Praise Chapel Of Anaheim
“How To Triumph Through Trials” (9 Principles)
Pastor Albert Garcia
April 15, 2009

TEXT: John 11:1-44

INTRODUCTION: Are you going through a trial today?

Ø Financial difficulty?

Ø Marital problems?

Ø Health issues?

Ø Difficult employer?

Ø Tonight I want to speak on “How to Triumph through trials”

o We will draw 9 principles from one of the greatest trials in scripture.

I. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO GLORIFY GOD THROUGH YOUR TRIAL.

a. Sometimes God allows trials in order to glorify Himself through the trial.

1. Many Christians just complain instead of looking for an opportunity to glorify God through their trial.

b. Lazarus trial was for the purpose of glorifying God.

1. (V-4) “When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

c. The N.T. clearly teaches that we should accept our trials as friends.

II. REST ASURE GOD STILL LOVES YOU EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOUGH HE HAS ALLOWED A TRIAL TO DOCK AT YOUR HARBOR.

a. Some people think God stopped loving them just because He allowed a trial in their lives.

b. God allowed a great trial in the lives of Lazarus, Marry and Martha but He still loved them.

1. (V 5) “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

III. DON’T TRY TO SIDE STEP THE PROCESS. (GOD HAS A PERFECT TIMING IN WHICH TO RESCUE YOU.)

a. If God allows a trial He has a purpose for that trial.

1. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

b. He will not give you more than you can handle.

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

c. God also has a timing to get you out of the trial.

1. Jesus did not immediately respond to Lazarus trial.

a. (V 6) “Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

d. We must allow the trial to finish the work God must do through it.

1. James 1:2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

IV. JESUS KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT YOUR ARE GOING THROUGH.

a. He is aware of all the trials that plague you.

1. Worry.

2. Financial hardship.

3. Physical illness.

4. Marital trouble.

b. Jesus was about two miles distance from where Lazarus, Mary and Martha were.

1. (V 18) “Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,

c. He was sent word that Lazarus was sick.

1. (V 3) “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

d. Jesus knew that Lazarus was more than sick. (HE WAS DEAD!)

1. (V 14) “So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead”

V. SOMETIMES GOD WILL USE YOUR TRIAL TO BRING OTHERS TO FAITH IN CHRIST.

a. Jesus used Lazarus trial to increase the disciples faith.

1. (V 14-15) “So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

b. Isaiah the prophet wrote that God used Jesus trial to bring us to faith.

1. Isaiah 53:5 “ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

c. The apostle Paul echoed this in the N.T.

1. 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

VI. DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF IN THE TRIAL.

a. It is the tendency for many to isolate themselves in the trial.

1. Don’t talk to no one.

2. Dont take phone calls.

3. Don’t look for help.

b. The Bible warns against this attitude.

1. Eccl. 4:9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls Down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who fall and has no one to help him up!

c. Mary and Martha were comforted through their trial because they did not isolate themselves.

1. They opened their lives up to others in their time of trial.

a. (V 19) “and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

VII. WALK INTO THE LIGHT IN TIMES OF DARKNESS.

a. Too many Christians run away from Christ in times of trial.

1. They stop praying.

2. They stop reading their word.

3. They stop giving.

4. They stop coming to church.

5. They just want to stay at HOME!

6. THIS IS THE WRONG THING TO DO!

b. When you go through a trial RUN to Jesus don’t stay at home.

1. (V 20) “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

2. NOTE: Mary was the one that sat at Jesus feet, she also poured ointment on Jesus feet worth one years wages. (Now in the trial she is discouraged and doesn’t come to Jesus!)

VIII. JESUS SYMPATHIZES WITH YOUR GRIEF.

a. This means He feels your pain.

1. He knows how you feel when you are scared.

2. He knows how you feel when you are hurt.

3. He knows how you feel when you are depressed.

b. He has been touched with all of our grief’s.

1. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

c. He felt the same sorrow that the people experienced at loss of Lazarus.

1. (V 33-35) “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.³⁵Jesus wept.

IX. NEVER STOP BELIEVING FOR THE IMPOSIBLE IN TIMES OF TRIAL.

a. Trials will either make you or break you.

1. Trials make some better and some bitter.

a. This is why there are a lot of bitter Christians.

2. Some will grow in faith and some will lose faith in the trial.

b. Martha stopped believing in the time of her trial.

1. She did not believe that Jesus had the power to resurrect Lazarus because he had been dead four days.

a. (V 39-40) “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

c. Jesus showed Martha that if she would continue to believe she could see a miracle.

1. (V 40-44) “Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”⁴¹So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”⁴³When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

d. Have you stopped believing for the impossible?

1. Restoration of your marriage?

2. Healing?

3. Financial breakthrough?

4. Salvation of a loved one?

a. (V 40) “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?

IN CLOSING: How do you handle your trials?

Ø Do you look for opportunities to glorify God through your trial?

Ø Do you rest in the fact the God loves you?

Ø Do you try to short step the process?

Ø Do you allow your trial to be used by God to bring others to faith in Christ?

Ø Do you walk into the light? (Or do you stay at home like Mary?)

Ø Have you stopped believing for the impossible?