Guidelines To Flag Ministry

Worship Is Not For Our Entertainment - Lesson 3

 

There is an erroneous idea today that the main reason we attend worship is to "get something out of the service", rather than going there to give our worship to God. This is a selfish motive on our part. This is the reason people cannot be satisfied with the worship service when their emphasis is not on the proper object of worship, God. People want to "do their own thing" in the worship of the church. What the Bible has to say about worship for many people is of little consequence as long as they are happy and feel good. We must be concerned with what God says on how He is to be worshipped instead of what we might want to offer Him.

The United States has produced the most entertainment-oriented people the world has ever known. We have more forms of amusement than has ever been know to man, but we still want more. In our age everything is designed to appeal to our emotions and to entertain us. We seem to have forgotten our worship service is to bring glory and honor to God, and not to entertain ourselves. When we have choirs to sing to us and concerts to entertain us, we are not worshipping God; but we have become the spectators who are being entertained. Worship is not a spectator event. We dare not become spectators, because in worship it is God who is the spectator. People have the roles reversed. People expect divine will to conform to what seems right in their own eyes. Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of the fool is right in his own eyes." The emphasis is how can the worship service be made more entertaining to people to please themselves and not God.

Worship to God is holy and sacred. To pervert and corrupt it with entertainment and what we can "get out of the service" in trying to please and gratify ourselves is nothing short of blasphemy! The sacredness of true worship must not be sacrificed on altars of entertainment-oriented quartets, choirs, and other entertainment groups. We are as Hebrews 13:15 says to "Offer the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." In worship we must be the participants, not the observers. We want to please and entertain ourselves. In Galatians 1:10 the question is asked, "Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Worship is God-centered not man-centered. When our worship is to please God instead of ourselves, then and only then will our worship be much more meaningful and spiritually uplifting to us and acceptable to God.

When people seek an "emotional high" from worship and don't get it, they are disappointed and start blaming the song service, the preacher, etc. The world wants their worship service to be "more entertaining", thus they are failing to worship God in spirit and in truth. Where in the Bible can we go to show that our worship is designed to please the worshipper. The desire to have an experience or an encounter along the lines of mysticism also gives little regard to what God says in the Bible.

Our worship to God requires commitment on our part. People had rather worship Christ as a babe in a manger than Christ as their crucified savior. Their worshipping Christ as a babe in a manger requires no commitment on their part. They feel they can put Him in a box and live the rest of the year as they please. But worshipping Christ as our crucified savior requires commitment, a complete change of our life, and a willingness to do all that He says. Jesus says in Matthew 10:37, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." God and Christ must be first in our lives, and this requires that we be committed to them.

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Article courtesy of http://www.bible.ca/interactive/worship-3-not-entertainment.htm

Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening (Devotional) - Saturday, April 27, 2013

Morning

"God, even our own God."
Psalm 67:6

It is strange how little use we make of the spiritual blessings which God gives us, but it is stranger still how little use we make of God himself. Though he is "our own God," we apply ourselves but little to him, and ask but little of him. How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we go about our business, without seeking his guidance! In our troubles how constantly do we strive to bear our burdens ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord, that he may sustain us! This is not because we may not, for the Lord seems to say, "I am thine, soul, come and make use of me as thou wilt; thou mayst freely come to my store, and the oftener the more welcome." It is our own fault if we make not free with the riches of our God. Then, since thou hast such a friend, and he invites thee, draw from him daily. Never want whilst thou hast a God to go to; never fear or faint whilst thou hast God to help thee; go to thy treasure and take whatever thou needest--there is all that thou canst want. Learn the divine skill of making God all things to thee. He can supply thee with all, or, better still, he can be to thee instead of all. Let me urge thee, then, to make use of thy God. Make use of him in prayer. Go to him often, because he is thy God. O, wilt thou fail to use so great a privilege? Fly to him, tell him all thy wants. Use him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark providence has beclouded thee, use thy God as a "sun;" if some strong enemy has beset thee, find in Jehovah a "shield," for he is a sun and shield to his people. If thou hast lost thy way in the mazes of life, use him as a "guide," for he will direct thee. Whatever thou art, and wherever thou art, remember God is just what thou wantest, and just where thou wantest, and that he can do all thou wantest.

Evening

"The Lord is King forever and ever."
Psalm 10:16

Jesus Christ is no despotic claimant of divine right, but he is really and truly the Lord's anointed! "It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." God hath given to him all power and all authority. As the Son of man, he is now head over all things to his church, and he reigns over heaven, and earth, and hell, with the keys of life and death at his girdle. Certain princes have delighted to call themselves kings by the popular will, and certainly our Lord Jesus Christ is such in his church. If it could be put to the vote whether he should be King in the church, every believing heart would crown him. O that we could crown him more gloriously than we do! We would count no expense to be wasted that could glorify Christ. Suffering would be pleasure, and loss would be gain, if thereby we could surround his brow with brighter crowns, and make him more glorious in the eyes of men and angels. Yes, he shall reign. Long live the King! All hail to thee, King Jesus! Go forth, ye virgin souls who love your Lord, bow at his feet, strew his way with the lilies of your love, and the roses of your gratitude: "Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all." Moreover, our Lord Jesus is King in Zion by right of conquest: he has taken and carried by storm the hearts of his people, and has slain their enemies who held them in cruel bondage. In the Red Sea of his own blood, our Redeemer has drowned the Pharaoh of our sins: shall he not be King in Jeshurun? He has delivered us from the iron yoke and heavy curse of the law: shall not the Liberator be crowned? We are his portion, whom he has taken out of the hand of the Amorite with his sword and with his bow: who shall snatch his conquest from his hand? All hail, King Jesus! we gladly own thy gentle sway! Rule in our hearts forever, thou lovely Prince of Peace.

King's 'Birmingham Jail' Letter Response Arrives After 50 Years

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

(RNS) Fifty years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged white church leaders to confront racism, an ecumenical network has responded to his "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

"We proclaim that, while our context today is different, the call is the same as in 1963 -- for followers of Christ to stand together, to work together, and to struggle together for justice," declared Christian Churches Together in the USA in a 20-page document.

The statement, which is linked to an April 14-15 ecumenical gathering in Birmingham, Ala., includes confessions from church bodies about their silence and slow pace in addressing racial injustice.

"The church must lead rather than follow in the march toward justice," it says.

In April 1963, King scribbled his letter on newspaper margins in a cell in Birmingham, responding to an open letter from eight white clergymen -- one Catholic priest, six Protestants and a rabbi -- who had called on the civil rights movement to opt for negotiations rather than demonstrations. King had been jailed for helping organize nonviolent protests.

In the letter King said that he was disappointed with white moderates who "see my nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," the Baptist preacher and civil rights icon wrote in one famous passage.

Five decades later, CCT leaders are releasing a response that elaborates on specific passages of King's letter, calling for partnerships to confront societal inequities in the nation's neighborhoods, schools and prisons.

"Sunday morning remains the most segregated time in our nation," they acknowledged.

Experts say it may be the first time an organization has directly answered King's letter.

Jonathan Rieder, author of the new book "Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail and the Struggle That Changed a Nation," said many reporters initially ignored the letter.

The Christian Century, a prominent mainline Protestant magazine, published it and included an address for readers to send donations to King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference, he said.

"As far as most people know, this is the first institutional response that seems to be trying to answer the letter in some sense," said Rieder, a professor of sociology at Barnard College, Columbia University.

The Rev. Carlos Malave, executive director of CCT, said one of the key parts of the new document is its appendix, which includes confessions from several "families" of churches -- evangelical/Pentecostal, Catholic, historic Protestant and Orthodox.

"The churches are taking responsibility for their inability to really ... step up throughout the last few years to the challenge and the call that Dr. King and the letter places to the Christian leaders," he said.

The evangelicals' confession notes they have taken "far too long" to acknowledge and repent for "pervasive racism in our midst," and often do not understand structural racism. Catholics lamented that racism has hindered leadership development and "full participation in parish life." Historic Protestants confessed to "unwelcoming pews." And Orthodox Christians acknowledged slighting "the liturgy after the liturgy" that involves transforming society.

"It wasn't the historic African-American family that really called for the response," said the Rev. Stephen Thurston, president of the CCT subgroup of black denominational leaders. "It came out of the collaboration with other families and their real concern about a real transparent response to the King letter."

The Rev. Virgil Wood, a longtime Baptist minister who worked with King for 10 years on the SCLC's national board, gives the leaders credit for what they've done so far.

"It's an excellent start but it's only a start," he said, "because it does not address some of the critical things that now have to be done."

Wood said churches must now address the root causes of poverty and use King's principles to improve the global economy.

"I applaud the distance these groups are willing to go but there is no reconciliation without restitution and I don't hear the note of restitution being sounded enough," he added.

One of the catalysts for the document was CCT's meeting in Birmingham in 2011, when members visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and viewed the bars behind which King sat and wrote the letter.

The CCT will hold a symbolic signing of its response to King during a two-day symposium in Birmingham that includes speeches from clergy and civil rights leaders about "the way forward." It concludes on Monday (April 15), the day before the date placed on King's letter.

CCT leaders, including Evangelicals for Social Action founder Ron Sider, who chaired the committee that drafted the response, expect that their work to address King's call will continue after the anniversary.

"Our words will remain cheap and empty," Sider said in remarks he has prepared for the Birmingham program, "unless we allow God to move us to new, more vigorous action."
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 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/13/kings-birmingham-jail-letter-response-arrives-after-50-years_n_3077933.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

Flag Ministry

Biblical Color Meaning in the Bible

"When God appeared unto Noah after the flood, and placed a rainbow in the sky, He did much more than shows him a phenomenon. 

In the seven colors, beginning with red and ending with purple, God was displaying a natural miracle that demonstrated the complete redemption of man". - Antipas/M. Stewart

This is a compilation of many interpretations of biblical colors meaning that I have collected over the last several years.  I hope that you find it biblical and authentic.  

From Genesis to Revelations the Word of God is full of symbolic (biblical) color meaning.  Using colors to express how we feel towards God in dramatic worship (with banners) can be very therapeutic and beneficial to us and a blessing to God's people. 

I have found that when we enjoy worshipping the Lord He enjoys receiving our worship.  Blessing and strengthening and uplifting the Body of Christ uplift and unify the Lord's work. 

I hope that you will be able to utilize the many color definitions.   I do know that God loves color. The colors that we see here on the earth realm are only a portion of what is in heaven. 

May you be blessed by what is here and I hope that it releases you into a deeper understand of the impact that color brings. 

Biblical Color Meaning In The Bible

Zephaniah 3:9,10

For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language that they all may call

 on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.  From beyond the rivers of

 Ethiopia My Worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.

RED

Red:  symbolizes blood atonement; sacrifice of Christ's blood; covenant of grace; cleansing justification; sin, atonement; war; the wrath of God; judgment; death; love; life; the earth; redemption; sacrifice; consuming fire; the person of Jesus; the cross; refers to flesh. Isaiah: 1:18, Hebrew 9:14.

Red con not be formulated by mixing any other color together.  The Hebrew word "OUDEM" means "red clay".  It is the root word from the name Adam, Esau, and Edom; all speak of flesh.

Burgundy:  The Red earth; selfish; Covetous sin, copper and gold, washing by the word, righteousness, right standing.
Rose Pink:  Messiah, glory, Rose of Sharon, the Father's heavenly care over the Lilies of the Field-His children,

 Jesus loves me-this I know!  Symbolizes right relationships, heart of flesh, intimacy, child-like faith (Romans 3:25;

Rev. 19:8; Ez. 11:19; 1 Peter 5:5-6; Song 1:2; Matt. 18: 3-5.

Fuchsia: Joy, right relationships, compassion, heart of flesh, passion for Jesus, the Bridegroom's heart, koinonea. 
Plum:  Richness, abundance, infilling of the Holy Spirit

ORANGE

Gold or Yellow:  Symbolizes the Glory of God ; divine nature; holiness; eternal deity; the Godhead; Purification;
 majesty; righteousness; divine light; kingliness; trial by fire; mercy;  power; His Deity; Glory.     Revelations  3:18;  Revelations 4:4;  Mal: 3:3;  1 Peter: 1:7 

Yellow or gold is also primary.  It always speaks of trial and purging.  "That trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes,  though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ".(1 Peter 1:7)

Amber:  Glory of God, the Father's heavenly care, fiery passion, flaming throne of God,  the temple of God, wisdom.
Orange: Praise, Warfare, Passion, power, fire, harvest season, fruitfulness, joy
Bronze:  Judgment upon sin; fires of testing.
Brown:  Man as we are on earth.

GREEN

Green:  Praise, eternal life, vigor, prosperity, mercy, restoration, health, healing, new beginning, freshness, God's holy seed, harvest, sowing and reaping, immortality, fresh oil, new life, joy in hope.   Rom 12:12;  Ps. 23:2;  Gen. 1:30;  Lk. 23:31;  Rev. 22:2;  Ps. 92:14.

BLUE

Blue speaks to us of the eternal presence of YAHWEH.  The color of God's chosen nation, the people of Israel, blue dating back to the time of David.  We also note in Ezek. 1:26 that the restored throne of David which will rule supreme in all the earth, being God's throne, is spoken of as sapphire, which is blue.  Blue also speaks of healing. Matt. 9:21 M. Stewart 

Blue:  Symbolizes the heavenly realm; prayer; priesthood; authority; revealed God; grace; divinity; Holy Spirit; overcomer; revelation knowledge; the Truth; the Word of God; the Word; Messiah.

Light blue:  Heaven, Heavenly Ezek.:26
Turquoise (is a bluish-green):  River of God, sanctification, healing, life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit, the New Jerusalem.

PURPLE

Purple:  Symbolizes Jesus' royalty; believer's royalty; majesty; wealth; power; penitence; the name of God; kingdom authority; dominion, son-ship; the promises of God; inheritance; mediator; inheritance; priesthood.   Revelations 5:10,”And has made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth."

RAINBOW

Rainbow:  Symbolizes God's promises (Rev. 4:3) Covenant (Gen 9:13 and 16).

Noah looking at the rainbow saw seven steps (the number of spiritual perfection), beginning with flesh, going through trial, being guided by the Word of God, bringing forth immortality and priesthood; thus fulfilling Rev. 5:10, "and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." This is further emphasized in Ezekiel's glorious vision of the Cherubim, the immortalized host of God, as outlined in his first chapter.  (Colors of the rainbow)--Antipas, M. Stewart.

WHITE 

White: Symbolizes Creator; righteousness acquired through blood of Christ; Bride's garment; salvation; surrender; holiness, saints; angels, peace; triumph; victory; glory; joy; light.   Rev. 4:4, 6:2 

Iridescent:  Fruit of the Spirit (Rev. 4:3) Overcomer, Rainbow Promise, Precious Stones Rev. 21:7; Rev. 4:3; 2: 11:19.

Clear, Transparent:  Water Baptism, Wind, Holy Spirit, Born Again, Matt 3:11; John. 3:3; 5:7 Iridescent Crystal:  Cleansing Work of the Holy Spirit, blessings of God, sanctification, the Bride of Christ, Truth.

Black:  Righteous Judgment; Death; Death of old self; Famine; Mourning; Evil; Humiliation; Affliction; Calamity Primordial color of creation; Sign of humiliation. Lam. 4:8, Rev. 6:5, Jer. 8:21.

Color black in Scripture:  And I looked and behold a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand (rev 6:5). Their appearance is blacker than soot, they are not recognized in the streets; their skin is shriveled on their bones, it has become like wood (lamentations 4:8).

Black symbolizes death, punishment, famine, sin, affliction, death, repentance, bondage (John 3:19-20).    

Silver:  Symbolizes paid price for redemption; price of a soul; Word of God; strength; Spirit; Revelation; Grace; The Word of God; divinity; wisdom; purity; strengthened faith (Matt. 27: 3-8)

Cream:  healing.

Brazen: Christ the Healer

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Courtesy of Raised Praise

Testing of our faith

 

 Let us continue to work for the Lord as the New Year begins. Our lesson today is one of a series from the book of James. You can prepare to learn more by reading this very practical book each week.

 

OUR FAITH MUST BE TESTED

In almost every area of life things must be tested before there can be any benefit to the human family. Medicine is one example where much testing must be done before it is made available to the public. These wonderful drugs are often tested for years to see if they will do what they were designed to do.

 

Aerospace is another area where repeated testing is done to see if planes, rockets and missiles will do what they were designed to do by the engineers.

 

The same thing is true with computer products. Software companies test these products for months before they are marketed to businesses and the private sector of our economy. Even after much testing often the consumer will discover that the product has a “bug” that must be corrected.

 

Even nations are not exempt from testing. Our country was severely tested on Sept. 11, 2001 like it has not been tested for some time. This tragic event tested our people to see what we are made out of and to see if our country will do what it was designed to do—live in liberty and have justice for all.

 

In like manner God has chosen to test your faith and my faith. God does not test our faith for his benefit, but for our benefit to see if our faith is genuine. This testing is to see if our faith will do what it was designed to do. Scripture says, “Without faith we cannot please God” (Hebrews 11: 6). Faith is therefore the basis of our hope of eternal life and heaven. We may think that our faith is strong, but until it has been tested we do not really know for sure. We may say, “I will survive anything that comes my way.” But we do not know until we have come through the various trials that come our way.

 

We are all aware that there are religious leaders today who teach that if your relationship with God is right you will always be healthy, wealthy, and wise and you will never have any problems in your life.

 

While it is true that many of our problems are self-induced, that is not always the case. Jesus also was tested, and the early church went through many trials that were not of its choosing. Jesus was sinless but nevertheless was crucified on Calvary.

 

Hebrews 2:10

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

NIV

 

My Bible teaches that our faith will be tested by passing through various trials. We should believe God’s Word rather than the mere words of men.

 

James 1:1-4

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

NIV

 

Will God allow your faith and my faith to be tested? The answer is in the affirmative. Yes our faith will be tested! “Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James also says, “count it all joy my brothers when you fall into various kinds of trials.” Our faith will definitely be tested.

 

Have you heard the story of Frankie the pet ferret? The owner would let him play in the laundry basket. He would climb into the laundry basket, roll around and have a big-time. One day the Lady of the house came in, grabbed the laundry basket, dumped it into the washing machine, poured in the washing powder and turned the machine on. You can guess what happened! All of a sudden Frankie did not know what hit him. The agitator is going back and forth, suds are bellowing forth. About the time that stopped, the emptying cycle began and Frankie was whirling around like a merry-go-round. But it was not over. The rinse cycle started and Frankie went through the same trial again. Finally, the wash was through, the laundry was put in the basket, and Frankie the pet ferret was alive, but he never played in the laundry basket again!

 

Has your life ever been like that? Life is like that. Things can be going great, the sun is shining, the birds are whistling and you are singing. Then all of a sudden, dark clouds appear, and a storm breaks out in your life that will test your faith, your resolve, strength, endurance, and determination.

 

The Bible teaches that God’s people will definitely be tried and tested.

 

Acts 14:21-22

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

NIV

 

Paul and Silas strengthened and encouraged the disciples in the new congregations to remain true to the faith, “for we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

In the Old Testament the best example of faith being tested is Job. Job was one of the best people who lived in that time. None of us would want to go through the trials of Job. The greater our faith the greater the hardship will probably be, in order to test if that faith is genuine:

 

Job 23:10

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

NIV

 

To refine the pure gold it must go through the fiery furnace. It must be tested to see if it is what it is claimed to be. In like manner our faith must be tried. False faith will not stand the fiery furnace of trial. James refers to Job’s faith and how it proved to be genuine:

 

James 5:10-11

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

NIV

 

The greater our faith the greater will be our trials. I believe that. This is because great faith must be tested by great trials to prove it is really great faith!

 

Big ships may venture ore,

 

But little ships must stay close to shore.

 

If our faith is little we better stay close to the shore, if our faith is strong, like a mighty ship we can go out on the open raging waves of the sea. Perhaps David had this in mind in one of his psalms:

 

Psalms 107:23-33

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground,

NIV

 

When you are out in the mighty deep and the storms of life are about to overwhelm you, do you cry out to the Lord for help, or do you run to the devil for his consolation? Actually in the church we often see that happen. When trials come, some people are drawn closer to the Lord and cry out for his help, while others leave the Lord and seek consolation and comfort in the arms of Satan.

 

PATIENCE

When our faith has been successfully tested, the end result will be patience, perseverance and endurance! I have never sought out trials and tribulations, but when they come my way I do not run from them—I run to them, because God has allowed them to test my faith. So do not run away from your trials, run to them and deal with them. Deal with your problems, don’t try to run away and hide from them or sweep them under the rug:

 

1 Peter 1:5-7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

NIV

 

When we observe a fellow Christian falling away during trial we must conclude that their faith was either weak or not genuine. Weak and false faith will not stand the test. But when our faith endures the test then the Christian can say: “now I know that my faith is genuine and that I am stronger from this experience.” Perseverance develops strength. People who have gone through many sicknesses and surgeries are usually stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally than those who have never been sick. The same thing is true in trials and tribulations that come our way in the Christian life. Someone may say, “But my trials and tribulations are so heavy that no one could endure what I have had to go through.” Scripture says we can prevail over all of our trials:

 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

NIV

 

Therefore, God will not allow anyone to be tempted above what they are able to bear. To prevail one will bring their faith into play.

 

There are two kinds of trials or temptations that are mentioned in James the first chapter. In this lesson we are looking at external trials, things beyond one’s control, things that just happen. There is no moral blame that can be attached to one who goes through some trial not of their doing.

 

In James 1:13-16 there is the inward temptation or solicitation to sin brought about by Satan in conjunction with man’s desire to do things forbidden by the Almighty. When we give into this temptation we sin and moral blame attaches. Faith is being tested in this kind of trial also! If we live long enough we will all be tested by trials, tribulations and temptations?

 

WHAT IS THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD TRIALS?

We ask, “What should our attitude be toward the trials that come our way?” James says, “consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds.” Does this statement mean that when we are faced with trials we are to go out and say, “I am so happy today, because my life is falling apart?” You do not usually feel that way when your life is falling apart and you are surrounded by all kinds of trials, tribulations, troubles and problems? When we are surrounded by trouble are we to circle the wagons, smile and sing? No one rejoices because of trials and tribulations as such. However, we can rejoice in trials and troubles when one considers what the result can be of having endured such trials.

 

The people of this world are watching Christian people at all times to see if your faith is genuine. Our neighbors watch and notice that you have the habit of worshiping God each Lord’s day. And they will watch the Christian more than any other time when your life is falling apart. This is a test for you and they want to know what you are made of and if your faith is genuine.

 

James says, “count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations…” The word “fall” in the original language means when you are surrounded by troubles. Like the Old West when we are surrounded by trials we must circle the wagons to protect us from the onslaught and fiery darts of Satan. Satan seeks to injure us and destroy our faith. James says, “Count all joy.” The word count means to consider, deem, reckon—so when you are surrounded by trials just consider that God is allowing your faith to be tested, and having come out of the trials successfully, then the end product of perseverance, endurance, and patience is a good thing. This is the basis of our joy. You will be a stronger person and therefore you can rejoice because you have had an opportunity to prove your faith to yourself and your God.

 

As an example, let us notice the process of giving birth to a child. My mom used to say, “If men had to deliver a baby there never would have been but one!” Almost all mothers will say that there is a certain amount of pain, sorrow and suffering in childbirth. But even in the ordeal of childbirth most mothers have a joy in their heart because they know when it is finished there will be a beautiful boy or girl that will bring love and joy to them and the family. Mothers overcome the pain, anguish and sorrow of childbirth because they know that they will hold in their arms a little human being that will bring joy to their heart and family. Christ verifies this statement in the book of John:

 

John 16:21

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

NIV

 

And I say to you Christian people that the same thing is true of your trials. When trials come your way, let your attitude be that while you do not like it, you’re not going run from them, you will run to the problem and deal with it. You will prevail and overcome and be a stronger person as a result of testing your faith. Never give up, never fail or falter. Keep your faith strong in God who will never leave you but will help you to overcome any trial.

 

Hebrews 13:4-6

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

NIV

 

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW US TO BE TESTED?

Why does God allow us to be tested with trials of many kinds? The answer is that God has a purpose in testing our faith. Solomon said for everything there is a purpose. Our purpose is to serve and glorify God. Our trials have the purpose to produce patience, perseverance, and endurance. The only way we are going to learn patience and trust the Lord, and yield to his will, is to learn to yield our stubborn will to his. This is often best accomplished when we are weak and we trust the Lord as a result of the trials in our life:

 

James 1:4

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

NIV

 

Perseverance must finish its work so we may be complete, mature and not lacking anything. By the word “perfect” we usually mean sinless. Generally the word “perfect” in the Bible means complete and mature. So when patience is complete and mature, it will make our faith complete and mature. In the original language the word for complete is a word from which we derive the word holograph. A circle that is a complete 360 degrees can illustrate a holograph. Therefore your faith will not be a complete circle of 360 degrees until you have persevered through the trials and tribulations of life.

 

GOD OR SATAN?

When trials come our way either God or Satan will work in your life! Let us be like Job who in the midst of severe trial never gave up on God. We can give in and allow Satan to work in our life or we can allow God to do his work in our life. Either God or Satan is going to do a work in us when trials beset us. Which will it be?

 

Often we see Christians fall by the wayside and we know that Satan is doing his work in them because either their faith was weak or false and would not stand up under trial. However, others go through the same test and survive even becoming stronger because they allow God to do his work in and through them.

 

When Paul wrote the church at Philippi he commended them for allowing God to do his work in them:

 

Philippians 1:5-6

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

NIV

 

Let us all be confident that the good work God has begun in us will go on unto completion until the day of Jesus Christ. God has begun a good work in you! Are you going to allow him to continue that work on to completion or will you give place to Satan to do his work in you? It is up to us to decide who will win.

 

The faithful Christian whose faith is mature and complete understands that nothing can separate us from the love of God but ourselves:

 

Romans 8:28, 35-39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NIV

 

If we therefore become separated from God we can only blame ourselves. We cannot blame God, the church, our family or anyone else. No, blame can only attach to us, because we can choose whether God or Satan does a work in us.

 

EXHORTATION

We have established that our faith will be tested. Our attitude toward all trials should be one of joy because of the result of enduring trials—patience and endurance. Our faith will be stronger and more enduring. Also we have concluded that for the Christian, God has a purpose in all trials—to make us mature, complete and lacking nothing.

 

Let us notice another statement concerning trials from James:

 

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

NIV

 

The idea presented is that rewards and punishments are to be given at the last day. Life is short—we are like a vapor that appears for a while and then we vanish away from the earth. But we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ:

 

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

NIV

 

The joy we are to show while undergoing trials is not a temporal joy—it is an eternal joy throughout all ages. We will be forever blessed when we receive the crown of life! The crown of life is for all who love the Lord and his appearing:

 

2 Timothy 4:6-8

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

NIV

 

Do you want that crown of life? It is yours if you will allow the Lord to begin a good work in you and make you complete and whole even in the face of trials.

 

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

NIV

 

All who are out of Christ are now encouraged to repent, make the good confession and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2: 38). Those who have failed the trials of life are also encouraged to repent and pray to the Lord for forgiveness and strength to overcome (Acts 8:22). *

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*Shelby G. Floyd delivered this sermon January 6, 2002, at the Heartland Church of Christ, 2455 Fairview Place, Greenwood, Indiana 46142. Copyright © 2002, 2008 Shelby Floyd All Rights Reserved