:9,10               [Job
refused to sin with his lips & curse God]

Jer.35:5,6                [The
Rechabites obediently refused to drink wine]

Dan.1:8   [Daniel refused to defile himself
eating unclean food]

Acts
8:18-20          [Peter
refused Simon the sorcerer's money]