Trials
and let’s face it….some days there are many trials:
Trials of belief…..”do you trust God for this?”
Trials of hope….”How long, Lord, before this is as You said?”
Trials from friends, family, and enemies.
Trials of finances, and need…..some to overwhelming.
Psalm 61:2-4 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.”
In the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place….the curtains that covered in between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies and on top of the of the space was embroidered with cherubims wings (Psalm 26:1, 31-33)……so that when the priests entered…..and ministered there….they were covered with His wings.
The Lord said to Jerusalem….the place where one day the King of kings shall rule:
Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34 says the same)
The Lord would “hide” us under His wings…..in protection, and comfort, and closeness….in our ministry and life.
They would not…..will we run to Him and be safe? (Proverbs 18:10)
Trials are of two kinds…..trials of everyday life we simply must “pass through” with Christ.
1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
The walk of a Christian is full of trials…everyday trials we overcome before the world. And my trials are not yours….nor yours, mine. They are sometimes small (wonderful) and sometimes hard….but they are meant to teach us to cling to Christ….and pass through.
(They used to say: If we would be arrested for being a Christian….would there be enough evidence against us….to convict us?
And the……there trials which test our faithfulness to Christ.
1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (Hebrews 11:36-37)
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Paul said at the end….”….I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 3:7)
(One thing I would mention here,….in all trials, but esp. those of our faithfulness…….we need to keep close to Christ.
We will never come through the trials in blessing, if we are trying to walk with the world and Christ.)
How many trials we pass through, yet the place of safety and care is offered….
Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
Psalm 36:7 “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.”
Psalm 17:8-9 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings,
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.”
(You will notice again what these “wings” give….
….A place to stand and hold: His truth.
….His lovingkindness….which draws us to trust Him.
….Protection…but it is the protection of a loved one….the apple of His eye.)
The song, “What a Friend”, says:
“What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”
God knows and has measured the trials of our life….and He intends we walk through them (on the lonely road, and in the fire of the furnace) with Him.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 