STRESS TESTING
INTRODUCTION:
THIS STUDY ADDRESSES THE MERITS OF ENDURING ADVERSITY. DO NOT CONFUSE TRIALS-ADVERSITY WITH “FAITH BUILDING” FOR FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD (ROMANS 10:17). JEWISH BELIEVERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH EXPERIENCED ANTAGONISM AND PERSECUTION FROM UNBELIEVING, FELLOW JEWS. IT APPLIED TO GENTILES (NON-JEWS) ALSO. MOST SCHOLARS BELIEVE JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS, AUTHORED THE LETTER AROUND 50 A.D.
INSIGHT:
READ JAMES 1: 1-4
THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED “TRIALS” MEANS PROVING, SPECIFICALLY, THE TRIAL OF A MAN’S FIDELITY, TRIALS ALSO INCLUDES INTEGRITY, VIRTUE AND CONSTANCY. IT ALSO APPLIES TO SIN ENTICEMENT.
JAMES 1: 2 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) “CONSIDER IT WHOLLY JOYFUL, MY BRETHREN, WHENEVER YOU ARE ENVELOPED IN OR ENCOUNTER TRIALS OF ANY SORT, OR FALL INTO VARIOUS TEMPTATION. BE ASSURED AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRIAL AND PROVING OF YOUR FAITH BRING OUT ENDURANCE, STEADFASTNESS AND PATIENCE.”
ROMANS 5: 3 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) “MOREOVER--LET US ALSO BE FULL OF JOY NOW! LET US EXULT AND TRIUMPH IN OUR TROUBLES AND REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERING, KNOWING THAT PRESSURE AND AFFLICTIONS AND HARDSHIP PRODUCE PATIENT AND UNSWERVING ENDURANCE.”
HEBREWS 12: 6 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) “FOR THE LORD CORRECTS AND DISCIPLINES EVERYONE WHOM HE LOVES, AND PUNISHES, EVEN SCOURGES, EVERY ONE WHOM HE ACCEPTS AND WELCOMES TO HIS HEART AND CHERISHES.”
TESTING WILL COME! PATIENCE IS THE END PRODUCT. YOUR WILL EMERGE LOYAL AND USEFUL TO CHRIST, KINGDOM OF GOD, THE CHURCH, TO THE UNSAVED AND YOURSELF.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: PSALMS 94:12 AND REVELATION 3:19
APPLICATION: PASS THE TEST!
