In the Bible there are only two things that will move you:

• Afflictions (1 Thessalonians 3:3)
• Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)

The Holy Spirit will not move you away from the Lord, but if you allow them to, afflictions just might.

Do not allow the afflictions of this life to move you away from the Lord, but instead, use those afflictions to grow closer to the Lord.

Afflictions Are Necessary

Afflictions are necessary for the life of a Believer.  Afflictions or Trials are a form of discipline used by the Lord.  Most people view discipline in a negative light; discipline is not always negative.

Discipline Is A Sign Of Love

Discipline is a sign that you are loved.  The Lord only disciplines those that he loves.  You would not bother to discipline someone if you did not care about the result would you?  Neither does God.  He disciplines you in Love, because he cares about you, and wants only the best for you.

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.  – Proverbs 3:12

Discipline Is A Sign Of Belonging

Not only is discipline a sign that you are loved, but discipline is also a sign that you belong.  No-one typically will discipline complete strangers. Unless you were given charge of them, it is doubtful that you would go around and discipline people that belong to a different family.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  – Hebrews 12:7

Discipline Is Helpful

Receiving discipline will help you to become a productive member of the aforementioned family.  When you are disciplined, instead of concentrating on the discipline itself, try to see what lessons can be gleaned, and how that discipline can help you to fulfill your role in the family.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised  – Hebrews 12:11

Afflictions Are Part Of Your Calling

As a Christian, you are called to go through afflictions.  Not just the afflictions that the Lord brings as a form of discipline, but also the afflictions that you will wrongfully suffer as well.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.  – 1 Peter 2:18-25

Taking unwarranted suffering with patience is what you are called to do.  Refusing to do so will prohibit you from fulfilling the calling on your life as a believer.  If you attempt to avoid trials and afflictions in your life, you will miss out on the following four things that are produced in your life only by those afflictions.

4 Things Produced Through Affliction:

Proves The Reality Of Your Faith

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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  – 1 Peter 1:6-7

Afflictions and trials that you endure in your life as a believer will force you to consider what you believe.  It is easy to say that you believe the promises found in the Bible when everything seems to be going good in your life.  It is during those times of affliction that you will manifest your true beliefs.

Provides Opportunity To Comfort Others

Afflictions will not only prove the reality of your faith, but they will provide you with the opportunity to comfort and to encourage other people who are also going through afflictions in their lives.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-6

If you never experience afflictions, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to comfort and encourage those who are currently experiencing afflictions in their lives.  One of the main reasons that the Lord allows you to go through afflictions is specifically so that you can be an encouragement to others while they are discouraged.

Promotes Character

Afflictions in the life of the believer will promote good character.  Character is not developed in times of ease and quiet but is developed by struggle.  Character is what rises to the top during trials.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  – Romans 5:1-4

Purges Impurity From Your Life

Testing and afflictions will remove Impurity. You remove impurities from precious metals by putting them through the fire, and the same is true for the believer.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  – Job 23:10

For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.  – Psalms 66:10-12

By going through trials and afflictions, the Lord will be able to bring you to a better place spiritually than where you started.

Sometimes the thing that we need to keep up close to the Lord is adversaries and afflictions.  Do not run from the very things that will draw you closer to the Lord.

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.