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Acts 14:22 - TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: WHY?????

Acts 14:22: TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: WHY?????

SATAN AND SIN IN GENERAL

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the
world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned:

John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father
of it.

SINFUL NATURE

Romans 8:23 (GWT) However, not only creation groans. We, who
have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts, also groan inwardly. We
groan as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the freeing of our bodies
from sinu.

Romans 8:23 (NLT) And even we Christians, although we have the
Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to
be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for
that day when God will give us our full rights as his children,
including the new bodies he has promised us.

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

TURN TO AND RELY ON GOD

2 Cor 1:8, 9 (NCV)  Brothers and sisters, we want you to know
about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that
were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. Truly,
in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we
would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the
dead.

HELP OTHERS

2 Cor 1:3, 4 (TEV)  Let us give thanks to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all
help comes! He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to
help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that
we ourselves have received from God.

DEVELOP CHARACTER

Isaiah 48:10 (NLT) I have refined you but not in the way silver
is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.


Psalm 66:10  For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried
us, as silver is tried.

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath
tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

1 Peter 1:7  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:

DEVELOP PATIENCE

Romans 5:3-5  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience,
experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which
is given unto us.

Hebrews 6:12  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God.

James 1:3, 4  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

DISCIPLINE

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you:

Rev. 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent.

Hebrews 12:10-11  For they verily for a few days chastened us
after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness. [11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth
to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

LIVING FOR CHRIST

2 Tim. 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.

Acts 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting
them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

CONCLUSION

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Nothing could be more verifiable:  In the world you will have
trouble!  We have trouble with our health, marriage, children, career,
finances, even in our Christian walk, and the list goes on forever!  How
in the world can we have peace?  This scripture clearly shows that
peace and troubles can go together!  But how, you say? The key is
knowing that God is in complete control of everything and that troubles
in our life very often cause us to seek Him more.  "In Me" suggests
that there is a place of refuge, a place of peace, even in the midst
of real life problems.  How can we be found "in Him?"  If you want
to be in Seattle, and you are not there, you must go there.  Take
steps in that direction.  The same applies to the peace of being in
Him.  If you are searching for peace in the midst of the storm of
life, spend time reading His word; speak often and long to Him; listen
for His still, small voice of comfort.  And peace will come!  [In
His Time; Walk With Wisdom re Joh.16:33]