Why Does God Allow Trials in the Life of the Believer? - III

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry.

Pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks to the harvest partners who make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog@blog.greglaurie.com so we can convert others with their trouble will be able to give them the same coverage. God is given us when trials fall Greg Maurice's receive the comfort of God when they pass it on to others with the comfort you have been comforted with the hardships of today are preparing you greater opportunities tomorrow whisper something to someone in the house is on today's inside is worth passing on in more than a whisper. Greg Laurie points out that God sees our trials. God reaches out to comfort his many wants us to reach out with that same comfort someone else's lesson on how we can be the hands and feet of God, to those around us. One of the most requested studies of the year like your long for a new beginning. All right, well, we are in the book of James, then 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 as 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 no why does God allow Christians to go through trials and testing. I mean it happens to all of his things are going along wonderfully and suddenly without warning or so would see 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 for those hard times.

Why do we go through those emotional lows. Why do we go through 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 fall into 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. Listen to this. All kinds of trials and temptations crowded, your lives, my brothers don't treat them as intruders but Fred Levitt translation don't treat them as intruders but friends realize they come to test your faith in 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 and your good and sometimes something will happen. You think this is the worst thing that can happen then as time passes suddenly looked 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 them first. 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 in 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 those two verses together get 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 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 about thing always will become a good thing it says so because 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 can be glorified through just intervening the do numerical 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 and you reject and suddenly the test revealed the cancer is gone. 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 bed would look like an insurmountable problem that was overruled by God.

He interviewed a pizza box. 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 and that 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 then of 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 are all 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 the unfortunate diagnosis, you're the person that has a tragedy but fall you. You're the person that here's the bad news is a will 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 it 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 what you're going through because you still get my bones on the bed, but there are still problems.

Greg okay give me that it problems the problem of trials at trial. Whatever this 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 we enjoy hearing with pastor Greg's teachings on the radio touch lives my name and I live in Chicago. I listened to Greg at 11 AM. Well I went through a very dark period and in my life got so bad that I need and want to listen to the radio anymore, so I would drive to work in the morning just being total silent when their turn on the radio and to flipping channels and digital have been met.

Your great show came on and I started looking give me hope. It gave me strength brought me back to the Lord and started going to church and I still listen to him in the morning to get me from my front door my house to the front door work harvest partner and total joy and actually enjoy going to church. I enjoy listening to Pastor Greg and I like his alleged humor and a blessing at a time in my life where I needed some intercession. I believe God sent Greg into my life so thank you very much encouraging story stealing studies minister to you in your sale.

Would you let us know tell us your story by calling 866-871-1144 that's a special number 866-871-1144 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 who had lost children and I knew if you one of those people was John Carson, pastor friend for years and can I just said John help me and you know I'm that's a 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 up to somebody else that's going through it because when a crisis. It's you.

When that doctor says you have cancer when when the loved one dies in a 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 is shown me see 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 the stuff this message is like so depressing. Why do you have to talk about things like this didn't you tell us something that it's more positive. I actually think it's kind of positive to think that God can think of worse things and more real life is a will.

I can handle suffering at all.

In fact, I don't do suffering well then you're not going to 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 going to come that some of you are young you think live in faith. And yet, that's because you're young but you will some of your older news that I've used 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 you 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 man or woman who does 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 that because not only is your own life and 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 accomplish is 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. Wake us up to our spiritual need. The psalmist said before I was afflicted I went astray. But now I have kept your word and maybe something is happened to you recently that is 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 at same. Maybe I need God may be a need to start thinking about my life spiritually again. That's what you should be doing. You need to think about Kim 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 in your arms and hugs them and kisses them in reassures him and maybe kisses their hand or wherever they were hurt or whatever was that their knee and tells a middle be all right.

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'd been a mess of my life and all these things are happening to me because I made wrong decisions. What God still receiving. He would let me help you. First of all let's get you right with me first to forgive you of your sin. Now 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 state your 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 and 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. If 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.

So in a pray and I went to give you an opportunity to ask Christ to come in your life if you need 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 got 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 that will preach to Nineveh he said no, went the opposite direction and a storm came maybe you're running from God in the stormers, 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.

Here'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 become to right now we pray in Jesus Pastor Greg Laurie and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord today.

Pastor Greg wants to help you do that will do so before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes but listen if you want to preserve this insight for the future we can send you a permanent copy of Pastor Greg full presentation. It's 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 calls for a copy at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org people of red Pastor Greg's new book, Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon are raving about it. It's a fascinating look into the spiritual journey of Johnny Cash was raised in the very traditional country home. They went to the southern Baptist church. He worked out on the farm. He literally pick cotton in the field effect was very proficient at it, and an early age, picked up a guitar and started learning some cords and he was raised singing gospel music and they would actually be out there in the cotton fields singing the songs that would help them get through the day, but God is given Johnny a very special gift.

His gift would later taken to the heights of the music industry being inducted into the halls of fame of rock, country and gospel are rare on her little Johnny Cash people in America had singer-songwriter Johnny Cash generally like to sing about trains you like to sing about death and redemption, but so often from the beginning, middle, and to the end of his career that was at strong faith in Christ city put across to his music, including singing that many, many Billy Graham Crusades. Although his faith was always there. His life often suffer bad choices she made the Lord's grace was always there. Patient you can follow the spiritual journey of Johnny Cash and Pastor Greg's new biography Johnny Cash redemption of an American icon is now available and will be glad to send a copy right to your door to thank you for your investment in keeping Pastor Greg's teaching coming your way.

Each day it's only through the partnership of our listeners that we can continue if you can help us on a regular basis. Ask about becoming a harvest part, these are the close friends who feel strongly about the importance of evangelism may help with the donation each month and will thank you. With Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon call 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org will best Greg to talk today about the importance of coming to the Lord are coming back to the Lord and no doubt there's somebody listening right now would like to do that. Can you have them take the 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 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 is forgiven you. We have some materials that we would like to send to you at no charge that will encourage you in this commitment you've made to Jesus Christ and its writer materials are all assembled and what we call our new believers growth packet will be glad to send it to you if you get in touch with this right away. It's free of charge. Just write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to radio.harvest.org and click did you pray Pastor Greg next time as our best of series continues to take a look at the antichrist and the role America plays in the events of the last days.

Tune in again for a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie Greg Laurie possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org