Our Trial. His Glory.
Notes
Transcript
Alright Church… buckle your seat belts because we are going to do the impossible tonight! This evening, we are going to cover 8 chapters of Scripture in one sermon setting! So get the coffee going and let’s get ready!
I promise this will not be like the story of pour old Eutychus in Acts 20. Paul knew they were getting ready to leave the area so he preached… and preached some more… and kept on preaching until midnight. And yes… people were getting tired!
Eutychus had taken a seat in a window opening… that was three stories above the ground! His eyes got heavy, his Paul kept talking on and on as Scripture records. Then, it happened. The poor guy fell asleep and fell out of the window to his death!
Paul rushed to his aid, prayed for him, and God breathed new life into his lifeless body! Then, Paul went back upstairs and preached until daylight!
This is why we do not have a balcony at HWC! No… not really. However… Paul knew he might not have the opportunity to share the good news with these folks again… so he took advantage of every minute he had with them. Paul desired for the gospel message to be known!
Paul was RESOLVED to follow the leading of the Spirit on His life NO MATTER WHAT. And as we will see in Acts 21, Paul travels on to Jerusalem after having been warned by many not to go there.
Now remember the message from last week. Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go this direction but he was also warned by the Spirit that “prison and hardship” was on the horizon. But the future trials awaiting him DID NOT CAUSE HIM TO HESITATE. For Paul had made up His mind that He would follow Jesus NO MATTER WHAT.
Tonight we are going to talk about trials. Tonight we are going to look at the trial Paul walked through after arriving in Jerusalem… a trial that spanned 8 chapters of Scripture but also several years in time! And here is what is interesting and important to consider: The Holy Spirit led Paul right into this season of trial.
Was God intentionally leading Paul into hardship? This might stun a few of us this evening but the answer is… yes. God would use the trial Paul was about to walk through for His glory.
If we desire to follow Christ, we must first deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily. This means we might and probably will suffer in our walk with Jesus on this earth. BUT JESUS IS CERTAINLY WORTHY OF SUCH DEVOTION!
If we desire to follow Jesus, we must be willing to lose our life to save it. How far are we truly willing to go for the cause of Christ?
Our main text this evening does not come from Acts, but comes from James as I believe it encompasses the point God wants us to receive this evening. It reads in James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
To be completely honest with you… I am still working on this one! Specifically the “consider it PURE joy” aspect. But I want to lay something out for us tonight a fundamental truth we need to acknowledge: WE ARE GOING TO FACE TRIALS IN THESE LAST DAYS.
Jesus said this would be the case. Paul said this would be the case. Trials might be identified as storms or seasons, or difficulties or trouble but they are spoken of often in the New Testament and yes church, they serve a divine purpose in our lives.
Here is what I want to propose to us this evening and what I believe Scripture reveals to us in Acts 21-28. IF we can grab a hold of the truth found in James 1: God will GROW you through the trials. God will GLORIFY His name through the trials. The question is, Will you continue to follow Jesus through the trials?
God will GROW in You
God will GROW in You
First off, what is a trial? How do we identify a trial when it comes our way?
Again, Jesus likened these season as storms that come and beat against the house. He also spoke of the trouble we would face in this world. He compared the events of the last days as the beginning of labor pains… pains that intensify up to the birthing point (the return of Christ).
Paul warned in the pastoral epistles of the trouble believers would face in the last days.
A trial is something that comes our way that is beyond our control… and often beyond our resources.
A trial is not easy to walk through. It is not easy to navigate. It is not something to ho hum about or anything that can be swept under the rug. A trial will challenge us at every level - emotional, mental and spiritual. It is something that will cause great discomfort.
Trials come in all shapes and sizes. These challenges comes in all levels of severity. We know them… we’ve walked through them… and chances are we will experience more trials in the future. But have you ever stopped to think about why in James these seasons are called… trials?
A trial, in the legal sense and as we know it in society is a formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.
So… a trial is a testing of the evidence in order to reveal the truth of the matter.
So consider this tonight… according to the text in James… what testing is taking place in the season of hardship? What truth is working to be revealed through the evidence that will be displayed?
A trial is a testing of our faith that produces perseverance. Look at the text again. When we experience a trial in this life, it will place our faith to the test: DO WE TRULY BELIEVE WHAT WE CLAIM TO BELIEVE? When the rubber meets the road, will our professed faith hold up… or will we fold under the pressure? Trials will test our faith.
Go back to the words of Jesus. At the end of His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, the storm He speaks of will test the foundation of all who hear His words. But only the foundation of those who hear AND apply His words to their life will stand. THE STORM TESTS THE FOUNDATION.
When He spoke to the disciples in John 16 regarding the trouble they will face in the last days, He concluded this teaching by saying in John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
PEACE is only found in those who REMAIN IN CHRIST. The world will bring trouble and those who remain in the world will feel and experience this trouble. But those whose faith remains in Christ will overcome this world THROUGH Christ!
Our faith is tested, our claim to follow Jesus is tested in the fire of the trial. And yes… this testing is uncomfortable. ANYTHING that causes us to grow will most certainly be uncomfortable.
Consider that for a moment. The world promotes “easy” solutions to things that truly result in no growth at all.
“Six easy steps to weight loss” or “5 simple keys to becoming more healthy” but what I have discovered is TRUE change and growth happens when we are willing to walk away from our current comfort zone.
People desire for growth to occur with the least amount of effort possible. But a person will only grow to the level that matches the effort they are willing to exert. I say it this way… you will get what you pay for when it comes to growth.
Trials are designed to cause our faith to grow… they are designed to move us forward in our spiritual maturity and in our ability to persevere.
Notice the ability is NOT to fix the problem or to have the solution to the trial. The ability is to persevere - TO HOLD ON TO GOD through the trial.
Although I do not remember this happening, while in the ER in Hastings and under the weight of some pretty powerful pain meds, Kristy said I kept repeating this verse… to count it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds.
My mind was under the influence of the medications being poured in me but my spirit remained connected with the One that could pull me through!
God wants to GROW you… God wants to lead you to a deeper level of spiritual maturity… and God will often use the storms of the season to test the level of your faith.
And hear me tonight: GOD DOES NOT WANT TO SEE YOU FAIL!
No teacher desire to see a student fail a test… but if the test is not administered, the student will not be encouraged to grow. This testing is not a way for God to look down on us in disappointment… but it will reveal to us the true nature of our faith! We your faith stand the test? Are you willing to grow in your walk with God through the trials?
God will be GLORIFIED Through You.
God will be GLORIFIED Through You.
Now, let’s move to Acts and unpack 8 chapters worth of material. Get ready, Eutychus, you might want to sit in a chair instead of a window opening on this one!
Paul is going to Jerusalem - a place where he knows that trials and hardship and waiting for him. Yet the Spirit has compelled him to go so he will go.
Shortly after His arrival, Paul is arrested and the long trial begins. There are many different events that take place but there is something particular I want to point out: although he is bound in chains, Paul REMAINS on mission for the cause of Christ.
Paul is given the opportunity to share with the people his testimony. Up to this point the crowd has been hostile toward him but he gains their attention as he begins to speak in their native language. Paul shares of his experience on the road to Damascus and he gives every detail. The people are not thrilled at what they hear and the trial continues. BUT GOD speaks to Paul and assures him that he is on the right track. Acts 23:11 records the Lord saying,
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
Paul is in chains… BUT GOD IS ON THE MOVE! We do not get to see the full results of Paul sharing his testimony in Jerusalem but God is using Paul’s story to bring glory to His name!
Before getting to Rome, Paul finds himself before king Agrippa, but this was not before Paul had spoken with other Roman officials and before a couple of years had gone by! This trial was taking a great deal of time… but God was being glorified through the testimony Paul was giving to the officials.
Throughout this entire season… spanning over several years, many towns, different prisons, even a shipwreck, Paul’s faith remains. He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t doubt. His Faith remains strong in the Word. God was being glorified through the faithfulness of His servant.
And I want you to see how this story ends… Go to Acts 28:30-31 and look at this with me.
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
Paul is now in Rome… living in a rented house… under Roman Guard… doing what? Doing exactly what the Lord had told him he would be doing. Testifying about the goodness of God in Rome!
It was a wild way of getting there but God used this trial to glorify His name in arenas that would have otherwise been closed to the gospel message. GOD OPENED DOORS THAT NO MAN COULD SHUT!
Why was Paul on trial? Because there were some who did not like his message. Yet this lengthy trial resulted in Paul being able to share his testimony with people throughout the region! God will use your trial for His glory… so long as your faith remains in God!
Church, I realize we walk through some very difficult things at times… but can I encourage you by saying this… Even in those moments when the pressure is on… it’s not about you… it’s about what God is doing in you and what He desires to do through you.
Perseverance is NOT your ability to fix the problem… it is the ability to hold on to the One who can carry us through. Will God be glorified in your response to the trial at hand?
Closing
Closing
Trials are not a matter of if… but when. We know, as Paul knew, that trials and hardship are ahead. This is NOT something that should discourage us and yes church, so long as we remain in Christ, we can remain at peace… EVEN IN THE FIERCEST OF TRIALS!
I want you to consider something tonight: that phrase “count it pure joy” has everything to do with what God is going to do in you AND through you in the midst of the trial.
It’s easy to get consumed by the outward circumstance. But let us not forget about the inward maturity and the upward glory that is given to God as we REMAIN faithful through the storm.
If you are listening tonight and you are experiencing a trial, I want to encourage you. God is moving… God is directing… God is with you… and God has a plan. HOLD ON. Stay faithful! This too shall pass! We serve the One who overcame this world!
This is and will continue to be a testing of your faith. And through this testing, God is going to strengthen your ability to persevere so long as remain in Him.
Trials ARE NOT EASY. Trials are meant to make us sweat a bit… Trials remind us of how limited we truly are… but they also remind us that NOTHING is impossible for God!
So the question is… how is your faith holding up in the midst of the trial? How is your level of perseverance? Do you find yourself holding on… or letting go?
The devil wants you to believe that you got this… the devil wants you to believe that you are able. God wants us to understand… HE’S GOT YOU! You do not have to have all the answers. You don’t have to know which way to go! All you need to do is TRUST IN JESUS!
Prayer - God, in this trial, help me to trust. God, in this trial, help me to remain strong in my faith. When the world tries to knock me down, I look to you to hold me up. God, I know you got this… God, may I grow in this season, and bring glory to Your name!