Do
you thank God for trials?
(a
Discipleship Snapshot study)
www.incpu.org/why-trials-gold-refined-faith.htm
www.incpu.org/why-trials-gold-refined-faith.pdf
Hello brothers and sisters in Christ,
and friends,
This study will not make much sense to
the unsaved or even the false converts. This study is to encourage and
strengthen the genuine followers of Christ - the ones who have made and are holding
to their eternal-covenant of salvation with God, through Jesus' blood on the
cross - something I call "The Covenant of the Cross" (Mark
8:34-38; 1st Corinthians 11). And yet, while I know this topic will not all
make sense to the unbeliever or false convert, I do sincerely hope and pray
that the study gives them some teasers that help them to understand the real
God of the Bible and His beautiful and holy character - the one the 501c3
"clergy" (CEOs) are afraid to talk about anymore, because of their
fear of man and their fear of losing their "accreditation" and favor
with the CFR/mafia/banker/empire of today (Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Vatican ,
etc). And, many of these 501c3 "clergy" (CEOs) are also driven by
fear of man and seeking to please the unsaved and draw them into their
"churches" not because they care about the souls of the unsaved, but
because they want to increase revenue in their pockets.... Is it any wonder
that God is growing the home-church movement worldwide? I dare say, no - it's
not surprising at all. We all need to leave pagan corporations who refuse to
teach the whole and convicting counsel of the Word of God and stick with a
gathering of believers that are growing together, praying together, and reading
the Scriptures honestly together. Yes? :)
So with that short intro, let's go
back and look at the question I started with: Do you thank God for trials? No,
I didn't say trails (paths in the woods or a park). :) ~ I indeed said trials
(testings, temptations, adversity to doing what's right, lessons, consequences).
Now, I expect some of you are probably thinking: Steven, are you crazy? Trials
hurt - why would I ever thank God for trials? Good question. Let me put
it this way, if you aren't thanking God for trials, then you don't understand
how much sin (and your favorite sins and sin-pleasures) are grieving the Holy
Spirit and separating you from active fellowship with God. Want to know more?
Let's start at the Word and dig deeper.
Let's start in James, James 1, verse
2.
"2 My brethren, count it all joy
when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach,
and it will be given to him." (James 1:2-5)
Okay,
so let's look at some Greek words and definitions to dig deeper. If you don't
already have a Hebrew/Greek interlinear, I highly recommend you get one,
because I want every honest believer worldwide to become their own scholar
(relying on regular study in God's Word, much time in prayer and holy living,
and letting the Holy Spirit be their Teacher, and *not* relying on the
"learned men" that this culture promotes despite their lack of Godly
character. I suggest either Jay P Green's Interlinear set, or another on
similar. But, my personal favorite tool is found for free from computers and
laptops here: (ISA) tool (www.Scripture4all.org).
So,
using my Hebrew/Greek "Interlinear
Scripture Analyzer" (ISA) tool, I find that this Greek word is:
"peirasmos" which literally means
(in context and Biblical definition): testings (to prove our active
patterns of choices), adversity (demonic and human opposition to us doing
what's right), temptations (imaginations and enticements to do sin,
accompanied by demons whispering stuff like: "you'll get away with it" and "it'll
be fun"), and all of the lessons that teach us to walk
away from sin.
Do
you realize that God loves you so much that He wants to teach you to hate what
He calls sin?... But do you also realize that He is also the ultimate Gentleman
- He won't force you to choose good/holiness or evil/sin-rebellion. He desires
that all men and women would walk holy and keep leaving sin behind... but he
doesn't force it - He wants eternal partners, so He teaches through His Word
and allows the demons to try to test people to either teach them to hate evil
and walk away from it more quickly and/or stand up to the ones promoting that
evil, or to show that they are walking in intentional darkness and willful
rebellion against the parts of God's Word and God's Holy Character that they do
understand. James 1 goes on to explain this well. "12
Blessed is
the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive
the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let
no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted
by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But
each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." (James
1:12-4) So, simply put, trials are testings to prove our patterns and to show
us what our own patterns of choices look like: either growing in choosing more and more holiness, or growing in choosing more and more sin-rebellion
and self-wants. Please
remember, there is "always" a way of escape from sin (1st Corinthians
10:13). We never have to do sin or something evil to get good to happen. Never.
What we all need to do is grow in choosing what's right and holy and honest,
even when the world is screaming at us to choose what is wrong, sinful and
rebellious against God.
The next question would be why does
God have to use trials? You know - Why can't He just warn us in a quiet
form of some sort? Maybe like that "still small voice" (1st Kings 19:12)? That's
another great question! Curious: Do you ever hear a warning not to get into
sin, but ignore it?... Yes, we all do. You see? There's our answer - we don't
always want to listen to either our conscience or the Holy Spirit (Who is in us
if we are genuinely saved). That is why God has to use trials. Trials are His most effective way of showing
us our sins *and* arguing
with our drive to sin that we need to become dead to (explained in much
detail in Romans 6 and 8 and Galatians 5).
But then, some will say, "But in
Christ, there's no condemnation, right?" (Romans 8:1-2). Partially
correct, though that is a modern lessening of the passage. Let's look at it
better.
"1 There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the
flesh, but according to the Holy Spirit... 3 For
what the law could not do in that it was weak through the [sin-driven] flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on
account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the
righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk
according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans
8:1,3,4)
>>
Christ condemned and conquered sin through pure holiness and the becoming a
ransom/sacrifice for all who would believe/follow/obey - through His death on
the cross.
Now how does that apply to us? Well, did you see it? There is no
condemnation... for who? Those who are "in Christ Jesus" (genuinely
saved) *AND* Those who do not walk according to the sin-pleasures of the
sin-driven flesh, but walk/practice holiness according to the Spirit of God
(who in-dwells all who are genuinely saved). Both of those are tied together
and are inseparable - but only for those who are *actually* saved. You can't
have salvation through Christ without the eternal covenant. And you can't have
the genuine salvation through the covenant, unless it also includes a
commitment to grow in holiness or, as this text says twice: not "walking
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Key question: are you
actively walking according to (and excusing) your sin-pleasures and addictions,
or are you actively walking according to growth in holiness, moving more and
more away from sin-patterns, and moving closer and closer to walking in
patterns, thinking, desires, and motivations that are in holiness, God's
beautiful character? Homework for you
to do someday soon: Read through Galatians 5. In that study, I hope
you'll notice and take notes of the sins that God lists there and ask God to
keep teaching you not to live/walk in those sins nor entice yourself to do
those sins with sin-filled entertainment, but to instead grow in the "fruit of the
Spirit" shown in detail in verse 22 and 23. There are 2 other
passages on sins too: Romans 1:28-32 and 2nd Timothy 3:1-5. (There is one in
1st or 2nd Corinthians, but I can't remember where right now).
So,
the next question in this study on trials - what's the goal? So, we can't avoid
trials - especially if we are genuinely saved... so, what's the point? What
does the completion look like? What does growth in holiness look like? Are
there Scriptures that describe it? Yes, 3 key ones stand out in my mind from
studies over the years: 1st John 2:12-14, Romans 5:3-5, and 2nd Peter 1:5-11.
Passage
1:
"12 I write to you,
little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. 13 I
write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because
you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you
have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because
you have known Him who is from
the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and
the Word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one." (1st
John 2:12-14)
>>
So, where are you? What stage of spiritual growth are you at: spiritual child,
spiritual young man, or spiritual father? (Yes, the text includes ladies too, they're
just not mentioned.) What stage of
spiritual growth and active holiness are you aiming for? Or are you settling
down/compromising and drifting downstream - back to the sins Christ
rescued/ransomed you from and pulled you out of? It's an either/or. Always.
Passage
2:
"3 And not only that, but we also glory in
tribulations [better
translated:
afflictions, trials, & persecution], knowing that trials produces perseverance; 4 and
perseverance [produces God-fearing]
character; and [God-fearing] character, [produces] hope [better translated: faith that obeys Jesus]. 5 Now hope [faith that obeys Jesus] does not disappoint, because the
love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given
to us." (Romans 5:3-5)
>> So, What is the point of trials? Purifying. Teaching. Correction.
Reproof. Strengthening in truth and holiness - if we let it do that work in our
hearts. (Hebrews 4:12 adds to this.)
Passage 3:
"5 But also for this very reason, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue, [add] to virtue knowledge, 6 [add] to knowledge
self-control, [add] to self-control perseverance, [add] to
perseverance godliness, [add] 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and [add] to brotherly
kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he
who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten
that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be
even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these
things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be
supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ." (2nd Peter 1:5-11)
>>
If you are not aware of how this passage actively applies to all of us, then you
need to do some study on the teachings of the Word of God on the "new
covenant" and how salvation is a covenant, something taught in Matthew 13
as well as in quite a few other passages, such as Matthew 26: "28 For this is My blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
(Matthew 26:28)
Back
to 2nd Peter 1 though, "If"
we are growing in those spiritual growth stages, we will be neither spiritually
barren or unfruitful. Unfruitful/Barren
of what - you ask? Good question: barren/unfruitful
of growth in intentional holy living, and actively sharing the gospel, study
and teaching the Word of God, and making disciples of/for Jesus the Christ. Living
holy means being set apart from things God says are worldly, carnal, favorite sin,
and sin-pleasures and entertaining ourselves with sin and temptations to sin.
2nd Corinthians 6-7 is a great passage for studying the difference between
living like the world and living for Christ, and 1st John is also very clear on
contrasting rebellion against God with fellowshipping with God.
Now,
"If" is a big word.
It requires a choice from us :) - yearly, monthly, daily, hourly, minutely,
even secondly... er, second by second :) [yes,
I think at least one of those is a new word, and no you don't have to send
royalties if you use it :) I personally despise the royalties system anyway.. too
many times the copyright/royalties system locks up helpful stuff prohibiting it
from being shared, for money. :)]
So, are you actively growing? I don't mean passively growing - I mean actively.
Remember, God is the only One who saves, but we are held accountable for the choices
we make.
Here's a
simple way to remember it:
God alone calls (Matthew 22:14), draws (John 6:44), and saves (John 10:27-30; Ephesians
1:13), and yet at each point, He providentially includes choices for which we
are held fully accountable for (Matthew 12:36; 1st Corinthians 3:11-16; Hebrews
4:12). Do you know this? Are you letting that understanding soften your heart
and yielding to God's Teaching Hand to grow your character and holy living?
Here's
a passage on the very same subject that is overlooked way too many times...
"32 But when we are judged [by God, for sin], we are
chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned [condemned,
damned, destroyed] with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:32) ~ Does God chasten you
when you do things you know are wrong? Hebrews 12:5-17 talks about this well
and covers both sides: genuinely saved/adopted by God, or not-saved/illegitimate.
If God does chasten you with consequences to teach you, it's because He loves
you. And usually it's a sign/proof that you are an adopted child of God, and
that as one of His adopted children, He is training you how to serve Him and
teach others to leave sin and follow Christ. However, if God does *not* arrange
very many consequences to teach you right and wrong, then you are *not* a child
of God - no matter how many other people you have fooled so far.
>> So, where are you? Where's your heart?
How's your soul doing? Those are deep subjects we all need to ask ourselves on
a regular basis until the Holy Spirit confirms it to us through His Word and
His activity in our lives. God allows doubts about salvation to come to those
who are not walking in obedience to God's truth that they know. It's from this
pure teaching of the Word that I continue to learn how to strive to keep holy
living as my pattern, because it's what keeps me spiritually alive and growing.
So, can I ask you - Are you growing?
Do you remember this passage?
"7 Do not be deceived, God is not
mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For
he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to
the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let
us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do
not lose heart." (Galatians 6:7-9)
>> That's pretty clear, huh? We are either mocking God's Word and
commands and hardening our hearts in rebellion against Him and holiness and
sowing sin and reaping corruption to ultimately reap destruction... Or, we are
letting God's Word reprove and correct us, and we are intentionally growing to
become like Christ - growing in sowing a purer form of holiness living, and reaping
the abundant life right now (with accompanying trials) and ultimately
everlasting fellowship with Christ and some placement in God's eternal forever unfolding/growing
Kingdom. ~
>>
Which are you choosing to be headed toward today: sin or God? Lies or Truth?
Sin-pleasures or Holiness? Take some time to process those questions and
teachings for as long as you need, then we can pick up more on passages in
God's Word that make trials make sense - rather than seeming like "bad
luck" or similar confusion...
"5 If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in
faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and
tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8)
***
There
are some other passages on trials that we need to look at for this short study
to be of much use concerning the Whole Counsel of the Word on this topic.
glory
in tribulations - Paul
Brethren,
what is the meat of the Word that Paul (or Silas) was talking about in 1st
Corinthians 3. You have to keep in mind the context here. The pagan city of
Corinth had blatant s*xual immorality of all types from both genders going on at
various times throughout the city, they had pagan temples with satanic rituals,
sacrifices to idols, and temple prostitution, *and* they had trade-guilds run by the pagan/satanists that
limited the work for those who did not live the same perverse, idolatrous life-styles.
So, to this pagan city where the pagan influences were strong and demanding,
Paul had to teach them how to live completely opposite many of the practices
and customs accepted by the perverse pagan culture. And in that teaching, Paul
said this:
"2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for
until now you were not able to receive
it, and even now you are still not able..." (1st
Corinthians 3:2) If you read about the pagan Corinth culture (and I hope you do study it at least a little
for yourself rather than just relying on my brief synopsis), you'll easily
notice that the pagan culture had so influenced the believers that they wanted
to run from some pure teachings of holiness, instead of embracing them and
adjusting to what is right and away from what is wrong. In context, this strong
teaching that Paul is referring to is 2 things: 1) do not make yourselves slaves
of men (verses 3 thru 7) and 2)
do not despise chastening (verses 10-17).
The Corinth culture, and ours has some similarities, wanted to convince
Christians that they just were going through 'bad luck', and yet God, through
Paul, explains quite clearly that no - the hardships that genuine believers go
through are carefully arranged consequences to teach us to flee sin more and
love righteousness more.
The
hardships genuine believers go through, I believe fall into 4 categories.
1)
consequences (Galatians 6:7-9; 1st Peter 4:15)
2)
testings (Matthew 4:1-10; 1st Corinthians 10:13)
3)
teaching/training (Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 12:5-17)
4)
persecution (Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:9-27; 2Corinthians 4:7-15; 1Peter 4:1-6)
>>
All four of those are controlled by the Hand of God for the believe so that it
*will not* destroy them, but will either teach them to leave the sin behind, or
will show what level of hardness of heart they have in holding onto that sin
that He's arguing with them about. Romans 8:28 explains this well: "28 And we know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans
8:28)
I
hope you'll look up each of those passages - they will help you more clearly
identify what you are going through in various times of your life, and how to
stand. Sometimes it's only one of those categories - usually it's at least 2,
and sometimes it's all 4 :)
Just
picking out and quoting 2 essential passages that I want you to especially read
in this study, right now.
"1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the
flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the
rest of his time in the flesh
for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past
lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts,
drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In
regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of
dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the
living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached
also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the
flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Peter 4:1-6)
"13 No temptation has
overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
~ God will never allow satan to tempt you or me harder than we can handle. If
it seems to be getting to that point, pray until you find an escape from that
sin. There is always a perfect way to escape and at least a few lesser ways to
escape. I'm not smart enough to explain some complex scenarios I have been
through or have read/heard from others... what I do know is that the more we
grow in loving holiness and embracing the love of the Truth and the healthy and
holy "fear of the Lord", we will find escaping/fleeing sin will
become not only easier, but also more and more a part of us. And as we've seen
in this study, that's one of God's main aims to teach us, despite our love of
and run-toward the sins that He needs to rescue us from.
I
myself have been through a lot of stressful trials. Some of them, I wasn't sure
I'd make it through. But after going through years of trials in God's caring
teaching Hands, I have found clearly that if we are in Christ, then these
consequences are not to destroy us - they are to press us to seek His wisdom
and pray until we find what sin He is trying to teach us to let go of and walk
away from, permanently. He doesn't allow these to destroy us. He values all who
walk in holiness - even if we don't always remember that. This is one promise I
hold to, and I suggest to all my friends to do the same:
"6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a
little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that
the genuineness of your faith, being
much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be
found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom
having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full
of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls." (1st
Peter 1:6-9) ~ Do you realize that your faithful following Jesus and the heart
behind that is, when mature, more precious to God than gold refined? Think
about that! ~ When we understand that these consequences are arranged at a pace
we can handle, but that's pressing us to keep growing in more and more holy
living, then we understand that there's a very loving Person and pattern behind
it. It dispels the bitterness quickly and easily. Are trials painful? Yes, of
course. Are trials too hard? No. They may seem to be, but they never are. As we
saw above - there is always a pure, holy escape from sin, but when we don't
choose that out of our own love for holiness, God has to use trials to grow us
to that solid level of conviction and living, so that we can teach others to
grow to and walk the same. Make sense?
Has this caused you to re-evaluate things and thank God? I pray that it has.
And if it hasn't yet, message me and we can talk through things. Either way, I
pray that in time, this pure meat of the Word will grow you strong in Him, to
be a bold, gracious, honest and effective ambassador for Jesus the Christ -
till He returns or till your last breath.
I
want to leave you with a few passages to ponder, and I'll close with them.
Please message or email me anytime if you have Bible questions and/or prayer
requests, and my family and I will be glad to pray for you and/or help you with
your questions and showing you passages in God's Word that can point you toward
answers.
The
Lord be with you as you seek and serve Jesus the Christ!
Watching,
Preaching, Praying, your growing bro, SH ~ Steven.H3(at)gmail.com
"17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new. 18 Now all things are
of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us
the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in
Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them,
and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now
then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we
implore you on Christ's behalf,
be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him." (2nd Corinthians 5:17-21)
"11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are
done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are
made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light."
(Ephesians 5:11-13)