Treasures of Truth
17 Trial Trust Travel
Tribulation
TRIAL. . . . . . TRUST. . . . . . TRAVEL
The Greek word for tribulation is
thlispis (Romans 5:3-5),
“a pressing together, pressure,
oppression, affliction, distress, straits."
Certainly, the first century Christians
understood this quite well
as many of them had experienced
their property, possessions or lives
endangered by their confession.
In Acts 14:22 we read,
Paul and Barnabas returned
to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
"strengthening the souls of the disciples,”
encouraging them to continue in the faith,
and saying,
“through many tribulations
we must enter the kingdom of God.”
These passages begin to open up
one of the secrets
that belong to every Christian.
That secret is the hidden purpose God has
in daily delivering us over to
pressing trials and tests
that God has uniquely designed for us.
Each trial is specifically engineered by Him
to produce the image of Jesus Christ in our soul.
These tribulations are
God’s statement
that He approves of us
– Romans 5:3; Hebrews 12:5.
We will know more
of what actually these trials have produced
when we are with the Lord.
But for now...
we have the tremendous promise
of Romans 8:28.
TRIAL
Necessary I Peter 1:6
God initiates II Corinthians 4:7-11
God engineers I Corinthians 10:13
Purpose Romans 8:29
Promise I Peter 5:10
TRUST
Eyes of Faith Hebrews 11:1
Acknowledge Him Proverbs 3:5-6
Conviction Heb 4:15-16; 5:8-9
Cast your cares Phil 4:6; I Peter 5:7
TRAVEL (Our Hope)
We are changed II Corinthians 3:18
Put to death Romans 8:13
Death by neglect Romans 6:16-22
Same trial - different person II Corinthians 4:17-18
PRODUCES
Holiness Hebrews 12:10-11
Endurance James 1:3
Maturity Romans 5:3-5
Purity I Peter 1:22
OUR RESPONSE
Rejoice Romans 5:3 James 1:2 I Thess 5:16-18
WHY?
Because we know: • Who engineered it • What it produces:
Eternal Values
Luke 21:19 John 12:25
Romans 6:19 Hebrews 10:39 I Peter 1:9
…obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your soul. I Peter 1:9