TEMPTATION, TRIALS and TESTS — What’s the Diff?
Let’s define each…
Temptation is due to the cravings of one’s flesh or sinful nature, which is the satanic nature (James 1:14).
Trials are separate from temptations, although you can of course undergo a temptation during a trial. For instance, Christ experienced hunger during his 40-day fast in the desert and so his flesh no doubt tempted him to break it (Matthew 4:1-4).
Tests are related to one type of trial. To explain, there are three kinds of trials:
- Self-Inflicted Trial (SIT)
- Discipline-Intended Trial (DIT)
- Maturity-Intended Trial (MIT).
God’s tests for any believer only apply to the third type, a Maturity-Intended Trial, aka an MIT. Here’s an explanation of each:
- SITs are obvious; they’re the result of one’s own folly, like being injured due to reckless driving and the resulting wreck or suffering physically due to a junk food diet. In both cases the person’s travails are not due to some satanic plot, but simply his/her foolish choices. The answer to SITs is simply learning wisdom.
- A DIT means the curse is hitting you due to disobedience, whether a sin of commission or a sin of omission. If this is the case, immediately ’fess up and God will dismiss the charge (1 John 1:8-9); then take up your spiritual weapons and fight the good fight of faith until the curse departs (Ephesians 6:10-18 & 1 Timothy 6:12).
- An MIT means that the curse is striking you for righteousness’ sake and the LORD is allowing the enemy to assault you in order to test your character and, once your character is proven, turn the negative situation around to your good (Romans 8:28). That’s the genius of MITs: God takes something in which the enemy intends to destroy you with—or, at least, hinder you—and ultimately turns it around to your good, making you “strong, firm and steadfast” “after you have suffered for a little while” (1 Peter 5:8-10). Of course, this is providing you fulfill your role by fighting the good fight of faith and enduring. (Remember: the LORD is your “helper,” not your do-everything-for-you-so-you-don’t-have-to-do-anything-at-all-er). This is precisely what happened with Joseph (Genesis 50:20).
However, not every one of God’s tests involves a curse striking you. The LORD could simply give you a challenging instruction to see whether or not you obey it, like God’s instruction for Abraham to sacrifice his child Isaac, which was a type of Father God sacrificing the Son for the sins of the world (Genesis 22:1-18 & John 3:16).
As for persecutions, they’re simply the result of putting God’s Word into practice and living a godly life (Matthew 13:21 & 2 Timothy 3:12). This naturally draws satanic attack because the believer automatically becomes a threat to the kingdom of darkness. Since practicing the truth and walking in godliness relates to growing spiritually, and therefore spiritual maturity, persecutions for righteousness’ sake would fall under the category of MITs.
For important details on these things, see this article:
Related Topics:
Spiritual Warfare — The Basics
Spiritual Development — The Four Stages
Spiritual Growth is Like Climbing a Mountain
Spirituality — How to be Spirit-Controlled Rather than Flesh-Ruled
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