Trusting God Through Trials: The Power of Words
Summary
In our journey through life, the power of words cannot be underestimated. Words have the ability to build up or tear down, to bring life or death. This truth is evident in the story of Job, where Eliphaz accuses Job of speaking empty words, yet it is Eliphaz's own words that reveal his misunderstanding of God's nature. The tongue, as James reminds us, holds immense power, and it is crucial to use it wisely. Our words reflect the condition of our hearts, and they can either align with God's truth or stray into deceit and harm.
The story of Job challenges us to examine our motives in our relationship with God. Are we seeking Him for what we can gain, or do we genuinely love and trust Him, even in the midst of trials? True trust in God is tested not when life is smooth, but when we face adversity. It is in these moments that our faith is refined, and our love for God is proven genuine. The transactional view of faith, where we expect blessings in exchange for our obedience, is flawed. Instead, our relationship with God should be rooted in love, not fear or expectation of reward.
Eliphaz's error was in believing that righteousness guarantees a life free from suffering. Job's experience shatters this notion, showing that even the righteous can endure hardship. This teaches us that our faith should not be contingent on our circumstances. Instead, we are called to trust God through every season, knowing that He is sovereign and His purposes are beyond our understanding.
Ultimately, our journey with God is not about what we can get from Him, but about who He is. Our worship, service, and love should be offered freely, not as a means to an end. In doing so, we align ourselves with God's eternal purposes, finding joy and strength in His presence, regardless of life's challenges.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Words: Words have the power to build or destroy, reflecting the condition of our hearts. We must use our tongues wisely, speaking life and truth, as they reveal our inner spiritual state. [02:41]
2. True Trust in Trials: Genuine trust in God is tested in adversity, not in comfort. Our faith is refined through trials, revealing the depth of our love and reliance on God, beyond mere transactional expectations. [18:15]
3. Love Over Fear: Our relationship with God should be motivated by love, not fear or expectation of reward. Love is the highest motive for obedience, sustaining us through life's ups and downs. [30:08]
4. Enduring Through Seasons: Life's seasons of suffering and joy are temporary. Our focus should be on eternal truths, trusting that God will turn our trials for good and that His glory will be revealed in us. [40:46]
5. Patiently Waiting on God: In times of suffering, we are called to wait patiently, trusting that God's joy will come in the morning. Our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. [42:19]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:41] - The Power of Words
[06:37] - The Tongue Reveals the Heart
[10:32] - Eliphaz's Accusation
[12:59] - The Flaw of Transactional Faith
[16:18] - Motives in Worship
[18:15] - Trust Tested in Trials
[22:54] - Love, Not Transaction
[26:59] - Consistency in Faith
[30:08] - Love as the Fulfillment of the Law
[33:00] - Disqualifying the Messenger
[36:03] - Seasons of Suffering and Joy
[39:29] - God's Long-Suffering and Justice
[40:46] - Temporary Trials, Eternal Glory
[42:19] - Waiting Patiently for God's Joy
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Job 15:1-6
2. James 3:5-6
3. Romans 13:8-10
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Observation Questions:
1. In Job 15:1-6, how does Eliphaz describe Job's words, and what does this reveal about Eliphaz's understanding of Job's situation? [10:32]
2. According to James 3:5-6, what is the significance of the tongue, and how does this relate to the power of words discussed in the sermon? [02:41]
3. How does Romans 13:8-10 describe the relationship between love and the law, and how does this connect to the sermon’s emphasis on love over fear? [30:08]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the impact of words on relationships, both positively and negatively? [06:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Eliphaz's belief in a transactional relationship with God contrast with the sermon’s message about genuine trust in God during trials? [12:59]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our words reflect the condition of our hearts, and how does this align with the teachings in James 3:5-6? [06:37]
3. How does the sermon challenge the idea that righteousness guarantees a life free from suffering, and what biblical examples support this view? [14:34]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of love in our relationship with God, and how does this relate to the fulfillment of the law as described in Romans 13:8-10? [30:08]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where your words may have either built someone up or torn them down. How can you be more intentional about speaking life and truth in your daily interactions? [02:41]
2. Think about a time when your faith was tested during a trial. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to deepen your trust in God during future challenges? [18:15]
3. Consider your motives in your relationship with God. Are there areas where you might be seeking God for what you can gain rather than out of genuine love? How can you shift your focus to love over fear? [30:08]
4. Identify a season of suffering or joy in your life. How can you maintain your focus on eternal truths and trust that God will use your experiences for good? [40:46]
5. In what ways can you practice patience and trust in God’s timing, especially during difficult times? How does the promise of future glory encourage you to wait patiently? [42:19]
6. How can you cultivate a heart that speaks godly words, reflecting a genuine love for God and others? What practical steps can you take to align your speech with your faith? [06:37]
7. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are they motivated by love or by a desire for reward? How can you ensure that your worship and service are offered freely to God? [22:54]
Devotional
Day 1: The Weight of Our Words
Words have the power to shape our reality and influence the lives of those around us. They can either build up or tear down, reflecting the true condition of our hearts. In the story of Job, Eliphaz accuses Job of speaking empty words, yet it is Eliphaz's own words that reveal his misunderstanding of God's nature. This serves as a reminder that our words are a reflection of our inner spiritual state. James warns us of the immense power of the tongue, urging us to use it wisely. As believers, we are called to speak life and truth, aligning our words with God's eternal purposes. [02:41]
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where your words may have caused harm. How can you seek reconciliation and speak life into that relationship today?
Day 2: Trusting God in Adversity
True trust in God is not tested in times of comfort but in moments of adversity. The story of Job challenges us to examine our motives in our relationship with God. Are we seeking Him for what we can gain, or do we genuinely love and trust Him, even in the midst of trials? Our faith is refined through trials, revealing the depth of our love and reliance on God, beyond mere transactional expectations. It is in these moments that our faith is proven genuine, and our love for God is shown to be true. [18:15]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current trial in your life. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an opportunity for your faith to grow and deepen your trust in God?
Day 3: Love as the Foundation of Faith
Our relationship with God should be motivated by love, not fear or expectation of reward. Love is the highest motive for obedience, sustaining us through life's ups and downs. The transactional view of faith, where we expect blessings in exchange for our obedience, is flawed. Instead, our worship, service, and love should be offered freely, not as a means to an end. In doing so, we align ourselves with God's eternal purposes, finding joy and strength in His presence, regardless of life's challenges. [30:08]
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Colossians 3:14, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your motivations for serving God. Are there areas where fear or expectation of reward have overshadowed your love for Him? How can you realign your heart to serve out of genuine love?
Day 4: Persevering Through Life's Seasons
Life's seasons of suffering and joy are temporary. Our focus should be on eternal truths, trusting that God will turn our trials for good and that His glory will be revealed in us. Eliphaz's error was in believing that righteousness guarantees a life free from suffering. Job's experience shatters this notion, showing that even the righteous can endure hardship. This teaches us that our faith should not be contingent on our circumstances. Instead, we are called to trust God through every season, knowing that He is sovereign and His purposes are beyond our understanding. [40:46]
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a season of suffering or joy you are currently experiencing. How can you focus on God's eternal truths and trust in His sovereign plan during this time?
Day 5: Waiting Patiently for God's Timing
In times of suffering, we are called to wait patiently, trusting that God's joy will come in the morning. Our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. This requires a deep trust in God's timing and His ultimate plan for our lives. As we wait, we are reminded that our journey with God is not about what we can get from Him, but about who He is. Our worship, service, and love should be offered freely, aligning ourselves with God's eternal purposes. [42:19]
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to wait on God's timing? How can you cultivate patience and trust in His perfect plan today?
Quotes
1. "Nothing has built the church faster and more efficiently than words and the use of the tongue. In the Acts of the Apostle, the church grew and the people were added daily because of the preaching of the apostles. Romans 10, 14 reminds us how then can they call on the one they have not believed and how can they believe in the one they have not believed. How can they call on the one of whom they have not heard and how can they hear without someone preaching to them and how can anyone preach unless they are sent. Words have power as a matter of fact even faith itself cometh by and hearing the which means if the word is heard it must first be spoken." [02:41] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The tongue reveals the condition of the soul. It got quiet on this front right so let me just let me just look at y'all for a moment and it's a the tongue reveals the condition of the soul me let me tell you where the Bible puts it a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good at an evil man out of the evil treasure of this heart brings forth evil for out of the abundance of the household heart his mouth speak your mouth will tell on you oh it will tell on you have you ever been in a situation where your mouth told on you and you had to go I didn't mean you got caught up in a situation and your mouth started talking quicker than your mind could because your heart is actually informing the mouth and not just the mind and out of the abundance of a heart therefore we should speak godly tell somebody speak godly the person's words tell on themselves and will either build up or tear down." [06:37] (85 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The idea of trusting God in my life only when things are going right is not what trust is about because trust is only tested when you go through trials you don't know this is for somebody who's dating right now amen you don't know whether or not there's real trust until you've gone through a trial you And when you go through a trial, the trial will reveal whether or not you can trust. And the trial will either strengthen your trust or deteriorate the trust. You'll either come out stronger on the other end or come out weaker on the other end. And trials reveal how much we trust God. Because when things are going right, you don't really need much trust. But when everything's going wrong and you still trust, now we're getting to the real motive of the condition of our heart." [18:15] (80 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The joy of the Lord does not guarantee the absence of pain and suffering. It is a promise to have joy regardless of the pain. other words, I'm sick in my body, but the sickness still can't touch my joy. I've got sorrow in my heart. joy my house can get foreclosed on my car can be repossessed my clothes can have stains on them of the Lord then I've got all the strength I need when we live a transactional relationship with God we attach our joy to the formula instead of the God who's above it all we've got to speak godly but we've got to serve lovingly." [20:21] (114 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If your consistency is only tied to what you receive, then you will be consistently inconsistent. Because in this life, we're going to have some mountains and we're going to have some valleys. And if my level of consistency. Commitment. Is just tied to the condition. Of the terrain that I'm navigating. Then I'll be inconsistent. In my journey. But when my consistency. Is tied to a God. Who is the same. Yesterday. Today. And forevermore. It does not matter what I'm going through. I'm going to still keep my hand. On the gospel plow. It does not matter what my neighbor is going through. I'm still going to pursue the presence of the almighty. It does not matter. Because my consistency is not tied to what I'm getting. It's tied to the one I'm giving it to." [26:59] (76 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Love is what keeps you faithful to God. Love is what keeps you faithful to your family. Love is what keeps you faithful to God. Love is what keeps you faithful in this life. Fear is only there temporarily for self preservation. It is self seeking. It is how do I keep myself alive in this moment right now. But love is from everlasting to everlasting. Fear will one day pass away. For there is no fear. No fear other than just the fear of the Lord. Which is a healthy different fear in heaven. In heaven there is love. person. Who is faithful. Who is always living in fear. Is usually lacking in love." [30:58] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The suffering that you are going through. For a season. At some point God turns around. For your good. And the mess that they are going through. And it seems like they are not suffering. For a season. If they don't repent. It turns around. And the seas they sow. Shall be their own. It is and I'm done. Word tells us therefore. We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing. Yet the inward man. Is being rewarded. Day by day. For our light affliction. Which is but for. A moment. Is working for us. Exceedingly. An eternal weight of glory. While we do. Not. Look at the things which are seen. But at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen. Are temporary. But the things which are not seen. Are eternal." [40:46] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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