The Trial Of Your Faith
THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH - Solomon Temple – 4/29/07
1 Peter 1:3-9
Introduction
All of us will go thru trials on our Christian journey. Everything that happens to us is not a result of some sin but some things that we go thru are meant to build us up, strengthen our character and resolve, give us new wisdom and experience. But, most importantly, sometimes the trials that we go thru are meant to show the world the very awesome power of God that dwells within us.
John 9
1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Trials – Abraham and Isaac / Joseph and his brothers / David and Saul
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Begotten us again – born again, birthed anew, to produce again / to have one’s mind changed by so that he lives a new life conformed to the will of God
According to v. 23 the creative agent is the “living and abiding word of God,” which, like an “imperishable seed” (σπορά), mediates life and, according to v. 25, is identical with the word of the gospel. Thus the author refers to the biblical idea of the creative power of God’s word. Indeed, it appears that all NT statements about spiritual procreation rest on a common viewpoint, namely, that a person is inwardly transformed through a believing acceptance of the word of God.
4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Inheritance – naturally received from one who has died but it is a finite amount; the money will run out but w/ Jesus, because He lives, our inheritance will go on and on and on. And, its incorruptible, undefiled – unstained by the dirtiness of sin and fades not away – it will last forever.
5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept – preserved, held fast
Faith – pistis – A Trust so strong that your willing to put it into action and practice
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Manifold temptations – various trials
7That 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:
Tried w/ Fire – analogous for gold being tried by fire which makes it strong and pure and able to endure. Gold is strong yet is able to bend more than most metals w/out breaking.
The furnace tries the gold but God tries the heart (Prov 17:3)
Zech 13:9 - And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
[1]
Oh yes, God will try you.
How to go through a storm:
1. Praise God in those bad times the same way you praised Him in the good
2. Recognize that your problems were not meant to last always
3. Seek God to hold our hands in the furnace of our trials as He did for the Hebrew boys in Nebuchenezzar’s furnace
4. Keep going on. Walk w/ God through that storm and keep on walking (be like the mailman who delivers the mail in any kind of weather)
Illustration – Deadliest Catch – the guy who was so scared he wanted to jump overboard / point – those who stuck it, those who endured to the end got their rewards. Turned in the crab and got their money.
8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Zec 13:9