The Bible in Depth – #12

Study Twelve
 
The Trials We Face
 

God’s Word is what gives us victory over our trials. Remember, God’s Word is God Himself.
 
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11, 12).
 
All of us have a calling. Many are called to support each of the offices mentioned above. It’s almost like a pyramid. God calls a man (or woman), and when the called one is well equipped, God calls people to come and support him or her; then there are those called to the ones already called. Some ministers, with hundreds of people under them, also have a staff of dozens of people. These helpers will have helpers under them as well, and it continues to grow until all of the support people will number in the thousands—each one with a specific thing to contribute, according to God’s will and planning.
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20 …but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore if, anyone cleanses himself from the letter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:20–26).
 
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).
 
To prepare yourself so that you are ready for whatever and wherever God sends you, you must know the Word! Keep feeding yourself the Scriptures. Satan will try to stop you. He will tempt you by saying the trials he has brought upon you are really from God as that is the way He trains you. That’s not true. It is the Word that trains you.
 
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
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.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when sin is fully blown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow 0f turning (James 1:12–17).
 
God does not punish us with trials. Satan attacks us with trials. When God wants to chastise us, He leads us back to the Word, and the Holy Spirit convicts us of wrongdoing. Jesus already paid for our punishment with His Body and His Blood.
 
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
 
It is the Spirit who gives life: the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).
 
For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
 
Face your trials with the Word of God!