You Can Rejoice Even In Trials

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"An elderly woman who had many troubles and yet retained a happy face and cheerful heart was asked her secret. She said that for many years she had kept a 'Pleasure Book.' Every evening she wrote in it something pleasant that had happened to her that day. Sometimes she had an enjoyable walk, or someone had come to see her. On other occasions some new flowers had opened in her garden, or the earth had smelled fresh and clean after a rain. Every day there had been some new happiness to record."
Do you ever let things around you – experiences of life, difficult people, pressures and stresses of day-in-day out living rob you of your joy as a Christian? Many of us if we are honest have to reply “yes” to this question. And isn’t it a shame because in the Christian life, it doesn’t have to be like this – in fact it shouldn’t be like this.
Peter in 1 Peter 1:3-7 deals with this subject – the subject of joy even in the midst of suffering and trials. READ...
1 Peter 1:3–7 NASB95
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
From these verses we learn 3 important things regarding the Christian life. 1st...

1. WE LEARN ABOUT TRIALS.

A. Here in these verses, Peter deals with the real reality that Christians do experience trials in this life.
- Christians aren’t immune to them - some mistakenly think Christians are - don’t experience!
B. The word he uses here for “trials” means “variegated, many colored” – means various, all kinds.
C. And Peter uses this word “trials” here rather than tribulations or persecutions because he is dealing with the general problems that Christians face as they live in this world.
D. From what Peter says here we learn 4 important truths about trials:
(1) Trials are diverse in kind – many colored, come in all shapes/sizes
(2) Trials don’t last forever – they last for a season – It’s been said: “When God permits His children to go through the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. If we rebel, He may have to reset the clock; but if we submit, He will not permit us to suffer one minute too long.”
(3) Trials do produce distress (grief, heaviness) in our lives – it’s the same word used to describe Jesus in Gethsemane (Matt 26:37) and sorrow of saints at death of loved ones in 1 Thess. 4:13 – trials can be very painful – C’s must accept that difficult experiences do happen and not put up fronts to appear “more spiritual” = in other words, when you’re hurting, SAY SO! Don’t try to mask it or try to pretend you’re so spiritual you never face trials in your life!
(4) Trials serve a divine purpose in your life
a. They refine your faith – bring out the genuineness of your faith.
b. They are necessary to bring greater good in your life - as Hiebert says: “It is consoling to know that God’s people are never needlessly afflicted.”
- You see, God is up to something in your life when trials come upon you!
TS – Which leads us to the 2nd thing we learn in this passage...

2. WE LEARN ABOUT FAITH.

A. We learn that this thing called “faith” is extremely important in God’s eyes and the Christian life.
B. Faith is commitment – it is too believe and trust in God – as Heb 11:1 and Heb 11:6 says...
Hebrews 11:1 NASB95
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 NASB95
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
C. Here Peter teaches us 3 great truths about faith. 1st…
(1) Faith is more precious than gold – more than all the material things, things we value here
a. What would you do without faith – where would you be? You’d be very lost!
b. People put a lot of stock in gold – they value it highly
c. Gold will perish one day but faith will last forever!
(2) Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.
a. When you experience trials in life, the genuineness or fakeness of your faith emerges!
b. The person who abandons the faith when the going gets tough only proves he had no faith at all.
c. Abraham discovered new truths about the Lord on Mt. Moriah.
d. The 3 Hebrew children – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – discovered new truths in the midst of the fiery furnace
e. Job learned great truths about God in the midst of losing his children, wealth and health! In fact, in Job 23:10 he said…
(3) Faith will bring praise, glory, and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ when He returns.
a. It may mean Jesus will be glorified because of the faith of His people when He returns to claim us as His own!
b. Or it may mean that your faith will bring praise, glory and honor to you when Jesus returns! You will certainly be blessed.
c. I believe both ideas are present!
TS: And this leads us to the 3rd thing we learn in this passage:

3. WE LEARN ABOUT REJOICING.

A. We learn that yes the Christian can rejoice – experience joy – leap for joy – shout for joy – even in the face of the various trials of life.

B. Why?

(1) Because of the great salvation and secure inheritance God has provided for you.
(2) Because you can know that there is a divine reason when you experience the various trials of life.
(3) Because one day in the future your salvation and Christian experience is going to reach its highest fulfillment and joy – when you get to Heaven!
- This is why Peter says in 1 Peter 1:8-9
1 Peter 1:8–9 NASB95
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
- You can rejoice with joy inexpressible.

Conclusion

In his book “450 Stories for Life,” Gust Anderson tells about visiting a church in a farming Community of eastern Alberta, Canada, where there had been 8 years of drought. The farmers were deep in debt, and their economic situation looked hopeless. In spite of their poverty, however, many of them continued to meet together to worship and praise God. Anderson was especially impressed by the testimony of one of these farmers. Dressed in overalls and an old coat--the best clothes he had- -the man stood up and quoted Habakkuk 3:17-18. With deep meaning he said, "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Anderson thought, that dear saint has found the secret of real joy!
Have you found the secret of real joy? It comes through FAITH and TRUSTING GOD even in some of the hardest and deepest and darkest times in your life.
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