Trials, Temptations, and Sufferings

Trials, temptations, and sufferings

It is clear from Scripture that “rejoicing in suffering” is not simply stoicism. It is not simply a grin-and-bear-it attitude of tough-it-out-and-see-how-much-you-can-take, or just-hang-in-there-until-it’s-over-and-don’t-let-anything-get-you-down, or keep-a-stiff-upper-lip. Many people feel that if they do this, they are obeying God and “rejoicing in suffering.” But they are not.[1]

George Muller, a great man of faith, once said, “God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say—and say it deliberately—trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.”[2]

James 1:2-4 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces 1patience, ( endurance or perseverance). 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be 2perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing.

The difficulties Christians encounter in the world are described as trials, temptations, and sufferings in James (1:2–4, 12–15; 5:7–11).

In 1:2–4 James called his readers to be joyful in the midst of trials (peirasmoi).

The reason Christians can be joyful despite difficulties is that God uses such adversities in a positive way in their spiritual development:

“because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (v. 3).

Perseverance or endurance (hypomonē) in turn leads to full-orbed Christian character:

2 “that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (v. 4).

This positive result helps to shed light on the sense of the word translated “trial” or “temptation” (peirasmos)

The Greek noun peirasmos and the cognate verb peirazō are used in two related senses in the New Testament, one positive and one negative.

The positive sense denotes “testing, trial, putting to the test” with the intent of confirming and strengthening the virtue of someone.

This is the sense in which God tested Abraham in asking him to offer up Isaac his son (Gen. 22:1–12; Heb. 11:17).

The negative meaning is “temptation, enticement to sin.”

In this sense Jesus was tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–12), and the devil is specifically called “the tempter” in his efforts to lead astray both Jesus (Matt. 4:3) and Christians (1 Thess. 3:5; cf. 1 Cor. 7:5).2

The positive sense of peirasmos appears in James 1:2–4.

God allows adversity in the lives of His people as a means of confirming and strengthening their character.
This idea is reinforced by the word translated “testing” (dokimion) in verse 3 (“the testing of your faith develops perseverance”).
The Greek noun and adjective dokimion and dokimos refer to the process of testing something to show its genuineness and thus to pronounce it approved.
It is used invariably with the positive connotation of “approval, approved.”3[3]

The following quotation is from a Christian man who has been an invalid all his life, one of those lonely and obscure people who live in constant pain, who do not know what it means to be able to use their physical body in any way without pain and suffering:

“Loneliness is not a thing of itself, not an evil sent to rob us of the joys of life. Loneliness, loss, pain, sorrow, these are disciplines, God’s gifts to drive us to his very heart, to increase our capacity for him, to sharpen our sensitivities and understanding, to temper our spiritual lives so that they may become channels of his mercy to others and so bear fruit for his kingdom. But these disciplines must be seized upon and used, not thwarted. They must not be seen as excuses for living in the shadow of half-lives, but as messengers, however painful, to bring our souls into vital contact with the living God, that our lives may be filled to overflowing with himself in ways that may, perhaps, be impossible to those who know less of life’s darkness.”

[4]

“Loneliness is not a thing of itself, not an evil sent to rob us of the joys of life.

ROM. 8:28 –FOR OUR GOOD

Loneliness, loss, pain, sorrow, these are disciplines,

TO PURIFY US – TRIED AS GOLD IN THE FIRE

So as to not be ashamed to stand before Him in the day of judgment

God’s gifts to drive us to his very heart,

Deu. 8:3 to know that we can’t live w/o God & His word

To increase our capacity for him,

To increase our desire for Him & His will in our lives

To increase our hunger & thirst for righteousness

To sharpen our sensitivities and understanding,

To know God and the power of His resurrection

To grow in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding

To know and recognize His voice as opposed to the voice of another

To temper our spiritual lives

To grow in love, mercy, compassion, and patience with & for others

For self discipline, self control

To learn to allow the Holy Spirit to lead rather than the flesh

So that they may become channels of his mercy to others

To have the desire to minister to others

To have the love to minister to others

To have the desire to help others

And so bear fruit for his kingdom.

To walk in the Light

To be a Light

To be a witness both for and of the love of God

To be a good and faithful servant of Christ

To bring others to the saving knowledge of Christ

To help others in their walk with Christ

But these disciplines must be seized upon and used, not thwarted.

We must recognize these trials for what are, so we don’t miss our chance to grow, learn and gain strength from them and thru them

They must not be seen as excuses for living in the shadow of half-lives,

Give thanks in all things;

Hard times are NOT an excuse to be slack in our Christian duties

But as messengers, however painful, to bring our souls into vital contact with the living God,

The most valuable aspect of trials is the fellowship with the Creator of the universe

That our lives may be filled to overflowing with himself in ways that may, perhaps, be impossible to those who know less of life’s darkness.”

Sometimes the benefits we gain from the trials we go thru couldn’t be had thru any other means.

Had we not gone thru the trial we may not have had the experience of God that we enjoyed, learnt the things we learnt,

About God,

His word,

His Holy Spirit,

Communication and fellowship with Him,

Trust and dependence totally on Him

To know His provision

His mercy and grace

To know the peace that passes all understanding

Things spiritually discerned

The comfort of the Holy Spirit

The directing of the Holy Spirit

The teaching of the Holy Spirit

The conviction of the Holy Spirit

The confirmation of the Holy Spirit

The strength of the Holy Spirit

The defense of the Holy Spirit

The workings of God Almighty

We might not understand the things we now understand,

Not have the ability to assist and comfort others as we now can

Which is the second part of our purpose here on earth;

The first being to love God, the second being to love others

Lessons from sorrow

I walked a mile with Pleasure;

She chatted all the way,

But left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow

And ne’er a word said she;

But, oh, the things I learned from her

When Sorrow walked with me!

Until I learned to trust,

I never learned to pray;

And I did not learn to fully trust

Till sorrows came my way.

Until I felt my weakness,

His strength I never knew

Nor dreamed ’til I was stricken

That he could see me through.

Who deepest drinks of sorrow,

Drinks deepest, too, of grace;

He sends the storm so he himself

Can be our hiding place.

His heart, that seeks our highest—GOOD—

Knows well when things annoy;

We would not long for heaven

If earth held only joy. William G. Coltman

[5]

Suffering can do several things in the life of a believer. First, it can “burn out the dross,” or purify us and lead us to greater holiness of life. But it can also “burn in the promises,” or lead us to a closer dependence on God and his faithful promises to us. Burn it will—but look also at what the burning is for.[6]

The purpose of suffering is seen, not in its cause, but in its results. The man [in John 9:3] was born blind so that the works of God could be displayed in him

But If Not

God is able to deliver

From my weariness and pain,

And he will deliver swiftly

If it be for lasting gain;

But if not—my heart shall sing,

Trusting wholly in my King.

God is able to supply me

With abundance from his store,

And he will supply my table

Though the wolf be at the door;

But if not—my heart shall rest

In the thought “He knoweth best.”

God is able to defend me

From my foes who throng around,

And he will defend me surely

When their rage and hate abound;

But if not—I’ll bless his name,

And confess him just the same.

God is able to save dear ones

From the world and self and sin,

And he will both save and keep them

In his fold safe gathered in;

But if not—he’ll hold my hand,

Teaching me to understand.[7]

There is a story about how birds got their wings. The story goes that birds were first made without wings. Then God made wings, put them in front of the wingless birds, and said to them, “Come, take up these burdens and bear them.” The birds hesitated at first, but soon obeyed and picked up the wings in their beaks. Because the wings were heavy, the birds laid them on their shoulders. Then, to their amazement, the wings began to grow and soon had attached themselves to their bodies. The birds quickly discovered how to use these new appendages and were soon soaring through the air. What had once been a heavy burden now became an instrument that enabled the birds to soar and go where they could never go before.

The story is a parable. We are the wingless birds. The duties and tasks that seem like a burden and a trial often become the very means that God uses to lift us up and build godliness in us. God’s plan is for our tasks to be our helpers and motivators. To refuse to bend our shoulders to receive a load is to decline a new opportunity for growth.

[8]

Have you ever stopped to examine weeds? They serve as a reminder of judgment, a result of the curse on the ground after the fall of Adam. But if you look closely, you can see signs of mercy in that judgment. Some weeds have gorgeous flowers: tiny blue bells, ruffled purple blooms, and even magnificent displays of gold. In the same way—even in trials or discipline—if we look closely, we can see beautiful signs of God’s mercy.[9]

A customer once asked a shopkeeper, “What makes this set of china so much more expensive than that one over there? They look almost the same.” The reply was simple, “The costlier set has had more done to it. You see, it had to be put through the kiln twice because the flowers are on a yellow background. On the less expensive set, they are on a white background. The costly china had to be put through the fire once for the yellow background, and then a second time for the design on it.”

So it is in the life of a believer who desires God’s best. There will be many times we must go through the kiln with all of its fire and heat until we fully display God’s intended design in our life.

[10]

Someone has said, “A brook would lose its song if God removed the rocks.”[11]

No one enjoys a visit to the dentist, although all enjoy the long-range benefits of the visit. In a similar way, no one enjoys the difficulties of a trial, but all who endure them enjoy the side effects of perseverance, proven character, and hope.

[12]

The richest chords require some black keys.

Long ago, in the days of sailing ships, a terrible storm arose and a ship was lost in a deserted area. Only one crewman survived, washed up on a small uninhabited island. In his desperation, the castaway daily prayed to God for help and deliverance from his lonely existence. Each day he looked for a passing ship and saw nothing. Eventually he managed to build a crude hut, in which he stored the few things he had recovered from the wreck and those things he had made to help him.

One day, as the sailor was returning from his daily search for food, he saw a column of smoke. As he ran to it he saw his hut in flames. All was lost. Now not only was he alone, but he had nothing to help him in his struggle for survival. Stunned and nearly overcome with grief and despair, he fell into a deep depression and spent a nearly sleepless night wondering what was to become of him and questioning whether life itself was even worth the effort.

The next morning, he rose early and went down to the sea. There, to his amazement, he saw a ship lying offshore and a small boat rowing toward him. When the once-marooned man met the ship’s captain, he asked him how he had known to send help. The captain replied, “Why, we saw your smoke signal yesterday, but by the time we drew close the tide was against us. So we had to wait until now to come and get you.”

Do not despair when calamity strikes, for God is always able to bring a blessing out of what seems to be a curse.

[13]

A vine clings to an oak tree and in so doing finds the protection in times of trial that preserves it. If a violent storm should arise and the vine is on the side of the tree away from the wind, the tree serves to protect the vine from the wind, which would otherwise tear it away and rip it into shreds. If the vine is on the exposed side of the tree, the wind serves only to press the vine closer to the tree it already clings to.

In the storms of our life, God will at times set himself between us and the fury of the storm and so protect us from it. At other times, he will expose us to the storm so that its ravages may serve to press us closer to him.

[14]

Some flowers, such as the rose, must be crushed if their full fragrance is to be released. Some fruits, such as the sycamore, must be bruised if they are to attain ripeness and sweetness. Some metals, such as gold, must be heated in the furnace if they are to become pure.

The attaining of godliness—the process of becoming a mature Christian—requires similar special handling. It is often through pain, suffering, trouble, adversity, trials, and even temptation that we develop spiritual discipline and become refined and enriched.

[15]

When the time comes, an eagle stirs up the nest and turns her young ones out into mid-air, compelling them to use their wings. In a similar manner, God allows many a human heart to be disturbed by troubles to bring about an urgent sense of need for the Savior.[16]

The trials of our faith are like God’s ironing. When the heat of trials are applied to our lives the wrinkles of spiritual immaturity begin to be smoothed out.[17]

Paul’s statement in Romans 8:28 that “all things work together for good” sounds like the ingredients for a cake after they have been mixed together. Some of the ingredients used to make a cake taste good by themselves. Other ingredients, such as alum, baking powder, or flour are not very palatable. Nevertheless, they are essential and must be mixed with the good-tasting ingredients to produce a delicious final product.

God can be trusted to take even the bitter experiences of life and blend them together and make them work together for good. God knows which ingredients are needed, and he knows how to mix them to produce the desired result.

[18]

ROM. 8:28 In his Bible, an elderly minister carried a bookmark that was made of silk threads woven into a motto. The back of the bookmark was a tangled web of crossed threads that seemed to be without reason or purpose. When the minister visited a home or hospital room where there was great trouble, sorrow, or death, he would frequently show the bookmark, first presenting the reverse side with all its unintelligible tangle. When the distressed one had examined it intently without finding any meaning to the seeming disorder, the minister would ask him to turn the fabric over. Immediately, against a white silk background, there appeared a phrase in colored threads: “God Is Love.” That side made sense; it had order and meaning.

So it is in life. We often experience events that seem to be without explanation or meaning, like a maze of tangled threads. But when we are face to face with Christ and can view our life from eternity, we will see that every detail—good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant—was woven together to show us that indeed “God Is Love.”

[19]

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[1]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[2]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

1 endurance or perseverance

2 mature

2 Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 2d ed., rev. F. Wilbur Gingrich and Frederick W. Danker (Chicago: Univ. of Chicago, 1979), 640–41; and W. Schneider and C. Brown, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975), s.v. “peirasmos, ” 3:798–804. Douglas Moo presents this distinction as “the inner enticement to sin” versus “external afflictions” (James, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, rev. ed. [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987], 59).

3 Bauer, Arndt, and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 203.

[3]Zuck, Roy B.: A Biblical Theology of the New Testament. electronic ed. Chicago : Moody Press, 1994; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996, S. 418

[4]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[5]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[6]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[7]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[8]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[9]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[10]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[11]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[12]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[13]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[14]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[15]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[16]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[17]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[18]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989

[19]Green, Michael P.: Illustrations for Bilical Preaching : Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor's illustration file. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1989