May 21 2007
Joy in Trials?
I always know when I’m doing God’s will. How you ask? Opposition. Satan will do whatever he can to discourage us from doing what God tells us to do. I have felt more spiritual oppression in recent weeks than I have in some time. They come from every direction–church, home and health. Unexpected bills have come in and not nickel and dime ones either. The tension has been thick. But when I step back and look at it through the Bible I realize that it is a test.
I hate it when I actually have to live through what I’m teaching. I talked about relationships with others in both services yesterday. We are studying Chazown, understanding the vision God has for your life. I also am teaching a Next Generation class of 20’s-early 40’s. It is a mixture of married and singles. Look at our text for yesterday.
James 1:2-4 says:
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.
Why won’t God give me a sugar-coated lesson or message? Those are much easier to teach. I’ve come to the conclusion it is because He loves me too much. The reason I experience difficulty is to prepare me for future endeavors.
Have you ever wondered why James tells us to consider it joy when we face trials? A lot of people get joy and happiness confused. James isn’t saying we should be happy when we endure trials, but we should have the joy of Christ oozing out of us. I think if I wasn’t experiencing trials there would probably be something wrong with my faith.
My “JOY” has increased a lot the last few weeks. God must really love me! 
What do you think?
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15 responses so far
Your strength has also increased! Is God preparing you for Leadership in a big way for when harder times come for us all?
It seems the whole spirit world is heating up to me! Is God telling us it is time to draw the line? Do we, as Christians, continue in our oblivious little worlds , to live as we always have? Am I going to fall on my face NOW and “press through” until God lets me go with the answer I am seeking? Am I going to give it all up for His ALL?
LORD, don’t let up! Refine us with fire until we shine forth as gold. Build up your leaders on the foundation that does not fail. Give Kevin peace in the testing, and show Yourself Faithful and True.
Maranatha!
Opposition may not always be the best litmus test for the will of God. Sometimes church folks need a nice healthy opposition just to think things through or get a different valuable perspective.
Struggle helps me to check my own ego. Struggle also helps me to revisit things already settled in my mind that may not be accurate.
.02
All I have to is a question I ask myself. Would I have ever quit playing church and truly sought the LORD Jesus had it not been for losing so much and hurting so badly? No.
We are made beautiful through the fires.
Kevin,
I’m with you, man. My JOY has also increased the whole first half of this year with the death of my father and the illness of my son. Through it all (that’s an apprpriate song for this thread, eh?), I learned many lessons and my faith has been tested and hopefully, found strong in Christ.
Les
You know that is one of the things that I will ask God when I get to heaven! I think that it has a way of building your faith - you know that if everything comes out it was God not you! I feel that God loves me a lot too lately Kevin!
I think you are right.
I am right there with you, brother. Thanks for the friendship and the prayers. Know that you have both in return.
Art
LOL
My husband and I have taught a bible based marriage class formerly known as Married for Life and now know as One for Life, whenever it was our turn to teach the lesson we would fight like cats and dogs over every little thing.
We NEVER fight.
Satan is set about to seek, devour, and kill all he can lure.
The bible says that teacher (read Pastors) have it worse than the normal Joe does, from those that know much much is expected and tested.
Anyway, our church was about relationships Sunday too.
I’m thinking….how did Kevin, who I don’t even know, type my exact thoughts and life patterns over the past two weeks? Thanks for the passage and for sharing.
Thank you for this Kevin.
He said to consider it joy when the trials come. He didn’t say that they were joy, and I don’t think that God means for us to confuse them with joy.
I’ve always viewed this as His message that He knows best, and when something happens I wouldn’t have picked, I can rest in the assurance that He’s got something better in mind, than I had, myself.
Your Illy coffee was posted today- that should come as a blessing!
Remember, full cream milk for best results if making cappuccino, and pack the coffee tightly with the tamper if using a standard coffee machine. Use bottled water if your ordinary supply is laden with chemicals. I don’t know about NC, but the water in parts of CA was vile.
No syrups- ever!!!! No half and half- ever! A teaspoon of sugar is fine.
Your tastebuds wil need to be re-educated so that they can recognise the real deal when they meet it. Just like Marie got to taste REAL chocolate!Starbucks coffee is an oxymoron.
Justin Hase is staying with me this week too. We were going to dinner when you pulled into campus around 7PM.
Thanks for all of the comments. I just now got internet connection here at NOBTS. Kevin Hursey and I are sitting outside of the library finally picking up a signal.
Joe,
I’m sorry I didn’t see you. We will be at Edgewater all day tomorrow.
Git sum Jambo, Andouille an Beans: tho sum hot stuff on dehr and dat’ll clean eny of ya fuel filtas straight up. Mite even blow a hole in da seat. You be stylin den, aie?
Sho wish I cud be wif ya. Say hey to do’ ma ma -k?
Kevin,
Jake preached this same verse to 45 recovering addicts at Mission of Hope last week.
So…that’s where Justin went…hmmm…