Sermon by Bruce McCallum 25 March 2016

1. Defeat is temporary.
Victory is permanent.
Take hold of trials, testing and suffering
without letting go of God.

2. Mark 14:36 (NIV)
36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible
for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will,
but what you will."

3. Luke 22:44 (NIV)
44 “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly,
and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the
ground.”

4. James 1:2-4 (NIV)
2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that
the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may
be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

6. Take hold of trials, testing,
sorrow & loss without letting
go of God.

7. 1. REMEMBER: Trials, testing, sorrow &
loss are part of this world but will not be
in the next world.
John 16:33 (NIV)
33 " … In this world you will have trouble."

8. 2. Keep perspective:
Don’t over inflate the devil or your trouble.
James 1:13 (NIV)
13 “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting
me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he
tempt anyone; …”
Job 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 “One day the angels came to present themselves before
the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said
to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered
the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back
and forth in it."

9. Very Important.
• Satan is not everywhere
at the same time.
• Satan does not know
everything.
• Satan is not all powerful.
• Satan needs God’s
permission.

10. 3. God does permit tests to prepare us for
our destiny.
Job 1:8-12 (NIV)
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my
servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is
blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you
not put a hedge around him and his household and
everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so
that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11
But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and
he will surely curse you to your face." 12 The Lord said to
Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands,
but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went
out from the presence of the Lord.

11. 4. You will never be tested
beyond what you can bear.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is
common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let
you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, he will also provide a way
out so that you can stand up under it.

12. 5. You don’t have to hide the fact that
you are going through a trial.
Job 1:20 (NIV)
20 “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved
his head. … “

13. 6. Here’s what you do:
Worship, Worship, Worship
Job 1:20-21 (NIV)
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved
his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord
has taken away; may the name of the Lord be
praised."

14. Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)
16 “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the
king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend
ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown
into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to
save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand,
O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to
know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or
worship the image of gold you have set up."

15. 7. Helpful questions to ask:
1. Are you in a trial because of consequence of sin? Repent!
2. Would common sense have saved you? Make it right!
3. Is God trying to say something to you? Obey!
4. Is your trial the result of someone else’s stuff? Forgive!
5. Is it part of what God is doing in the nation? Intercede!
6. Or is it unknown? Trust!

16. 8. Trials and testing are not always
because of sin.

17. 9. It’s never forever!
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
4 “Even though I walk through the valley …”

18. 1 Peter 1:6 (NLT)
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead,
even though you have to endure many trials for a
little while.
Colossians 1:11 (NCV)
11 God will strengthen you with his own great power
so that you will not give up when troubles come,
but you will be patient.

19. 10. Look for purpose.
Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
20 …. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.“

20. Psalm 34:19 (NIV)
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the
Lord delivers him from them all …