An Awesome Power Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
These messages from 1 Peter over the last several weeks, and in the weeks to come are all about facing the trials and tribulations of life with a hope, with a positivity that the world doesn’t have when it comes to trouble.
Now, when I talk about these trials, I’m not talking about things like going to jail because we’ve robbed or killed someone…no, that’s not the trials that Peter is talking about.
We go through many things because of disobedience and sin in our lives, and sometimes, if we don’t watch, we will mistake those things as a trial…It’s not though, those things we bring upon ourselves and those things are not sent from God.
Andrew Whitman wrote, “In ordinary conversation many people who encounter difficulties say ‘This was sent to try me,’ reflecting a rather twisted view of God’s character. The ‘trials’ though that Peter is talking about are those that arise solely because of our allegiance to Jesus. They are the price we pay to follow Him.”
Last week, we began looking at this second set of verses; verses 6-12 in 1 Peter 1 and we began looking at the subject of “An Awesome Power” - Back in the first five verses of 1 Peter, we looked at “An Amazing Salvation” - I’m thankful as I said last week that God didn’t just save us, yes, that would have been enough to shout on eternally, but not only has He given us an amazing salvation, but He’s given us an amazing power to get us through this life!
Last week, we looked at the possibility of rejoicing in trials, in verse 5, we find that we are content in God’s defense, and in verse 6, we are confident in God’s deliverance.
Tonight, we are going to look at verse 7 and:
The Purpose of Refinement in Trials
The Purpose of Refinement in Trials
Trials are God’s unique way of purging and purifying our lives that we might be more useable in His service.
God could take away the trials if He wanted to, but we would be the losers if He did!
Think about gold...
10 But he knoweth the way that I take:
When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Gold begins as ore is heated in a furnace with temperatures around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes the gold to separate from the other elements.
The purpose of the refinement in our trials is to bring out the gold from everything else that isn’t worth anything.
1-The Preciousness of Trials
1-The Preciousness of Trials
1 Peter 1:7 (KJV 1900)
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth...
It’s a great day in our lives when we realize that God is using trials to make us better...
He even knows that it will be difficult for us, but I’m glad that He’s promised to not leave us hanging in the trials, but He’s promised to go through them with us.
The word “trial” is a Greek word that means, “a testing; by implication trustworthiness, trial, trying.”
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver;
I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:
And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Kenneth Wuest wrote, “Testing times put our faith to the test, and as we are submissive to God and remain faithful to Him and are ready to have Him teach us the lessons He would have us learn through them, we demonstrate by our actions that the faith we have is a genuine God-given, Holy Spirit produced faith, the genuine article.”
One of the real secrets in life is to be thankful for the trials.
Trials will make you bitter or better…To become bitter is to question the goodness of God.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Paul didn’t enjoy his thorn in the flesh, but when he realized it was there for a purpose, he could thank God that through this weakness, he was made strong.
Let me tell you something that will change your life…Thank God for your trial.
2-The Purifying of Trials
2-The Purifying of Trials
1 Peter 1:7 (KJV 1900)
7 ...though it be tried with fire...
Gold isn’t destroyed by the fire, but it’s made better as the dross is separated from the precious metal.
F. B. Meyer wrote, “We must not look on trials as punishment for the past; because all penalty has been borne for us by our Redeemer. But each trial points to the future, and is intended to make us partakers of His holiness, and to work in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness.”
There is a purpose for every trial, and Peter reveals to us the work of the fire is to purify.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
God is using trials in our lives to make us vessels of honor for Him.
God has work that needs to be done, but first, He must find a suitable vessel!
We all say we want to be used by God in some great way, but the question is, are we willing first to be purified by fire?
3-The Praise of Trials
3-The Praise of Trials
1 Peter 1:7 (KJV 1900)
7 ...might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
When life is over and we stand before God, we will want to be everything that He intended.
In Colossians 4:12, Epaphras prayed that the church at Colosse would “…stand perfect and complete in all the will of God...”
The trials that we faced to ready us for that meeting will pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us!
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
J. I. Packer said, “We see that He leaves us in a world of sin to be tried, tested, belabored by troubles that threaten to crush us—in order that we may glorify Him by our patience under suffering, and in order that He may display the riches of His grace and call forth new praises from us as He constantly upholds and delivers us.”
When our lives are over, the question will be, have we brought praise to God through our lives.
That’s why He created us...
Ephesians 1:12 (KJV 1900)
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory...
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
When trials turn us away from God, when we get bitter, instead of better, we are living in direct contradiction to His will.
Conclusion
Conclusion
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Our faith should produce praise, honor, and glory from Jesus.
Those who have genuine faith in Jesus will at His appearing receive praise, honor, and glory from Jesus. At the last time when Jesus comes again He will tell His faithful saints, “Well done, My good and faithful servant!”
When Jesus comes again all trials for His people will end—every injustice will be made right—every saint will be lifted up and the rebels will be put down!
Robert Leighton wrote, “On that day the glory and praise with which all the saints will be honored will fully compensate for all the opposition and hardship they have endured on earth. And they will shine the brighter because of their trials. If only we though more about this solemn day, how little we would bother about the opinions of men or be troubled by outward trials that come our way.”