Today, in episode 6, we look at the last section of the second milestone - Bethel. We’re focusing on ‘Trials and the Believer’ and ‘Purified to Serve’.

How many times have you experienced that as we begin to connect with God and build a deeper relationship with Him, there are times when we hit a wall? Something may happen in our lives that will cause us to lose our equilibrium, and we become troubled and disturbed. Those who experience God at Bethel begin to understand these disturbances in a new light, and to see our struggles in the way that God does.

What are some of the common trials that cause us grief and pain?

1. Natural calamities 
   Almost every day, we get news of earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions, and many lose their lives.
2. Sicknesses and diseases, such as influenza, cancer, depression, kidney failure, tumours, cysts, heart attacks and wounds. We are continually vulnerable to infection, and we suffer the effects of ageing.
3. Financial difficulties, such as poor cash flow and retrenchment.
4. Relational conflicts
   In our daily lives, trials commonly arise from relational conflicts within our families, among our colleagues and even between our customers and us.
5. Accidents and situations beyond our control
   ​We might lose loved ones, or struggle with guilt, shame and condemnation from abuse. At times, accidents or situations beyond our control become trials of our faith.

Do you ever wonder where these trials come from?

1. Living in a fallen world
   Jesus warned us in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation; ….” One major source of trials and pain in our lives is that we live in a fallen world. Because man falls short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), it results in the following:
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   ▪ Conflicts between man, with countries, territories and tribes going to war with each other
   ▪ A fractured environment, including pollution, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens
   ▪ Financial difficulties arising from greed and covetousness, leading to both systemic poverty and excessive indulgence and wastage.
   
   Trials due to the fallenness of man are common to all, whether we are believers or not.
2. Consequences of our own sins or wrong choices
   The second reason why there are trials is that they are the results of our own sins. Galatians 6:7 tells us, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” We face the consequences when we make wrong choices. Many of the trials we go through are a result of our own shortcomings or poor decisions. We fall sick because we lack sufficient rest, nutrition or exercise. Relational conflicts may arise as a result of a lack of self-awareness, or the awareness of emotional needs of others. Being rude and careless with our words also leads to offences and conflicts. We face financial difficulties perhaps due to our spending beyond our means to feed an extravagant lifestyle.
    
3. The works of the evil one
   The devil is also at work, whom Jesus reminds us “does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10a). This is the foundation of spiritual warfare. Pastor Daniel Foo believes that trials come when the demons around us are ‘stirred’ due to our spiritual activity (Matthew 12:43-45). This often occurs during two periods: first, when there is a significant change in our personal life leading to spiritual growth. This happens when we make the commitment to receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, or when we turn from being apathetic, begin to take God seriously and separate ourselves from people and activities that do not add value to our spiritual life and growth. During these periods, when our experience of God is vibrant, the evil one will work to tempt us away from our new resolve. The second period where we may experience spiritual warfare is during significant changes in our ministry. For example, we may be participating in a mission trip for the first time or when we assume a new leadership role in church; we have to be more watchful through prayer.
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5. For the sake of righteousness
   Finally, trials may come, and we will be drawn into conflict with others and pay a price for pursing righteousness in a fallen world. In effect, we suffer for doing the will of God and we may be persecuted for our faith or insulted because of our integrity and making a stand for Christ. Martyrdom may happen for some, especially for believers in lands where Christianity is outlawed.
   
   ​The suffering for righteousness’ sake is because we have made the right choice. While all suffering by a believer is a trial of his faith and he has God’s help to deal with it, God is glorified only in those trials we take on for Christ’s and righteousness’ sake.

The believer’s faith is always a mixture. A part of our faith is aligned to God and His will, but we retain ways of thinking and behaviours that do not align with His plans for us. To the extent that we hold on to these ideas and attitudes formed from this world and the lies of the devil, our faith is contaminated.

Every trial we go through is a test of our faith. 1 Peter 1: 6-7 compares the testing of our faith to purifying gold. Impure gold is put under extreme heat to melt it, and because gold is heavier than its impurities, it will sink. The impurities, such as magnesium, iron, and even silver will surface, for the smelter to scoop away. Just like gold being purified, the impurities of our faith surface during the intensity of the trials we face.

According to Scripture:

• Trials produce testing of faith
• Testing of faith produces patience and perseverance
• Patience and perseverance produce character
• Character produces hope - the anchor of the soul which enters the presence of God (in Hebrews 6:19)
• Those with hope enter His presence and grow in His love …
• … becoming perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:3-4).

When we journey through trials, our faith in God about His protection, provision and His attributes will be tested. However, as Romans 5:3-5 states, when we persevere, we will produce the character of Christ, and Christ will be formed in us. When we finally realise that God loves us and cares for us, this will be for our good. As we grow in the areas in which we face trials, we will in those areas, “be complete, lacking nothing” as promised in James 1:4. Our faith convictions will be rooted in the Scriptures, and we will experience God coming through for us. For every trial that we go through, we know that God can work all things for good (Romans 8:28 and Genesis 50:20). But God wants us to connect with Him through the trial. Then God will respond from heaven and send His help to us. Our prayers create a ladder that links earth to heaven.

Bethel is where God graciously meets us, purifies us and puts our life experiences in their proper light. When we understand the reason for trials in our lives, we will then be better able to contend for our faith, so that our faith can be genuine (Jude 3). It will be rooted in the relationship with our Father God, established by the Scriptures and the Word of Christ and continually led by the Holy Spirit. Like fire, trials purify our faith. Although they are grievous and painful at the time, they last only for a season. God will not allow a trial beyond our ability to overcome, and as 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Immediately after the cutting of the flesh at Gilgal, Joshua had his own ‘Bethel’ encounter. He instantly realised that this was God speaking, and the Bible records that he fell and prostrated himself. The principle, as Joshua knew, was that he had to come to the Lord’s side; God doesn’t come to ours.

In our discipleship journey, some of us may still be at Gilgal, because we have not intentionally cut off the flesh. Some of us have come to Bethel but are not ready to take off our sandals to go to the Lord’s side. Only when we fall prostrate before the Lord in surrender and build our altar before Him, will we be ready to take on the strongholds preventing us from living victoriously – our Jerichos.

Have you come over to the Lord’s side, that is, to surrender your life and build an altar before Him? What’s holding you back from doing so? In the next episode, we will look into the third milestone at Jericho.  

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