THE TRUTH ABOUT: Trials
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THE TRUTH ABOUT: Trials
THE TRUTH ABOUT: TRIALS
John 16:33 (ESV) …In the world you will have tribulation.
John 16:33 (NIV) …In this world you will have trouble.
John 16:33 (MSG) …In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.
The Facts About Trials
TRIAL - a person, situation or thing that tests, reveals, proves another
TRIALS were not intended for our origin story.
We were made in the image of God, in His likeness, with his logo and nothing was needed to test, reveal or prove because we were established perfectly.
Genesis 1:31 (ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Very - meod - muchness, force, abundance
Good - tob - pleasing, agreeable, good
With God’s authority, we tested all things, but needed not be tested ourselves. In fact, nothing could test us.
Genesis 1:26 (ESV) And let them have dominion… over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
TRIALS began when sin cursed our world.
Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV) And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground (world) because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
In this world…
John 16:33 (ESV) …In the world you will have tribulation.
John 16:33 (NIV) …In this world you will have trouble.
John 16:33 (MSG) …In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.
TRIALS will permeate our lives until the end.
James 1:2 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial…
1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) …you have been grieved by various trials,
1 Peter 4:12 (ESV) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Corinthians 15:26 (ESV) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The Lies About Trials
LIE: God is the source of trials (temptations)
“This is happening, it must be meant to be” - NO
James 1:13–15 (ESV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
God doesn't start tem
God doesn’t prolong them
God rarely shortens them.
God typically doesn’t doesn’t end them
LIE: Trials are a byproduct of God’s displeasure
Luke 13:1–4 (ESV) There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Jesus was speaking against the idea that bad things happen to bad people. Bad things just happen.
An absence of trials is not proof of His pleasure.
An abundance of trials are not a sign of his displeasure nor a lack of faith.
LIE: Trials are predetermined and must be endured until they end.
This lie assumes that there is no way to avoid trials and once they begin, there's nothing we can do but ride them out.
Trials are not predetermined.
We can actually create them. We can lengthen them. We can shorten them.
Galatians 6:7–9 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
We can do much more than endure! We can grow!
James 1:3–4 (ESV) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
We can do much more than endure! We can overcome
1 John 5:4–5 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
LIE: Your trials define you.
This is to submit to your trial and to be limited by your trial and become its victim
Genesis 50:20 (MSG) Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.
The TRUTH About TRIALS
Discerning A Trial’s Source Allows You To Navigate A Straight Path Through
Trials can be caused by you, others, the devil, and life circumstances in general. Knowing the source determines your posture and methodology to navigate through.
Job 2:7 (ESV) So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Matthew 26:14–16 (ESV) Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Jeremiah 2:14–17 (ESV) “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?
Your Attitude During Trials Will Impact Their Length, Next Steps & Destination.
Numbers 11:1–3 (ESV) And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.
Trials Have A Secondary Purpose - Your Maturity
The primary purpose of the trial is to derail you.
The secondary purpose (God’s allowance) is to prepare you for His best.
James 1:3–4 (ESV) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Our Greatest Trials Are Launching Points Into His Best
God is a god of justice, so he makes up for the trouble we experience:
Romans 12:19–20 (ESV) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
He will add 1/5
Leviticus 5:16 (ESV) He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.
He launches you into destiny
Genesis 41:39–40 (ESV) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.