Tri­als, Tribu­la­tions And Afflictions

Ps. 25:18Ps. 25:18
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
18 Look upon mine afflic­tion and my pain; and for­give all my sins.  

WP-Bible plu­gin “Look upon mine afflic­tion and my pain; and for­give all my sins.”

Chris­tians are expe­ri­enc­ing “tri­als, tribu­la­tions and afflic­tions” of all kinds.   Suffering is so con­trary to our nat­ural fleshly response to suf­fer­ing.  Afflic­tions many times is a result of sanc­ti­fi­ca­tion — dying to self. Times of great­est dif­fi­culty and dis­ap­point­ment often lead to repen­tance and change.  Afflic­tions are to draw our atten­tion to God and His Word.

What is the value of afflic­tion? In Psalm 119:71Psalm 119:71
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  

WP-Bible plu­gin the Psalmist says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted;that I might learn thy statutes.”

Kinds of Afflictions

1. Men afflict­ing men

2. Men oppress­ing widows

3. Hus­bands mis­treat­ing wives

4. Mas­ters or bosses oppress­ing slaves or employees

5. Con­querors afflict­ing the con­quered (war)

6. Self-affliction of the soul by fast­ing or like our young peo­ple today self affic­tict­ing to deal with emo­tional pain.

7. Wicked men afflict­ing neigh­bors in var­i­ous ways

8. Wicked per­se­cut­ing the godly

9. Gen­tiles oppress­ing Jews

10. Heavy responsibility

11. Suf­fer­ings of Christ

12. Var­i­ous agents of God caus­ing many kinds of suf­fer­ing accord­ing to God’s law of sowin and reaping

Learn The Pur­poses of Affliction

1.  To work good in a per­son (Ps. 119:71Ps. 119:71
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  

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2. Hide pride from man (Job 3314–29)

3. Demon­strate God’s faith­ful­ness (Ps. 119:75Ps. 119:75
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
75 I know, O LORD, that thy judg­ments are right, and that thou in faith­ful­ness hast afflicted me. right: Heb. right­eous­ness  

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4. To test sin­cer­ity (Mark 4:17Mark 4:17
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
17 And have no root in them­selves, and so endure but for a time: after­ward, when afflic­tion or per­se­cu­tion ariseth for the word’s sake, imme­di­ately they are offended. offended: or, stum­bled, or, caused to fall into sin  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Job 1–2; Jas. 5:10–11Jas. 5:10–11
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spo­ken in the name of the Lord, for an exam­ple of suf­fer­ing afflic­tion, and of patience. ¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very piti­ful, and of ten­der mercy.  

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5. To refine, purify and increase fruit­ful­ness (Isa. 48:10Isa. 48:10
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with sil­ver; I have cho­sen thee in the fur­nace of afflic­tion. with…: or, for sil­ver  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Jn. 15:2Jn. 15:2
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he pur­geth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Heb 12:10–11Heb 12:10–11
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
10 For they ver­ily for a few days chas­tened us after their own plea­sure; but he for our profit, that we might be par­tak­ers of his holi­ness. after…: or, as seemed good, or, meet to them ¹¹ 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 thereby.  

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6. To increase power and grace (Rom. 5:1–88Rom. 5:1–88
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
5 ¹ There­fore being jus­ti­fied by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribu­la­tions also: know­ing that tribu­la­tion wor­keth patience; ⁴ And patience, expe­ri­ence; and expe­ri­ence, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ⁶ For when we were yet with­out strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. in due time: or, accord­ing to the time ⁷ For scarcely for a right­eous man will one die: yet per­ad­ven­ture for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God com­mendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sin­ners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now jus­ti­fied by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were ene­mies, we were rec­on­ciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being rec­on­ciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atone­ment. atone­ment: or, rec­on­cil­i­a­tion ¹² Where­fore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: for that: or, in whom ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nev­er­the­less death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the simil­i­tude of Adam’s trans­gres­sion, who is the fig­ure of him that was to come. ¹⁵ But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judg­ment was by one to con­dem­na­tion, but the free gift is of many offences unto jus­ti­fi­ca­tion. ¹⁷ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abun­dance of grace and of the gift of right­eous­ness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) by one man’s…: or, by one offence ¹⁸ There­fore as by the offence of one judg­ment came upon all men to con­dem­na­tion; even so by the right­eous­ness of one the free gift came upon all men unto jus­ti­fi­ca­tion of life. by the offence…: or, by one offence by the right­eous­ness…: or, by one right­eous­ness ¹⁹ For as by one man’s dis­obe­di­ence many were made sin­ners, so by the obe­di­ence of one shall many be made right­eous. ²⁰ More­over the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through right­eous­ness unto eter­nal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Jas. 1:2–4; 4:7Jas. 1:2–4; 4:7
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temp­ta­tions; temp­ta­tion: or, tri­als ³ Know­ing this, that the try­ing of your faith wor­keth patience. ⁴ But let patience have her per­fect work, that ye may be per­fect and entire, want­ing noth­ing. ⁷ Sub­mit your­selves there­fore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; 1 Pet 5:91 Pet 5:9
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
9 Whom resist sted­fast in the faith, know­ing that the same afflic­tions are accom­plished in your brethren that are in the world.  

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7. To bring back to God — the back­slide (Hos. 5:15Hos. 5:15
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowl­edge their offence, and seek my face: in their afflic­tion they will seek me early. acknowl­edge…: Heb. be guilty  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Job 33:14–29Job 33:14–29
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man per­ceiveth it not. ¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep fal­l­eth upon men, in slum­ber­ings upon the bed; ¹⁶ Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruc­tion, he…: Heb. he revealeth, or, uncov­ereth ¹⁷ That he may with­draw man from his pur­pose, and hide pride from man. pur­pose: Heb. work ¹⁸ He keep­eth back his soul from the pit, and his life from per­ish­ing by the sword. from per­ish­ing: Heb. from pass­ing ¹⁹ He is chas­tened also with pain upon his bed, and the mul­ti­tude of his bones with strong pain: ²⁰ So that his life abhor­reth bread, and his soul dainty meat. dainty…: Heb. meat of desire ²¹ His flesh is con­sumed away, that it can­not be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. ²² Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroy­ers. ²³ If there be a mes­sen­ger with him, an inter­preter, one among a thou­sand, to shew unto man his upright­ness: ²⁴ Then he is gra­cious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ran­som. a ran­som: or, an atone­ment ²⁵ His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: a child’s: Heb. child­hood ²⁶ He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will ren­der unto man his right­eous­ness. ²⁷ He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and per­verted that which was right, and it prof­ited me not; He…: or, He shall look upon men, and say ²⁸ He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. He…: or, He hath deliv­ered my soul, etc, and my life ²⁹ Lo, all these things wor­keth God often­times with man, often­times: Heb. twice and thrice  

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8. To hum­ble and cor­rect (2 Sam. 12:142 Sam. 12:14
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
14 How­beit, because by this deed thou hast given great occa­sion to the ene­mies of the LORD to blas­pheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Ps. 89:30–32Ps. 89:30–32
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
30 If his chil­dren for­sake my law, and walk not in my judg­ments; ³¹ If they break my statutes, and keep not my com­mand­ments; break: Heb. pro­fane ³² Then will I visit their trans­gres­sion with the rod, and their iniq­uity with stripes.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Heb. 12:5–6Heb. 12:5–6
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
5 And ye have for­got­ten the exhor­ta­tion which speaketh unto you as unto chil­dren, My son, despise not thou the chas­ten­ing of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chas­teneth, and scour­geth every son whom he receiveth.  

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9. To make exam­ples (1 Cor. 10;5, 11)

10. To man­i­fest love (Pr. 3:11–12Pr. 3:11–12
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
11 My son, despise not the chas­ten­ing of the LORD; nei­ther be weary of his cor­rec­tion: ¹² For whom the LORD loveth he cor­recteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Heb. 12:5–10Heb. 12:5–10
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
5 And ye have for­got­ten the exhor­ta­tion which speaketh unto you as unto chil­dren, My son, despise not thou the chas­ten­ing of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chas­teneth, and scour­geth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷ If ye endure chas­ten­ing, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chas­teneth not? ⁸ But if ye be with­out chas­tise­ment, whereof all are par­tak­ers, then are ye bas­tards, and not sons. ⁹ Fur­ther­more we have had fathers of our flesh which cor­rected us, and we gave them rev­er­ence: shall we not much rather be in sub­jec­tion unto the Father of spir­its, and live? ¹⁰ For they ver­ily for a few days chas­tened us after their own plea­sure; but he for our profit, that we might be par­tak­ers of his holi­ness. after…: or, as seemed good, or, meet to them  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Rev. 3:19Rev. 3:19
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chas­ten: be zeal­ous there­fore, and repent.  

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11. To give reward (Rom. 8:17Rom. 8:17
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
17 And if chil­dren, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suf­fer with him, that we may be also glo­ri­fied together.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; 2 Cor. 4:172 Cor. 4:17
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
17 For our light afflic­tion, which is but for a moment, wor­keth for us a far more exceed­ing and eter­nal weight of glory;  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Jas. 1:12Jas. 1:12
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
12 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.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; 1 Pet 1:7; 4:141 Pet 1:7; 4:14
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
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 hon­our and glory at the appear­ing of Jesus Christ: ¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spo­ken of, but on your part he is glo­ri­fied.  

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12. To learn obe­di­ence and truth (Ps. 119:71Ps. 119:71
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  

WP-Bible plu­gin; Heb 5:8; 12:5–10Heb 5:8; 12:5–10
Eng­lish: King James Ver­sion (1611) — KJV
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obe­di­ence by the things which he suf­fered; ⁵ And ye have for­got­ten the exhor­ta­tion which speaketh unto you as unto chil­dren, My son, despise not thou the chas­ten­ing of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chas­teneth, and scour­geth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷ If ye endure chas­ten­ing, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chas­teneth not? ⁸ But if ye be with­out chas­tise­ment, whereof all are par­tak­ers, then are ye bas­tards, and not sons. ⁹ Fur­ther­more we have had fathers of our flesh which cor­rected us, and we gave them rev­er­ence: shall we not much rather be in sub­jec­tion unto the Father of spir­its, and live? ¹⁰ For they ver­ily for a few days chas­tened us after their own plea­sure; but he for our profit, that we might be par­tak­ers of his holi­ness. after…: or, as seemed good, or, meet to them  

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