Trials and Tribulations

Why is it now, that I'm a Child of God, is my life to become more difficult?

This is a question that has been asked, in various ways, over the years. It is something that filled my spirit when we met last time talking about the Sermon on the Mount. It is what I'm being led to talk about more in-depth. I was going to talk about Ephesians 4, but someone needs more understanding of this Truth. So, since this is never about me, lets talk about this more.

In the last lesson, the in-depth study of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said this...

Matthew 5:

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

I can hear someone now saying, "Wait a second. I don't get it. I understand the whole concept of Salvation. I get that. I get that Jesus died for my sins. That I allowed His blood to be mine, Him suffering all Sin that was, is, and ever will be for my Sin, and His death so that I may live. I understand that the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, is now in me. I read Jesus said...

Matthew 17:

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

And again in....

Luke 17:

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

You talk about the power we possess now we are Children of God. So please, explain this to me. Why is it now, that I'm a Child of God, is my life to become more difficult?"

OK. Trials and Tribulations. The answer is really simple. However, like so many things in the Word, and in reality, it is that very simplicity that confuses mankind. Lets look at the brief history of mankind.

God creates Heaven and Earth, all that is in them, gives authority to Adam. All and total authority over everything to Adam. Adam, in turn, falls. He gives domination over to Satan. Now Satan has become the lord of the Earth.

God was so angered by this, He was prepared to wipe out all of His creation, and start over. But then He found one. Yes. One {Noah} to be totally faithful. So He did not wipe out all of His Creation a second time. Every time you look up in the sky and see a rainbow, you are looking at an actual, tangible, sign of the Covenant between God and Noah.

However, God found man's heart was continually evil and the inventions of, as well. So He sent Prophets, Teachers, Showers of The Way. All were rejected and in many cases, even put to death. So He decided that there was only one way. Lay down His Godhood, and become flesh. He did so. His name is Jesus. Now all mankind has to do is accept Jesus's sacrifice for them. His blood for their's, His overcoming all Sin for their Sin. His death that we may live.

But in all this, one thing remains. This world is dominated over by the devil himself. The world hates God. Therefore, the world may very well hate you for His sake. It really is not more complicated than that. When you are of the world, and you are doing the things of the world, the world loves you. But now you are no longer OF the world. But you are still in it. So the world HATES anything that has anything to do with God.

Look at Job....

Job 1:

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

You know the story. Job lost everything. Money, property, family, friends, and lastly, his very health. Talk about trials and tribulations? The story goes on that Job was always faithful and never cursed God. Not only did he receive all he lost, but many times more. And, we are STILL talking about him to this very day.

Did the devil ask to tempt the drunk? The Prostitute? Did he say he wanted to tempt the King? The Leader of the Synagogue? No. He wanted some poor, average, everyday guy named Job. Why? God said "that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil." He was a child of God. Before we could receive the Spirit. That's saying something. He knew God well, and God loved him. Therefore the devil hated him.

Look at Peter. The only other one in history to walk on water. The one Jesus told was the rock on which He would build His church. 

Matthew 16:

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This is one of the most powerful Saints to ever live. He became so powerful, that his very shadow would heal people.

Acts 5:

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

But this did not protect him from trials and tribulations on his way of getting to this position. I would have loved to see Peter's face when he and Jesus we sitting around and Jesus said to him this...

Luke 22:

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

You know the story. Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny any knowledge or association with Jesus three times before the Rooster crowed three times. On the third, Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter ran away.

Lets look at Paul. Seriously? Paul was Saul before he was converted. Equal to Hitler in every way. Then Jesus appeared before him and asked him to follow Him. He said yes, and became Paul. So great a Saint that HE wrote a lot of the New Testament that we read today. Did he have trials and tribulations. I guess you could say that.

Put in prison over and over. Faced death over and over. Received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times. Beaten with rods 3 times. Stoned one time. Shipwrecked 3 times. Spent a day and night in the sea. And was in continual danger from rivers, robbers, his own people. Was always in danger in the city, in the country, at sea, from those he thought to be Brothers. Often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked. I guess you could say he had some trials and tribulations. I love this Passage. This was one of his letters to the Church at Corinth.

2 Corinthians 11:

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

You see, no matter what was going on in the negative sense to Paul, his first concern was always the Church. Was always God and His Will.

What all these have in common is this. In the middle of their trials and tribulations, they never lost sight of the goal. They never lost faith. They understood, that if they did not chose to forsake God, and His Will, God would never forsake them. They did not respond to the trials and tribulations by the flesh. But by their spirit.

Galatians 6:

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

I think one of the easiest explanations on how to deal with things that will pop up in your life, is by James. In...

James 1:

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Wait....Did he just say count it all joy? Yes. Yes he did. He said call it all joy when trials and tribulations come into your life. Why?

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Again, Job received much more than he lost. Peter became the Rock on which Jesus said He would build His Church, and Paul, wrote a lot of the New Testament. However, none of these things are worthy to be compared to that of which awaits us in Heaven. Here is something that you may have been taught incorrectly. God does not tempt you. James went on....

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

So again, we learn that it is important, for one to not only hear the Word, but to do it. To seek out God's purpose and plan for your life. What does it profit a man to receive a great gift, then not use it? Truth Faith is not being Religious. It not about going to Church once a week and hearing God's word, singing hymns, and going home to live as you will. True Faith is not simply following the traditions of man, but having a one on one relationship with God Himself. With Jesus. Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in all things. James even talks briefly about religion here.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Doing the Will of God. Being a Sower of the Seed. A Shower of The Way. A Teller of Truth. Once you become a Child of God, it is up to you to follow Jesus or not. It is up to you to allow the Spirit to guide you or not. Do not think for a second that God doesn't know who you are. Do not think for a second, that you can not accomplish whatever it is that God instructs you to do. Do not think for a second that you can not overcome the trials and tribulations that may come into your life. Make no mistake about it, they WILL come.

I know a Pastor that use to Preach that you should be happy when trials and tribulations come, because that is evidence that you are doing something right. I suppose there is some truth to that. If you are not doing anything to further the Kingdom of God, or, lead others to Salvation, then why would the devil be concerned about you? Oh, he will still hate you because you are now of God, but attempt to stop you from doing what?

Truth is, if you are doing God's Will, God is on your side. If you are lead by the Spirit, the Spirit is with you. If you are following Jesus, Jesus is with you. If God be with you, who can be against you? Who can succeed in stopping you from doing what God has ordained you to do? Truth is, no one can. Nothing can. There is nothing greater than God. While you are living for Him, and doing His Will, there is no longer anything or anyone, greater than YOU.

Trials and tribulations will come. Jesus himself told us this. Rejoice and be glad when they do, for in these times, is when God is closest to you. Trust in Him. Rely on Him. Never lose Faith. Never respond to these things in the flesh. But remain in the Spirit. Allow God to show you the way through.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Do you have the comfort of knowledge that God is truly with you? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now you need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10} Now seek out God and His purpose and plan for your life. Be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer only. Do not fear or fret when the trials and tribulations come. As James said...

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Until next time, be blessed, and Jesus IS Lord!