Tribulation, Adversity & Tests-God's Final lExam

Adversity & Trials are our "final exam" by which God tests our hearts  to see if we will continue in faith in spite of circumstances.--How Do You Know by Dr. Mark Virkler

• The reality of tribulation and adversity in this lifetime:

• Christians will suffer tribulation.

John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."   

1 Thessalonians 3:4 (NKJV) For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.  

2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  

1. When suffering, we participate in Jesus’ suffering

1 Peter 4:12-19 (NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.  

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  

18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"  

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

2. Christ left us an example of suffering that we should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  

3. We are to cast our burdens upon the Lord, and not be moved when under pressure

Psalms 55:22 (NKJV) Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.  

• God’s Use of adversity and tribulation to test what is in our hearts

1. God led the Israelites into the wilderness to humble, test and chasten them

Deuteronomy 8:2, 5 (NKJV)  And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ⁵ You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

2. God allowed Jesus to be led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil

Luke 4:1-2 (Phillips)Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and he was led by the Spirit to spend forty days in the desert, where he was tempted by the devil.

3. God tested Abraham’s faith in his promises by asking him to offer his son as a sacrifice on an altar

Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."  

• We are not to tempt God.

Deuteronomy 6:16 (NKJV) "You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.”  

• The Israelites tempted God ten times in the wilderness

Numbers 14:22 (NKJV) because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,  

1) Craved evil things - complained over God’s provision, manna vs. Meat (1 COR. 10:6; NUM. 11:4,34)

2) Committed idolatry - made a golden calf

(1 COR. 10:7; EX. 32:4-7)

3) Committed immorality - with daughters of Moab (1 Cor. 10:8; num. 25:1)

4) Tried God - didn’t trust Him for food and

water in the midst of adversity (1 Cor. 10:9;

Num. 21:5ff)

5) Grumbled - against authority (1 Cor. 10:10;

Exo. 16:2-8)

6) Refused to fight: Sat down short of the goal rather than going on to fight (Num. 32:1-7)

7)Co-existed with enemy rather than driving it

out (NUM. 33:55; JOSH. 13:13; 15:63; 16:10)

8) Disobeyed God’s voice – Achan (JOSH. 7:1,15,24,25; 22:20)

9) Spoke negative words of destruction (Num. 14:1-3,27-29)

10) Did not seek God’s voice⁄ wisdom step by step

(Exo. 23:20-33; JOSH. 9:1-27, especially v. 14)

11) Did not unite faith with the promise of God

(Num. 13:32 - 14:4; Heb. 4:2)

12) Fought with their own strength (Num. 14:41-45)

Summary: Do not harden your hearts with unbelief and fall away from the living God.  Instead encourage one another.  Hold fast the beginning of your assurance firm until the end. The Israelites’ sin was unbelief.

Hebrews 3:18-19 (NKJV)  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

• The possible causes of adversity, and what our response should be:

1) Persecuted because of our faith in Christ

The record of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, as well as the lives of the apostles show that the wicked persecute men of faith. This can cause much suffering and even death.

Our response:  We entrust ourselves to God and if necessary, we die in faith (2 Cor. 4:11-18). Most of the apostles were martyred for their faith. David was persecuted for years by wicked King Saul before he finally received the throne to which he had been anointed long before (1 Sam. 18 - 27).

2) God-directed, to prove what is in our hearts

God leads us into adversity (the desert) to prove

what is in our hearts.

Our response: we remain faithful to God; exult in the tribulation; and consider it joy (Deut. 8:1-20; Gen. 22:1-18;

Matt. 4:1-11; Rom. 5:3; James 1:2-4).

In Psalms 42-44, David complains that God has not kept His covenant of protecting and defending them in battle, and that they have been beaten by their adversaries even though they have trusted in God.  David decides to hope in God anyway.  

3) God-directed, for teaching or chastisement

God chastises us by sending the curses of deprivation and oppression when we live in sin.  Our spiritual well-being is a more important goal to Him than our physical well-being. He will gladly sacrifice our physical well-being for our spiritual well-being. Our response: we repent and do the works of righteousness (Deut. 8:5; is. 30:18-21;1 Cor. 5:5).

4) Self-imposed, because we are impulsive or because of the law of sowing and reaping

Judges 20 records the result of not obtaining strategic direction from God: 40,000 died in two days of war. Yes, God told them to go to war, but they did not ask what strategy would make them successful, so many died. Perhaps some adversity comes because, even though we are going forward in the direction God wants us to go, we have not sought Him for a specific strategy.

Our response:  we repent and ask strategic questions of God.  Also, whatever we sow, we reap multiplied back to us (Luk. 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6; Gal. 6:7).

5) Because of sin in the world around us

Because Achan sinned, 36 men of Israel were killed in battle and all of Achan’s family were stoned, including his sons and daughters. Our Response: we listen to the voice of God, and destroy the sin in our midst so the judgment of God upon the nation or community or church can pass. (Josh. 7:1,15,24,25; 22:20).

In Habakkuk’s day, the Israelites were taken into 70 years of captivity because of the 490 years of Sin of their ancestors (Hab. 1:1-3). Habakkuk decided to rejoice in the Lord even while being taken into captivity (Hab. 3:17-19).

6) Because of Satan’s attack upon us

Satan, the adversary, comes to kill, steal and destroy. God allows him to sift us as wheat.  Jesus prays for us that our faith will not fail.  Our response: we stand strong in faith and take authority over Satan in the name of the Lord (Luk.9:1; 10:19; 22:31,32; Jn. 10:10; Job).

7) Because of our obedience bringing demonic opposition

When Ezra sought to rebuild the temple, enemies tried to discourage the workers, and got them in trouble with the authorities so that the work was stopped (Ezra 4), only to be resumed under prophetic instruction (Ezra 5, 6).

Nehemiah had to overcome demoralization, death threats, usury, and false prophecy when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 4-6).

Video Clip:  The Race

• God will be with us in tribulation

Isaiah 43:1-3 (NKJV) But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.  

3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;...  

Romans 8:28 (TLB) And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.  

9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.  

Note: since our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not his ways, when we cannot understand God and what he is doing, and it appears he is not keeping his covenant, we still love, trust, obey, worship, and thank him (Ps. 42-44), believing that He is and that He is a rewarder

of those who earnestly seek him (Heb. 11:6).

Important: God will lead us through adversity and want, to humble us and prove what is in our hearts, whether we will keep his commandments or not (Deut. 8:2). This is the piece of the puzzle I had missed. In missing this, I had become angry at God and didn’t trust His way and His Word nor walk humbly before Him. That is when I began to challenge and discount and throw away my faith in His love.  Forgive me, Lord!

Now, when we find ourselves in adversity, we must seek the Lord in praise, worship, intercession, and journaling, and discover exactly how God is asking us to respond.