Be Mature By Warren W. Wiersbe Turning Trials into Triumphs Chapter 2

1. Be MatureBy Warren W. WiersbeTurning Trials into TriumphsChapter 2

2. Four Imperatives for Trials into Triumphs • Count (1:2) – a joyful attitude • Know (1:3) – an understanding mind • Let (1:4 & 9-11) – a surrendered will • Ask (1:5-8) • Count – a joyful attitude (1:2) • Expect trials • Outlook determines outcomes • Attitude determines actions • Trials because we are: • Human • Sickness, accidents, disappointments, tragedies • Christians • Fall into: encounter • Divers: various and varicolored

3. Don’t look at the wrong side, for example, the rug being weaved underneath • Count, financial term, means to evaluate • He lives for things that matters most • Heb 12:2 - …who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,… • Job 23:10 – But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. • Give thanks to God for the trials • To end with joy, begin with joy. • How? • Know – an understanding mind (1:3) • Benefits: • Faith is always tested to: • Increase faith • Bring out the best

4. Testing work for us, not against us • Trying can be translated as approval • I 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: • Romans 8:28 – 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. • II Corinthians 4:17 – For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; • Trials rightly used help us to mature. • What God want to produce in our lives? • Patience, endurance, and ability to keep going when the things are tough.

5. Patience – not a passive acceptance of circumstances, but a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering & difficulty • Impatience & unbelief go together • Faith & patience (Heb. 6:12 – That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. • Patient is the key to every other blessing • Impatience – examples: Abraham & Hagar (Gen. 6), Moses & murder ( Ex. 2:11 ff) • How to get patience – not reading a book, sermons, or prayers, but trials • Let – a surrendered will (1:4 & 9-11) • Building a character requires our cooperation or chastisement to submission • Perfect work (complete) • Sheltered Christians never grow up

6. Three works for complete Christian life (Eph. 2:8-10) • God does the work for us – salvation (Christ’s complete work) Eph. 2:8 • God does the work in us – sanctification • “For we are his workmanship” Eph. 2:10 • Purpose – “conformed to the image of Christ” Rom. 8:29 • God works through us – service • “Created in Christ Jesus unto good works” Eph 2:10 • God builds character before He calls • Examples: Abraham for 25 years before he received a promised son • Joseph for 13 years before he became a right hand man to Pharaoh • Moses for 80 years for next 40 years of service • Disciples for 3 years before service

7. God cannot work without our permission • Mature Christians don’t argue with God’s will • “Doing the will of God’s from the heart” Eph 6:6 • No surrendered will causes immature Christians like Jonah • Weaning – a step toward maturity and freedom • God weaned His children from childishness & immature attitudes • 2 kinds of Christians • Rich & poor • Trials to level us • Reliance on spiritual resources, not physical resources to go through trials • Ask – a believing heart (1:5-8) • Ask God for wisdom • Knowledge is the ability to take things apart while wisdom is the ability to put things together

8. Wisdom is the right use of the knowledge • Wisdom helps us to understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory • How to ask – in faith • Greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief • Doubting believers like waves of the sea • Peter sank in the sea after walking on the water • Double-minded believer • Doubting as evidence of immaturity • Ephesians 4:14 – “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,” • Instability & immaturity go together

9. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. – James 1:12 • He is rewarded by enduring temptations • How is he rewarded? • Growth in Christian character • Bringing glory to God • Being granted a crown of life when Jesus Christ returns • Cross > Crown • Suffering > Glory • Trials: • Satan uses them to tear us down while God uses them to build us up. • Love, not trust or obedience, is the spiritual motivation behind every imperative (count, know, let, & ask)

10. Love keeps us faithful to the Lord unlike unfaithful lover who loves both God & world • Purify your hearts, ye double-minded (James 4:8) • Example of weaning • Secure in His love • Example: Lot • God’s purpose in trials: maturity • “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing” • Charles B. Williams translation: “But you must let your endurance come to its perfect product so that you may be fully developed and perfectly equipped.”