How To Stay Faithful In Times Of Trials

Topic: How To Stay Faithful In Times Of Trials

By Ptr Arsenio “Jack” Segismundo

Text: James 1:2-4

“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Introduction:

As Christian, you can expect life to be full of trials. That is a normal Christian experience. When these trials come our way, we should not allow them to get on top of us or think of them as a reason to doubt God, but should ponder on them as joy because God uses them to develop perseverance in us.

In human testing, knowing everything will provide you the proper resolution. If you do not know the problem you cannot provide the proper solution to the problem.

In God’s testing, you do not need to know everything. You have to trust God who knows everything.

I. The purpose of testing

a. A test is a Trials used by God to purify and prepare the heart of a man.

I Peter 1:6-7

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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”

b. God’s goal on earth is not to make you happy, but to grow you up in spiritual maturity

I Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”

c. When your faith is tested your endurance will begin to grow. So let it grow.

d. When your endurance has grown you will be perfectly complete needing nothing.

II. This life is the growing stage, the developing stage.

a. Understand that when everything does not go perfectly according to your ways that is because God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

Psalms 34:18-19

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

b. One of the ways that God use to grow you is thru testing; just like growing your muscles by lifting weights and the more you can lift the stronger you become. God builds your character the same way.

III. Trials will test everything in your life.

a. Test could be financial, relationship, job whatever it might be, always remember this that God is for you and it would be for our good.

b. Problems are not simply random.

c. Problems are not simply by chance.

d. There were there to make you what God would wanted you to be.

IV. Testing goes stronger and stronger.

a. When God put you to the test and you pass it and He blesses you, He is not coming back with a less struggle. The only way He’ll going to get your faith grow is to keep pushing.

b. We don’t like them sometimes because they are costly. Sometimes they demanded something we don’t want to yield.

V. Do not interpret testing as the absence of God

a. Hebrew word for test means to take a look at to choose. So if you are being tested you are being looked at, because He is choosing you to prepare you to something in the future

b. During the time of testing the teacher is silent. You don’t see anything, you don’t hear anything , you don’t see anything improving.

c. Always remember that during the darkest moment of your life God holds you in the palm of His hand.

Romans 8:28 tells us:

“And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

VI. You would like to avoid challenges. You are not excited about test

a. But if you know the master you’ll going discover that there is purpose in troubles that comes in your ways.

b. Happiness comes from holiness

In heaven you’ll going to happy in trillions and trillions of years.

c. Every problems has a purpose that is to help you grow

But if you would like to grow you must trust Him.

d. Trust Him and walk obediently before Him Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light”