Thank God for Trials
Gary Minnick
Midland SDA Church
March 23, 019
The Smith family had just completed a lovely Sabbath dinner. There were twelve of them seated around the table. Jerry, the oldest son. asked each person to share what they were thankful for. The first one to volunteer was Harold, just turned six-years old. He thanked God, by name, for everyone around the table, including his older brother and younger sister. He thanked God that summer was finally here. He got into such a thankful spirit we thought he would never stop. Finally, he paused for breath, and then came his last thank you. “Thank you, God, for me!”
This last thank you caught everyone by surprise. We could not stop smiling. He said it without any hint of boasting. But as I thought about it afterward, I realized how mature beyond his years he was. Most people are so afraid of pride that we forget ourselves, yet God made each one of us. God has a plan for everyone present today.
No one was created by accident. U-were-formed = So why should you not be thankful that God created you for a purpose? We were not just created to lie around and do nothing. Even Adam & Eve were to care for the garden. Somebody needs to hear about Jesus. And God gave you just the gifts and talents that you need to fulfill the purpose that He has for you. So, let’s all say it this way, “God, I give myself to you and ask that you would help me to use my gifts to share the good news. Even through trials, give me the strength to praise your name.
Since God has a purpose for each one of us, we should be filled with joy. Christians especially should be the most excited people in the world because, in looking at scripture in the book of Hebrews in writing about the faith of Abraham, who said. “we look forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). We know that this world is filled with all kinds of evil and it’s heading towards self-destruction. But at the same time, we know there is a better world coming.
The word joy appears fifty-nine times in the New Testament. The first recording is when the angel Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people,” (Luke 2:10). Matthew records that when the wise men “saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10, NASB).
The Christian faith promises joy—pure joy. Not what people today call happiness, Like as in the days of Noah Matthew 24:37-39 NKJV
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Noah was mocked and at times discouraged, but not afraid. God would be with him through this storm in his life.
Like Noah the Christian may not always have a peaceful road to walk. But by faith we cling on to Jesus. Peter reminds us “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). (Remember)The seventy that Jesus sent out into the villages ‘returned with joy’ because of the new authority Jesus had given them. Luke 10:17
Later on, great joy came in the city of Samaria when Philip preached the gospel and healed many people, “so there was great joy in the city” (Acts 8:6). Despite being persecuted and rejected the disciples of Jesus “were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” The word rejoices” is used seventy-four times in the New Testament. Now I said that God promises us joy but not necessarily happiness. What is the difference? Words only have the meaning that a person gives to them.
So, I am defining happiness as a positive emotion, a feeling that is pleasant and positive. Joy I am defining it as more of principle than a feeling. That when you may not be feeling happy you can still be filled with joy because you know the end of life on this earth. And Jesus is coming back to take you home.
Joy is knowing that you are safe in God, that God is in charge, that all things work together for good for all those who love God, and that eventually all the suffering and evil in this world will be utterly destroyed.
The best way to describe joy is to look at the experience of Jesus as he suffered on the cross. How could we possibly think of what He went through as joy. This was the ultimate suffering experience. But here is how the Bible describes one aspect of it:
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Notice that Jesus was full of joy as he suffered on the cross. He was full of joy in pain, in suffering, in agony. Why was he full of joy? He was joyful because he knew there was a purpose to his pain. Purpose makes all the difference. His purpose was to save this world and the only way to save it was through pain and death knowing that his sacrifice would save the world, and you and me. Jesus knew that his death would also make the universe secure forever. Sin would never arise again. Never again would the universe know pain and suffering.
James when writing to Christians in the first century challenged them with this thought, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).
What does James mean by a trial? Most people think of trials as bad, as something to be avoided? But that is not always the case. Standing up for the Sabbath, having complete trust in God to work things out. People who do not understand will mock you and may even turn against you. Saying evil words to others about your beliefs. This is the time when we need God’s Spirit in us the most to face their actions.
Peter’s example walking on the water. As if he could scarcely yet believe, he cried out, "Lord, if it be, Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come." {DA 381.4}
Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from the Savior. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high, and come directly between him and the Master; and he is afraid. For a moment Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and fixing them upon Jesus, cries, "Lord, save me." Immediately Jesus grasps the outstretched hand, saying, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" {DA 381.5}
Walking side by side, Peter's hand in that of his Master, they stepped into the boat together. But Peter was now subdued and silent. He had no reason to boast over his fellows, for through unbelief and self-exaltation he had very nearly lost his life. When he turned his eyes from Jesus, his footing was lost, and he sank amid the waves. {DA 381.6}
When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Savior. Our footsteps slide and the proud waters go over our souls. Jesus did not bid Peter to come to Him that he should perish; He does not call us to follow Him, and then forsake us.
"Fear not," He says; "for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." Isaiah 43:1-3. {DA 382.1}
Human nature: We always seem to forget God and try to work things out ourselves. We use Him as a last resort when we should go to Him first. And do what He says to. Moses example in Numbers 20:8-12 (NIV)
8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
It would be the greatest folly in the world for any of us to take credit to ourselves for any success we may have. The more humbly we walk with God, the more will He manifest Himself to us to help us. The Lord never designed to send out His servants to do a work for Him, with all the opposition of Satan and evil angels against them, unless He gives them divine help.
Personal trail.
My experience of worrying about whether the plant would stay open or not. Should I retire now or wait. They wanted everyone to do more work with less and less people. If I did leave and retire, would I have enough income coming in each month to support our life? I perhaps forgot about God’s promise to supply all of our needs.
When driving to work one early morning as I was thinking these thoughts, I happen to look at a lighted sign on the front of a garage. I could not believe what it said. So as I passed by I had to back up and look again. The sign said “Trust in Jesus. What was the Lord telling me? That he knew of my worried feelings and was letting me know that I needed to put my trust in Him and He would take care of things. I had traveled this way many times and I never saw this sign. I believe God placed it there. Psalm 118:21 I will praise You, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Have you ever had an experience like this? That out of nowhere Jesus spoke to you in an unexpected way. He answers our prayers sometimes in very unique ways. It surely changed my feelings to pure joy. I could now relax knowing that Jesus was going to give me peace of mind.
OVERCOMING THE TRIALS OF LIFE
Challenges are real, troubles are real, but more real is the victorious way-out, God has designed for you. Why that challenge you may have has continued for so long is because you don’t know the way out. There is a way out for you. Discovering that way is one thing while taking steps after discovery is a different thing entirely.
So many people know the way out but refuse to take steps in the direction of their victory no wonder they remain utterly helpless.
But today is your day.
In Luke 5 there is the familiar story of the paralyzed man that was in need of healing. He knew of the power of Jesus and did all he could with the help of his friends to come to Jesus to the point where they let him down through the roof of a house where he could come into the presence of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “man your sins are forgiven you and then “arise, take up you bed, and go to your house.” The Bible in Luke 5:25 reads, “immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on and departed to his own house glorifying God.” The man had gone as far as he could to get help, then Jesus stepped in and changed his life.
John 16 vs.33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt and they were confronted with the red sea, they could not go back because their enemies were behind them. A way was not created for them until Moses stretched his arms out at God’s command, then stepped in. Moses did not wait for the red sea to separate before he stepped in, he took the first step and there was a miracle. Ex.14:1-31
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Again, in John chapter 11 vs. 39 - 44; when Lazarus died, and was buried, Jesus came after 4 days. What a time of trial. 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” ---- 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
As He approached the tomb, He gave thanks. Even in a dead-end God can still makes a way of escape for you if only you trust in Him.
Philippians 4 vs.6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God
In acts chapter 16 vs. 25, Paul and Silas were in jail and they prayed and praised God and then
there was a turn around. The foundation of the prison was shaken and all the doors were opened. There is no door that God will not open for you today, because He has a master key that will open any door.
Alan Mairson wrote an article for National Geographic about beekeepers who raise and transport bees for a living.
He told the story of Jeff and Christine Anderson and how their daughter overcomes an allergy to bee stings.
To build up her immunity, doctors administered a series of injections to Rachel over a four-month period. But, in order to maintain immunity, she needed a bee sting every 6 weeks. That doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.
So, every 6 weeks Rachel’s parents would go outside and catch a bee. Then, as Rachel recalls, “Mom would take hold of my arm and roll my sleeve up. Then my Dad would make the bee mad and stick it on me and count to ten before he took the stinger out. But it worked.
Rachel’ says “Now when I accidentally get stung, it barely swells, it barely hurts.” Imagine how hard it must have been for those parents to know this was the only way through a bee sting to help their daughter live. In a world full of bees, a loving father must not shield his child away from every sting. In fact, for the child’s own good the father must at times allow pain.
Is that why God sometimes allows pain and trials into our lives, not to hurt us but to heal us, not to make life more difficult but to make life better? 1 Peter 1:7 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,
Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, “that all things work together for good for those who love God.”
He does not say that all things are good but he says that God will use the bad as well is the good to eventually bless us. Remember Rachel and the bee stings. Trials are the means by which God sifts out those things that are part of us that are not good, our pride, selfishness, gossiping spirit, critical nature, complaining attitude and so on.
James continues in his writing to explain why trials are necessary. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. A simple explanation is “to keep on keeping on.” Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
I will translate our text in James this way, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.” “A sheer gift.” When was the last time a trial came your way and you praised the Lord for that trial as a gift? It is easy at thankful times to focus on the good things and thank God for them but we need to remember that the bad things, the trials, can also be looked at in a positive way if we so choose.
God wants all of us in heaven. But he does not want us to be in heaven as we are here. You would not want heaven to be a duplicate of this earth.
There will be no sin in heaven, no pain, no evil, and no disappointments. So, if we are to be different in heaven that difference must begin in this life. But aren’t we a stubborn bunch? We don’t like to change.
Change is hard work. Change can be scary. Change takes us out of our comfort zone. So, sometimes, God has to let trials come to us to force us out of our comfort zone, to cause us to rethink who we are, to cause us to persevere in learning to love Him more. James says in this passage that God wants us “mature and be complete.”
Yes, we are saved by grace. Yes, salvation is a gift from God through the death of Jesus. Yes, there is nothing we can do to contribute to that gift. But at the same time, we have to change from being the people we are to become the people that God wants us to be, a people that are loving and gracious just as He is. But again, we don’t like to change and that is why God allows us to get kicked and getting kicked is usually painful.
Struggle Can Make Us Strong
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening
appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to
force its body through that little hole.
Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as
far as it could, and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that,
at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the
body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling
around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the
restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through
the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly
into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its
freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes, God will sometimes let us struggle in life. That's because he has
a plan for us. He knows what's best and He knows what he is doing. Just trust
him.
In A View from a Zoo, Gary Richmond tells about the birth of a giraffe: The first things to emerge are the baby giraffe’s front hooves and head. A few minutes later the plucky newborn is hurled forth, falls a distance, and lands on its back. Within seconds, he rolls to an upright position with his legs tucked under his body.
From this position he considers the world for the first time and shakes himself. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she positions herself directly over the calf. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She swings her long leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent sprawling head over heels.
When it doesn’t get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts....Finally, the calf stands for the first time on its wobbly legs.
Then the mother giraffe does an unthinkable thing. She kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up! In the wild, baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and other wild creatures all enjoy young giraffes, and they’d get caught too, if the mother didn’t teach her calf to get up quickly and get on with it!
What must have seemed very painful to the baby giraffe was actually for its good. The painful trials that come to us are there for our good if we will see them for what they are: They are part of the training for heaven, part of the change that God wants us to make so that we will not take to heaven the same habit patterns we have on this earth.
God never asks us to go through a trial that Jesus has not gone through. The author of Hebrews tells us that even Jesus “Although he was the son of God, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).
Jesus had to mature, and he matured in the same way that God calls us to mature, through trials and sufferings. In Jesus case he was perfect. He never sinned. He had no impurities to weed out of his character yet he still suffered. If Jesus had to go through all this suffering why should any of us feel that we should be exempted?
Hebrews 4:15,16
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
“Any trial that Satan sends—death of a loved one or friend, financial reverse, loss, illness, misunderstanding, losing your keys, failure, disappointment, betrayal, abuse, unemployment, mental or emotional depression, accident, loneliness, missing a train or plane, rejection, not getting that important invitation, toothache, a headache, or any physical pain—should not be seen as thinking that God is punishing us for our sins. It’s the results of sin.
But When we understand our lives this way, we can then live by the words of Paul, (1 Thess. 5:16). 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Here is where we began. If you have placed your trust in Jesus then you know that everything that happens is part of God’s sifting. He loves you so much he wants to get rid of all the undesirable traits in your character. (The song Trust and Obey for there is no other way.) When we accept these words then we can have pure joy because we know why these things are happing to us and then depending on our attitude when we face them, they can become a blessing rather than a curse.
Whenever something unpleasant happens remember the giraffe’s mother kicking her child so that he will live and when God allows the world to kick us it is so that we will grow. So “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).
THE
REFINER'S FIRE
The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying
in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says:
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled
the women and they wondered how this statement applied to the character and
nature of God. One of the women offered to find out more about the process of
refining silver, and to get back to the group at their next Bible study.
The following week, the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment
to watch him while at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for
her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.
He
explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle
of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the
impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, and then she thought
again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of
silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of
the fire the entire time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes...
What did she learn? That GOD is there!! Remember the three Hebrew boys that
were thrown into the furnace. Yet they were not alone and the fire could not
quench them. I leave you with three bible promises in the scriptures that God
gives us that brings us hope through our trials,
God says Heb. 13:5 “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Sermon Thank God for Trials. 3/23/19 - Midland SDA
Children story – Brenda Khalil
Opening song #88 I Will Sing The Mighty Power Of God.
Closing song #590 Trust and Obey
Scripture 1Peter 4:12,13 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 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.