3.1. THE WORSHIP OF OTHER GODS
Brethren the most important trial of faith for righteousness sake” is the worship of gods other than the Almighty God. This may occur physically or spiritually. It may be driven by threats, fear, the desire to appease or to obtain a favour or reward etc.
Also, the trials may not involve physical pain. For instance, Satan asked Jesus, to fall and worship him in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world; but Jesus rebuked him saying we must worship and serve only God. (Matthew 4:10).
Another example is the decree to worship the “golden image” of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, under threat of “a burning fiery furnace”. (Daniel 3:1-6). But three exiled Jews, named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to serve the Babylonian gods or to worship the golden image. The king cast them into the fiery furnace”, adding, “and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:13-15).
The Almighty God delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fire had no power over their bodies. This led the king to acknowledge and bless the Almighty God of the three hebrew men. The king even decreed that no one should speak against the God of the three men and he promoted them (Daniel 3:20-30).
3.2. RESTRAINTS AGAINST THE WORSHIP OF GOD
Another faith trial for “righteousness sake” is where one is forbidden or restricted to worship the almighty God. This may involve calculated overt attack or covert actions to suppress the expression of one’s love of God, including through prayers, preaching, and the use of religious symbols (e.g. rosary, ‘kippa’, ‘mezuzah’ etc.).
For example, Daniel experienced such restraints. King Darius wished to set Daniel as president over his realm because “an excellent spirit was in him”. But Daniel’s colleagues, conspired against him to find fault with his work, using “the law of his God”. (Daniel 6:1-5). They persuaded the King to “make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days…shall be cast into the den of lions”.
Notwithstanding the decree Daniel continued to pray upon his knees to his God three times a day. The men found him praying and persuaded the king to cast him into the lion dens. The king did, but in hope that Daniel’s God will deliver him. (Daniel 6:11-16).
And surely, God sent his angels and shut the mouth of the lions and delivered him. The king therefore decreed that people in his kingdom must fear Daniel’s God. He also cast Daniel’s accusers into the fiery furnace (Daniel 6:24-26).
3.3. TRIALS THAT TEMPT GOD
Another way in which your faith could be tried for righteousness sake is to tempt or test the Lord our God. Usually this trial could come through taunts, provocations, and murmuring, designed to prove or test God’s word or power, or to serve a lustful desire. (Exodus 17:1-7; Jude 1:16). For instance, Jesus was asked by the devil to fall off the mountain to prove that God would send angels to save him. But Jesus rebuked him saying thou shall not tempt God. (Matthew 4:7)
Also, Israel “tempted God in their heart by asking [food] for their lust”; and they stove and murmured against Moses when they thirsted for water in the wilderness. (Psalm 78:18; Exodus 17:2-3; 1 Corinthians 10:10).
God explains why such requests tempted Him saying: “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice” (Numbers 14:22-23).
Brethren, if you have experienced God’s goodness, his glory and deliverance and yet do murmur for your needs you could be tempting God.
4. STRENGTH THROUGH ‘RIGHTEOUSNESS’ TRIALS
