Trials

8 purposes of trials

First, it is to test the strength of our faith. – In many ways the Lord assists us in taking spiritual inventory by bringing trials into our lives to demonstrate to us the strength or weakness of our faith. (Ex 16:4;test for Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32:31; God didn’t need to know what was Hezekiah’s heart, he knew already right Omniscience. God doesn’t test us to find out what’s in our heart, he tests us so we can find out. self-examination. If you are right now, going through a severe trial, it is revealing to you the strength or weakness of your faith, isn’t it? If you are shaking your fist at God, if you are wondering why it’s happening, if you are fretting all the time and worrying. If you are in anxiety from morning till night, there is a good indication that you have a weak faith.

2. Second, trials are given to humble us, to remind us not to let our trust in the Lord turn into presumption and spiritual self-satisfaction. – The greater our blessings, the more Satan will tempt us to look on them as our own accomplishments rather than the Lord’s, or as our rightful due and to become proud rather than humble. (2 Cor. 12:7)

3. Third, God allows us to suffer trials in order to wean us from our dependence on worldly things. – The more we accumulate material possessions and worldly knowledge, experience, and recognition, the more we are tempted to rely on them rather than the Lord. (John 6:5-7; Ex 2:11-25; Heb. 11:24-26)

4. Fourth, a purpose of trials is to call us to eternal and heavenly hope. – The harder our trials become and the longer they last, the more we look forward to being with the Lord. (Phil. 1:23-24; Rom 8:18-25)2 Corinthians 4:16, “ For which cause we faint not, for though our outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day and our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Then he says this, “While we look not at the things which are not seen, but at the things with are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal. But the things which are not seen are eternal.” How did he get that kind of attitude?

Oh, it’s very easy, just go back to verse 8, we are troubled on ever side, we are perplexed, we are persecuted, we always bearing in our body the dying of Jesus Christ. Verse 12, death works in us. He’s going through so much trouble, it’s little wonder he doesn’t like the world. He would rather be in glory.

5. Fifth, a purpose of trials is to reveal what we really love. – Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Issac not only proved his faith, but also his supreme love for the Lord. Nothing and no one else should be dearer to us than the Lord. (Gen 22; Deut 10:12; Luke 14:26)

Luke 14:26 what he means by that is, if you do not love God, to the degree that you willingly, if necessary, cut yourself off from father, mother, wife, children, brother, sister, and your own life, then you don’t love God supremely. You are not worthy to be his disciple. What do you mean cut off? We mean by that this, that you will do the will of God first and foremost, no matter what appeals those others make to you. No matter what appeal your father might make or your mother or your wife or your child or your brother or your sister or your own flesh. You will do the will of God no matter what appeals are being made because there in lies your supreme love.

You see, if you supremely love God, you are going to say thank you God, for what you are accomplishing through this. Help me to see that. And give you glory though you are allowing this to happen. But if you really love self more than God, you are going to say, God, why do you do this and you are going to be irate and you are going to be upset and you are going to be bitter. And you are going to be full of anxiety.

6. Sixth, trials are given to teach us to value God’s blessings. – Our reason tells us to value the world and the things of the world, and our senses tell us to value pleasure and ease. But through trials, faith tells us to value the spiritual things of God with which He has blessed us abundantly–including His word, His care, His provision, His strength, and, of course His salvation. (Ps 63:3-7)

7. Seventh, the Lord uses trials to develop in His saints enduring strength for greater usefulness. – (2 Cor 12:10; Heb. 11:33-34)

As you go through one trial, your spiritual muscles are exercised. You are stronger for the next one. That means you can face a greater foe. That means you are more useful. You go through another trial and another trial and another trial. And all those are strengthening, strengthening, strengthening until now your usefulness is on the increase, your insurance makes you more useful and then the more useful you are the more used you are. And the more used you are the more you accomplish in the power of the spirit for the glory of God.

8. Eighthly, and finally, the Lord uses trials to enable us to better help others in their trials. – Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. (Luke 22:31-32) (Heb. 2:18; 2 Cor. 1:3-6)

closing don’t ask why ask What

Saying God will make a way to God made the way we have to find it