Opening illustration: Illustrate the difference between Temptation and Trial.
Introduction: In the New Testament, the same Greek word (peirazo) is used for trial, test, and temptation. The basic meaning of peirazo is to test something to determine its response, value, or character. When peirazo is used to describe external hardships allowed by God, we use the word “test” or “trial,” but when peirazo is used to describe inner struggles with sin, we use the word “temptation.”
God tested the Israelites in the desert to know what was in their hearts, and tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. God allows external hardships or difficult situations produce good qualities in us. When we face hardship, we learn to rely on God and to have faith in Him. God wants to strengthen our faith through tests and trials.
1. What are TRIALS?
It is the act of trying, testing, or putting to the proof.
Any trial that God sends—death of a loved one or friend, financial reverse, loss, illness, misunderstanding, losing your keys, failure, disappointment, betrayal, abuse, unemployment, depression, accident, loneliness, missing a train or plane, rejection, not getting that important invitation, or any physical pain—should be seen as having our Lord's handprints all over them.
2. What are TEMPTATIONS?
It is the act of attraction; enticement or allurement; seduction or inducement.
But the Christian life is all about fighting, battling, and overcoming our temptations, whatever our trials might be – and the Bible and the history of the church give us example after example after example of our brothers and sisters who have done just that.
3. Are TRIALS and TEMPTATIONS the same thing? If not, how do they differ?
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:13-15).
Notice that the subject has shifted from TRIALS to TEMPTATIONS. But there is not really that much of a shift. The Greek word for “trial” in verse 12 and the Greek word for “tempt” here in verse 13 come from the same root. Trials often involve a corresponding temptation.
What is the difference then between a trial versus a temptation?
Trials Temptations
A trial comes from the outside in A temptation comes from the inside out
Trials bring life Temptations bring death
Trials lead to maturity Temptations lead to a maturing of sin
God brings into your life the outward trials. He does not bring the inner temptations. Those come from within you.
(i) In their ultimate origin. Temptations come from the flesh; trials are sent from God. He allowed Satan to test Job (Job 1:6-12). Therefore, when we speak of "trial" we see God's fingerprints; when we see temptation, we see our own—or the devil's.
(ii) In their immediate origin. Temptation comes from within; trials usually come from outside us. Job suffered physically, but inwardly—at least at first—there was no apparent struggle.
(iii) In their moral relevance. Temptation, when it is sexual in nature, has considerable moral relevance, but a trial may be what I would want to call morally neutral, such as illness or losing one's keys.
(iv) With reference to what is tested. Temptation will usually attack a weak spot; trials test our strength as well as exposing a weakness we may have been unaware of—as with Job, who turned out to be so self-righteous.
4. Are TRIALS good? What is the purpose of TRIALS in our life? (James 1:1-12)
Trials develop godly character, and that enables us to "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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” (Romans 5:3-5). Jesus Christ set the perfect example. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). These verses reveal aspects of His divine purpose for both Jesus Christ's trials and tribulations and ours. Persevering proves our faith. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
• Trials Happen in our Lives to Produce Real Christian Joy. (v. 2)
• Trials Happen in our Life to Produce in You an Enduring Faith. (v. 3)
• Trials Happen in our Life to Mature You as A Christian. (v. 4)
• Trials Happen in our Life to Drive Us to Prayer (vs. 5-8)
• Trials Happen to Bring Equality Among the Brethren (vs. 9-11)
• Trials Happen to Bring Us Reward in Heaven (v. 12)
5. How to fight/overcome TEMPTATIONS?
We are all faced with temptations. No one who belongs to God will be exempt from that. Even Jesus wasn’t. Every day we are given choices to do what our flesh feels like doing or what God intends us to do. Party or don’t go to this party. Go and get drunk with your friends or stay at home. Fornicate or do not! Watch porn or do not! Be lazy and blame others or work hard and prepare. Honor my parents or do not honor them. Tell the truth or tell one small little lie to get off the hook. Believe everything that God has said or doubt everything that I have been taught. The list is endless. The entire day seems to be made up of choices. Let us be honest. Talking about fighting these temptations and actually fighting these temptations are two different things.
(i) Fight to REMEMBER RIGHTLY: We are inclined to forget everything that happened before. We forget all the shame and defeat we felt last time. We forget how distant we felt from God. We forget the consequences of sin when we travelled that road last time. We forget what Jesus has already done for us and the power He has given to us. We are tempted to believe that somehow this time it will be different but it never is. It is like being in a moment of insanity. Being in sin is insanity. How many times we become irrational with short term memory?
Let us not forget 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 … remember your body, you were bought with a price …
Fight to remember rightly. Remind yourself of the negative and deadly results of sin. Fight to remember rightly the times when you overcame sin, the joy and triumph you experienced in that moment. The devil and our flesh do not want us to remember that part … how satisfied we were in Christ at that time. They want us to remember the momentary pleasure or temporary satisfaction of getting what we wanted in the moment. Fight to remember rightly!
(ii) KILL the EXCUSES: Don’t let an excuse buy you a ticket out. Well God made me this way. If He didn’t want me to sin, then He would not have put me in this situation.
James 1:13-14 … God may allow you to be tempted but He is not the one who tempts you to do evil. The Bible is very clear on this and let us not push things back on God. I have been single for a long time and I don’t know whether I will even get married. It is just going to be one more time. At least my sin is not as bad as what she is doing. I am doing way better than her.
Hey, Hey! God’s grace is unconditional right! What’s one more sin? Romans 6:1-2; Romans 6:10-11. Kill the EXCUSES so that you can kill SIN.
(iii) Fight TEMPTATION with SCRIPTURE: Commit scripture to memory to recall in those times of weakness. There is nothing more powerful than the ‘WORD OF GOD.’ Psalm 119:11.
Jesus exemplifies that powerfully in the Matthew 4 when He is tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Every time Satan tempted Him, Jesus responded with scripture. The interesting part is that the devil knew scripture too but every he used it, he twisted it and used it out of context of its intended meaning. Context is crucial while using and applying God’s Word. It doesn’t work when twisted or out of context. Satan knew the Word but Jesus is the Word that became flesh for us.
You have to commit yourself to knowing and hiding the word of God in your heart. How can we keep our hearts pure? By guarding it according to God’s word.
(iv) WATCH + PRAY: Praying amidst temptation is not easy. Pray immediately that God will give you strength and a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 26:41.
“Watching” means we always listen to the Holy Spirit so that we don’t react to situations according to our human nature. “Praying” means we ask God for strength to overcome trials and temptations. Jesus prayed to the Father for strength, and Luke’s gospel says an angel came and strengthened Him.
(v) TRUST IN JESUS WHO WAS TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY: Jesus is our hope to fight temptation. He is our righteousness in our times of weakness. We have to be very serious about fighting temptations. Our righteousness come from the One Who has already defeated sin. And we can trust in Him alone for our salvation, not our efforts to earn His favor. Hebrews 4:15-16.
(vi) SUBMIT TO GOD + RESIST THE DEVIL and he will FLEE. (Watch video “how do I overcome temptation.”)
Application:
? There is purpose in trials: God is still in control. He has not forsaken us but wants us to trust Him so we can mature.
? God has and will give us wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial--As we ask in faith.
? And there is comfort in knowing that this life is not all there is--that absent from the body means present with the Lord.
? These truths were demonstrated before us in the life of (Name). (Name) faith in Christ enabled her to face her trial with the peace that passes understanding. Phil. 4:7
? And I trust that now as her family as her family and friends we may lay hold of the same Savior and the same truths from God's word to enable us to bear this trial together.
