Best of 2020: Why Does God Allow Trials in the Life of the Believer?: To Comfort Others

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you. Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again meds Greg harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment over so-so troubles walking so we can comfort others with their trouble will be able to give them the same comfort God is giving us when trials fall Greg Maurice's receive the comfort of God when they pass it on to others. See you comfort with the comfort you have been comforted with so perhaps the hardships of today are preparing you greater these tomorrow I and someone should on redoing the today's insight is worth passing on in more than a whisper today. Pastor Greg Laurie points out that God sees our trials reaches out to comfort us in our trials that he wants us to reach out with that same comfort someone else or so lesson on how we can be the hands and feet of God, to those around one of the most requested studies of the year beginning all right. Well we are in the book of James said chapter 1. The title of my messages.

Why does God allow trials on the life of the believer. This is from our series. What every growing Christian needs to know.

Let's pray together. Father tonight.

We don't want to just get information we want to find hope, especially for those that are here and those of your listening and watching who are feeling rather hopeless or feeling quite despondent. They feel like they're just in a black hole.

They don't know how to get out of it. They don't know why certain events are happening in their life. It makes no sense Lord is we go to Scripture. Help us to get clarity. Help us to get perspective and help us to be reminded that you are in control of our lives that we don't have to be afraid you of your purposes and you have your reasons for trials in our life as we will discover in this message. So speak to us as we open your word.

We ask this now in Jesus name I met now why does God allow Christians to go through trials and testing. I mean it happens to all of us.

Things are going along wonderfully and suddenly without warning or so would seem. One problem after another comes tumbling into our life.

Things are looking bleak and then the cloud just sort apart and the sun shines again and everything is better.

Why do we go to those hard time. Why do we go through those emotional lows. Why do we go to those days of difficulty. Why do these things happen to us that you look at now. James chapter 1 organ reverses 2 to 4, my brother's rights.

James counted all joy when you follow the various trials, knowing that the test of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work in you that you may be mature. Lacking nothing.

God allows trials in our lives, so we will grow up spiritually. Let me read on from a more modern translation was on the desk with all kinds of trials and temptations crowded, your lives, my brothers don't treat them as intruders friend 11 translation don't treat them as intruders but friends realize income to test your faith and to producing you a quality of endurance. Let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed and you'll find you become men and women of mature character men and women of integrity with no weak spots. The testing of your faith will produce perseverance or steadfastness or staying power.

Even another translation translates it as heroic endurance like that translation.

Another translation spiritual toughness so that the testing of your faith produces spiritual toughness, aerobic endurance staying power. God wants iron to enter your soul is number two God allows trials in our lives.

And that's true. But even when things look bleak all things work together for your good in God's glory. Again, even when things look bleak all things work together for God's glory in your good and sometimes something will happen.

You think this is the worst thing that can happen then as time passes suddenly look back and actually that was kind of a good thing. Actually, the Lord used that to make a very needed change in my life. All things can work together for good.

Again we love that verse Romans 828 all things work together for good to those who what love God. Another called according to his purpose and that brings me to my next point .3 God's ultimate purpose for us in trials and really a life is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

We say that again God's ultimate purpose for us through trials and really in life is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. In his usual method for this is heavenly pressure wide to produce a family like this.

Yes, we love Romans 828.

But we forget that after that is Romans 829 and those two verses together the big picture again. Romans 828 we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, another called according to his purpose. Verse 29 for whom he foreknew he also did predestined that they might be conformed into the image of his own dear son, God's long-term goal for you is to become like Jesus. So there are things we go through in life and it's bad they stay bad and there are always bad, right they never are good tragedies that wasn't good.

Now maybe good came out of but it never becomes a good thing but we got doesn't say a bad thing. Always will become a good thing it said to cause all things to work together for good. But here's the bigger picture. Some of the things that God is doing in your life are not to be discovered until we get to have you realize that all those things were designed to make you more like Jesus.

So some benefits of trials. We will see in this life and other benefits of trials will not be seen until the after life. Just know this God is at work. Point number four. Suffering can bring glory to God.

Suffering can bring glory to God. God to be glorified through just intervening to do numeric on me. Maybe your second and you go to the doctor. They say you have cancer and there's nothing we can do and you might as will get your affairs in order, because you may only have a few months to live.

And then you go to church and you say I need prayer.

The Bible says that there's any sick among you call for the elders of the church you will lay hands on that person pray for them and anoint them with oil.

The effectual fervent prayer of an evangelist will accomplish much.

You know, and so you going to get prayer and then you go in here, recheck, and suddenly the test revealed the cancer is gone and the doctors Figured out what happened America call God still does things like that today we hear stories like this all the time he intervenes. He does a miracle. He provides that sum of money that is needed. He comes through in some amazing way.

~Sometimes God is glorified by removing the problem in resolving the situation how many of you had looked like an insurmountable problem that was overruled by God. He interviewed a piece about most of you, that's fantastic.

Thank God. When that happens, then there are times when God will be glorified not by the removal of the problem but by leaving it there and having you worship him just the same event. A powerful testimony.

That's what happened to Paul and Silas were thrown into a prison for preaching the gospel in the Bible says. At midnight they began to sing praises to God and the other prisoners were listening, I don't think that ever heard singing in a hellhole like that before Paul and Silas were able to give God glory. At midnight 10 minute course you remember that they been treated so badly by that Roman jailer to whip them had a hard heart. But then the earthquake came a miracle happened. All the prisoners could've run free if they wanted to and that Janet was about to kill himself because he knew if he lost his prisoners. He would be executed by Roman Paul said don't harm yourself role here that jailer said, Sirs, tell me what must I do to be saved is the their testimony won him over because they give God the glory. Not after the earthquake, but before and that's the time to give God the glory. So let's say you're the person to get some. The unfortunate diagnosis, you're the person that has a tragedy before you. You're the person that here's the bad news is a quad give God the glory when he fixes it, no, no, you give God the glory. Now right now you because he still in control is gonna work that ultimately together for his glory in your good is going to make you more like Jesus. Okay so you got your problems and unwanted diminish which are going to because you still get my poems or the bed with her still problems. Greg okay give me that it problems the problem trials the trial whatever this big small summer in the middle okay but now here's the question. Can you somehow give glory to God to that. Can you find a way to remember that God is still in control of your life and he's gonna work it out for kids glory in your good ultimately can you use it as an opportunity to proclaim Christ to others and sometimes he will remove the affliction, sometimes so be glorified in you, you're listening to a new beginning with pastor Greg Laurie in today's message why does God allow trials in the life of the believer available@harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home.

It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now. If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend harvest@homeis.org will pastor Greg continues now with his message. One of the most requested studies of the past year. Why does God allow trials in the life of the believer number five. And lastly, trials and suffering can be used by God to prepare us for a special tax trials suffering can be used by God to prepare us for a special task. God's getting you ready for something God can use these experiences of life to transform us. You know it when you've gone through something and survived it. You can be a great comfort to someone else was going through it and when the Lord called our son Christopher home to heaven. I reached out immediately to people would lost children and I knew if you one of those people was John Corson, pastor friend for years and can I just said John help me and you know I'm not some big concert with all the answers. I'm a father who lost his son and I'm in pain like any other father would be and you know John was such a comfort.

I think just to see someone that survive such a thing functioning is brings a measure of hope. So when you've gone through something you think why did God allow me to go for this answer may be what we don't know but I know this you can sure bring a lot of hope to somebody else that's going through it because when a crisis at you when that doctor says you have cancer when when the loved one dies and looks like your world just ended. Have someone say to get through this because I've gone to the same thing and let me share with you what the Lord has shown me, you have a message like nobody else has.

So you don't ever want to waste your pain. God allowed it. Now God wants to use it over in second Corinthians 1 office. He comforts us in all of our troubles.

Listen to this. He comforts us in all of our troubles like so we can comfort others when their trouble will be able to give them the same comfort God is given us. We can be sure the more we suffer for Christ the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ to you comfort with the comfort that you have been comforted with so perhaps the hardships of today are preparing you for greater opportunities tomorrow.

You might cement on of the stuff this message is like so depressing when you have to talk about things like this didn't you tell us something that it's more positive. I actually it's kind of positive to think that God can take the worst things and work real life is a lie can handle suffering at all. In fact, I don't do suffering well then you're not can it do life or you can live in a state of basic denial listen. Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

Okay, reality is hardship is going to come your way. It's not a matter of if it's a matter of what trials are dented, some of you are young you think live in faith. And yet, that's because you're young but you will own some of your older news that I've raised quite a few already. In fact I'm in one right now. Jake, here's what we need to remember so we don't get freaked out when we hear about hardship in the lives of others. God gives you what you need when you need it. God gives you what you need when you need it, not necessarily before. Listen, but never after, not necessarily before, but never after. He will give you the strength he will give me the words he will give you the power to do what you need to do when you need to do it. So don't panic God's in control is gonna work it out for his good he'll give you what you need when you need it now. Final thoughts everything I've said is for only a follower of Jesus. You're not a Christian. You're listening to this message. Actually, this doesn't really apply to you. Romans 828 again all things work together for good to those who love God and all the called according to his purpose for the meta-womanhood of the love God or doesn't believe in God or doesn't want God all things are not working together for good. Let me take it a step further. All things are, working together for bad because not only is your own life that I have troubles every life does in the rain falls on the just and the unjust. The Bible says everyone is getting out calamity.

Everyone is going to face hardship everyone to lose love once the Christian can hang on to God, knowing that the Lord is in control will accomplishes purposes, but the non-Christian.

There is nothing there. There's no person that can fix it. There's no there's no way to resolve it and that is why you need Jesus. Listen to this.

Sometimes God allows hardship in our life Waco software spiritually. The psalmist said before I was afflicted I went astray.

But now I have kept your word and maybe something this happened you recently been like your wake up call a close brush with death yourself.

Maybe someone close to you guider or maybe something dramatic And your wife, your husband walked out and you are Starbucks close before you got there. I don't know I'm joking about that. Of course, but here's the thing, whatever is happened. Maybe it's got you to start looking up same. Maybe I need God may be a need to start thinking about my life spiritually, yet that's what you should be doing. You need to think about him and how much he loves you and how you can run to him just phenomenal little child falls and hurts himself. One of the deep they run to their parents get specific, they run the mommy and daddy's around, though, except they really want mommy right and mom takes a little one into her arms and hugs them and kisses them in. Reassure them and maybe kisses their hand or wherever they were hurt or whatever it was that their knee and tells them it'll be all right will listen.

We fall were hurting, you can run into the arms of your father which is ready to receive you and will receive civil what if I made a mess of my life and all these things are happening to me because I made wrong decisions.

What God still receiving. He would receive if they let me help you. First of all let's get you right with me first to forgive you of your sin and I will start changing you from the inside and you can go back to what looks like a tangled mess. I could never be resolved, and you watch what God I don't know what's teacher life is in right now but I know what the answer to your problems are. It's not admitted to who it's Jesus Christ you need to come to him. He'll throw his arms around you will forgive you but you must take God I'm sorry for my sin, you must turn from it you must put your faith in him and him alone and he will help you Jesus showed us how much he loved us when he went to the cross.

2000 years ago and died there in our place in spilled his own blood so we can have our sin forgiven and come into a right relationship with God. If you don't know God in a personal way. Jesus is not living inside of you. You don't have the assurance that you will go to heaven when you die you feel as though you're all alone in life.

Listen, you can come to Christ right now you pray and I went to give you an opportunity to ask Christ to come in your life if you need that and there might be some that will you're a believer but you been running from God, and this brought a lot of added drama into your life. It's for a lot of problems you didn't have, and you wouldn't have had otherwise.

But you can. It brought this on yourself, your reprint what you so maybe you need to come back to the Lord cycled Jonah. You know, he was told.

Go preach to Nineveh he said no what the opposite direction and a storm came maybe you're running from God and the stormers come to remember that the Lord was there for him even in the storm. He'll be there for you so you need to come to Christ to come back to him. There's an opportunity to do it. As we close in prayer.

Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for your love. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place and then to rise again from the dead. Now, Lord Jesus. We pray that you will speak to hearts here help people know that there is forgiveness but there's a second chance in life no matter what they've done wrong that you will accept them and forgive them, help them come to right now we pray in Jesus Pastor Greg Laurie if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord today.

Pastor Greg wants to help you do that and will do so before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes but listen if you like to preserve this insight for the future we can send you a permanent copy of pastor Greg full presentation and I was one of the top 10 most requested studies by our listeners.

From this past year. The title is, why does God allow trials in the life of the believer. Call us for a copy at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org people are talking about pastor Greg new moving a rush of hope. Cinematic harvesters never seen anything like text me Justina Watson on the screen is a beautiful meeting the way he explains it. It's so simple, but yet only hold so much weight rush of available now on DVD, new beginning you can get it today pastor Greg, this is different than anything we've ever done before. That's right, you sought online most likely know you can own your own beautiful DVD copy that you can show where ever you want whenever you want to whoever you want in this special DVD that were offering the Russian pope also has some special added features like a little booklet you can call it in evangelistic track with the title life's most important questions that you can give to someone to read. There's also a little flyer in here telling you how to host a watch party and show a rush of hope in your backyard or wherever you want as an outreach to people that are in your family are in your neighborhood and so we want to send a special copy of a rush of hope to you for your gift of any size and let me see in advance. Thanks so much for believing in this ministry. Thanks for investing in this ministry and my hope and prayer is that some of you might become partners with us for the next year because when you partner with us and enables us to reach even more people yet it's right so when you connect with us. Ask about becoming a harvest partner and with your first gift as a harvest partner would like to thank you. With this new DVD of a rush of hope. Not only are we offering this on the DVD, but there's also a special digital download code. We will provide for you.

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Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 anytime 24 hours a day. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org pastor Greg you talked about the importance of coming to the Lord, or coming back to the Lord and you know Dr. somebody listening right now would like to do that. Can you help them take that next step.

Yes, I would be delighted to you that want to make this commitment or recommitment to Christ. I want you to pray right now and if you mean this prayer from your heart. God will hear you.

The Bible says draw near to God and he'll draw near to you. And that's a step you be taking now pray this after me God. I know that I'm a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin but I thank you for sending Jesus Christ your son to die on the cross in my place though I turn from my sin and I choose to follow you this day forward as your disciple. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for forgiving me in Jesus name I pray, amen. A few pray that prayer in minute from your heart.

God is heard you and he has forgiven you.

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