I. TYPES OF TRIALS
A. Physical
a. Health; handicaps;physical; addictions
B. Emotional
a. Our emotions are involved in it.
C. Spiritual
a. Soul ties; occult activities have not been renounce.
b. Legal Right of Satan
c. Importance of walking in Authority of Christ.
D. Our own fault
a. Irresponsible debt
b. Our choices bring forth consequences
c. Not willing to change and yield to God’s authority.
E. Because of others
a. Wrong doing of others
II. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ENDURING TRAILS
A. JAMES 1: 2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
B. MATTHEW 5:10-12 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. "Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
C. JAMES 1:12 à Blessed is a man who perseveres under trials; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)
D. I Corinthians 4:3-4 à But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
III. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TRIAL AND THE WILDERNESS PERIOD
A. Trial is a verb. It is something that you actually do. Wilderness is a noun. It is a place.
B. There are similar characteristics between the two, but the wilderness is a place
IV. EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE THAT WENT THROUGH THE WILDERNESS PERIOD
A. Moses
B. Job
C. David
D. Jesus
E. Paul
V. PURPOSE OF THE WILDERNESS
A. A positive time
B. Drawing near to God and building our relationship with Him
C. Allowing God to refine our life. (Example of gold being purified)
D. Training
E. Preparation
