“TROUBLE DON’T LAST ALWAYS”

Sermon

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9 Key verses 6-7

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7that 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, 8whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Title “TROUBLE DON’T LAST ALWAYS””

Introduction: According to encyclopedia, a storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body’s atmosphere, affecting its surface and strongly implying severe weather. It is marked by strong winds, thunder and lighting, heavy precipitation and wind transporting substances through the atmosphere.

There are terrestrial storms here on earth and extra-terrestrial storms on other planets.

According to the Bible, a giant storm was sent by God that flooded the Earth. Noah and his family and the animals entered the Ark and on that same day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain came down for forty days and forty nights.

There are all kinds of storms. Some we know about and some we may have never heard about. There are dust storms, firestorms, heat storms, ice storms, super storms, thunder storms, wind storms and winter storms. There are blizzards, cyclones, hurricanes, nor’easters, tornadoes and tropical cyclones. And the list goes on.

Storms are created when a center of low pressure develops, with a system of high pressure surrounding it. In the spiritual, this is analogous to a believer being surrounded by a host of demonic spirits. This combinations of opposing forces create winds and results in the formation of storm clouds. As believers we go through storms when satan surrounds us with tremendous pressure and when we’re at our lowest state. However satan is a liar and he is defeated. We can still get the victory even when the storms of life are raging.

We are most familiar with hurricanes and tornadoes. Lately we have seen a tremendous rise in the number of hurricanes and tornadoes. I believe that what happens in the natural is only an indicator of what is happening in the unseen spiritual realm.

A tornado is a violent, destructive wind storm occurring on land. Usually it appears as a dark funnel shaped cyclone. They are normally preceded by thunderstorms and a wall clouds. They are the most destructive of the storms because the wind speeds can get above 200 mph.

As we must be prepared for the natural storms, we must be prepared for the spiritual storms.

This is what I believe the Apostle Peter is saying to us in the text; learn how to trust God during your hurricane or tornado season. For this too shall pass!

What ever you are going through, it is only a test. What ever you are experiencing, it’s only temporary. What ever you are dealing with, it’s just for a season. Trouble don’t last always.

What God has in store for us throughout all eternity is worth all of the problems that we have. We must remain focus and continue to praise God in spite of our storms. If you are a born again believer, you can be sure you will have storms and challenges in your life, but blessings and prosperity will come also. Your blessings will totally outweigh your storms and afflictions. You should never allow your situation to consume you or take you out. You must always remind yourself that Jesus paid a tremendous price for your salvation and victory. Don't allow your temporary storm cause you to miss your long-term blessing. And don't allow any person cause you to miss out on eternal life with God.

This current storm that we are in called Covid-19, the corona virus is taking it’s toll on us. All of us have been paying the price in one way or the other. All of us has been affected by this storm. For over ten months we have experienced this demonic pressure pressing down upon us daring us to go on. Satan is doing all he can to cause us to give in and give out, but you must keep the faith. And fight the good fight of faith.

By nature, it seems as though we as a people have our limitations on how much we can handle. We all have our breaking point. We are getting fatigue and desensitize with the numbers of cases and deaths. We are tired. But we can’t give up. Breakthrough is happening right before us. Shut down the social media and the news and get on your knees. Everything can’t possibly be a conspiracy. Allow the Lord to lead you and guide you about taking the vaccine when it becomes available. We can’t allow all the voices out there to dictate our actions. Whatever you decide to do, do it by faith and trust God. Don’t allow people to upset us. Don’t allowed them to steal our joy. Don’t allowed them to get on our nerves but remember that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We should not allow people and things work on our last nerves. But we must remember that this storm is just for a season and that troubles don’t last always.

Because God is sovereign He may allow us to experience some storms. But we should always pray for deliverance from the storm or deliverance out of the storm. However the sovereignty of God says that He is free and able to do all that He wills; that He reigns over all creation and that His will is the final cause of all things. Psalm 135:6 says, whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth. God is able to do whatever He wills. God cannot be successfully opposed. He rules and reigns as King. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. His sovereignty is over creation.

This is what the apostle Peter is explaining to all the Christians throughout Asia Minor. He is writing a letter with the intent of having it circulated throughout the entire region.

What did God show the Apostle Peter concerning the saints in our text? He places emphasis on the fact that we are chosen and all of the trials and tribulations that we are going through now is only temporary. Therefore, we need to praise God in spite of our situations.

Peter, the author, or originator of this text is one of the inner circle members of Jesus. Peter was the impetuous disciple. He was the first one to walk on water. And when people were gossiping about whom Jesus really was, Peter was the first one to acknowledge Jesus as The Christ, the anointed one of God. Peter was a true apostle indeed. We often hear about Paul being mission minded, but the apostle Peter was also actively engage in missions. He established new works and he did not proselyte but look for new converts. Even today, we should not proselyte but we should be looking for new converts. And we should be about making new disciples for our Lord. Peter is involved with the writing letters to strangers. His main focus and concern was no longer just about the Jews, but he became concerned about people of all nations. This geographical region was known as the dispersion. It was five provinces of the Roman Empire, known as Asian minor.

CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH BECAUSE WE ARE CHOSEN

Peter explains to the saints that they were going through because they were chosen. Likewise, we go through much today also because we are chosen. We are experiencing so much because the devil hates us. He knows that his time is short and he is throwing everything at us that he possibly can. We are a threat to him and if we were not a threat, he would not bother us. The enemy is attempting to disarm us and render us useless. He simply wants us defeated.

Peter tells them in the text that they were elected. We are also elected of God. We all have become chosen ones of God. We were elected according to God’s foreknowledge. God knew in advance that we would be saved. Peter tells them that they were saved by three means, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, obedience, and a sprinkling of blood. Of course this blood was the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter prays for more grace and peace upon them. And he prays for more divine favor and contentment in their lives.

Peter goes on and blesses God and gives all honor and praise to God the Father who is the father of our Lord. He expresses how God has shown abundant mercy towards us. And not only that, but God has begotten us, saved us, delivered us, and made us children of His will. We have a lively hope because Christ rose from the dead.

He reminds us that we have an inheritance that is incorruptible, non-perishable from God. We have an inheritance that is pure, without anything being sinful at all. This inheritance is permanent and it can not fade away. It is reserved in heaven for us. It has been laid aside. Reservations have been made and all we have to do is check in. And, if we continue to trust in God, we’ll check into heaven some day. But let’s not check in before our time. Do the right thing. During this pandemic, do the right thing. You do all you can to protect yourself and others. And then trust God to do all the rest, because His mercy is everlasting to everlasting.

Peter goes on to tell us that we are kept by the power of God. We are not preserved by our own power or ability but it is God who is keeping us. Our salvation hinges totally upon our faith that God can keep us. Therefore, some of us need to relax and stop trying to save ourselves in our own strength.

2. CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH BUT IT’S JUST FOR A SEASON

Peter explains that what we’re going through is just for a season. We must understand this morning that whatever we’re going through is just for a season. It will not last always. Covid-19 has come mainly for the purpose of making us, the Believer stronger. They devil still hasn’t learned that trials and tribulations just make us more determine to trust in the true and living God. So every set back is just a set up for a greater comeback. The truth of the matter is that satan can’t hold a strong saint down for too long.

Peter says because of this knowledge, we greatly rejoice. We should seriously give God the praise. Even though right now we might be in heaviness or grief and mourning this is just a storm and hurricane season don’t last always.

In the natural realm, we are now out of hurricane season. This year we saw a record number of over 30 named storms. Now because of the cold fronts and cooler waters in the Atlantic Ocean, regular hurricane season is over for a while. Official hurricane season will not be back until June 1, 2021.

But Here it is! He says, the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it be tried with the fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7

No matter how much our faith is tried in the fires of life or storms of life, with set backs, heartbreaks, hurts, sickness, pain and death, Peter 3rd and final main point tell us to NEVER stop rejoicing no matter what the test.

3. CHRISTIANS MUST CHOSE TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD NO MATTER WHAT THE TEST MAY BE

You ought to tell yourself, I choose to rejoice. Remember that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Rejoice unto God with unspeakable joy though we may not have seen Him yet.

Receiving the end of our faith, arriving to the final destination of loving, believing, trusting, and rejoicing in God…

CLOSING EXHORTATION:

Tell yourself this morning, “Trouble don’t last always.” This too shall pass.

Increasing gas prices…Food lines won’t last alwaysRent evictions and mortgage foreclosure won’t last alwaysJob layoffs won’t last always.Unemployment checks running out won’t last alwaysICU rooms running out of space won’t last alwaysPoliticians politicizing the wearing of mask won’t last alwaysNo covid relief from the highest level government won’t last alwaysNo stimulus checks or governmental to save our economy won’t last always.And government officials trying to overturn our democracy won’t last always.

All of this is Just for a Season! Seasons come and seasons go! This season is on its way out. Your storm is on it’s way out.

And if God in all His sovereignty allows a storm to come in your life, ride out your storm even if you have to come in on some broken pieces. The Apostle Paul can tell you about riding out a storm.

CLOSING CLINCHER

Acts 27:41-44 (Passage is about Paul being shipwrecked while on his way to Rome) His assignment was to preach the gospel to Caesar.

This is how the story goes:

But the ship hit a shoal and ran aground. The bow of the ship was stuck fast, the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and it began to break apart. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn't swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn't let them carry out their plan. he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land,

And the Kings James says, [44] And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. [KJV]

My brothers and my sistersI know you think you’ll going to drown butIf you still got some swimming left in you...swim. If you can’t swim, find a board. And if you can’t find a board…grab a broken piece. Sometimes that’s all you can do. Take the broken pieces of life and get yourself together again.Take what’s left of your health, Take what’s left of your marriage, Take what’s left of your career, Take what’s left of your finances, Take what’s left of your church And let the LORD put things back together again,Learn how to trust the Lord with everything. Learn how to put your faith in Jesus. He’ll make everything alright. He’ll see you throughHe’ll make a way out of no way. I’ve tried Him for myself. Have you ever tried Him? All the hell you’re going through is just for a season

CLOSING CELEBRATION:

All the hell JESUS went through was just for a season,The humiliation He went through was just for a season…The betrayal was just for a season. The denial…The beatings…The hanging on the cross. The burial in a borrow tomb,The experience of death,But three days later, He got up with all power in His hands.He’s able to deliver…He’s able to deliver you fromHe’s able to deliver you outWon’t He do it?It’s Just for a SeasonTrouble don’t last always!If you believe it, you ought to says yeah!If you believe it, you ought to say thank you.Ain’t He alright?Yes! Yes ! Yes! TROUBLE DON’T LAST ALWAYS