Responding to Trials

How we respond to the trials of life shows us a lot about what we fundamentally trust in.    Trials can either build faith or tear it down; push us towards God as our hope or away from him.   We see this play out in the life of King Saul. He was given a test to dig out what was truly in his inner being - a test he ultimately failed.   His trial is significant and weighty, but he responds by taking matters into his own hands, disobeying God's clear commands to him, and then attempting to make a load of excuses to point the finger of fault at everyone else.   By comparing his actions with the first man, Adam, we are pointed forward to 'a man after God's own heart,' a second Adam, fulfilled in Jesus.   Only through trust and faith in Jesus the Second Adam can we be freed from excusing away our bad decisions and faults, allowing us to be humble and accept our faults. Only then we can receive God's grace and mercy, sharing the victory of the Second Adam, Jesus.   MAIN TEXT 1 Samuel 13:1-15   SPEAKER David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast   FOUNDATION CHURCH BELFAST Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE   ADVANCE MOVEMENT We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.