God never calls believers to run from the battle.  Why do so many preachers claim that Christians will not have to suffer persecution in America?  Why will many who claim to know Jesus hear Him say "depart from me I never knew you"?

 

Tribulations are times of testing (hardships, persecutions, trials) that believers must go through, because tribulations can develop godly character in you.  That is, if you are submitted to the Lord.   Every area of our lives should be submitted to the Lord and tribulations have a way of showing us the areas that are not yet submitted to the Lord.    Remember that God allows them but He does not put them on you. 

 

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

 

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow 2346 (trouble, afflict, distress) and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

 

The Apostle Paul when through many tribulations. 

 

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul is talking about having a thorn in the flesh he clearly tells us what that thorn is.  He tells that this thorn is a messenger (angel) of Satan sent to buffet him.  Buffet means to strike with a fist.  One could say that this evil spirit was sent by Satan to fight against Paul.  Paul confesses that he sought the LORD three times about this thing.  Whereas the LORD replied that His grace is sufficient…