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.