Andrea L. Sims PhD: "Unfolding Trials for the Kingdom-Minded"

 

Painting by Andrea L. Sims

Unfolding Trials for the Kingdom-Minded

Andrea L. Sims PhD.

But he knows the way that I take:

when he has tried me,

I shall come forth as gold. 

IYOV (JOB) 23:10 את CEPHER

Introduction

When this topic began to unfold for me, I had notes of all sizes and kinds scattered all over my desk, and my mind was just as scattered, if I’m being honest about it!

I had gathered enough Scripture references to write a book, and I had several plans of attack to choose from . . . and then . . . and then . . . Job 23:10 surfaced in my mess. I have treasured that Scripture for years. You’ve heard me say (over and over) that I open my heart wide to Yah with nothing hidden, nothing secret, nothing held back. I know Yah knows everything. My declaration is one of acknowledging that I know that Yah knows . . . everything about me. And my life has been laid out there for others to see, too, in the books I have written about my life. It’s what Yah is requiring of me. 

My life is not a pretty story, by any means. I’ve been tried and failed. I’ve been tested and flunked the test; I’ve been afflicted and then moaned and groaned about it. Yes, I’ve committed all the wrong responses to being tried. I was wrong in so many ways. But, and the “but” is big: I did not stay wrong! I reconsidered with new understanding (another way of saying, “I repented”). It was when I began to walk on the Ancient Path that Yah began to show me the “why” of testing and trials.

Thus says Yahuah, 

Stand ye in the ways, 

and see, 

ask for the ancient paths, 

where is the good way, and walk therein, 

and ye shall find rest for your souls. 

But they said, We will not walk therein. 

YIRMEYAHU (JEREMIAH) 6:16 את CEPHER

Our fathers before us were the ones who said they would not walk therein. But I said, “Yes, I will walk in it!” I needed rest for my soul. The trials and troubles I had experienced so far had led me to this.

I had to chuckle, too, when I began to think about this topic of “trials.” If I were to ask for “testimonials” of trials you all have been through, I would have a line a mile long and each person would have hours of stories to share. Right? 

But I am not sure we all are aware of what Yah has to say about trials. . . and about us, in them. That’s what I want to get to.  

Thinking Right about Trials

בָּחַן bâchan, baw-khan'; a primitive root; to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate:—examine, prove, tempt, try (trial). (from Blueletterbible.org).

We know that everything that Yah does is good. Trials and testing, then, are good, albeit not fun or pleasant. But there is a purpose, and it is vital to know that going forward, knowing the times we are in now. And it’s not like he didn’t warn us ahead of time:

These things I have spoken unto you, 

that in me ye might have peace.

 In the world ye shall have tribulation:

 but be of good cheer; 

I have overcome the world. 

YOCHANON (JOHN) 16:33 את CEPHER

And he is so kind to explain to us his purpose. 

MY son, if you come to serve Yahuah, prepare your soul for temptation. 

Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that you may be increased at your last end. Whatsoever is brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Believe in him, and he will help you; order your way aright, and trust in him.

Ye that fear Yahuah, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.

SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 2:1-7 את CEPHER

Echoes of Job are resounding down through the ages!

THESE are the words of that cepher which Baruk the son of Neriyahu sent to the nine and a half tribes, which were across the river Perath, in which these things were written.

Thus says Baruk the son of Neriyahu to the brethren carried into captivity:

Mercy and peace.

I bear in mind, my brethren, the love of him who created us,

who loved us from of old, and never hated us, but above all educated us.

And truly I know that behold all we the twelve tribes are bound by one bond,

inasmuch as we are born from one father.

Wherefore I have been the more careful to leave you the words of this cepher 

before I die, 

that ye may be comforted regarding the evils which have come upon you, 

and that ye may be grieved also regarding the evil that has befallen your brethren; 

and again, also, 

that ye may justify his judgment which he has decreed against you 

that ye should be carried away captives for what ye have suffered 

is disproportioned to what ye have done 

in order that, 

at the last times, ye may be found worthy of your fathers.

 Therefore, if ye consider that ye have now suffered those things for your good, that ye may not finally be condemned and tormented, 

then ye will receive eternal hope;

 if above all ye destroy from your heart vain error, 

on account of which ye departed hence.  

For if ye so do these things, 

he will continually remember you, 

he who always promised on our behalf 

to those who were more excellent than we,

 that he will never forget or forsake us, 

but with much mercy will gather together again 

those who were dispersed.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 78:1-7 את CEPHER

Painting by Andrea L. Sims

Kinds of and Purposes for Trials

Trials have many purposes as seen throughout the Scriptures. 

Tribulations: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. YOCHANON (JOHN) 16:33 את CEPHER	But they bring with them comfort and peace.
Temptation, trouble, adversity: MY son, if you come to serve Yahuah, prepare your soul for temptation. Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that you may be increased at your last end. Whatsoever is brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 2:1-5 את CEPHER	These lead to preparation, heart condition awareness, increased patience, and cheerfulness.
Light affliction: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; QORINTIYM SHENIY (2 CORINTHIANS) 4:17 את CEPHER	These work for us a far more exceeding weight of glory!
Shaken in mind and body: That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by ruach, nor by word, nor by cepher as from us, as that the day of Yahuah is at hand. TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:2 את CEPHER	These work for us, too!
Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, troubles of all kinds: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in diverse places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. MARQUS (MARK) 13:8 את CEPHER And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 24:6 את CEPHER	These let us know the times in which we find ourselves.
Narrow gate, troublesome way, sorrow and travail: Because narrow is the gate, and troublesome is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 7:14 את CEPHER AND when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore: And he said unto me, Up, Ezra, and hear the words that I am come to tell you. And I said, Speak on, my Elohiym. Then said he unto me, The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great. But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river; Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad? There is also another thing; A city is built, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things: The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water: And there is but one path between them, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once. If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance? And I said, It is so, Adonai. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Yashar'el's portion. Because for their sakes I made the world: and when A'dam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done. Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils,: and very painful. EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:1-12 את CEPHER	These trials lead to LIFE!
Sins can weigh us down and iniquities can lift themselves up: And the guide of them who guard my commandments and precepts, says Yahuah Elohiym: let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your iniquities lift up themselves. EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 16:74 את CEPHER	These are words of instruction to avoid further troubles.
So much we can learn about trials in this section of Hebrews:  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Elohiym having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. IVRIYM (HEBREWS) 11:35-40 את CEPHER	These are all waiting for perfection – along with us!

As we can see from the above, 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: 

but Yahuah delivers him out of them all.  

TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 34:19 את CEPHER

What about the “righteous”?

First, let’s define the word!

Righteous just, lawful, righteous

1. just, righteous (in government)
2. just, right (in one's cause)
3. just, righteous (in conduct and character)
4. righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
5. right, correct, lawful

(from BlueLetterBible.com)

We are reminded of the purpose in pursuing being “Kingdom-Minded”:

'Why have you not considered in your mind this thing that is to come, 

rather than that which is present? 

Then answered I and said, O Yahuah Adonai, 

you have ordained in your Torah, 

that the righteous should inherit these things, 

but that the wicked should perish. 

Nevertheless, the righteous shall suffer strait things, 

and hope for wide: 

[We have such a great promise of hope!]

for they that have done wickedly 

[and we are going to get to that next week!]

have suffered the strait things, 

and yet shall not see the wide.  

EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:16-18 את CEPHER

For Yahuah has made all things; 

and to the righteous has he given wisdom. 

SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 43:33 את CEPHER

I don’t need to convince anyone that the righteous need wisdom from above as we walk in this season of chaos and destruction of all kinds.

In talking about wisdom, a little scene plays over in my mind. Back in my early days of believing, I tried to share my new life with those around me but the response I got almost without exception is, “Well, aren’t you ‘little miss perfect’!” 

(I must have been doing the Four Spiritual Laws wrong, or something!) And I didn’t really have an answer for them other than, “No, I’m not perfect!” 

But now my response would be so different: “No, I’m not perfect—I’ve been purchased.” And I’d be crying out in my heart to Yah for wisdom as to what might come next. If questioned on that retort, I would proceed with The Great Price paid by our Messiah. If not questioned, I would leave it for them to ponder if they had a heart to do so. For, you see, I’m longing to be “right with Yah”: Righteous. By his Ruach Chokmah, I long to have the right word, at the right time, with the right heart. He has given righteousness as a gift. We just need his Wisdom to know how to “wear it”!

Becoming aware of trials in our lives; becoming aware of their purposes; becoming aware of how important it is to respond rightly to them: these things are becoming more and more important as we move forward in this season. 

For which cause we faint not; 

but though our outward man perish, 

yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

For our light affliction, 

which is but for a moment, 

works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

While we look not at the things which are seen,

 but at the things which are not seen: 

for the things which are seen are temporal; 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.  

QORINTIYM SHENIY (2 CORINTHIANS) 4:16-18 את CEPHER

For the which cause I also suffer these things: 

nevertheless, I am not ashamed: 

for I know whom I have believed, 

and am persuaded 

that he is able 

to guard that which I have committed unto him 

against that day.  

TIMOTHEUS SHENIY (2 TIMOTHY) 1:12 את CEPHER

But he knows the way that I take:

when he has tried me,

I shall come forth as gold. 

IYOV (JOB) 23:10 את CEPHER

Painting by Andrea L. Sims 

All scriptural references from Cepher

https://www.cepher.net/shop.aspx?itemid=2406&prodid=97023&pagetitle=%d7%90%d7%aa-Cepher-Scriptures-Millennium-Edition-2022-

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