Why do we go through trials?

James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

These two verses help explain why we an count it all joy when we fall into various trials and difficulties. The first thing in these verses, is what we are to know, and the second thing, is what we are to do. So, knowing and doing are both mentioned here. And, they both help us understand why we “can count it all joy” when we fall into a trial.

So, first of all, “Knowing”.......that is, the Lord wants us to know what He intends through the trial that we may be going through. A trial is a test or proving of our faith, and through the testing process, the trial will produce endurance, or patience in our lives, the ability to persevere under and in difficult situations. ( By the way, the proving of our faith, is not for God to know if we have faith as it were, but rather the proving/testing of our faith is for us to know and be aware of )

Sometimes a trial will be with a person, or persons, and sometimes it can be with a circumstance(s), and sometimes, it can be with both people(s) and circumstances.

Regardless of which it is, the same goal is in mind from the Lord. He wants to make you more patient and able to endure. So, a trial is designed to give us more patience. Trials make us able to endure.

Secondly, “Doing”.....or as it’s stated in verse 4, “but let patience etc, etc...” The letting, is what we are called to do. And, that is to let the Lord to do in us what He wants to do. We are called to cooperate with God’s will and His purposes in our lives. In other words, we are not to try and run from the trial, or pretend it’s not there, or become bitter and angry, or discouraged. And, we can’t hurry the process, but, we can “Let” and if we do, we will come out more mature, and more complete as people if we go through the trial God’s way, and in God’s time.

When a christian allows the Lord to work in their hearts through a trial, they will ultimately become a more well rounded person. That’s what trials do in us.

Let’s pray. Father, again, Your Word hits us right in the heart, and rings true to us, and helps us so much. Thank You for Your Word. And, may You find us “letting You do in us whatever You want to do”......That’s our prayer Lord. Develop our lives, that they may be a witness for Jesus Christ.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. No trial is ever more then we can handle

2. God knows what He is trying to do in us.

3. God has wisdom that we don’t have about what He is doing in our lives.

4. We don’t need to try and get out of the trial.

5. God loves you, and will bless you in the end.

6. Strength to endure, actually comes from God.

7. Be encouraged, God is faithful.

How to view trials and temptations

“It really is a joy”...........

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

The first thing that James says to Christians about trials, is “count it all joy”.......the Phillips translation of the Bible says it this way, “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!” Or to consider it an opportunity for joy.

The phrase “count it all joy” means to consider, to think it through to it’s logical conclusion, just the way you would if you were working out a math problem. There is a right sequence to go through in the problem, and it comes to right ending. That’s the meaning here. We are to look at trial, and then consider what it’s going to bring into our lives. It’s a matter of Joy.

So as Christians, this is how we are to, and how we can, and how we ought to regard the trials ( and even the temptations ) that come into our lives. This is contrary to how we feel, and it’s not my first reaction, but, it’s how our Father directs us. We are to welcome them as friends.

A true friend will not hurt you, and trials ( while they can be very painful to say the least ) are not going to hurt us when it’s all said and done, but rather help us and encourage us in our walk with the Lord. Trials in that sense can become our friends.

As we go through James 1, it will become apparent to us why we can welcome them as friends.....but suffice to say, they will bring benefit into our lives.

Please take a moment to consider what is said by way of explanation in James 1:3. “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Trials will produce something very helpful in our lives. Patience. That’s what the Lord gives us as we walk through a trial with Him. Let’s pray.

Lord, Your Word is like nothing else in the world. You speak right to our hearts and minds, and You tell us the truth, and here You tell us about trials, and what they will bring into our lives, and how we ought to look at them, and understand them. Thank You for that Lord. And, help us to take Your Word to heart, and to put it into application. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. We can be completely sure of God’s Word.

2. What He says to us is precisely correct and true.

3. The subject of trials and temptations is important.

4. This is God’s counsel to us about trials.

5. Looking back on your trials don’t you see how they do help us?

6. God will get you through any trial.

7. Blessings of Grace, Power and Peace to you.

God restores ......

Mark 16:7“But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

The angel in the empty tomb, gave the women their marching orders and message. They were to go and tell His disciples that He was risen from the dead. But, you can see that there was special mention made of Peter. It's as if he said, now make sure you "tell Peter also, don't leave him out, let him know about Jesus etc"

The other part of the message to the disciples and Peter was that Jesus would meet with them up in the Galilee, just as He had said.

The compassion of the Lord towards those who have failed is evident here. Jesus wound up restoring Peter, and then using him as the first preacher in the Book of Acts, where 3000 came to salvation through his preaching.

Peter had denied Christ, during Jesus's darkest hours. Not once, but three times. He had a lapse of faith. It's not hard to imagine how Peter must have felt. Defeated, discouraged, hopeless, condemned and so on. I doubt he had any idea of what the Lord was going to do for him.

But, restoration to fellowship and to ministry is what the Lord does. He will take any person and restore them, and use them once again in service to God.

The reason for this restoration, is the compassion and the mercy of God. He is compassionate, He is full of mercy, and He forgives, and cleanses and blesses because of grace.

So, if you have failed the Lord in some way, don't be discouraged, and don't think there is no hope for you, because there is.

Father, for the discouraged person(s) who may be reading this today. May grace, mercy and peace come into their lives in abundance. Restore and renew them Lord. And give them hope and encouragement this day, and use them once again in ministry. In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/promises.

1. His mercies never run out.

2. His mercies are new every morning.

3. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and see His grace today.

4. Let God wash and renew you this very day.

5. Oh how He loves you.

6. Leave your doubts, and by faith look to God.

Funny how we blame the Lord......but, it's true.

Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.

Here we see something about man, and what man can do to himself.

In fact, the truth contained in this verse is explained to us in great detail in the New Testament book of James.

The foolishness of man twists his way. In other words, it’s what’s in a man’s self that actually twists or troubles his own life. But, what he winds up doing is blaming the Lord for the troubles that he has brought on himself.

James 1, explains it clearly to us.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:15* Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

The Lord tells us here not to blame God as the source of our being tempted to sin. God Himself cannot be tempted, and He does not tempt anyone to sin.

The cause of temptation comes from within man himself. It’s when he is drawn away by his own lusts, or desires. And then, when he gives into those desires, that’s when he sins. And sin when it’s full grown or gone through it’s process if you will, brings death.

So, sin is the problem within man, and that’s why God sent Jesus Christ into the world. It was not to condemn man, but rather to save man. Sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and it’s been passed along to all men who have ever been born. Thus, we are born sinners.

But, we can be born again, ( this does not mean we will never sin, or never have problems with sin ) but, it does mean we have a new life in Christ, we are forgiven, set apart to God, purchased by Him, and made joint heirs with Christ.

And, it means that we can live a different kind of life then we lived before we were saved. We have God’s Holy Spirit in our lives, to be our strength, and to teach us the truth, to guide along the right way, the way of God, and find God’s help and victory day by day in our lives.

So, rather the blame God, we can thank Him for what He has done for us.

Thank You Father. You are the giver of good gifts, and You have given us salvation through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. We are indebted to You, and could never ever pay You back for what You have done for us. Nor do You ask us to pay You back. But, You do call us to, call upon You and take the cup of salvation, that is to walk with You. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises.

1. God’s Word makes things clear to us.

2. God’s Word explains to us what things we need to know.

3. God helps us to get unconfused as it were.

4. God’s Holy Spirit is the one who really teaches us.

5. God also helps us by forgiving us, and giving us hope.

God is our justifier, and He came not to condemn, but to save

Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

A person can justify the wrong person. And a person can condemn the wrong person. In both cases, these people are an abomination to the Lord.

First of all, God does not condemn even wicked people, and thus there is no need to justify them. Only God can actually do that. But, what’s being said here, is called corruption. When a person who knowingly seeks to justify a wicked person and their behavior, it’s abominable to God. That is, it’s a disgusting thing to God. He abhors this kind of thing. He detests it.

And, when a person condemns another person who is just, that is also loathed by the Lord.

It seems like we feel just like the Lord does. For when we see a wicked person get off the hook in a courtroom, it’s terrible to us. We don’t like it. And, when we see someone be falsely accused and betrayed, we don’t like it either. God has put His laws and ways into our very hearts and inner beings.

Finally, here’s another perspective. God will take someone who is wicked, and bring them face to face with His love and His forgiveness, and if they will receive Jesus Christ, then they will be justified and saved. And, that’s a blessing to God and to any other person.

And, God knows the truth about any and all men, and ultimately vindicates those who have been dealt with in a treacherous way.

Lord, You are great, and we are not. You are holy, and want us to be more like You. Please comfort the afflicted. We praise You in Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God is the loving justifier.

2. God is not the condemner.

3. God loves those who others condemn.

4. Let’s try to be more like God towards others.

5. There is a golden rule.

6. Let’s treat others the way we want to be treated.

What a man can dig up and sow......or build

Proverbs takes a bit of a turn around the 15th to 16th chapters.....that is, God’s wisdom and truth are not so much presented by way of contrast, but rather just more directly speaking the truth about life period.

Thus, as in these verses, you just have God’s truth given to us plainly and in a very straightforward manner. Here it is, and it’s dealing with one of the big big issues of life. Gossiping and spreading slander about others.

Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

The ungodly man is pictured as digging up evil, and then spreading it around. Interestingly, the Bible tells us that Satanic wisdom, is from below, and thus it’s dug up as it were, from the depths of hell. Once it’s dug and found, then it’s spread around, much like a man would throw a shovel full of dirt from the shovel.

Going on, the perverse or crooked man, also sows strife, or plants contention, and it can wind up separating the best of friends.

Love always builds up and unites, rather then separating. You can always judge a tree by it’s fruit, and the same applies to what’s coming out of a man’s life.

God has not called us to be diggers and spreaders of evil. But, lovers of God, and lovers of other people’s souls. Because that’s what He is, and that’s what He has done towards us. He loved us, and proved it at the cross.

Thank You Lord. Keep us from evil, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. We can look up to God, rather then dig up evil from below.

2. The tongue can cause alot of destruction.

3. The Holy Spirit can instruct our hearts to help our tongues.

4. We are going to sow something, let it be good and Godly.

5. Let’s be those who unite, not those who divide.

6. God’s wisdom is pure and peaceable.

7. God’s wisdom is full of mercy, just like God