Bible Study Notes: Count It All Joy When Trials Come !

Special Note from the Editor: This study originally appeared in a series of studies in 2005 and 2006, as part of the role that suffering plays in a Christian’s life. This study is a compilation of highlights from the Book of Acts, II Timothy and II Peter. Edited portions have been used by permission of Christians Traveling Alone.com. In the past few weeks a number of fellow believers have shared with me various struggles they have been having, from trouble at work, sickness with family members and close friends to personal pain, discouragement and suffering. God is faithful, of this we can be sure and He uses all things to mold us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. May this study be used to push you into a deeper study of how God uses things, all things in our lives to mold us into the ministry He has called us to.

The Apostle Paul and Peter’s Last Words to the Church: Count It All Joy When Trials Come!
Overview: The Apostle Paul and Peter, never complained but always prayed and waited on God, regardless of the circumstances. Neither man ever doubted that God was in the details of their lives and they both patiently endured all things for a chance to preach the Gospel. Paul and Peter’s entire life was consumed with spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many as they could reach. Paul’s entire life in the Book of Acts was one beating after another and was even afflicted with a disease that God would not cure, even though Paul cured others in the name of Jesus. Paul endured all things right up until the time he exclaimed in that at the end of his life everyone deserted him, except for Luke and the Lord. (II Timothy 4:16-17) Peter, lying in the same prison, possibly near the same time as Paul in 66-68 A.D. near the Roman Coliseum, also exhorted fellow believers to stay strong for Jesus from his prison cell, as he awaited execution. Paul always realized that God’s love would and could sustain him through any circumstance in life, as did Peter. No matter how hard the trials sent by Satan and allowed by God, they continued to give thanks and to give God praise in the middle of some extremely difficult circumstances. May we have the same strength and endurance that both Paul and Peter had while they faced a violent and eminent death for their faith in Jesus Christ.

II Timothy 4: Paul’s Last Words to the Church !
II Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at] His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
II Timothy 4:6-16 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
II Timothy 4:17-22  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 21 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ]be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

II Peter 1: Peter’s Last Words to the Church !
II Peter 1:10-21 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Personal Application: God will and does allow seemingly difficult circumstances in our lives to strengthen us and to affect God’s perfect will in our life and in the lives of others. We may never understand why God allows the things to happen to us that He does. After reading about Paul’s life in the book of Acts it is clear that God does allow bad things to happen to good people. The Apostle Peter also faced similar difficult circumstances in his life as Peter taught others about Jesus. There are some popular teachers today that say the life for a Christian should be a life of ease, prosperity and fortune. Our examples from Paul in the Book of Acts and from Peter’s letters teach us is that God uses difficult things to mold us into His image. Then God sometimes uses these tough circumstance to bring others into a saving knowledge of Him, by how we handle the trials in our lives. Don’t judge a fellow believer who is going through a hard time as a person who is being judged by God because of sin in their life. It may just be that the person is enduring the trial because God knows that they can handle it and that it will make them stronger and bring others to Jesus Christ. We all would desire an easy life without pain or trials or troubles. If you have this life, praise the Lord. If not, be aware that you are in good company in the long list of the Hall of Fame of suffering saints for Jesus Christ.

Count It All Joy When Trials Come! God's Prescription for Trials - Found in His Word !

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith works patience.

II Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

John 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him, who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, of things on the earth and things under the earth. And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

II Corinthians 11:24 From the Jews fives times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes me daily, my deep concern for all the churches.

II Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak then I am strong.

I Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

I Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. I Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.

Romans 8:31-37 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also freely give us all things. Who shall lay thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who even is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

The Key to Enduring Suffering in Our Lives !

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Psalm 50:15 Call unto Me in your time of trouble and I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me. I

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.