TESTS, SPIRITUAL

TESTS, SPIRITUAL: (A) DIVINE METHODS used for testing believers By Demanding Great Sacrifices Ge 22:1; Ex 20:20 By Leading Men in a Difficult Way De 8:2; 13:3 By Giving Opportunities for Choice 1Ki 3:5; 2Ch 32:31; Ps 7:9; 11:5; 17:3 By Proposing Hard Tasks Joh 6:5,6; 11:6 By Permitting Men to Suffer when in the Pathway of Duty (Paul and Silas) Ac 16:23,24 By Permitting Temptation Jas 1:2,3 --SEE Life Tested, LIFE Chastisement, AFFLICTIONS (B) DIVINE DELAYS, try men's courage and patience Ps 13:1; 40:17; 69:3; 119:82; Joh 11:6,21; Jas 5:7; 2Pe 3:9 --SEE Trial Prolonged, AFFLICTIONS Waiting for God, PATIENCE (C) FAITH TESTED, examples of Ge 22:2 By a strange plan of campaign Jos 6:3 By reducing a general's army Jud 7:7 By requiring dependence upon a poor widow 1Ki 17:9 By demanding the last morsel of bread 1Ki 17:13 By requiring, what appeared to be, useless work 2Ki 3:6 By requiring extensive preparation with no blessing in sight 2Ki 4:3 Other examples of Mt 9:28; Mr 7:27; Heb 11:8,17,36; Jas 1:3; 1Pe 1:7 --SEE Life Tested, LIFE Chastisement, AFFLICTIONS