Why do Christians have trials?

Why do Christians have trials?                                June 24, 2017 

Since the first of the year, we all have had trials, facing cancer, surgery and chemo treatments, deaths in the family, family problems, other personal sickness, work, travel, etc.  I have thought about the reasons God allows, us, His people or His Saints, to go through trials in our lives. The Bible is filled with people of God facing trials, so it is very clear that just because we serve God, we are not exempt from trials, storms and many tests along the way. That is what the faith chapter is all about, Hebrew 11. 

Let’s look why we have trials and tests we encounter.  12 points. 

First, Remember, We are being led by the Holy Spirit 

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning’s which cannot be uttered. 

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;  (13)  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 

1. To glorify God 

Isaiah 48:10-11 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.  (11)  For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. 

1 Peter 4:15-17 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.  (16)  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.   

Daniel 3:17-18 Your majesty, if it be his will, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the blazing fire furnace, and he will deliver us from you.  (18)  But if not, rest assured, your majesty, that we won't serve your gods, and we won't worship the golden statue that you have set up." 

Daniel 3:24-25 Astonished, King Nebuchadnezzar stood up in terror, and asked his advisers, "Didn't we throw three men into the fire, bound firmly with ropes?" In reply they told the king, "Yes, your majesty."  (25)  "Look!" he told them, "I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being." 

2. We are disciplines by God for known sin  

Hebrews 12:5-11 NKJV  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM;  (6)  FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."   

(7)  If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  (8)  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 

(10)  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 

(11)  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

James 4:17  Therefore, anyone who knows what is right but fails to do it is guilty of sin. 

Romans 14:23 But the person who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act in faith; and anything that is not done in faith is sin. 

Psalms 32:3-4 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away by my groaning all day long.  (4)  For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my strength was exhausted as in a summer drought. Interlude. 

Revelation 3:19 I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent! 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

3. To prevent us from falling into sin  

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  (2)  that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 

4. To keep us from Pride, Conceited.   

Romans 2:8 but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead. 

        Paul kept from pride by his “thorn in the flesh”         

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited. 

(8)  I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me,  (9)  but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on me.  (10)  That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. 

        Paul eyes? 

Galatians 4:15 What, then, happened to your positive attitude? For I testify that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 

Galatians 6:11 Look at how large these letters are because I am writing with my own hand! 

5. Trials to build faith 

1 Peter 1:6-7 You greatly rejoice in this, even though you have to suffer various kinds of trial for a little while,  (7)  so that your genuine faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed. 

Will cause growth and Godly character by our trials,  

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah.  (2)  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we have been established, and we boast because of our hope in God's glory.  (3)  Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  (4)  endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 

(5)  Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 

2 Corinthians 10:15 We are not boasting about work done by others that cannot be evaluated. On the contrary, we cherish the hope that your faith may continue to grow and enlarge our sphere of action among you until it overflows. 

6. We learn Obedience from sufferings 

Hebrews 5:8  Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings 

Romans 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 

Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord told him, "Go, since he (Paul) is my chosen instrument to carry my name to the gentiles, to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel.  (16)  For I am going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." 

Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in.  (12)  I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little. 

7. We can comfort others 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  (4)  who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

8. To prove the reality of Christ in us 

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 But we have this treasure in clay jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.  (8)  In every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair,  (9)  persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.   

(10)  We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies.  (11)  While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies. 

9. Teach angels by our actions what is God’s will 

1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle (speck–tee-kol) to the world, both to angels and to men. 

1  Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. 

Ephesians 3:8-11 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah  (9)  and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things. 

(10)  He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm  (11)  in keeping with the eternal purpose that God carried out through the Messiah Jesus our Lord, 

10. We become a witness to unbelievers 

1 Peter 3:14-17 NKJV  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED."  (15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  (16)  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  (17)  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

11. Does our walk match our talk. 

Proverbs 22:1 A good reputation is more desirable than great wealth, and favorable acceptance more than silver and gold. 

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 

12.  Heavenly Rewards 

Matthew 5:11-12 "How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me!  (12)  Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! That's how they persecuted the prophets who came before you." 

We as God adopted children, like it or not, we represent The King wherever we go; at work, at home, at church, and in the community.  We are reflecting Him to other individuals every day as Jesus Ambassador. 

If we see our trials as an opportunity and not as an obstacle.  Whether it is physical, illness, financial, spiritual, a relationship, persecutions, distresses, temptations, tribulations, fiery trials, work, reproaches or some other crisis, we need to learn to trust and have faith in God.  

We have such short memories.  After a trial, we forget it and move on to our normal habit of our lives.  The real secret of survival in any trial is recalling the many times in faith that God has always brought us through before and because of God’s promise, He will do it again.

Do we love God?  Here is one of Jesus’s promise. 

Romans 8:28  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. 

We still have to suffer the natural consequences in this life for our sins and bad choices. But God uses even those sufferings to mold and shape us for His purposes and our ultimate good. 

God has given us His Word to guide us. 

1 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. 

Finally, what does James tells us 

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