Finding Purpose and Strength in Trials
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the theme of being "Purposed and Focused," drawing from the account of Jesus being driven into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan. This narrative challenges our understanding of God's love and purpose, as it shows that God sometimes allows us to go through trials and tribulations to fulfill His divine purpose. Jesus' experience in the wilderness serves as a powerful example of how we should respond to our own trials. He was not alone; angels ministered to Him, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles.
We often question why we face hardships, but these trials are designed to test and strengthen our faith. They help us develop "muscle memory" in our spiritual walk, teaching us to rely on God and His Word. Jesus' temptations were rooted in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life—common areas where we too are tested. By saturating our lives with the Word of God, we can combat these trials effectively.
We also discussed the importance of understanding our purpose and the duration of our trials. God has a specific plan for each of us, and our trials will last only as long as it takes for us to learn what He wants us to learn. Trusting in God with all our heart, even when circumstances seem dire, is crucial. Our strengths are gifts from God meant to benefit others, and we must not rely solely on them but on God who gave them to us.
Finally, we must ask ourselves what we are to learn from our trials and how God gets glory from our suffering. The answer lies in finishing the job God has given us, trusting Him completely, and allowing Him to work through us. When we do this, God gets the glory, and we fulfill our divine purpose.
### Key Takeaways
1. Purpose in Trials: God allows us to go through trials not to harm us but to fulfill His divine purpose. Jesus' experience in the wilderness shows that even in our most challenging times, we are never alone. Angels ministered to Jesus, and they minister to us as well, reminding us that God's presence is always with us. [06:40]
2. Developing Spiritual Muscle Memory: Trials help us develop "muscle memory" in our spiritual walk. By recalling past deliverances, we build faith and resilience. Every test is an opportunity to trust God more deeply and to remember that He has already figured out the solution on our behalf. [09:19]
3. Combating Temptations: The temptations we face are often rooted in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. By saturating our lives with the Word of God, we can effectively combat these trials. Knowing and quoting Scripture accurately is a powerful weapon against the forces of evil. [14:11]
4. Trusting God Completely: Trusting God with all our heart, even when circumstances seem dire, is crucial. Our strengths are gifts from God meant to benefit others, and we must not rely solely on them but on God who gave them to us. In our weakness, God's strength is perfected. [18:06]
5. Finishing the Job: We must ask ourselves what we are to learn from our trials and how God gets glory from our suffering. The answer lies in finishing the job God has given us, trusting Him completely, and allowing Him to work through us. When we do this, God gets the glory, and we fulfill our divine purpose. [30:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[03:14] - Opening Prayer
[05:22] - Purposed and Focused
[06:40] - Trials and Tribulations
[07:40] - Jesus' Wilderness Experience
[08:25] - Praying for Others
[09:19] - Developing Spiritual Muscle Memory
[10:54] - Trusting God in Hard Times
[11:37] - Angels Ministering to Us
[13:00] - God's Timing and Provision
[14:11] - Combating Temptations
[15:58] - Questions to Ask in Spiritual Warfare
[18:06] - Trusting God Completely
[20:00] - God's Purpose in Our Trials
[22:11] - Duration of Our Trials
[30:04] - Finishing the Job
[33:03] - Stepping Out in Faith
[34:26] - Altar Call and Prayer
[37:37] - Affirming Our Faith
[39:09] - Decree and Declare
[40:59] - Closing Prayer and Announcements
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Mark 1:11-12: "And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness."
2. Matthew 4:1-11: The account of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
3. 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the purpose of Jesus being driven into the wilderness according to Mark 1:11-12?
2. In Matthew 4:1-11, what were the three specific temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness?
3. According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, what promise does God give us regarding temptation?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' experience in the wilderness serve as an example for us when we face our own trials and temptations? [06:40]
2. What does it mean to develop "spiritual muscle memory," and how can recalling past deliverances help us in current trials? [09:19]
3. Why is it important to trust God completely, even when circumstances seem dire? How does this trust impact our response to trials? [18:06]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did you see God's presence with you during that time, similar to how angels ministered to Jesus in the wilderness? [11:37]
2. What are some practical ways you can saturate your life with the Word of God to combat temptations rooted in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life? [14:11]
3. Think about a strength you have that you often rely on. How can you shift your reliance from that strength to trusting in God more fully? [18:06]
4. Identify a current trial you are going through. What do you think God wants you to learn from this experience, and how can you ensure that He gets the glory from your response? [30:04]
5. How can you develop "spiritual muscle memory" by recalling past instances where God has delivered you? Share a specific example with the group. [09:19]
6. In what ways can you finish the job God has given you, even when it involves suffering or hardship? How can you ensure that your actions bring glory to God? [30:04]
7. How can you support others in your small group who are going through trials, ensuring they feel God's presence and the support of the community? [08:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Purpose in Trials
Description: God allows us to go through trials not to harm us but to fulfill His divine purpose. Jesus' experience in the wilderness shows that even in our most challenging times, we are never alone. Angels ministered to Jesus, and they minister to us as well, reminding us that God's presence is always with us. These trials are designed to test and strengthen our faith, helping us develop "muscle memory" in our spiritual walk. By recalling past deliverances, we build faith and resilience. Every test is an opportunity to trust God more deeply and to remember that He has already figured out the solution on our behalf. [06:40]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial you have faced. How did you see God's presence and purpose in that situation, and how can you trust Him more deeply in your current challenges?
Day 2: Developing Spiritual Muscle Memory
Description: Trials help us develop "muscle memory" in our spiritual walk. By recalling past deliverances, we build faith and resilience. Every test is an opportunity to trust God more deeply and to remember that He has already figured out the solution on our behalf. Jesus' temptations were rooted in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life—common areas where we too are tested. By saturating our lives with the Word of God, we can combat these trials effectively. Knowing and quoting Scripture accurately is a powerful weapon against the forces of evil. [09:19]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Reflect on a past trial where you saw God's deliverance. How can you use that experience to build your faith and resilience in your current spiritual walk?
Day 3: Combating Temptations
Description: The temptations we face are often rooted in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. By saturating our lives with the Word of God, we can effectively combat these trials. Jesus' experience in the wilderness serves as a powerful example of how we should respond to our own trials. He was not alone; angels ministered to Him, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. Knowing and quoting Scripture accurately is a powerful weapon against the forces of evil. [14:11]
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Reflection: Identify a specific temptation you are currently facing. How can you use Scripture to combat this temptation and rely on God's strength rather than your own?
Day 4: Trusting God Completely
Description: Trusting God with all our heart, even when circumstances seem dire, is crucial. Our strengths are gifts from God meant to benefit others, and we must not rely solely on them but on God who gave them to us. In our weakness, God's strength is perfected. Jesus' experience in the wilderness shows that even in our most challenging times, we are never alone. Angels ministered to Jesus, and they minister to us as well, reminding us that God's presence is always with us. [18:06]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would trusting Him completely in this area look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: Finishing the Job
Description: We must ask ourselves what we are to learn from our trials and how God gets glory from our suffering. The answer lies in finishing the job God has given us, trusting Him completely, and allowing Him to work through us. When we do this, God gets the glory, and we fulfill our divine purpose. Jesus' experience in the wilderness serves as a powerful example of how we should respond to our own trials. He was not alone; angels ministered to Him, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. [30:04]
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
Reflection: What specific task or calling has God given you that you need to finish? How can you trust Him completely and allow Him to work through you to complete it?
Quotes
1. "The idea that Jesus was intentionally directed by the spirit of God into the wilderness for the sole purpose of being tested by Satan in order that he might fulfill his purpose sounds a little theologically challenging to a lot of us because we we love a God who loves us so much but why would God purposely send us into what appears to be danger for us but for God it's just purpose driven yet this is precisely what the gospels teach us." [05:22] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Christ's experience in the wilderness should serve as an example to all of us, if we really look at it, of what it looks like to understand what purpose really means. Everybody walks around talking about, what is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? The simple fact is we have to understand if Jesus came with a purpose, which he did, and it was clearly that he came in a manner which God didn't want him to." [07:40] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We have to remember that the only way we can overcome anything God allows to come upon us is we have to depend on him and trust him to deliver us through it all. How many of you actually trust God today? We're getting there. Because you see, we want to trust God when it's convenient. But we don't want to trust God when times are hard, when we're dealing with people who don't want to have nothing to do with you." [10:54] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "How many of you know you've got angels fighting for you day in and day out? And we're too busy. We complain and we forget to be quiet and be still and let the angels fight for us. We think every fight that comes to my door is mine. When are you going to be still and let the Lord do what he does? When are you going to stop and understand the battle doesn't belong to you, it belongs to the Lord?" [11:37] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We can only recognize and combat these trials if we saturate our lives with the word of God. Why do you teach? We spend so much time teaching the word of God here. So you have something to fight with. And when you put on the whole arm of God, you only have one offensive weapon. Everything else, the helmet defense, the breastplate, of righteousness defense you only got one weapon for offense and that's the word of god you need to know it well enough to send it out so it'll do what god said accomplish what he wanted and bring it back to him and you get the victory god gets the glory everybody goes home happy knowing the bible will put the sword of the lord in your hands and in your mouth so that you can walk with it day in and day out." [14:44] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When you're tested it is often when you are alone and by yourself look at Jesus when the devil tempted him in the wilderness he wasn't in the temple surrounded by hebrews and saints he wasn't on the cross wasn't when he was getting ready to be baptized he tested him when he was in the wilderness all by himself where you ain't got nobody to call on but God don't get angry because you find yourself all alone in the midst of your storm that's exactly where God wants you because all you got is him." [15:58] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You need to know God got you exactly where he wants you right there because now he can talk to you while you're being tempted by the devil when you're under physical stress emotional strain relationships are falling apart children don't want to do right spouses ain't going to do right you're going everywhere but to God but don't get it twisted not only do Satan like to attack you when you're weakness he goes after your strengths because you think your strengths are your weapons you think that's your fight they think that's you in the battle so he goes after he knew that Jesus had the power over stones to turn them into bread if he wanted to but he wasn't so high minded that he couldn't humble himself beneath God's hand and said if God wanted me to live." [17:11] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We must always remember that our strengths are gifts from God and he gave them to you to benefit others around you God will fight for you if you just shut up and get out of the way if you go somewhere and sit down and let God do what God does best but you understand this now don't get me wrong there are some things God is not going to do to you or to deliver you out of you're there for the duration and the reason you're there for the duration is because God said to you just like he said to the rest of us in your weakness is my strength perfected because while I'm leaving you in this mess my grace is sufficient to keep you in it so quit whining about it quit complaining about it man up and do what you're supposed to do while you're there." [18:06] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "What do you learn when you're going through trials and tribulations what's the first thing that pops in your mind what do you learn when all hell breaks loose in your life nothing seems to go right and everything you try to fix gets broke again what do you learn in all of that in your darkest and most trying times you got to remember the Lord is your shepherd and you shall not move you got to remember to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding you got to know that what you need to learn is to trust God in all things everything trust God." [26:09] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You got to learn how to trust God no matter how bad it get no matter how difficult it seem you got to understand God has you here for a purpose and when you walk away how many of you right now can say I know my purpose other than me see I suffered in mine long enough to know what it looks like I've had to deal with enough people to understand what it looks like I've had to pray for folk who talk about you behind your back but that's what it looks like I've had to give the folk who hid theirs from me so they wouldn't lie when they said it didn't happen but God said you continue to go and do the work of him that sent you while it is day the answer is trust in the Lord but my God shall supply all if God's going to supply everything you need why are you trusting me for something why are you calling me when you me Lord we have to get to that place where nothing stands between me and God nobody and when they don't understand what you're going through smile because it ain't for them they ain't supposed to understand they ain't supposed to know and if you keep your mouth closed Joseph and don't tell them you won't get sold into slavery you got to learn how to keep your business between you and God and trust God to do what God has called you to do." [28:44] (94 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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