Tests show us what we are made of. They expose strengths and weaknesses in us. But God is with us in the tests, trials and temptations to help us become strong, where we were once weak or needed to grow. God wants us to become the best that we can be and help us through lifes many challenges.<\/p>\n
2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n James 1:2-4 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n James 4:12 (NIV)<\/strong> How were they tested? What can we look forward to?<\/p>\n How can you test yourself?<\/p>\n How does God protect those who obey?<\/p>\n 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n Romans 5:3 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 1:6 (NIV)<\/strong> What is the purpose of trials?<\/p>\n What is important to God?<\/p>\n How does God rescue Godly people from their trials?<\/p>\n How long will our troubles last?<\/p>\n What do they produce?<\/p>\n James 1:14 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n 1 Timothy 6:9 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n Matthew 4:1-4 (NIV)<\/strong> Where does temptation come from?<\/p>\n The devil anticipates our strong desires and works away at them. Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)<\/strong> How is Jesus able to help us in our testing?<\/p>\n What did Jesus endure and why?<\/p>\n Matthew 4:1-10 (NIV)<\/strong> <\/p>\n Matthew 26:41 (NIV)<\/strong> What can we learn from Jesus example of overcoming temptation?<\/p>\n
\n(2) In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.<\/p>\n
\n(2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
\n(3) because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
\n(4) Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.<\/p>\n
\n(12) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you\u2014who are you to judge your neighbor?<\/div><\/div><\/div>\nTrials<\/h2>\n
\n(6) In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
\n(7) These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith\u2014of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire\u2014may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.<\/p>\n
\n(3) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;<\/p>\n
\n(6) If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n(13) But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n(7) and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless
\n(8) (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)\u2014
\n(9) if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n(17) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
\n(18) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\nTemptation<\/h2>\n
\n(14) but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.<\/p>\n
\n(9) Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.<\/p>\n
\n(1) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
\n(2) After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
\n(3) The tempter came to him and said, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.\u201d
\n(4) Jesus answered, \u201cIt is written: \u2018Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.\u2019 \u201d<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\nWhat are some examples of desires that we need to surrender to God?<\/p>\nOur Great Example \u2014 Jesus<\/h2>\n
\n(18) Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.<\/p>\n
\n(15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are\u2014yet he did not sin.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n(2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
\n(3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
\n(4) In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n(1) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
\n(2) After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
\n(3) The tempter came to him and said, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.\u201d
\n(4) Jesus answered, \u201cIt is written: \u2018Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.\u2019 \u201d
\n(5) Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
\n(6) \u201cIf you are the Son of God,\u201d he said, \u201cthrow yourself down. For it is written: \u201c \u2018He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.\u2019 \u201d
\n(7) Jesus answered him, \u201cIt is also written: \u2018Do not put the Lord your God to the test.\u2019 \u201d
\n(8) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
\n(9) \u201cAll this I will give you,\u201d he said, \u201cif you will bow down and worship me.\u201d
\n(10) Jesus said to him, \u201cAway from me, Satan! For it is written: \u2018Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
\n(41) \u201cWatch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.\u201d<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n