Faithful Through the Trials
How to stay faithful through the trials
Introduction
This
month we have been learning to live by faith � �The just shall live by faith� � (Galatians 3:11)
Every Wednesday we have been looking at Hebrews 11 and how people did things
by faith!
�By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain�� (Hebrews 11:4)
�By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death�.� (Hebrews 11:5)
�By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house…� (Hebrews 11:7)
�By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went�� (Hebrews 11:8)
�By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come� (Hebrews 11:20)
�By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward� (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Hebrews Chapter 11 is an account of what can be accomplished by faith!
But
what happens when trials come along?
It is easy to be faithful when things are going good
But what about the times when we are in a valley and swimming upstream?
What about the days where we don�t want to get out of bed because we don�t want to face another day?
When our faith in The Faith is tested, it can be hard.
Sometimes the Christian life can simply be plain old difficult � nobody will argue that!
As difficult as the trial may be, it is still possible to be faithful and remain faithful through the trial
�And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible� (Mark 10:27)
Let�s learn from God�s Word tonight how we can stay faithful through the trials
in our Christian life!
Lesson � Abraham was faithful through the trial! (Genesis 22:1-18)
Background/Context
God had promised Abraham a son � Isaac
Abraham had to wait for a lengthy period of time before God fulfilled that promise
Abraham had already been tested by God through this waiting period for Isaac to come along
Finally, after years of waiting, God delivered on his promise and Isaac was born
Abraham had come through this trial and he was happy � Isaac was a real blessing from God in his life
In Genesis Chapter 22 we find Abraham is being tested by God again
God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, even after all of the years that Abraham had to wait for Isaac in first place
Abraham is just about to enter into another really testing period of his life
Truths about Trials
Trials will come � God will tempt you! (Gen 22:1-2).
God uses trials and tests to show us where our faith currently is
Trials are there to perfect us and to refine us � just like the fire refines gold!
�That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ� (1 Peter 1:7)
God will not tempt you above that which you are able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God is always with us during the trials � (Psalms 23:4)
How to stay faithful through the
trials
First step is to keep obeying God (Genesis 22:3)
Abraham obeyed God � He rose early and went to the place where God told him to go!
Obedience is the key and the most critical part to any trial
God wants obedience before anything else � commanded Adam to not eat the fruit in the garden!
Obedience is an act of submission and the fruit of your love and trust in God
The second you stop obeying God is when you fail the test
If you want to come out on the other side of the trial as a better and stronger Christian, then you need to obey God by submitting to his Will
Jesus said �If ye love me, keep my commandments� (John 14:15)
Second step is to keep worshipping God (Genesis 22:4-6)
In the midst of the trial, Abraham worshipped God!
After obedience comes worship
Worship is you giving reverence, glory and praise to God because he is worth it!
It is evident from Exodus 20:3-5 that God wants to be worshipped
You need to get away from the world and other distractions when you want to worship God
Don�t stop coming to church during the trial � you need it more than ever!
I wonder if Abraham could have continued through this trial if he had not first worshipped God?
Give God the glory, praise and love that he deserves and he will satisfy your needs
Third step is to trust that God will provide a way out (Genesis 22:7-8)
Isaac realizes that there is a problem and looks for the lamb
Isaac is trying to figure out the solution to the problem
Abraham states fervently that �God will provide himself a lamb�
As Christians, we need to always trust that God will provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God wants to see us come through the trial � he does not want to see us fail
When you are in a sticky situation keep looking to God for the solution and way out!
Fourth step is to wait on God and persevere through the trial (Genesis 22:9-14)
Throughout this trial, Abraham waited on God to show up
Abraham continued to persevere through the trial and didn�t give up
The Christian life is like a fight � constantly facing struggles and opposition
Listen to what Paul said to Timothy said:
�Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses� (1 Timothy 6:12)
�I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith� (2 Tim 4:7)
Sometimes we Christians give up too easily
Christians should see things through completely to their conclusion
Bible says �Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong� (1 Corinthians 16:13)
God never said that the Christian life would be easy but that he promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)
As Christians we need to keep pressing on and wait for God to show up and to bless us!
Conclusion
Trials will come so we should always be prepared
God
is always during the trials � we are not alone
Trials are there to perfect and to refine us � to make us better Christians
God
will only put you through a trial which he knows you can handle
To
stay faithful during trials, we need to:
Keep obeying God
Keep worshipping God
Always trust that God will provide a way out
Wait on God and persevere through the trial