1 Peter 1 Peter 1:6-71:6-7

Now…TrialsNow…Trials

Pg 1075Pg 1075In Church BiblesIn Church Bibles

Let the pain and the sorrow Let the pain and the sorrow be washed awaybe washed away

In the waves of His mercyIn the waves of His mercy

As deep cries out to deepAs deep cries out to deep

Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed And why have you become disturbed within me? …within me? …O my God, my soul is in despair O my God, my soul is in despair within me…within me…Deep calls to deep at the sound of Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. and Your waves have rolled over me.

Greatly Greatly RejoiceRejoice

Though Though NowNow

Various Various TrialsTrials

… …Heavenly HopeHeavenly Hope

…………Until HeavenUntil Heaven

…… …….Trials in all .Trials in all shapes, sizes, shapes, sizes, flavors & typesflavors & types

These things I have spoken to you, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.overcome the world.

strengthening the souls of the strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, in the faith, and saying, ““We must through many tribulations We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”enter the kingdom of God.”

that no one should be shaken by that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. and you know.

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are Brief

For our light affliction, which is but For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of more exceeding and eternal weight of gloryglory

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are Needed

My brethren, count it all joy when you My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothingcomplete, lacking nothing

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are Needed

a thorn in the flesh was given to me…a thorn in the flesh was given to me…Concerning this thing I pleaded with Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might the Lord three times that it might depart from me. depart from me.

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” You will.”

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are Painful

We are hard-pressed on every side, We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; yet not crushed;

we are perplexed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; but not in despair;

persecuted, persecuted, but not forsaken; but not forsaken;

struck down, struck down, but not destroyedbut not destroyed

We are We are hard-pressed hard-pressed on every side, on every side, yet not crushed; yet not crushed;

we are we are perplexed, perplexed, but not in despair; but not in despair;

persecuted, persecuted, but not forsaken; but not forsaken;

struck down, struck down, but not destroyedbut not destroyed

For we do not want you to be For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired above strength, so that we despaired even of life. even of life.

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are Proving

Validating our faithValidating our faith

Now the parable is this: The seed is Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. be saved.

But the ones on the rock are those But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. time of temptation fall away.

Now the ones that fell among thorns Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. bring no fruit to maturity.

But the ones that fell on the good But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. keep it and bear fruit with patience.

But he who received the seed on stony But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joyand immediately receives it with joyyet he has no root in himself, but yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. immediately he stumbles.

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are Proving

Validating our faithValidating our faith Declaring our faithDeclaring our faith

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of His body, which is the church,

To them God willed to make known To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to sufferings for the gospel according to the power of Godthe power of God

……I suffer trouble…I endure all things I suffer trouble…I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are Proving

Validating our faithValidating our faith Declaring our faithDeclaring our faith

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are GoodOur Trials are Good

GoldGold• Gold is seen as most precious, Gold is seen as most precious,

valuable metal Biblicallyvaluable metal Biblically• Gold is rare Gold is rare (six times more than silver) (six times more than silver) • Gold is most malleable of metals Gold is most malleable of metals

One ounce can be stretched into a thread One ounce can be stretched into a thread more than 50 miles long, or rolled into a more than 50 miles long, or rolled into a 100 square foot sheet!100 square foot sheet!

GoldGold• Gold is seen as most precious, Gold is seen as most precious,

valuable metal Biblicallyvaluable metal Biblically• Gold is rare Gold is rare (six times more than silver) (six times more than silver) • Gold is most malleable of metals Gold is most malleable of metals • Gold is divisible Gold is divisible • Gold is consistent–no grades ofGold is consistent–no grades of

Karat is a measurement of the Karat is a measurement of the fineness of gold. fineness of gold. (not to be confused with carat, which (not to be confused with carat, which is a measurement of weight.) is a measurement of weight.)

• One Karat is to 1/24th part of One Karat is to 1/24th part of the whole. the whole.

• Pure gold is 24 karat. Pure gold is 24 karat. • An alloy that is half gold and An alloy that is half gold and

half other metals is half other metals is 12 karat.12 karat.

GoldGold• Gold is seen as most precious, Gold is seen as most precious,

valuable metal Biblicallyvaluable metal Biblically• Gold is rare Gold is rare (six times more than silver) (six times more than silver) • Gold is most malleable of metals Gold is most malleable of metals • Gold is divisible Gold is divisible • Gold is consistent–no grades ofGold is consistent–no grades of

1) Mine the Gold1) Mine the GoldOn average, to extract an ounce of gold On average, to extract an ounce of gold from Earth's crust, one must smash and from Earth's crust, one must smash and process about three tons of rock. process about three tons of rock.

1) Mine the Gold1) Mine the Gold2) Separate the Gold2) Separate the Gold3) Purify the Gold3) Purify the Gold

Place in a furnace…in a fire that reaches Place in a furnace…in a fire that reaches to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit to separate to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit to separate the impurities the impurities

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are GoodOur Trials are Good

Working eternal good in usWorking eternal good in usImagine life as a container Imagine life as a container ….….

CanCan gain God’s Pleasure gain God’s Pleasure1 Peter 4:12-131 Peter 4:12-13

For to you it has been granted on For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sakeHim, but also to suffer for His sake

Blessed are you when they revile and Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…great is your reward in heaven…

And not only that, but we also glory And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and and perseverance, character; and character, hope. character, hope.

"Ah!" said Luther, "affliction is the best book in my library".

Martin Luther at Trial in Worms – April 18, 1521Martin Luther at Trial in Worms – April 18, 1521

I am afraid that all the grace that I have got out of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable.

Charles Spurgeon, Pastor in London (1834–1892)Charles Spurgeon, Pastor in London (1834–1892)

What do I not owe to the crucible and the furnace, the bellows that have blown up the coals, and the hand which has thrust me into the heat?... I bear my witness that the worst days I have ever had have turned out to be my best days... I can bear my personal testimony that the great value of affliction and trouble.... In shunning a trial we are seeking to avoid a blessing.

Charles Spurgeon, Pastor in London (1834–1892)Charles Spurgeon, Pastor in London (1834–1892)

In heavenly hope–greatly In heavenly hope–greatly rejoicerejoiceNow…various trialsNow…various trials

Our Trials are BriefOur Trials are BriefOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are NeededOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are PainfulOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are ProvingOur Trials are GoodOur Trials are Good

In heavenly hope–greatly In heavenly hope–greatly rejoicerejoice

But he who received the seed on stony But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joyand immediately receives it with joyyet he has no root in himself, but yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. immediately he stumbles.

But he who received seed on the good But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.some sixty, some thirty.