WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN YOUR TRIALS?

Today, we want to look at “THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN YOUR TRIALS.” To make it to Heaven in the life to come, you MUST endure hardship (afflictions, persecutions, sufferings) in this present world.

God said, “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.

2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, (1) to humble thee, and (2) to prove thee, (3) to know what was in thine heart, (4) whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or not…” (Deut. 8:1-2).

There are definite reasons why you are going through the unpleasant situations you are going through right now.

We must realize that our God is a God of purpose. He does nothing without a purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 says, “And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose in this is that people should fear Him. 15 Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past. For God calls each event back in its turn.”

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

What is purpose? Purpose is the very reason for which something exists or is done. Realize that plans may change, but God’s purpose remains permanent.

                                          

Through those unpleasant experiences God wants to:

1. To humble you:

“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, TO HUMBLE THEE,…..” (Deut. 8:2).

To humble you means to remove every atom of pride from your life. We shall consider four aspects of pride:

• ·         What is pride?
• ·         What are the manifestations of pride or how can one recognize the spirit of pride?
• ·         What are the consequences of pride?
• ·         Why is pride such a terrible offense to God?

What is pride? (1) Pride is the feeling of superiority. (2) Pride is a haughty (snobbish) attitude shown by people who consider, often unjustifiably, that they are better than others. For instance, your pride prevents you from mixing with those you consider your social inferiors.

(3) The Bible defines pride as thinking of yourself more highly than you ought to. Pride results from overvaluing yourself and undervaluing others.

Apostle Paul said, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK; but to think soberly (rationally, earnestly), according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3).

Pride involves wanting too much recognition, taking too much credit, WANTING YOUR OWN WAY, thinking your own way is the best - in summary, thinking too highly of yourself.

(4) Pride is defined as high-mindedness. 1 Timothy 6:17  says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”

Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart (spirit). Hence one reads, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart (spirit), the lamp of the wicked, are sin” (Prov. 21:4, RSV).

How does the spirit of pride manifest itself? The spirit of pride can be identified in the following ways:

1. Inability to mix with people that are not your social equals. Your pride prevents you from mixing with those you consider your social inferiors.

2. Wanting your own way, thinking your way is the best. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 16:25).

3. Whenever you consider your agenda more important than God’s agenda – whenever you don’t make God your priority. For instance, it is time for fellowship but you prefer to stay in your business center and make money. It is time to go for group evangelism but you prefer to go and watch football match. Who is your priority? If your priority is not God in all things, that is pride in manifestation.

Jesus said, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33).

4. Pride can infect your speech. You are a Nigerian, but you now try to speak like an American. We call this “phonetics.” This is pride.

5. Boasting is one way by which this sin can show up in one’s speaking. In Mal 3:13 God said, “Your words have been stout against Me. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?”

6. Pride can also manifest in the way you look at another person. You should never look down on anybody. Hence, the Scriptures speak of “haughty eyes” or “a proud look.  “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:17).

A proud look will cause God to cut you off from His Kingdom. God said, “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer” (Ps. 101:5).

7. Pride may also take the ugly form of contemptible treatment of others. Proverbs 21:24 says, “Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.” For instance, how do you treat your house helps? Do you treat them as your biological children or as slaves?

One of the illustrations of contemptible treatment of others in the Bible is the way in which the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders treated and spoke of those beneath their social level (Matt. 23:5-12; Jn. 9:34).

8. Taking credit for the accomplishments of others indicates that pride is controlling your life. When you notice pride taking a foothold, take immediate steps to put it in check by giving credit to those who deserve it.

9. Anytime you start talking about your accomplishments and how wonderful you are, remember that that is a manifestation of the spirit of pride.

1 Samuel 13:3-4 says, “Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines that Israel was in revolt, so Saul sounded the call to arms throughout Israel. 4 He announced that the Philistine garrison at Geba had been destroyed, and he warned the people that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army mobilized again and met Saul at Gilgal.”

Jonathan attacked and destroyed the Philistine outpost, but Saul took all the credit for it. Saul’s growing pride started out small-taking credit for a battle that was won by his son. Left unchecked, his pride grew into an ugly obsession; thus, it destroyed him, tore his family apart, and threatened the well-being of the nation.

In 1 Samuel 15:12 says, “Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”

Saul built a monument in honour of himself. What a contrast to Moses and Joshua, who gave all the credit to God. When you begin to give yourself the credit that belongs to God, pride has set in in your life. You say things like this, “I am a self-made man.”

What was it that God fought in Genesis 11 concerning the tower of Babel? It was pride that God dealt with by confusing their language. In Genesis 11:4 they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." 

You see, they wanted to make a name for themselves and not for God. They wanted something for which they can take credit. They did not know that by strength shall no man prevail (1 Sam. 2:9). They did not know that it is not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord (Zech. 4:6). They did not know that it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy (Rom. 9:16).

Pride makes you to always hunger for more attention and adoration.

Beloved, I plead with you, don’t give up holiness no matter what. He that endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22). Keep on keeping on. You are almost there!

CONCLUSION: The Word of God should settle God’s stand in this matter: Without holiness no man shall see the LORD (Heb. 12:14).

Watch out for the next edition of Good news from the Pulpit!

·         Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor).

 

Promise of God: This week, “God will undo all that afflict you and give you fame instead of shame” (Zeph. 3:19-20).