How to Win Your Spiritual Battle – Tests and Trials

Being a Christian can be both very challenging and very rewarding. I remember the first day I went to church nineteen years ago. It was on a Wednesday night and my pastor was teaching a series on the Life of David. I believe God strategically set me up that night to hear the message that would affect and influence me the rest of my life.

I can’t go into David’s life because it is riddled with a years of rollercoaster rides of failures and victories. His life would take too much time to teach. But what I can give you is the overall summary his life that truly reflect our everyday lives. It is the power of tests and trials.

Had I known and practiced then what I know now, I would have had greater victories in my Christian walk. Through many tears and many years of suffering I have learned that it is not God’s intent to give us what we want when we want it. He has a greater purpose in mind. His ultimate purpose for us (as individuals) is that we are shaped, molded and made into the image of his dear Son – Jesus the Christ.

There are two distinct ways that God accomplishes this. One is through tests and the other is through trials. It is very important for you as a Christian to be able to be able to differentiate between the two. This way, you will know how to fight, when to fight and how to gain your victory. I must note here though that victory does not always mean what we think it means. We think (and this is our human side) that victory means we win by getting the things we want. We will not always get what we want, however, we are to fight as if we have won everything! It’s just like a fist fight. You never know if you are actually going to win the fight – BUT YOU FIGHT LIKE YOU WILL!

Now, let’s look at the two areas that God uses to make us. First, tests. A test is summation of lessons learned in order for you to go to the next level. A test reveals what you HAVE LEARNED in your walk with Him. Everyday God gives lessons that we must learn. If you are reading your bible, the lesson can be there. If you are going to church, the lesson is in the sermon. If you are singing a song, the lesson can be there as well. If you have taken care of a sick person or have watched someone get promoted your lesson can be there as well. All that you have learned though out your day, week, month and year are lessons that help you grow in Christ. But God does not want to stop at the lessons. He has to test you so that you can see what you have learned. God knows what you have learned, you don’t!

In the bible the Hebrew word for test means “prove”. People don’t believe God tests us, but he does: Deuteronony 8:2 - And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

See that, God gives us test to know what is in our hearts and to see whether we will be obedient or not. If you ever wonder why weird and odd circumstances keep coming your way, it could be that God is testing you! Now, the question is: How will you do on the test?

Once you pass a test, God will move you on to your next blessing. That blessing can be material as well as emotional. If you are carnal (always thinking with a worldly mentality) you will miss the blessing that God has for you. Most times, God tests our integrity. These tests are sometimes long and arduous because it takes time to get rid of our old nature. But when we are determined to be obedient we gain victory by passing the test.

Secondly there are trials. Trials are usually used to see how genuine your faith is. Peter is an excellent example of going through a burning trial. Peter emphatically told Jesus that he would die for him but when the trial came, he denied him three times! Peter’s faith was not where he thought it was. Sure, his intentions were good, but he spoke beyond his abilities. Christians, that is why we should never say what we will or will not do because in times of intense trial...WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE WILL DO!! Usually we do not exemplify Christ when we are being lied on or when things are stolen from us or when we are tempted in our flesh to curse, have sex, fight, drink smoke, be prideful, be rebellious etc. Our flesh is limitless when it comes to sin.

Peter had too much confidence in his flesh. The bible clearly states that we should not do that: Phillipians 3:3 - For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Our confidence is to be in Christ at all times.

Then there are times when we go through trials that are strictly not our fault. I would call these “friendly fire” trials. You will have to fight because of what someone else did. God will use that too in order to build your character and make you more like Christ Jesus.

Let’s keep our fight in perspective. The fight for victory is about your soul. Nothing else. If there is anything else that you gain from the fight, it is a blessing and an honor from the Lord! Material things are not the goal. The goal is to gain dominance over your soul.

Through the fight, you will gain victory over your soul little by little. In addition, each victory brings increased and stronger faith, knowledge of who God is and how he operates in your life, more fruit of the Spirit and strength to fight the next battle.

Ultimately, before your days end, you will be able to say like Paul -

II Timoth 4:6-7 - For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Fight well my friends!