“The Nature of Trials”

(key: vs. 8-9)

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.* This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

INTRODUCTION:

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

INTRODUCTION:

A- Last week we looked at the source of our trials.

B- This week we will be looking at the nature of those trials.

A- Last week we looked at the source of our trials.

B- This week we will be looking at the nature of those trials.

I- PRESSURE (:8A) “8 We are pressed on every side by troubles,”

B- This week we will be looking at the nature of those trials.

I- PRESSURE (:8a) “We are pressed on every side by troubles,”

(θλιβόμενοι= to compress)

(Qlibomenoi = to compress)

I- PRESSURE (:8A) “8 We are pressed on every side by troubles,”

A. Pressure from every side

(Qlibomenoi = to compress)

A. Pressure from every side

() “When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.”

A. Pressure from every side

() “When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.”

()

() (NLT)

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

() (NLT)

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

1. External pressure

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

1. External pressure

· Family and friends

1. External pressure

· Family and friends

· Financial

· Family and friends

· Financial

· enemies

· Society in general

() “And so, dear brothers and sisters,* I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.*

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

() “And so, dear brothers and sisters,* I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.*

2. Internal pressure

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2. Internal pressure

· Emotional

2. Internal pressure

· Mental

· Emotional

· Mental

· physical

· Mental

· physical

· spiritual

B. Pressure to extremes

· spiritual

B. Pressure to extremes

() “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,* about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

B. Pressure to extremes

1. Word picture: to be compressed, flattened.

() “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,* about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

· Like a trash compactor

1. Word picture: to be compressed, flattened.

· Like a trash compactor

2. It is pressure that makes you feel like you can’t handle any more.

· Like Peter in the Courtyard of the high priest.

2. It is pressure that makes you feel like you can’t handle any more.

· Like Peter in the Courtyard of the high priest.

II- PERPLEXITY(:8b) “We are perplexed”

· Like Peter in the Courtyard of the high priest.

II- PERPLEXITY

(:8B) “We are perplexed”

II- PERPLEXITY

(:8B) “We are perplexed”

(aporoumenoi = to be thoroughly perplexed; not knowing how to proceed, determine, speak, or act.)

(ἀπορούμενοι = to be thoroughly perplexed; not knowing how to proceed, determine, speak, or act.)

(aporoumenoi = to be thoroughly perplexed; not knowing how to proceed, determine, speak, or act.)

A. Perplexed over the everyday problems of life.

1. Financial decisions

A. Perplexed over the everyday problems of life.

1. Financial decisions

2. Future directions

1. Financial decisions

2. Future directions

3. Family problems

2. Future directions

3. Family problems

· Note Jesus’s words:

3. Family problems

· Note Jesus’s words:

() “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!

25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

() “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!

26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

B. Perplexed over eternity–related decisions must be made.

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

B. Perplexed over eternity–related decisions must be made.

1. To trust Christ as Savior.

2. To determine god’s direction for service to him.

1. To trust Christ as Savior.

2. To determine god’s direction for service to him.

· Like Paul and his companions

2. To determine god’s direction for service to him.

() “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

· Like Paul and his companions

() “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,* but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.”

() “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

3. To determine what God would have you can say in a given situation.

7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,* but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.”

· Like Paul in front of the crowd.

3. To determine what God would have you can say in a given situation.

· Like Paul in front of the crowd.

() - READ

III- PERSECUTION (:9a) “We are hunted down”

III- PERSECUTION

“We are hunted down”

(:9A) “We are hunted down”

III- PERSECUTION

(:9A) “We are hunted down”

(διωκόμενοι = to persecute with repeated acts of hostility)

(diwkomenoi = to persecute with repeated acts of hostility)

(:9A) “We are hunted down”

(diwkomenoi = to persecute with repeated acts of hostility)

A. Persecution at work or school.

1. People who seem to chase you down to insult or ridicule you for following Christ.

A. Persecution at work or school.

1. People who seem to chase you down to insult or ridicule you for following Christ.

· Like the Judaizers chased Paul. ()

B. Persecution by those who were supposed to be God’s people.

· Like the Judaizers chased Paul. ()

1. Like the believers at Philadelphia

B. Persecution by those who were supposed to be God’s people.

()”

()

1. Like the believers at Philadelphia

7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

()”

7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:*

This is the message from the one who is holy and true,

7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true,

the one who has the key of David.

What he opens, no one can close;

the one who has the key of David.

What he opens, no one can close;

and what he closes, no one can open:*

What he opens, no one can close;

and what he closes, no one can open:*

8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

and what he closes, no one can open:*

9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.

11 I am coming soon.* Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.

12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

11 I am coming soon.* Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

· It seems like sometimes they will overrun you.

C. Persecution by a ungodly family members

· It seems like sometimes they will overrun you.

C. Persecution by a ungodly family members

1. Seeking to turn you away from following Christ.

· Like Jesus is family tried to stop him.

1. Seeking to turn you away from following Christ.

· Like Jesus is family tried to stop him.

()

46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”*

· Personal experience

47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”*

· Personal experience

(note: )

· Personal experience

(note: )

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

(note: )

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father,

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

a daughter against her mother,

35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

a daughter against her mother,

36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’*

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’*

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

IV- PERSONAL INJURY (:9B). “We get knocked down”

IV- PERSONAL INJURY (). “We get knocked down”

39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

IV- PERSONAL INJURY (:9B). “We get knocked down”

(kataballomenoi= to cast down; the prostrate)

(καταβαλλόμενοι= to cast down; the prostrate)

(kataballomenoi= to cast down; the prostrate)

A. Injury of character

1. Some who oppose the gospel will try to enter the reputation of those who follow Christ.

A. Injury of character

1. Some who oppose the gospel will try to enter the reputation of those who follow Christ.

· The apostle Paul’s character was attacked.

· Jesus’s character was attacked

· The apostle Paul’s character was attacked.

· Jesus’s character was attacked

().

“The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

().

(NLT)

Matthew 10:24–26 NLT

24 “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. 25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names! 26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.

B. Injury of the emotions

“The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

B. Injury of the emotions

25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!

26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.

B. Injury of the emotions

1. Some will try to turn you back from following Jesus for hurting your feelings.

· Jesus warned such people of the consquences.

1. Some will try to turn you back from following Jesus for hurting your feelings.

· Jesus warned against such people

()

· Jesus warned against such people

()

“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

C. Physical injury

1. Some like it was far as physical attack.

C. Physical injury

1. Some like it was far as physical attack.

() “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned”.

· Christians have been put to death through the centuries by those who oppose the gospel.

() “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned”.

· Christians have been put to death through the centuries by those who oppose the gospel.

CONCLUSION

· Christians have been put to death through the centuries by those who oppose the gospel.

CONCLUSION