1 Peter 1:6-9 More than a silver lining: Overcoming discouragement and embracing trials

More than a silver lining

Overcoming discouragement and embracing trials

1 Peter 1 6-9; James 1

What is the oldest living thing in the world?

The Bristilecone pines of the Great Basin in Calif, Nevada

Bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves at and just below the tree line often at 10-11,000 feet. Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, the trees grow very slowly. There the pines exist in an exposed, windswept, harsh environment. The bristlecone pine is a multi-trunked tree, gnarled and twisted by the elements. Much of the pine is dead wood. Wind whipped sand and ice scour the dead wood smooth. Much of the bark and tissue that conduct water dies back after the tree is damaged by fire, drought or storms.

But the very harshness of the environment account for its longevity. This environment makes it free of competition from other plants and the ravages of insects and disease. The slow growth caused by the harsh environment makes the wood very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests. Its strength defies extreme winds. The wind polishing of the bark makes it very beautiful.

A bristlecone trunk may grow less than 0.01 of an inch in girth per year. Most of the ancient trees are less than 30 feet tall.

The few bristlecones have been able to grow to incredibly old ages. are in the most isolated, harshest environments. The oldest living tree in the world is a bristlecone pine named Methuselah. It is found at 11,000 feet above sea level, is 4,838 years old.

For these trees difficulty is not just something that they overcome. It is the difficulty itself that cause them to be what they are. The trials they endure shape them into the invulnerable organisms they become.

We are experiencing a focused time of trial. But trials are not new. We have experienced them before. We will experience them again when COVID-19 is long gone. Trials are part of this life.

Fortunately, the Bible talks a lot about trials. Winds, storms, difficulties, sufferings, persecutions, discouraging events. But these struggles don’t just have a silver lining. They are the very means by which the Christian is shaped into the image of Christ. Recognizing the purpose of these trials will transform our attitudes toward them.

Peter give us significant insight about trials. He encourages us to gain a fresh attitude toward trials. Rather than creating discouragement, bitterness, and doubt. We need to allow God to use them to transform us through them. So that we can stand like the Bristlecone, enduring and prospering, and becoming like Christ as individuals and as churches.

1 Peter 1 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

(NKJV) James 1 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I. More than a silver lining: The difficulty of trials

A. The certainty of trials

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 6, … you have been grieved by various trials,

(NKJV) James 1 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

1. Broken world breeds trouble / Lots of opponents

2. Trials have and will continue to occur

(NKJV) 1 Peter 4 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

3. Trouble is not a stranger but normal part of life

4. Don’t react like it is unusual but expect it

5. However even in the word trial – one can sense that there might be purpose

B. Trials come in innumerable variations

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 6, … you have been grieved by various trials,

(NKJV) James 1 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

1. Multicolored / shades / shapes / textures

2. Like the complexity of rug, chaos on one side, beautiful on the other - only on the reverse side can the beauty and plan be see

3. Little, big, easy to handle, impossible to deal with, intense, long lasting / Everyone faces problems that is unique to them

C. Trials can cause great pain

(NKJV) James 1 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 6, … you have been grieved by various trials, fiery trials

1. Sudden / Intense – amusement ride stomach leaps to your throat

2. Grieve – not physical but mental anguish resulting from suffering

3. The mental anguish not limited to the immediate moment associated with trouble is much worse than any physical aspect of it – physical ebbs and flows – mental can be continuous and unrelenting – can exceed the fact /

4. Fiery – all consuming

D. Yet trials should be approached with joy?

1 Peter 1 6 In this you greatly rejoice, … you have been grieved by various trials,

James 1 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

1. At what? The trouble itself? Surely not

2. Yet the Word – not used by Greek writers – NT only – always used of a deep spiritual joy

3. Must be something magnificent associated with trials to make this so

II. More than a silver lining: The broader perspective

A. Trials can’t shake the eternal * * *

Time to step back – Peter laid out a broad perspective to his letter before talking about suffering and trouble ---- Talked about last week

a) Our New Life He has given us new life Because of His mercy

1 Peter 1 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again

b) Our future expectation through the death and resurrection of Christ

1 Peter 1 3 … to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

c) Our certain inheritance He has reserved our inheritance – which can’t be taken away

1 Peter 1 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

(1) Can’t be stolen by an enemy / Won’t corrupt or get stained

(2) Won’t fade as a flower / Already waiting

d) Our protection by His power awaiting the unveiling of it in its fullness at the last time

1 Peter 1 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

B. Trials are temporary

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 4 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,

1. Will not last forever

2. Giving birth – intense but short

C. Trials that reveal genuine faith are precious

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 7 that the genuineness (testing to show authentic) of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire,

1. Tested and found genuine

a) Pottery in Greek times – held up to the light to look for cracks – marked δοκίμιον

2. Contrast to Gold

a) Requires great work to obtain it / Refined in intense heat

b) Valued among men / yet it perishes despite all the work

c) Faith refined under a different type of fire / Results Last forever

3. Precious with God

a) Not trivial with God

b) High on the money scale

c) (trial as well as result – knows the pain)

III. More than a silver lining: Trials have purpose

A. Trials are necessary

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 6 … though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

1. “since it is necessary” – purpose – even if unknown why

B. Trials Produce Christlikeness *

(NKJV) 1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

(NKJV) James 1 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

1. Look what it does!

2. Patience have it full work

a) Chiseled into a wonderful shape – I want to remain an ugly rock or allow the sculptor to chip away until we are a masterpiece.

b) The soup over the stove – long simmering breaks down the individual parts, blending all into a savory whole

c) Smoked brisket – long slow continuous heat – destroys the gristle, softens and turns a tough meat into a tender morsel

d) Long suffering / Endurance over time / Steadfastness / Perseverance

3. Produces maturity / Completely equipped

4. Not impersonal actions but God Himself at work

5. Called to be like Christ – He will do it

6. Perfected / strengthened during the process / established

a) Stripped of hindrances / self sufficiency

b) Reshaped with a new source of dependency

c) Transformed character – being someone else

7. Great good created by painful experience

**(NIV) Hebrews 12 11 No discipline (child training) seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

a) Hard to grow up – just ask your kids

b) Athletics – pain in conditioning – build endurance / strength

c) Produces righteousness and peace

C. Yield reward

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 7 that the genuineness (testing to who authentic) of your faith … may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

1. Praise – approval / well done / recognition

2. Honor – worth (amount at which something is valued) / respect / esteem (especially for what one is)

3. Glory – radiance / greatness / majesty/ catch the eye / God-like splendor / reflecting the glory of God

IV. More than a silver lining: Responding to trials

A. Rejoice by faith

(NKJV) James 1 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

1. An accounting term / Accept it as fact

B. Yield and persevere *

James 1 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work,

1. Yield to what He is doing

a) Other options

(1) Can run

(2) Can cover the pain

(3) Can become angry and bitter

b) What is it that Christ is working on? let Him do His work

(1) Faith

(2) Self dependence / self focus

(3) Character issues

(4) Dealing with difficult people

2. Persevere

(NKJV) Hebrews 10 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

a) Just stay at it until He leads otherwise

b) Certain to the result

C. Trust the Savior

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1 7 … Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love.  though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

1. Trials hit to the heart of why we serve?

a) Why do we serve – because of what He gives or because of our love for Him?

b) What happens when His gifts disappear? Is He enough?

c) It is a matter of relationship

2. Relies on intimacy – whom You love

a) It is okay because He is there

b) Everything else fades in importance as you let stuff go

c) Let go of the gifts and embrace the giver

d) Complete confidence and assurance and meaning close to Him

e) A transfer of control – I don’t have it / He does / acknowledge and rest in this

3. Demands faith – Not seen

a) Not seen – but trust Him

b) God is / Rewards those who pursue Him

c) Definition of faith - Trust in what we don’t see / can’t please Him otherwise