John 17:17
• “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy
word is truth”
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Purpose
Define
Instruct
Encourage
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“Attitude” Defined
Attitude:
1.
Manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc.,
with regard to a person or thing; tendency or
orientation, esp. of the mind: a negative
attitude; group attitudes.
2. Position or posture of the body appropriate to
or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.: a
threatening attitude; a relaxed attitude.
Source: Dictionary.com
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Attitudes Toward Trials!
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Introduction
• Many warnings concerning trials!
• One of the more needed lessons!
• Some have allowed trials to:
– Cause them to depart from the faith!
– Cause them to murmur and complain!
– Cause them to think that it is a strange thing!
– Cause them to blame God!
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What We Will Discuss!
•
•
•
•
The meaning of trials!
Examples of trials
The value of trials
What the Christians attitude should
involve in regarding trials!
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Understanding the Meaning
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“Trial” Defined
• (1) a: the action or process of trying or
putting to the proof : test b : a preliminary
contest
• (2) : a test of faith, patience, or stamina
through subjection to suffering or
temptation; broadly : a source of vexation or
annoyance
– Webster’s On-line dictionary
• Gen. 22:1; Heb. 11:36-38
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“Trial” Defined
• a testing; by implication, trustworthiness:-trial, trying.
– Strong
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“Proof” Defined
• "a test, a proof," is rendered "proof" in Jam 1:3, RV (AV,
"trying"); it is regarded by some as equivalent to
dokimeion, "a crucible, a test;" it is the neuter form of the
adjective dokimios, used as a noun, which has been taken
to denote the means by which a man is tested and
"proved" (Mayor), in the same sense as dokime (No. 1) in
2 Cr 8:2; the same phrase is used in 1Pe 1:7, RV, "the
proof (of your faith)," AV, "the trial;" where the meaning
probably is "that which is approved [i.e., as genuine] in
your faith;" this interpretation, which was suggested by
Hort, and may hold good for Jam 1:3, has been confirmed
from the papyri by Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 259, ff).
Moulton and Milligan (Vocab.) give additional instances.”
– Vine
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Old Testament Examples!
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Faithful of the O.T. Tried
• Abraham – Hebrews 11:17-19
• Cf. Gen. 22:1-19
– Gen. 12:1-4; cf. Heb. 11:8-9
It Is
All
• Moses – Heb. 11:24-26 of
• Daniel – Dan. 1:8; 6:16-23
These!
• Others – Heb. 11:36-39
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Trails Come In Different Ways
• By Commands of God!
– Gen. 12:1-2; Gen. 22:1-19
• God Permits His children to be tried by
others!
It Is All
• Job. 1:12; 2:6
of
As a test of our faith toward God!
– Daniel – 6:16-23
These!
– Job tried by Satan!
•
– Apostles – Acts 5:17-42
– Some trials we face come by the hand of evil
men!
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The Value of Trials!
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Manifest That We Are Children of God!
• Hebrews 11:6 - “For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth”
– A way God deals with His Children!
• To test our faith!
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Trials Develop Patience!
• James 1:2-4 – “My brethren, count it all joy
when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing.”
• 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.”
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We Prove Ourselves By Trials!
• It is a test of what is of Value to us!
• Matt. 6:33
– CAUTION – We can fail the test!
– Examples:
• Attendance!
• How will we stand regarding controversy?
– Will we seek to be popular and politically correct?
– Or, will we seek to stand according to God’s word?
• What will we do when we are tempted?
– Will we stand of fall?
• When we are tried and stand the test, we
rejoice in our endurance! – Gal. 6:3-5 17
What A Christians Attitude
Toward Trials of Faith Should
Involve!
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Christians Attitude Should Involve:
• Knowing how to recognize a trial of faith!
– Some trials can be because of Sin on our part!
• This is not a trial of faith!
• 1 Peter 4:15-16
– Must suffer for righteousness sake!
• Matt. 5:10-12; 1 Peter 2:19-20
– God’s commands are righteous!
• Psa. 119:172
• If we suffer because we obey God’s command –
this is righteous suffering that glorifies God!
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Christians Attitude Should Involve:
• Never Murmuring or Complaining!
– Trials are more precious than gold!
• 1 Pet. 1:6-7; Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 12:10
– We should question and examine our faith if
we are not suffering trials!
• 2 Tim. 3:10-12; Heb. 12:6-11
– “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in
you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor. 13:5)
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Christians Attitude Should Involve:
• Realizing that we are not exempt from
trials in this life!
– Paul spoke of trials of converts:
• “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by
fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of
what sort it is” – 1 Cor. 3:12-13
• STAND – Gold, Silver, Precious Stones
• FALL – Wood, Hay or Stubble
–
Job 23:10-11; Psa. 66:10
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Christians Attitude Should Involve:
• Never thinking of trials as “strange thing”
that is happening to us!
– It is a strange thing if we are not suffering trials!
• 1 Peter 4:12
– After reading this passage, we should not
take trials as a “STRANGE THING”!
• 1 Peter 1:6-7
– Accept the fact that trials will come to the
faithful! – the Bible is replete with examples
of the trials suffered by God’s people!
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Christians Attitude Should Involve:
• We should look on trials as a way to
encourage greater devotion and
faithfulness to God!
– We must prayerfully endure them!
• Rom 5:3-6
– We must rejoice when we suffer trials for
righteousness as did Paul!
• 2 Cor. 12:1-9; 11:24-30
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Conclusion!
• Remember the trials of faithful of the O.T.!
• God tries us in various ways!
• The value of trials!
– Show that we are the children of God!
– They develop patience!
– We prove ourselves through trials!
• A Christian's attitude toward trials should include:
–
–
–
–
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Knowing how to recognize trials!
Never murmuring or complaining!
Realizing that trials are part of this life!
Never thinking that trials are a strange thing!
Realizing trials can encourage and strengthen!
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James 1:12
Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation: for
when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath
promised to them that
love him.
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