What Is The Reason For Trouble and Trails

Feb. 20, 1996
Women’s Fellowship
By: Cindy

What is the Reason for Trouble
and Trials?


Does anyone really enjoy testing and trial ?
In James 1:2-4 it says, “Count it all joy, my sisters
when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance (patience).
But let endurance have its perfect work,
that you might be mature (prefect)
and complete, lacking in nothing.

It says count it all joy, isn’t that interesting?
It’s the opposite from what we think it should be.
How can we get rid of and put to death the old man
(the old fleshly nature)
when now they call it the child within us?
Ephesians 4:21b-23 …, as truth is in Jesus:
that you put off, concerning your former conduct,
the old man, which grows corrupt according
to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

At the Feb. 3rd Mexico meeting there were three things
I heard that help me.

1. Jerry Tyler said, “People who rub us the wrong way
are knocking off our rough edges.”
As iron sharpens iron so a woman sharpens
the countenance of her friend. Proverbs 27:17

2. Then he said, “ If someone sins against you forgive her/him
and cover her/him, and if they irritate you forbear.”
Above all things having constant love for one another,
because love will cover a multitude of sins;
be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4: 8-9
In Luke 17:4 Jesus said, “And if he sins against you
seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns
to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.

3. Pastor Tom said, “Love isn’t love until it’s tested”
It is easy to love those who love you and that do it your way.
When it gets tested then it becomes real, true love.
Matthew 5:44-47 “But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
for He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?
Do not even the tax collectors do .the same?
And if you greet your brethren only,
what do you do more then others?
Do not even tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect,
just as your Father in heaven is perfect.


What is the reason or cause of trouble? It all starts with a capital I,
“I will.” The words of Lucifer, “I will…I will…I will.. I will…
I will be like the Most High. Isaiah 14:12-14. In the garden of Eden,
the serpent said, “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:5b They ate the fruit, disobeying the only thing God
told them not to do because He loved them
and it would only bring them death.
“I will”, the ultimate of selfishness and rebellion from which
every sin springs, and by which comes all kinds of trouble,
hurt, disappointment, rejection, and death, etc..

Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death,
by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

What is the reason for trials?
Trials reveal to us what is really inside us,
and it isn’t pretty, so that it can be done away with
and that which will remain is purified. We are purified
because we are more precious and valuable to God then things,
things we think are beautiful and of value.
For example: Gold tried by fire, diamonds created
under great pressure and than chipped at to bring out
its many beautiful facets, that make it glitter so,
or a vase formed on the potter’s wheel. These things pass away.
We are eternal.

1 John 4:9-10 In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God sent His only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through Him. In this is love,
not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


Romans 8:28-29 And we know all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according
to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined
to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that he might be the first born among many brethren.

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin,
and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you
from stumbling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen