In his sermon 'Thank God For The Trial Part 1', David Green discusses the importance of gratitude during trials, referencing biblical passages such as 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:17, and Romans 8:28. He emphasizes that believers are called to give thanks in all circumstances, including hardships like sickness and trials. Green reflects on his own experience with coronavirus, explaining how trials can serve to comfort others, glorify God, and act as a witness to non-believers. He warns against complaining, encourages self-examination through scripture, and highlights the importance of maintaining faith and hope. Green concludes that trials provide opportunities to demonstrate God's power and love, urging believers to use their experiences to strengthen others.

So, if you have your Bibles, I'm going to go to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 18 says, In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. We just here in America we've just come through a period of Thanksgiving. You know It's the 400th year as a matter of fact 400 years ago the pilgrims came onto these shores and and America in some form or fashion most of our history has Celebrated a time of Thanksgiving But God's people are told in everything, give thanks. I'm doing much better than what I was.

I guarantee you that. My wife and my kids will tell you. And the doctors will tell you. I'm still weak, but I'm getting stronger every day. The Bible tells us here, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Along with that, let's go to Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5 and verse number 17 Ephesians 5 verse 17 it says wherefore be not unwise but understanding what the will of the LORD is. And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Both of these passages tell us that we are to give thanks in everything and for all things and this is the will of God. Romans 8 28 tells us a very familiar passage of scripture to those who have been saved for longer than a few minutes. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Beloved, when the Bible tells us to be thankful in everything, when it says giving thanks always for all things, and when the Bible tells us that all things work together for good to them that love God, I believe he means even the troubles, the trials, the sicknesses, the hard times as well as the good times. And yes, even the coronavirus, and any other virus, and any other disease, and any other hardship that you or I may go through or be going through, even at this very hour. As I was sick there was a period of time where I couldn't concentrate very well and You know the Lord encouraged me then and whenever I was kind of coming out of it. I was able to Concentrate better and was encouraged through the scriptures and through the reading of various books. As you can tell, I've got a little bit of a library behind me.

This isn't by any means my complete library. A good portion of it has already moved into my study in Georgia. Praise God, not all of it is moved down there you know the Lord the Lord knows what he's doing I had I had some good books to read many of them very comforting One of the verses that I thought of while I was sick and even not able to read but was one that I had memorized and meditated on much. It was not only Romans 8.28, but also Psalm 118 and verse 24. In Psalm 118 and verse 24 it says, This is the day which the Lord hath made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it." I remember my grandfather preaching on that message. I don't know how many years ago that was but but he pointed out that the psalmist didn't say this is the day that the Lord has made I'll be glad when it's over. He didn't say this is the day that the Lord has made we'll rejoice as long as it goes the way I want it to. He said this is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. While we're there, this day, whatever happens, God's will be done.

And I believe that as the people of God, we can be thankful for the trial. It's tough I know. I was there. It's much easier to complain, much easier to murmur, But these verses tell us that if you've got coronavirus, you can be thankful for it. If you've been healed from the coronavirus, you can be thankful for it.

And if you don't have it or have never had it you can be thankful for that too and you should. You should. Don't take for granted good health folks. Be thankful for everything including whatever trial you have. And this can apply to anything from a broken toe to a severe cancer, and everything in between.

And so many times though we hear it and we often think it and that is why me Lord? Why is why am I going through this? What did I do to deserve this? But let me tell you folks let me tell you the answer partially as to why you're going through this is to be found right here in the scriptures and the answer to rest of it is through self-examination which is also to be found right here in the scriptures. Give...

Bear yourself in the scriptures. If you don't know why something is going on in your life, rather than thinking about and going through self pity and murmuring and complaining, and we'll look at that here in just a moment but rather than going that route consider what the scriptures have to say Meditate on these things in the storm. The problem is so often we, and that's me included folks, too often we think too highly of ourselves. And we tend to think or ask the question or even toy with the idea why why do bad things happen to good people maybe you've asked it maybe you've thought it maybe you've heard the question asked Maybe you've struggled with the answer but the reality is folks that only happened one time when Jesus was here on the earth. In Hebrews chapter 4, go there with me for just a moment.

Lord willing we'll cover a lot of ground here. Hopefully be an encouragement to you and give you some things to think about. In Hebrews chapter 4 verses 15 and 16 Says for we have not and high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities But was in all points tempted like we is we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Jesus is the only one of, the only one, who ever walked this world who had sorrows and yet had no sin. When we think about why do bad things happen to good people that only happened to him.

Why do bad things happen to good people that only happened to him. Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened to him. I think I may have said that wrong so I just correct it just in case. Why do bad things happen to good people?

That was Him. Romans chapter 3 tells us there's none good no not one that means me and that means you. That means your saintly grandmother and that little baby That looks so sweet. We're all born in sin. But Jesus wasn't, you see.

What we need to do is instead of murmuring and complaining, we need to Consider what the scripture says about these things. And in fact, the Bible warns us about this complaining that we often do in Numbers chapter 14. Numbers chapter 14, y'all remember the children of Israel, verses 26 through 29. Notice what it says there. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me?

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against me. Saying to them as truly as I live saith the Lord as you have spoken in mine ears so will I do to you. Your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness All that were numbered of you according to your whole number from 20 years old and upward which have murmured against me You see Children of Israel you remember they were almost to the promised land and then they had to wander through the wilderness for forty years. Somebody says, well that's Old Testament, that's not relevant to me. Oh really?

If you go to 1st Corinthians chapter ten and verse six, 1st Corinthians 10 and verse six, it says, now these things were our Examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also Lusted And then skip on down verse 10 it says neither murmured ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for in samples and they're written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Praise God for Jesus Christ who came into this world without sin and he died on the cross for our sins Was risen the third day conquering death hell in the grave but listen folks We need to beware of murmuring and complaining and sin that does so easily beset us. And so when we consider being thankful for trials, let us consider for a few moments here why.

Why do we go through trials? And I'm speaking to the people of God. Listen folks, everyone is going to go through troubles and trials in this life. Whether you're saved or unsaved, there's going to be trouble in this world. But if you don't know Jesus as your Savior, your best days are here on this earth and if you know Jesus your best days are to come.

If you're listening to this and you have never been saved and you don't know Jesus Christ, let me tell you, He is the only hope that you have. And so I just beseech you today to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior but listen to me now being saved does not save you from trials and troubles in this life. But as I can attest to, and millions of other Christians that have gone on before me and many who are alive now those trials and those troubles and those tribulations are so much sweeter with Jesus by my side and oh what a joy it is to know that when I die I'm going up to heaven And when it comes to things like coronavirus, if the Lord would have been pleased to let that thing take my life, Guess what folks, I would have been healed from it. Not only from that disease, but countless other troubles and trials. And I would have been in glory forever and ever.

Now obviously I stand before you today. It wasn't my time to die with that coronavirus. But one of these days it will be. When we look at someone who's sick or someone who has cancer or whatever, we pray for them and we pray that the Lord will heal them their child of God and they die just remember this the Lord answered our prayers they've been healed it just might not have answered it the way we wanted it. And we miss them.

Sure we do. But they're in heaven if they know Jesus. And they're free from all the pain and trouble and trial. But it's so But it's so much easier to thank the Lord for troubles and trials when we have heaven on our mind. When our eyes are looking up, when we're grounded in the scriptures and in Jesus Christ.

And I'm telling you, it's a lot easier to be thankful for the trial when we understand some of the whys behind it. And the Bible will help you understand that. And so here's some reasons I jotted down the last couple weeks as to why we have trials. One of the reasons we have trials such as sicknesses is to comfort others in first Corinthians chapter 1 First Corinthians chapter 1 verses 3 through 7 it says, Blessed be God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ 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.

Whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation which is effectual in the enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer, or whether we be comforted, It is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer, or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." And so one of the reasons that we suffer is to encourage others and and thank God for that I mean I've I've seen already that I've been able to comfort those who are going through coronavirus those who are fearful of coronavirus and just because I had it and survived there's a lot of fear over this thing and let me tell you someone once said God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters. And what a joy that is, beloved, to be able to be used of the Lord in such a way, isn't it? We want to encourage others and to comfort others in these times in which we live.

Or we should want to do that, shouldn't we? There's too much fear mongering going on in this world. But for the people of God, listen folks, 2 Timothy 1 and verse 7 tells us, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. We ought to try to help others along the way. In Isaiah chapter 35, This verse really spoke to me in a big way while I was sick.

Isaiah chapter 35 verses 3 through 5. Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not. Behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with the recompense, He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Strengthen ye the weak hands, confirm the feeble knees, say to them their fearful heart, be strong, fear not, fear not. You just don't know what it is to hear from a brother or sister in Christ. Just to help someone who is sick. Someone who is down. Someone who is scared or panicked.

And there's a lot of that. And so thank God for the crowbar. I'm glad I got it. I'm thankful that I can be a help to others. And if you've got it or if you've got some other thing, I mean, I've known some men who've gotten cancer and they've been a good example of suffering and they've gone through it and they've been able to help others.

Not only men, but women too. Women too. I remember my grandmother she had breast cancer she was able to help others along the way. Praise God for that. And so if you don't if you don't understand anything else There's a reason right there as to why you're going through the trial the sickness that you're going through In but you know we go through sicknesses and troubles and trials also to glorify God.

In Psalm 50, in the 50th Psalm, verses 14 and 15. It says, Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." These troubles and trials, these sicknesses, this coronavirus is to the glory of God. Charles Spurgeon said it this way, he said, it is well to praise the Lord for his mercy when you're in health but make sure you do it when you are sick for then your praise is more likely to be genuine. By the way sometimes sicknesses and troubles and trials really separates the true Christians, the true children of God, from the hypocrites.

But all those of us who are saved, man, I tell you, draws us closer to God. You think about it for a minute. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Who was it that was with him in that fiery furnace? It was the Lord.

And you and I, who is it that's with us when we're down? It's the Lord. Now the Lord is with us all the time, don't get me wrong, but he's with us in a special way in the fires of affliction. In John chapter 11, verses 1-4, John chapter 11 verses 1 through 4 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick, before his sisters sent, therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Notice Lazarus was Jesus' friend. Lazarus was sick. And Jesus said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the what glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Some of the greatest Preachers and the greatest witnesses for the Lord have been those who have been on the sickbed or on the bed of affliction Going through great trials some of them I would encourage you to go through and read the book of Acts and consider some of the things that Paul went through.

Great trials. The other apostles as well. Consider Job, Charles Spurgeon, the Puritans. You don't have to agree with all of the people that you read after, but get into some good Christian biographies. Read about them and Consider what they've done.

And who are we here in 2020 to hold up in our houses in fear of what might happen before anything really does and not do anything for the Lord? What if this, I mean, think about it. This thing was supposed to be what? Stay indoors for two weeks to flatten the curve. Some places it's been eight months.

Some people ain't been to church in all that time. I guarantee you some folks ain't even witnessed anybody in that time. And what is it? Why? Who are we in this generation?

What have we become? What have we become? Well, trials... Trials come... Trials come as a result of sickness and financial problems.

Trials come in the form of, not as a result of, in the form of sickness, financial problems, marital problems, whatever. And we think why. So far we've given a couple reasons but let's look at some more. I may split this sermon up I got a lot to say and I'm pretty excited. It's been a long while since I've preached.

But in Hebrews chapter 10, Hebrews chapter 10, verses 32 and 33, 32 and 33 It says this, But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions. Partly whilst you were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst you became companions of them that were so used. I believe one of the reasons behind the afflictions that we go through is so that we can become a gazing stock. Now hear me, as the child of God you and I are always being watched. People are always paying attention to you and the things that you do and the way that you act and react to things.

But most especially as you go through trial and trouble and they watch and they want to know how will he do what will she do how will he react what will she say and so on and so forth we become We become the objects of eager eyes and ears. Now think about this. I use coronavirus as an example because that's all over the news and I know a lot of people that have gotten it and I myself just came through it. It's all over the news. It's all some news stations talk about.

And let me tell you, if you're watching those news stations, you know what they are. Turn them off. Watch something else. Or better yet, get in your Bible and read. Read the book of Psalms.

Read the book of Isaiah. Get into the Gospels. Read the Bible, folks. Watch the news sometimes, but don't watch it all the time. They'll get you scared to death to the point where you think that if you catch this coronavirus you're gonna die.

Of course it can be deadly and there are some folks who have died. I know of at least one of Maybe two that I've known personally this year that have died from it. But there's some people who don't know anybody who has even caught it. And all they hear about is what CNN is telling them. All they know about it is what their governor's saying.

And you know what those governors and those CNN news anchors are doing? They're telling them there's no hope. And they're spreading fear and all that sort of thing. And now all of a sudden they find out that you've got it. Will you be like those who have no hope?

It's one thing to be afraid, to be scared, but it's another thing to be panicked. And as you go through the trial, people are watching. And as you come out of the trial, people are watching. So they're watching you while you're sick. They're watching you when you come out of the sickness.

And they want to know. They want to know your story. They want to know what helped you. Will you give the praise and the glory to the Lord? Will you feed into the fear and the panic that's going on.

Will you behave like a child of God like Christ or will you behave like those who do not know the Lord. Will they know you? Will they remember you as just another person who had the coronavirus? Or will they remember that you had coronavirus, told the story, or lived the story, and pointed them to Christ as they watch you and as they hear what you have to say as they watch what you do. I've got a few more things that I'd like to bring out, but I'm going to stop here for now.

I trust this is a blessing to you and an encouragement. Maybe even a challenge as we consider these things when it's important to remember when we think about the why behind sickness or behind trouble or behind trials. Some of these things that we consider may or may not apply to you. So far, so far they have. These all apply to all of us, right?

As the people of God, regardless of the trial, regardless of the trouble, we are in it so We are in it so that we can comfort others, so that we can glorify God in it, so that we can Be a gazing stock. People pay more attention to you than what they had before. I mean you'll find, you'll find people who didn't talk to you before will talk to you. Be more willing to talk to you after you've had coronavirus. I guarantee it.

What a great way to be a witness for the Lord. Lord willing, I'll part two up in the next day or so, and may the Lord bless you as we all seek to give God the glory in our lives. Alright kids, you all ready? Alright kids, you all ready? I told you to be ready!

Hurry up! He's head's gone. He sure looks insane. Somehow. So I live.

So I fly! Love you. Hey, where's all my boots? I don't know. If you should be doing this, I step on your boots.

I'm late again. How do you do you? Someone passing my first Oh shoot, my Bible. Did you give her her first? No don't interrupt him.

Okay where is it? There. I'm going to start the van. Hey Daddy, you watched me get my Bible. Where is it at?

It's down there just tiny. Can't wait to get tiny. I'm gonna start the van. Where's it at? Well hurry up son, you should have been ready already man.

Already man hurry up I Mr. Sarker? No, we, Somebody watched him while he was down in his Bible, and so I waited until he was on the other side of the-