Count it All Joy When You Fall into Various Trials

All right think of a trial that you’re going through right now…

(Transcript)
I’ll give you one second to think about that. Maybe it comes readily to you as is the case with many Christians what adjectives come to mind as you think about the trial that you’re going through or what verbal utterances come out as did whenever I asked this question to someone they went so I’m not sure that that was an adjective or a word exactly but again it is common for the for us to have that that thought but if I ask you to think about a scripture about trials which one comes to mind first what’s the first scripture that comes to mind when you think about the trial let’s turn to James 1:2. it’s the first scripture I think of it was the first scripture that this person also thought of as well when I asked them about what was the first scripture that comes to mind when you think about a trial my brethren counted all joy when you fall into various trials why is that the first one that comes to mind was it one of the first ones that came to your mind whenever you think about trials I think of it because it’s so diametrically opposed to the way that I naturally think whenever you think about the trial that you’re going through it’s the opposite because it’s such a glaring contradiction to the way we think so James makes this incredible leap to the final stage of the way that we’re to view trials you know typically when we start this is there may be this process or maybe there’s a different stage that maybe you start out now or that you used to start out and that you go through as you grow as a Christian but typically you know when you go through a trial you hate them you despise the trials that you’re going through and then you can’t go through to the point where you’re kind of like okay I’m getting through them now I’m managing to make my way I know I have to do this and it’s almost begrudgingly that you go through it and then you kind of go to the next stage where you you see their value you see the value of a trial and so you’re starting to make this change more from the negative to the positive then you get to the point where you start appreciating the changes that come about because of a trial and then what’s you know what’s the very final last thing is the joy are we to that point is that where we’re at when we enter into a trial well this is where James says we’re to be he says count it all joy when you are in the middle of one of your various trials not the one trial any of them that you’re going to come into where are we at then in this process today I’d like to shed so we’ll see if I can shed some light on the subject and perhaps see if we can start to make some changes in our perspective of trials and maybe have a paradigm shift from where we are to where we should be let’s look at where trials come from let’s just skip down to verse 12 of James, James 1:12-16. it says blessed is the man who endures temptation again the word there is trial or trials it’s a the Greek word means a proving a trying a testing sometimes temptation doesn’t always connote that in our minds today but for the man who endures this these trials for when he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the lord has promised to those who love him there is a reason that we go through these and we’ll get into a little bit more later but it says 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 in that respect he doesn’t tempt he test he doesn’t tempt hoping he will fail he tests you hoping that you will pass but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed this is where our trials come from most of them in fact then when desire is conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it’s full grown brings forth death do not be deceived my beloved brethren so when we have these things that draw us away entice us it leads to sin and sin if it’s unrepented of if it goes towards its full culmination then death is the end of it and we’re told not to be deceived in this process brethren you know I won’t turn there but you know we know then Matthew talks about the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak this is part of the problem that we have and sometimes trying to ask why these things have happened isn’t necessarily always the right question sometimes it might not be so much about fault as much as what God is trying to accomplish in us sometimes it might not be because of the sin but just that we can become better in the way that we can be perfected let’s have a quick look at that aspect of this in Job 1:1 there was a man in the land of us whose name was Job and that man was blameless and upright and one who feared God and shunned evil so it gives us this this aspect and we again know the story as it were of Job and the things that he went through and there’s 42 chapters I think it is of going through all this this whole story and I think we’ll have a tendency to sum it up in our mind but at the end of the day here’s what it’s saying being said about Job is that he was blameless no blame was found in him and he was upright and he was one who feared God his possessions and his the extent of his wealth were great and skipping down to verse six now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord and Satan also came among them and the lord said to Satan from where do you come and of course on good and well where Satan was so Satan answered the lord and said from going to and from the earth and from walking back and forth on it then the lord said to Satan have you considered my servant Job that there is none like him on earth a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil this is God’s assertion this is what God is saying of Job so this is the things that come upon Job were not because necessarily of a specific sin and something that he could be blamed about so Satan answered the lord and said does God does Job fear God for nothing have you not made a hedge about him can you imagine Satan right there you know he’s thinking okay I know I’ll come from this angle and I’ll help con God as it were you may hedge around him and around his household around all that he has on every side and his possessions have increased in the land and God was doing that for a reason God blesses you when you do follow him and keep his loss but now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face so don’t get me wrong Satan’s really clever but he’s outmatched here from the beginning and the lord said to say not behold all that he has is in your power only do not lay your hand or a hand on his person so God put these boundaries and limitations on Satan as to what he can do so Satan went out from the presence of the lord then verses 13 through 19 Satan quote unquote touched as he destroyed and killed and the property the livestock the workers and even the children of Job then verse 20 Job arose tore his robe shaved his head and fell to the ground in worship and he said naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there the lord gave and the lord has taken away so he understood you know rightly so what was going on and yet he still said blessed be the name of the lord and all of this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong it was Satan that was doing these things so what we see in the passage is that when it comes to the people of God and this man again was blameless and upright before God that God is involved intimately in the process and he allows Satan to do what he wants to do anyway Satan will do these things and more if God would allow him but Satan was forced to stay within these bounds these limitations then chapter 2 verse 1 again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord and Satan came also among them to present himself before the lord and the lord said to Satan from where do you come and Satan answered from going to and fro walking back and forth and the lord said to Satan have you considered my servant Job that there is none like him again it’s reiterated that Job is a blameless and upright man one who fears God and that he still holds fast to his integrity although you incited me against him to destroy him without cause without cause so this is Satan being the typical accuser of the brethren that he is so Satan answered the lord said skin for skin yes all that a man has he will give for his life of course he’s going to give up those things and not curse you and not sin because you haven’t touched him those are not him it’s not really personal yet but stretch out your hand now and touch his bone in his flesh and he will surely curse you to your face and the lord said to Satan behold he is in your hand but spare his life so again God set the strength restraints upon Satan and Satan had to abide by work outside and did abide so Satan went out of the presence of the lord and struck Job with painful voice boils from the soul of his foot to the crown of his head so he did God was the one that was in control of this situation allowing Satan to do what Satan’s going to do but God is constraining him so that God’s purpose is then fulfilled so God allowed this verse 10 but he said to her you speak as the foolish woman speaks shall we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity in all this Job did not sin with his lips let’s turn to James 5:11 and we see you know just again a summation of what we just read it expounds on it just a little bit more. indeed we count them blessed who endure you have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the lord that the lord is very compassionate and merciful so it showed that God was the one that was in charge and that there was a purpose that he was working out in this whole process even though Satan was you know intimately involved in it Satan was just merely a tool that God was allowing and that God when he did these things and here’s another insight into the trials that Job went through was that the lord was very compassionate and merciful in all he did and as we go through today’s message hopefully we’ll begin to see how that is and why that is okay so let’s now transition into why it is that God allows these trials a little more 1 Peter 1:3. I’ll read down through verse 7 blessed be the God and father of our lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance this is where we’re heading towards inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away reserved in heaven for you it’s an eternal immortal reward verse 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time in this you greatly rejoice so we rejoice in the fact that this is our hope this is what we’re heading towards though now for a little while if need be you have been grieved or you’ve been distressed or you’re sorrowful by various trials that the genuineness of your faith being much much more precious than the gold that perishes though it be tested by fire be found to praise honor glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ God is going through these things the testing of us to make our faith more genuine to make it as precious as gold and he tested by fire through these trials in order that we may be found to praise honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ and skipping ahead to chapter 4 Peter goes on to tell us more about the purpose of trials in first Peter 4 verse 12. it says beloved do not think it’s strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing has happened to you this is not going to be a strange thing the trials and tribulations that we’re going to go through are not going to be you know just you know one and a blue moon they’re going to continue as God sees fit so that his purpose can be accomplished so we need to know this and that this is a part of the way that God is indeed working in us and with us so don’t think it’s strange that you’re in the middle of a trial but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings that when his glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy we are partaking in the same sufferings that Christ went through verse 14 if your reproach for the name of Christ if we receive trials because of what we believe and because of the way that we’re acting when it’s in accordance with God’s way blessed are you this is good for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you it’s a sign that you have God’s holy spirit and that God is working with you on their part he is blasphemed but on your part he is glorified so even though they may be taking pot shots at God indirectly or even directly this is what God expects of you and because of it you are doing right and he believes that this is the best thing for you and glory comes out of it but let none of you suffer as a murderer a thief an evil doer or busybody body in other people’s matters so don’t suffer because you’re doing wrong yet if anyone suffers as a Christian for doing right let him not be ashamed don’t worry about this if you going through trials there’s nothing to be ashamed of this is all part and parcel of our Christian walk but let him glorify God in this manner so now along with joy joy we’re to glorify God we’re to thank God we’re to praise God for allowing these things to happen for this being a part of our life for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God and if it begins with us first what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God so judgment is now upon the house of God we are being judged now for what we’re doing the rest of the world who does not know God’s way who do not have God’s holy spirit are not being judged in the same way that we’re being judged this is one of the reasons we need to sit up and take notice whenever we’re going through trials because God is looking to see how we do going through these trials now the righteous one is scarcely saved and it’s difficult it’s a narrow road that we’re to walk where will the unGodly and the sinner appear by imprints that they don’t have a chance being unGodly in the center therefore let those who suffer those who go through trial and tribulation according to the will of God commit their souls to him in doing good as to the faithful creator it is the will of our father that we suffer so like we just read let those who suffer according to the will of God it is his will it’s one of the reasons that we do go through trial is because God hand is in it is working out the way that he wants it to work out God is not a cavalier God he’s not a capricious God that does things for no reason he has a purpose let’s look at Hebrews 2 and verse 10. Hebrews 2 and verse 10. Hebrews 2 and verse 10 for it was fitting for him for whom are all things and by whom are all things and bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings Christ was made perfect through sufferings God is going to treat us as a good parent should what is your approach as a parent to your children when it came when it comes to training them up in the way that your child should go how do you build character in them how do you mold and shape them as a parent should how does our spiritual father do the same to us and he does Hebrews skip over a few chapters to Hebrews 12 beginning in verse 1. therefore we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us so we’re talking about this race of trial that goes through trial and tribulation it’s not a sprint it’s not a 100 meter dash there was a a race that I was familiar with when I was younger and even thought about doing it but it sounded way too tough but it was the Race Gauloise or something I’m not trying to say it exactly in french but it was a team of people that were to run over treacherous terrain to swim to bike to to horse and to you know climb and it was a a long race it’s not like a marathon which was short by comparison this one happened over many days and went through many obstacles and a lot of different terrain that is closer to the race that we’re running it’s an endurance race one that you still race to win but nonetheless you have to endure through it that is the race that he says let us run with endurance the race that is set before us this race of trials and tribulations and different pitfalls verse 2 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross in the same way that we’re admonished to take up our cross despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God for consider him who endured such hostility from sinners he endured and went through many trials and tribulations unjustified because he went through it as a perfect man he did not sin and that’s my place in such heist he endured such hostility from sinners against himself lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls you have not yet resisted to bloodshed striving against sin as Christ did have we have we had to go that far in our trials and tribulations perhaps some many in the past have but have we I’m asking us I know that I haven’t had to resist to that point and it’s at the time of these eras that we’re in that again we have different things that we have to deal with but we have not resisted that far now we come to part of what a good father does verse 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as two sons so a reminder my son do not despise the chastening of the lord that is where it’s coming from and being orchestrated by in that sense the chastening that we receive as Christians comes from a loving father from our spiritual father from God nor be discouraged when you’re rebuked by him is not a cause for depression or discouragement when you go through a trial we begin to see now why James said what he said counted all joy is it that is what we’re supposed to be doing this is what we’re naturally inclined to do is to be discouraged when we’re rebuked by him for whom the lord loves he chastens that’s why he is doing it it’s an act of love and he scourges every son whom he receives the reason that we go through trials is because God cares about us which again the carnal mind doesn’t always see and neither do our children always they do not understand that the correction and discipline and things that they get are because we care because we love them and we want them to turn out a certain way he God cares about the way that we are going to turn out he has the long-term view he’s looking at where we’re headed right now he sees our potential and he wants us to to fulfill as much of it as possible and he’s doing it for our own good verse seven if you endure chastening God deals with you as with sons and we know now that we are sons of God for what son is there whom a father does not chasten don’t we do the same thing with our children educating training correcting disciplining this is what’s implied by chastening the chastening that God does but if you are without chastening if you do not go through these trials of which all have become partakers then you are illegitimate and not sons not sons of God is because we are sons that he does this verse 9 furthermore we have had human fathers who corrected us and we paid them respect right shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the father of spirits and live how much more then should we co should we respect God who corrects us perfectly verse 10 for they indeed for a few days chastened us our physical father chasing this as seen best to them it seemed best to them and they I’m sure did it with good intent but they did it imperfectly but he God for our prophet that we may be partakers of his holiness the reason for our trials is so that ultimately we can become holy as he is holy that we may gain salvation with him verse 11 now no chastening seems no chastening seems to be joyful that’s where we’re at right whenever we think about trials and tribulations we don’t think of that because it doesn’t seem like it’s that way but yet we’re being told here and we were told like we began in James that it’s not that way it’s the opposite chase no chasing seems to be joyful for the present but painful is that where we are in the process nevertheless this is like the but nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it so that’s the end result of it are we not happy about that do we not see that as the end as to what God is doing with us and why he’s doing it and that that is why we’re to be joyful are we focusing on this aspect of it the painful aspect verse 12. therefore strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame our shortcomings may not be dislocated but rather be healed this is the ultimate goal is our complete spiritual healing that our character can become holy and righteous as Gods is God is trying to root out our sins and our shortcomings to heal us to make us better so here’s a question why is it that when we are anointed we don’t get upset it’s kind of a silly question to a certain degree because I mean have you ever thought about it I mean it’s like you don’t even think about being upset about being anointed it’s just the opposite we look forward to God’s intervention in our life and to his healing of us right we want it we desire that we’ve all had to have anointings at one time or another because of our foibles and frailties as a human being yet if you look at it we are asking God for physical correction we’re asking him to correct to heal to make better what is wrong with us it’s a correcting situation how was this situation brought about that we actually needed the anointing was it because of our own fault this is something we did that caused this whatever that is or was it through others was it because somebody breathed on us when they were sick they hit us with a car was beyond our control whatever it is it doesn’t matter because we want God now at this point to work in our lives towards us becoming healed so we don’t get upset about that about God correcting what’s wrong with us physically do we nor should we okay so now let’s compare that with our current state of spiritual sickness or spiritual bad health or aspects of our spiritual life that aren’t right and of course by that I mean we’re not perfect and we come short of the glory of God all right so when you look at that in your life do you see it does it bother you do you want to get rid of it we want to as we just got finished reading there in Hebrews 12 do we want God to make straight paths for your feet for our feet so that what is lame may be healed God is trying to show us how we’re coming up short so that we can be a part of his kingdom of God is this what we want should we not want this in the same way should we not want to be healed of our spiritual infirmities just as we’re healed of our physical infirmities this is how we begin to count at all joy we begin to see it for the good that it is and we’ve been leading up to this point and we’ve been talking about these things of how and why God is working in our lives and it is to bring us to the point that we can be in his kingdom of God we need to keep the end in sight we see it for the good that it is then we start seeing it and counting it as joy the trials and the tribulations that God is working in our lives to accomplish what he sees that we need to accomplish to be able to heal us spiritually to be able to take you know the bad the carnality out of us and infuse us with his own spirituality God shows us the things that we need to correct in many different ways he can show us in a nice way through others let’s turn to Galatians six verses one through four and as we go through all of these keep in mind that it is God that is working these things out and that God’s way is right no matter where it comes from if it is correct just as God allowed in new Satan with in the case of Job he has other tools in his arsenal to use Galatians 6 and verse 1. brethren if a man is overtaken in any trespass you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness considering yourself lest you also be tempted so somebody can come to you who is spiritual who is quote unquote more spiritual in that respect and in the right way in a gentle way come and tell you your faults bear one another’s burden he says in verse two and so fulfilled the law of Christ for if anyone thinks of himself to be something when he is nothing he deceives himself but let each one examine his own work and then he will have rid alone and not in love alone and not in another yeah we’re to look at ourselves and receive correction when somebody else brings it to us and this is one of the ways that they can do it’s a nice way this is something we should want this is the better way to view it most people won’t tell you your problems if they do often it’s not in a constructive way might not be correct either so if it is done this way like in Galatians 6 how much more should we want it and desire this I mean think about it how how often does somebody come and tell you your faults your problems the things that we’re often very blind to you know and and do it in the right way and concern considering themselves first before they do this so when they do do this how much more then should we accept it for what it is especially coming from a Godly person but that’s not the only way that it’s going to come it comes in a not so nice way let’s look at 2 Samuel 16:5 now when king David came to Bahurim there was a man from the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei the son of Gera coming from there he came out cursing continuously as he came I have to to smile at you know how shimmy walks a tightrope here and he threw stones at David you know this is God’s anointed and at all the servants of king David and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left you can’t pass over that real quick all his mighty men you know if you ever get some time or if you already know the the deeds of David’s mighty men go have a look at what these men did and what they were capable of in terms of how they were and why they were classified as mighty and you’d think twice about throwing stones at them but nonetheless he threw stones at them and also Shimei said thus when he cursed come out come out you bloodthirsty man you rogue the lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul and whose place you have reigned and the lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom and your son so now you are caught in your own evil because you are a blood thirsty man then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king why should this dead dog curse my lord again he was as good as a dead dog and thought of even less please let me go over and take off his head which he could have done in a heartbeat but the king said what have I to do with you sons of Zeruiah so let him curse because the lord has said to him curse David who then shall say why have you done so and David said to Abishai and all of his servants see how my son who came from my own body seeks my life how much more now may this Benjamin speaking of Shimei let him alone and let him curse for so the lord ordered has ordered him that’s not the best way to be there with all your your mighty men the men of valor the king who you are who could you know in a heartbeat and a pronouncement you know in this man’s life but this man was sent by the lord in a not so nice way and yet you know David took it because he had to take it because it was the truth and it was God who had ordered him to do so another way that we see these things is in 2 Timothy 3:16 and is through the bible that God shows us what we need again all these things are technically through the bible but this is one of the ways again as we look for correction if we look for in times of trials and trouble it says that all scripture is given by inspiration of God that is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction and righteousness that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work so we have the bible to help us to correct us and ultimately and that’s where we we keep going back to and hopefully that whenever you know the shimmies of the world may come to us that they speak from the basis of the bible and and even when we’re looking in Galatians 6 you know we have people who come and talk to us and they are speaking from the bible and it even tells us to say okay hey won’t you go ahead and evaluate your own self and correct your own self this is the way we can do it is through the words of the bible is you know it says right there it says all the scripture is profitable for correction and again this is what we’re talking about in terms of these trials and tribulations and then one last way is that it comes through the ministry so briefly back to the anointing analogy it’s not the minister that does the healing in terms of an anointing the minister is merely a conduit and God has put his process in place that he says go call upon the elders if you need an anointing but is through Christ and the his stripes that you’re healed the minister has nothing else to do with it outside of what God has commanded in the same way we have our sermons whenever a minister speaks or whenever I speak I try not to speak my words I speak the words of the bible we turn to the scripture we read what it had what it said and if it wasn’t for this scripture I wouldn’t be saying these things so it’s the bible that we’re reading from is let the bible convict us and the minister is merely a conduit so whenever you know I give any sermon of course I apply it to myself but the messages that we have I mean in terms of almost every message there is an element of correction in almost every sermon that you will hear and it’s not meant to be pointing fingers at anyone specifically and that’s something that you know I never want to do if I have an issue with somebody you know or anybody has an issue with anybody you should go to them you know like Matthew 18 says one on one so whenever we talk about the things in the bible and it’s corrective in whatever way it is it’s the bible it’s the scripture that’s saying these things I’m not coming up with something new when it comes to a message so we can rest assured and take comfort in the fact that we are not the first to go through these things Jesus Christ suffered all these things and he was tested in all points let’s look at Hebrews 4:15 for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize so we have a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin so Christ went through these things he set the example in all these things he was tempted and he was tested and we know the stories of Satan we know the countless stories of the scribes and the pharisees and the people that continually tried to you know catch him test him tempt him try to make him fail of course Satan would be at the top of the list but Christ went through this before us we can now you know take the comfort in this fact and this goes to our well-being to our looking at this in terms of a joyful state whenever we look at this Christ went through these things also other people went through these things as well we’re not the first let’s look at Hebrews 11:32. so we can’t you know as we go through this we need to realize that we cannot be going through this saying woe is me I suffer like no one has ever suffered because we already know that that’s not the case we haven’t sweated to you know until blood came out we’ve not given our life yet physically we’ve not been abused in that way but in Hebrews 11:32 the faith chapter it says as he’s wrapping it up what more shall I say for the time would fail to tell fill me to tell of Gideon Barak and Samson and Jephthah and also David and Samuel and the prophets he’s saying he doesn’t have enough time to tell about the faith of these individuals and what they’ve all gone through in order to be considered faithful who through faith subdued kingdoms worked righteousness obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions and then verse 34 quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong again that’s a part of the theme of what we’re talking about today is that the rooting out of the weaknesses the spiritual weaknesses that we have that we may be strong strong enough to enter into the kingdom of God became valiant in battle turned to flight the armies of the aliens women received their dead raised to life again others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better a better resurrection they understood the hope that lied before them and that way they were able to endure things like torture still others had trial of mockings and scourgings that were those were their trials yes enough chains and imprisonment getting a little excited have we been through that through chains been handcuffed imprisoned they were stoned they were sawn in two I can’t imagine too much more of a grisly death than that I think it was Isaiah who may have gone through that they were tempted were slain with a sword wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins being destitute afflicted tormented where are we at in our nice comfy houses with our nice clothes on still afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthy they did these things to them even though the people were not worthy necessarily of this they wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth all these having obtained a good testimony through faith did not receive the promise God having provided something better for us that they should not be made perfect apart from us God wants to achieve the same thing in us that was achieved in these men and women of faith the ones who are listed in the bible as examples for us showing all that they went through in order to receive the promise of the future God wants us to go through the same things to be able to not the exact same things necessarily he wants us to go through what is necessary so that we achieve the same thing and that is to be written in the book of life do we see how he did it to them can we learn the lessons that they needed to learn without those things what are you going through right now by comparison is it that bad nonetheless it’s enough to accomplish the perfecting of the saints brethren we are to have to go through this as well Romans 8 verses 17 and 18. Christ went through it the saints before us went through it right now we have to go through it as well Romans 8 17 and 18 and if children then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if we indeed if indeed we suffer with him that we may be glorified together we will be heirs with God with Christ heirs of God with Christ if we suffer if we go through trials and tribulations then we will be glorified that’s made into God beings so I’ll overlook that word together for I consider that the sufferings of this present time Paul’s speaking then go ahead and put yourself into this scripture right now prophet consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us the things that we’re going through right now I’m telling you are not that bad they are for a good reason and if we continue in that path then we will be with God heirs with Christ of everything and all that even though it’s unfathomable is not to be compared with the sufferings that we’re going through right now and to a large degree it’s not even to be compared with the sufferings that the people of God had to go through in times before but it’s necessary Acts 14:21 and 22. and when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples they returned to Lystra Iconium and Antioch strengthening the souls of the disciples exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God whenever we were baptized this was the cost part of the cost that we were to count though we couldn’t fully appreciate all the things before we had the spirit of God in us nonetheless this is the road that we are to hope and this is interestingly enough the way that they were strengthening the souls of the disciples and the way that they were encouraging them to continue in the faith this is to be our encouragement now is to see these things the trials as necessary to enter the kingdom of God so the reason that you’re having the trials is necessary be glad that God cares enough for you to put you through these trials to in order that you can make it into the kingdom of God revelation 3 and verse 18 it’s going to continue to be so it has been this way Christ at the example many saints went through it we went through it we’re going through it now and even into the future it’s going to be this way all the way through to the end time church revelation 3 and verse 18 I counsel to you to buy from me gold refined in the fire that you may be rich and white garments that you may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed and anoint your eyes with I salve that you may see let me just look up that word real quick okay I think it means something there in terms of refined yeah the word there is again it’s tried again me and it has kind of this derivation too of try of trying of testing of proving so he says I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire this is our character going through the trials and tribulations as you know made synonymous to fire one of the words that um the trial is also um trans translated as is assay an assay you typically do it and it’s done a lot in my field of business is to see how much gold there is in a product versus other impurities so whenever God is looking for the gold again he’s talking to the Laodiceans here who had not gotten to the point that they should have been to they the gold and the fire the fire was to take away these impurities and to make the gold and by by respect more pure more like God’s character getting rid of the impurities the sin the carnality of our own lives if we do that now if we’re successful in our trials if we see them as joyous if we pass quote unquote our tests that God has for us then there’s a chance that we can avoid what he talks about in verse 10 of revelation 3. revelation 3 10 it says because you have kept my command to persevere I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth God is saying that if we go through these test trials tribulations corrections in the way that we should if we pass them joyfully if we overcome if we root out the sin and the impurities of our life then he will keep us from the hour of our trial the great tribulation which is coming but as we know not all will be able to say this about their lives and because of that they will indeed have to go through as he puts it the hour of trial a very intense purification process a very intense tribulation now more akin to what we were reading in Hebrews 11 and what they went through the things that you know if you’re like me you’re going wow I hope I never have to go through that I’m not sure how I would be able to go through something like that well again the only way that you can go through something like that is to start right now by you’re rooting these things out of your life and the way that God does that is by correcting us through trials and tribulations from wherever they may come just know this brethren in the end that we will make it we will survive as it were let’s look at Luke 8 verse 13 Luke 8 13-15 I’m I’m sorry let’s go first Corinthians 10 first first Corinthians 10 11 through 13. we will survive the trial and the tribulation that you’re in right now just as you survive the one from before and just as you’re going to survive the one afterwards how you go through it is up to you first Corinthians 10 verse 11 now all these things happen to them as examples and they were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come this is us therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall no temptation no trial no tribulation no correction is overtaking you except such as common to man again back to the thing is this is nothing that somebody else hasn’t already gone through before but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you’re able but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it so he’s not going to test you beyond what you’re capable of what beyond what you can handle and he’s gonna not only that give you help he’s gonna give you a way of escape he’s gonna help you get out of it we can bear it we can survive these and they will yield this peaceable fruit we just need to endure with patience Luke 8:13-15. but the one the ones on the rock are those who when they hear receive the word with joy and these have no root but believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away they have no root are we grounded in the word of God do we believe the things that we’re reading and hearing today if not you have no root and in times of trial and tribulation you will fall away now the ones that fell among the thorns are those who when they have heard go out and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of life and bring no fruit to maturity but verse 15 of Luke 8 but the ones that fell on the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart keep it and bear fruit with patience these are the ones that will not fall away when temptation comes when trial and tribulation are at our door Acts 20:18-20. we are to keep doing what we’re supposed to do no matter what keep doing what you’re supposed to do and when they had come to him he said to them you know from the first day that I came to Asia in what manner I always lived among you this is how he lived among them he’s about to tell you serving the lord with all humility with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews that’s how we that’s how we always lived among them and we know you know that this was the case and verse 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly from house to house so he continued with tears and trials to continue to do everything that he was supposed to do in the same way that we are we cannot get into this woe is me you know this is more than I can bear again because that’s in direct contravention to the word of God we have to keep doing what we’re supposed to do and knowing that God can and will deliver 2 Peter 2:9. then the lord knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment and we don’t have to worry if you know we feel that these burdens these trials are coming from the ungodly God will take care of that it’s not our Job to take care of them right here and now vengeance is God’s but God is saying that he knows how to deliver you the Godly out of your trial we need to have faith in that we need to believe in that we need to rely on that and that’s the the path that we need to pursue if we do then our trials will produce a great outcome as we see in Romans 5:1 – 5. we see the process that we go through in trials and tribulations and again have we as we have touched on a couple times already what the outcome is, therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our lord Jesus Christ Christ through whom also we have access by faith into his grace in which we stand and rejoice we rejoice in hope of the glory of God and not only that but we also glory in tribulations we glory we’re glad we glorify God we’re joyous we rejoice in tribulations we want to get these things out of us we want to become more perfect move towards perfection the way that we’re supposed to be heading so that why let’s look we glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance endurance the enduring of the trial and perseverance what does it produce character if we have a trial and we persevere endure through it we build the holy righteous character of God the image the express image of God and with that character comes what hope the hope that we’re talking about in verse 2 we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the holy spirit who was given to us which was given to us we have that hope because we have the holy spirit that was given to us by God and because of that holy spirit we can go through the tribulations persevere build character and be there in the end in the kingdom of God trials and correction are a positive thing they’re not a negative they’re positive whenever God corrects us it’s for a positive reason looking for positive results he wants us to be better than what we are right now through the power of the holy spirit and him working that through us and because he has begun a good work in us he’s going to continue that good work and if it’s necessary you get to go through the trial again till you learn now if you don’t want to go through the trial again you learn now you learn from those from before you you learn from the words of the bible you rejoice that you have the opportunity to learn this lesson and that it was a good lesson and it was for your benefit and then you’re able to move on from there and to grow and to continue to overcome one final scripture 1 Corinthians 3:13-14. each one’s work will become clear for the day meaning the day of the lord will declare it because it will be revealed by fire ferocious fire and the fire will test each one’s work and what sort it is and if anyone’s work which he has built on it endures he will receive a reward we have to continue to face trials to face them in the right way so that we may receive this award reward and the best way to do this is to counted all joy when you fall into various trials