1. What does James say is the purpose of trials? (James 1:2-4)
a.
b.
c.
2. What does James say your attitude should be toward trials? (James 1:2-4)
a.
b.
3. What will those who endure these trials receive? (James 1:12)
4. How does Peter describe these trials? (1 Peter 1:6-7)
a.
b.
c.
5. What does he tell you to do? (1 Peter 1:6)
6. What is the trial of your faith worth to you? (1 Peter 1:7)
7. What is the reason for this trial of fire? (1 Peter 1:7,11; 2 Thess.1:4-5)
a.
b.
8. The apostles also went through these trials. How does Paul describe these testings? (2 Cor.1:8-9)
9. What did Paul say was the purpose of these trials? (2 Cor.1:9)
10. What treasure do we have in earthen vessels? (2 Cor.4:6-7)
Paul says that we have these treasures in earthen vessels, in order that God's great power may be evident (2 Cor.4:7). The "earthiness" of our vessels is apparent in apparent in our being "broken".
11. How does Paul describe this means of being broken? (2 Cor.4:8-9)
a.
b.
c.
d.
12. What does Paul call this experience? (2 Cor.2:10)
13. What is the purpose of being delivered unto this death? (2 Cor.4:10-11)
A. Describe a personal trial that you have come through successfully, noting the ways in which you overcame the temptations which face all men and women who suffer for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
B. Describe a personal trial which you did not manage to endure according to the pattern laid down in the scriptures. Where did you go wrong? How might you respond to these difficulties were you given a second chance to face this trial?
C. Describe a personal trial that you are going through right now and how you intend to use the spiritual keys learned in this lesson to help you to overcome the temptation to fall:
D. List the major personality problems you need to face and overcome in order to be victorious in trials that are yet to come:
No two personalities are the same. Each person has character strengths and character weaknesses which will determine the way in which he reacts to personal trials.
The New Covenant Church of God is searching for men and women to be leaders in its firstborn colonies and in the Millennial Zion from amongst the saints of the local colonies.
Personal trials imposed externally by the Lord through life's situations as well as trials imposed on candidates aspiring to membership of the Holy Order by the patriarchs and matriarchs separate out those who qualify for Zion and those who do not. This testing often takes place over many years. The result is that each believer is confronted with his true self and is challenged to surrender more and more of his sovereignty and independence to the Lord Jesus. Candidates rarely gain admission to the Order in the first round as character weaknesses are identified and challenged.
Here are some questions that priesthood candidates in the Holy Order are sometimes asked. Tick/check those statements which you believe are true for you today. Be completely honest in your self-assessment:
- 1. You have the courage to persist against all odds, no matter how insoluble the problems that face you may seen to be;
- 2. You have a certain knowledge of your ultimate destiny and ultimate success in your mission on earth to become perfect in, and to win souls for, Christ, and possess the confidence that goes with this through faith in Christ;
- 3. You have the gift and ability, given by the Holy Spirit, to set afire those about you in either the Order or local colonies with the same zeal and enthusiasm that you have in Christ;
- 4. You have the ability to blend mercy with justice in the correct proportion;
- 5. You have total loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Presiding Patriarch of the Holy Order, or your Pastor in your local colony, and the capacity to shoulder blame for your superiors in the Priesthood;
- 6. You are able to work alone, unpraised and unsupported;
- 7. You are able, when required, to make large decisions unaided, and snap judgments that are fair if not always wise;
- 8. You have the ability to handle both the strong and weak in men and in the situations the Lord places you.
- 9. You have a pride that will brook no criticism;
- 10. You have an ambition that knows no bounds..."better to reign in hell than serve in heaven";
- 11. You have a wilfulness that knows no reason;
- 12. You have an anger which, when aroused, has no placating;
- 13. You have an arrogance that cannot be bridled;
- 14. You have an obstinacy that survives all persuasion and punishment.
E. If you have ticked/checked any of 9 through 14 then you can never be a candidate for Zion. Only candidates able to honestly tick/check items 1 through 8 are ever admitted to the Patriarchal Priesthood of the Order. Are you willing to work so that you can tick/check off #1-8 one day? Describe the areas in your personality which you intend to work with, through the power of Christ, so that you can not only become a candidate for future Zionic rulership but also be able to meet personal trials in confidence, praise and victory:
