Triumph in Trial

Reflections from Sunday’s Message – September 9, 2024

Introduction

There’s never a good day to wake up and realize you’re under attack—whether by a foreign enemy, a devastating illness, a heartless media gossip machine, or an identity thief draining your bank account. But the most painful assault of all comes from those who once called you friends. People who shared your table, who thrived on your love and generosity, now turn, accuse, lie, and attempt to destroy your reputation.

Recently, the estranged daughter of a brother from out of state decided to attack her father by targeting the very place where he found hope. To inflict the most damage, she dug up the same tired defamation from the 2012 Texas Observer smear—accusations we disproved long ago, which ironically sought to slander us with the very crimes we helped expose. But because scandal sells, her gossip caught the eye of tabloids, which quickly began regurgitating these lies—stories penned by “reporters” who had never visited us, never asked a question and never bothered to investigate the facts. If it drives clicks (which equates to dollars from ads), why not toss a little more incendiary gossip onto the flames of family disputes and earn more profit from others’ pain?

Thankfully, many of these media outlets have amended their false reports after being confronted with the truth. Yet, other so-called “journalists” continue circling, drafting stories based on the words of unhappy former members, hoping to snuff out any spark of hope that our simple way of life might offer those in need of something real to believe in. We’ve spent time answering questions, countering lies, and publishing the facts, both old and new. But I refuse to be discouraged. I believe with all my heart that God will turn what was meant for evil into an opportunity for witness—for love and truth to spread. For that to happen, we must keep our hearts and minds fixed on the bigger picture, the greater purpose, behind these comparatively small struggles.

Slander: An Assault on Integrity

The deepest cut comes with the realization: “Oh, him too?” We expect that when we give love, we’ll receive it in return. And often, among God’s people, that’s true. But sometimes, it isn’t. The betrayal can be sharp, keeping you awake at night. Slander is an attempted murder—not of the body, but of integrity, reputation, friendships, and future. It aims to kill who you are.

In Psalms 55:12-14,the psalmist cries, “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house, we walked in the throng.”

Slander doesn’t target those with nothing to lose. It seeks those who have gained ground, accomplished the impossible, and made a difference. The attack comes from faceless cowards, envious of what you’ve achieved, who themselves have nothing to show.

Psalms 55:20-21 further speaks to such treachery: “My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

In our trials—be it pain, misunderstanding, persecution, or betrayal—we turn our faces upward and ask, “Why? Why is this happening to me?”

The Message of Suffering

God isn’t the one pointing the finger. He’s not raising the club. He loves you. He died to release the full power of that love in your life. So, where does this come from? Paul called his affliction a “messenger of satan”—not just a thorn in his flesh but a message. And if there’s a message, it has meaning. When you understand the meaning, you can overcome the pain and reverse the devil’s narrative. The devil whispers abandonment and failure, but God has a different word: this is an opportunity for His power to grow in you.

Yes, the universal question in suffering is always “Why?” But let me tell you, unequivocally—God does not allow our pain just to see if we can survive it. Patience is the “how” we endure, not the “why.” God has a far greater purpose in mind, and often, He reveals glimpses of it even as we endure.

Jesus warned us, “If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household?” (Matt. 10:25). But this suffering isn’t meaningless. God is acting, speaking, and revealing His love and grace to individuals, peoples, principalities, and powers amidst the pain. We may never know all the ways our faithfulness has contributed to God’s plan. But the major conflicts—the ones that matter—are always between love and fear, faith and doubt, unity and division, life and death.

The Bigger Picture

Jesus fought the ultimate battle and triumphed through the cross and resurrection. He disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them. Yet spiritual enemies continue to wage war against God’s people. When God seeks to flood our hearts with faith and empower us to overcome, He allows satan to bring his sharpest weapons against His strongest saints. And when those weapons fail, faith grows, and the devil is disarmed once more.

Instead of focusing on the pain, we must remember the bigger picture. When under attack, our job is to find where grace can turn hatred, lies, and slander into growth—more love, more wisdom, more unity, more life. The very things they want to take from us will increase because of grace.

Grace in the Midst of Battle

I’ve walked with many through moments of deep pain—couples who’ve lost children, parents who never got to hear their baby’s first cry, and people who’ve faced death, disease, and devastation. And every time, the Body of Christ rises up. Prayers become more fervent, faith ignites, and miracles unfold. It’s as though the membrane of fear and self-preservation bursts, and out pours heaven’s grace in the midst of hell’s chaos. This is what it means for God’s power to be perfected in our weakness.

In these moments of loss, I’ve marveled at the clarity that emerges in the house of mourning—the realignment of priorities, the wisdom that floods in through the very suffering meant to break us. It’s staggering how much good God brings from the devil’s tired tactics.

Satan Fears Your Power

When the devil attacks, he reveals what he fears most about you. Just as in war, where intelligence reveals the enemy’s vulnerabilities, satan’s assaults expose your greatest strengths. If he’s attacking your unity, fight for it with all your might. If he targets your faith, fortify it. His attacks aren’t God pointing out your weaknesses, but rather the devil highlighting what he dreads in you.

Some groups have crumbled under persecution and hardship. But the fire doesn’t change what’s inside; it only reveals it—whether it’s factions, bitterness, selfishness, and rivalry, or the pure gold of tested faith, the rubies and diamonds of genuine love, and the silver of wisdom from above. And the church—despite the storms, the fire, the lions—has stood triumphant.

As Dottie Rambo put it so well:

It’s been through the storm, but the wind couldn’t turn it.
It’s been in the fire, but the fire couldn’t burn it.
It’s been fed to the lions, but the lions couldn’t eat it,
Fought a lot of wars, but never defeated.
Well, it’s the church triumphant, oh Lord,
And it’s built by the hand of the Lord.

I’m talking ‘bout the church in the book of Revelation.
It’s built on the Rock; it’s got a firm foundation.
It’s been through the flood; it’s been through the fire,
But one of these days, the church is gonna move up higher.
It’s the church triumphant, oh Lord,
And it’s built by the hand of the Lord.

Asking Questions in the Midst of Pain

Ask your questions amidst the pain, and let God provide the answers. If, in your struggle, you witness love triumph over fear, faith dispel doubt, division dissolve into unity, and weakness transform into strength—then rejoice, for the purpose behind your pain is being fulfilled.

God holds you—holds all of us—in His hand. He sees the gold within but also the “gravel” compacted around it. What we stand to lose in these trials are the things in us that weren’t of Him. He’s not hammering away out of anger; He’s allowing circumstances—even the enemy’s attacks—to chip away at the flesh so that the gold of pure faith can shine brighter.

Shaken But Not Defeated

Hebrews tells us that God will shake everything that can be shaken so that only what cannot be shaken will remain. This is what He’s revealing: a faith, love, and unity that withstand the earthquakes the devil sends our way. The enemy thinks we’ll crumble, but he doesn’t understand—we’re built on the Rock with a firm foundation. He doesn’t realize that the gates of hell cannot prevail against what’s built on Christ. In a strange way, the devil is doing us a favor by shaking loose what can be shaken, leaving only what’s truly of God to stand forever.

Reconciliation: The Goal of Trials

In times of crisis, reconciliation and unity must become our top priorities. These are the most elusive blessings, the most urgently needed strengths, and yet the miracles that often evade the broader church today. If we emerge from these trials with greater unity among ourselves and with new reconciliation with others, then the trials will have been worth it. Then the enemy loses. The accuser of the brethren is defeated, and Jesus scores another victory through us.

Joseph’s Reconciliation

Joseph’s story shows us how God’s purpose unfolds through suffering. Joseph must have asked, “Why am I in this pit? Why am I in prison? Why am I forgotten?” Yet, in time, the answers came. God wasn’t merely saving the world from famine—He was healing the brokenness in Joseph’s family, the future nation of Israel.

Joseph’s brothers begin the story envious, competitive, and consumed by sibling rivalry, but through every twist and trial, God works a transformation that leads to reconciliation. Reuben offered his own sons as collateral for Benjamin’s safety (Gen. 42:37). Simeon stayed behind as a hostage, another sign of the brothers’ collective change of heart (Gen. 42:24). And Judah, who once sold Joseph as a slave, now offered himself in Benjamin’s place: “Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would overtake my father?” (Gen. 44:33-34).

When Joseph saw this, he was overwhelmed. His heart broke, and he sought privacy to weep. “His heart yearned for his brother, so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep . . . and he wept there” (Gen. 43:30). Even then, Joseph held back his revelation until Judah’s plea pierced through his caution. “Joseph could no longer control himself,. . . and he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him” (Gen. 45:1-2). Then came the moment of reconciliation: “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” (Gen. 45:3).

You see, the greatest answer to the anguish didn’t arrive with the grain that saved nations; it came through the healing of broken relationships. This is the kind of reconciliation God seeks for us today—love that covers a multitude of sins, repentance that heals, and unity that triumphs over division. We’re not battling flesh and blood but spiritual forces that seek to divide us.

Generational Continuity

Sometimes God’s purpose doesn’t emerge fully in a single lifetime. It extends across generations, revealing itself in ways we may not understand. When you become part of a community of generational continuity, you carry in your heart the sacrifices of those who came before. Their efforts live on in you, and through your faith, their dreams are perfected. As Hebrews 11:40 says, “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” We carry the hopes, dreams, and prayers of those who came before—even the longings of Roger Williams, the prayers of Menno Simons, the convictions of John and Charles Wesley. Their dreams live on in us, pushing us to carry the frontier of God’s people forward, straining against the odds, and never giving up on the vision of Zion restored in its full splendor.

Suffer the devil no triumphs. Rob him of his intentions. Gain tactical insight by observing what he’s attacking—and protect that above all else. He attacks what he believes will be his downfall.

You lose, devil—we love each other more than when this began. You lose—we trust each other more than we did last week.

Job’s Restoration: Victory through Reconciliation

When we think of suffering, we can’t overlook Job, whose book is filled with questions. What power was God perfecting in Job’s weakness? What were the answers to his cries?

Through Job’s suffering, God revealed profound truths:

• Job hadn’t committed a particular sin to deserve his anguish, but as part of fallen humanity, he still had no grounds to accuse God.
• Suffering doesn’t ultimately come from God; the devil is the agent of hardship.
• Job’s friends, with their moralistic and simplistic advice, only added to his pain.
• Patience is more than surviving—it’s securing one’s soul through the trial.
• In the end, Job’s unwavering faith led him to proclaim, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25).
• God had nominated Job among all people as the only one to uphold His honor and glory by keeping trust that surpassed understanding.
  

But Job’s trial went deeper—into the realm of relationships. His friends, the “good men,” failed him utterly. Their stiff, shallow defenses of God wounded Job more than his wife’s blasphemies. Suffering didn’t just afflict Job—it severed his relationships. Despite the revelations accomplished through Job’s trials, God’s purpose would have been incomplete if his friends had remained estranged. God’s anger burned against Job’s friends, warning them of the fate they had arrogantly assigned to Job: “Go to my servant Job and have him pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly” (Job 42:8).

And here’s the key: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).

The victory wasn’t complete until reconciliation. The story didn’t end with insight or relief from suffering but with love restored between friends. When Job prayed for those who had hurt him most, God not only restored him—He doubled his blessings.

Whether in Joseph’s family or Job’s life, God’s ultimate purpose is restoration—of our hearts, our faith, and our relationships. The enemy seeks to divide, but God uses trials meant to destroy us to bring us closer, stronger, and more united than before.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Pet. 5:10).

Trials Lead to Gifts

So, here we are, facing trials. Friends slander us, the media smears us, and old wounds reopen. We fight lies with truth, trying not to lose sight of the bigger picture: the devil’s greatest defeat comes when love and restoration rise from his fiercest attacks. God is using these blows to unlock greater gifts in us. Some will discover an anointing to preach. Others will see that the gifts of healing and words of knowledge are still alive in the church. It’s no coincidence that last Sunday’s meeting began with Brother Daniel telling of the doctors’ announcement that his brain tumor—deemed beyond hope in his last exam—is now shrinking and, in the doctor’s exact words, is “either already dead or dying!” God’s power is perfected in our weakness. So stand firm with us and watch what the Lord will do.

David didn’t find his anointing while tending sheep—he had to stand within earshot of the devil to discover what God had planted inside him. And so it is with us. We go through these trials not just to endure but to awaken what has lain dormant inside till now. The restoration of Joseph’s brothers is on the horizon. Job’s friends will need Job’s prayers, and the blessings shall abound again.

Closing Prayer

Father, forgive those who know not what they do.
Father, remind us of all You are doing in our midst.
Empower us to unlock the grace buried deep within our hearts.
Draw us together, united in the shelter of Your arms.
Remind us how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.
Keep our eyes steadfast on You. Help us to trust, to serve, and to honor You—reflecting Your love to one another, to the world, and even to those who seek to harm us, knowing they may one day be brothers seeking the forgiveness and reconciliation that only Your mercy can bring.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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