Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #20220821 - Your Trial Will Become Your Triumph - 1 Peter 4:12-16

Transcript

#20220821 - Your Trial Will Become Your Triumph - 1 Peter 4:12-16 · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

0:05
Welcome to the study of God's word recorded live at Calvary
0:09
Church in Aurora, Colorado, to learn more about the many
0:12
resources available, through abounding Grace, Media, or to
0:15
tune into our live stream Services.
0:18
Visit us online at Calvary. Co dot church or download our
0:22
free Calvary Church app now. Let's open our Bibles and study
0:26
God's word. Amen.
0:32
Amen. All right, First Peter chapter
0:35
4, a message to that. I've called your trial will
0:39
become your Triumph. Your trial will become your
0:42
Triumph and I just want to acknowledge this morning as we
0:46
start that. I know many of us in this place
0:50
are dealing with great difficulties.
0:52
And we've come into this place in a season of great
0:55
difficulties. Those are trials that are in our
0:57
lives and and for some of us, our trials might not Be as big
1:01
as you know, maybe the person sitting next to us, but it's
1:05
still our trial. And there are some of us that
1:08
are in the midst of the difficulty right now where we
1:09
feel crushed underneath that and we're not sure how we're going
1:13
to make it through. Someone once said this, that we
1:17
are either in a trial or were coming out of a trial or we're
1:23
about ready to enter into a trial.
1:26
So perhaps you're here and you're like, I'm not in a trial
1:28
at this point in my life. We'll maybe this is just the
1:30
Lord's way of preparing you for what's coming, but the guarantee
1:34
and hopefully this will be made evident to each one of us that
1:37
the trial that you are in is going to become your Triumph.
1:41
And we're going to see God speak to that.
1:43
Now, there's a difference between trials Temptation.
1:46
Sometimes those words are used interchangeably.
1:49
A trial is something that's given from God and the purpose
1:53
of the trial is to refine your faith and to even Define your
1:58
faith. What kind of Faith do you have?
2:00
Temptations? Are something that's not given
2:03
from God when you're tempted, that's not coming from God,
2:06
James chapter 1 tells us very clearly.
2:08
God doesn't tempt to anybody, nor is God, tempted trials, the
2:13
word trial actually means to Prove or to test.
2:18
And so, a trial has the purpose of wanting to strengthen your
2:22
faith. Honestly, when I go through a
2:25
trial, my first reaction is to run, and my first reaction, is
2:28
it almost I feel like it shakes my faith, right?
2:32
But the purpose, God has underneath that trial is to
2:34
strengthen. Your faith can Tatian on the
2:37
other hand, as meant toulour you, or to entice, you away from
2:42
your faith with a purpose of weakening, your faith, So God
2:46
gives us trials, got allows trials into our life and Peter
2:50
who is himself gone through many trials.
2:54
It's going to give us a word here.
2:55
That's that's helpful for us. I think this morning, First
2:58
Peter, chapter 4 we're going to read verses 12 through 16 and if
3:02
you like to take notes sometimes that helps me just to remember
3:05
things later. I'll have a few things to give
3:07
to you that will hopefully be an encouragement to you first Peter
3:10
4 verse 12. Tells us this beloved Do not
3:14
think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you
3:19
as though some strange thing happened to you.
3:22
But Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's
3:26
sufferings that when his glory is revealed, you may also be
3:30
glad with exceeding Joy if you have reproached for the name of
3:35
Christ. Blessed, are you for the spirit
3:38
of God as Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you on their
3:43
part? Blaspheming but on your part he
3:46
is glorified, but let none of you suffer as a murderer, a
3:50
thief, and evil doer, or as a busybody.
3:52
In other people's matters. Yet, if anyone suffers as a
3:56
Christian, let him not be put to shame, but let him glorify God
4:01
in this matter. So if you are taking notes, the
4:04
first point, we want to recognize and see here is that
4:07
number 1 trials are mandatory. Trials are mandatory verse 12
4:13
says beloved do not think it strange concerning the fiery
4:17
trial which is to try you as though some strange thing has
4:21
happened to you. So when it comes to trials we
4:24
didn't sign up for trials. We never said, Lord, would you
4:26
please bring a great difficulty into my life today that would be
4:30
awesome. Right, none of us.
4:31
'And up for them, they rarely. Show up the announce there that
4:35
often show up unannounced. None of us knows if a trials in
4:39
our future today or tomorrow, but God has designed every trial
4:44
that comes into our life to strengthen our faith again.
4:47
This is the faith that we just proclaimed as we sang.
4:51
This is the faith. When we say things like God,
4:53
you're good, God. You're faithful.
4:55
God, you're my provider when we say those things that trialed
4:59
and comes into our life to test. Do you really believe that?
5:03
It is this something that is true?
5:05
Or it's got only good when your life is good.
5:08
It's got only faithful. When you can feel his
5:09
faithfulness is the only near you when you sense his presence,
5:14
but trials are mandatory. And one of the reasons trials
5:18
are mandatories because they're part of the normal Christian
5:22
Life. You may not have known that the
5:25
moment you said, yes, to Jesus, right?
5:27
You maybe came forward and you got saved or you prayed with
5:30
somebody to get saved and you probably didn't hear in that.
5:33
Message. Hey, as a Christian life, is
5:36
going to be difficult, they're going to be things that are
5:38
going to come into your life that are going to test you.
5:41
But we're going to see. It's Paul talks about this and a
5:43
Peter talks about this in verse 12.
5:45
He says, don't think it's strange.
5:48
It's part of the normal Christian experience for all of
5:50
us. When he says strange there, the
5:52
word strange means don't be surprised.
5:56
Don't be astonished. Don't be shocked in the Greek.
6:01
When a trial comes in here. Or like, don't be caught off
6:04
guard, be prepared. This is part of the normal
6:07
Christian experience, by the way, not if they come into your
6:11
life, but when they come into your life, if you guys know
6:15
James chapter 1, James says that this way, my beloved my brethren
6:19
count, it all joy. When you fall into various
6:23
trials, knowing that the testing of your faith, produces
6:28
patience. But let patience have.
6:31
It's perfect work that you may be perfect.
6:34
James is saying there that you may be mature and complete
6:39
lacking, nothing. Paul even goes, a step further
6:44
and says this in second Timothy 3:12.
6:47
He says, yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ.
6:52
Jesus will suffer persecution. Pastor Chuck Smith said of that
6:57
verse. It's one of his most unfavorite
7:00
promises in the Bible because it is a promise.
7:03
If any of you would raise your hand and say I desire to live a
7:06
Godly life in Christ. Paul says, well then get ready
7:09
cuz you are going to experience persecution and the reason is
7:13
because we live in a broken world and I know it's obvious to
7:18
all of us, right? No matter what precautions, we
7:21
take to protect us from that Brokenness.
7:23
No matter how well we feel that we've put together.
7:25
Gather a good life, no matter how hard we've worked to be
7:29
healthy or how hard we've worked to be wealthy, or how
7:32
comfortable we have worked to be friends, and have a comfortable,
7:36
family, and successful with our career, the reality is something
7:41
will inevitably ruin it and it will come into all of our Lives.
7:46
Pastor Charles Stanley says this that if we don't understand the
7:51
ways of God, Then we're going to be left in frustration.
7:57
And I think it's true. A lot of us are trial comes to
7:58
our life and we're simply frustrated, oftentimes, because
8:01
we're not understanding what God is doing.
8:04
Another Pastor said this suffering is unbearable.
8:08
If you aren't certain that God is for you and that God is with
8:13
you. In other words suffering can be
8:17
bearable. If you know that he's in your
8:19
corner with you, he hasn't left you.
8:21
He hasn't abandoned you. He hasn't walked away from you,
8:24
you're not alone and trials, one of the things that a trial, does
8:28
we go back to who God is? And and whether or not we really
8:34
believe that the character of God is good.
8:38
Do we really believe that God is going to be faithful?
8:40
And he's going to see us through whatever difficulty comes into
8:43
our life. So if you get a diagnosis from
8:48
the doctor this week, that's a trial.
8:52
And so you will be forced to ask in, probably will ask God.
8:56
Is he still good? Is he still good?
8:59
If you have bills at home and they're stacking up and you're
9:01
going man? I don't know how I'm going to
9:03
pay off all these bills. This is overwhelming me.
9:06
I'm feeling like I'm drowning in debt.
9:08
Is God your provider? One of his titles is he's
9:12
Jehovah. Jireh my provider.
9:14
Do you believe that if you've been crushed by another person
9:18
or brokenhearted by somebody or betrayed by somebody else is
9:23
God, still faithful? When all else fails is God,
9:27
still faithful, see, this is what trials do they test.
9:33
These things that we believe about God.
9:35
And it's not that God makes bad things happen to us, that's not
9:39
God's heart. But God uses these things, as
9:42
opportunities to reveal the posture of our hearts are, we
9:46
leaning into Jesus in the midst of our difficulties, or do we
9:50
run from him because it's easy when something gets tough.
9:53
Paul Peter here talks about a fiery trial.
9:56
If I'm getting close to a fire, I want to walk away from the
9:59
fire. I don't want to move towards the
10:00
fire, a lot of times we run. From the Lord, when things get
10:05
difficult, but his heart is that we would draw near to him, in
10:09
those moments to lean into him when things become difficult.
10:12
Now, Peter who wrote this, Peter who said, don't think it's
10:16
strange, trials are mandatory. This is part of the normal
10:19
Christian experience. He didn't always believed that
10:21
he this is a lesson, he had to learn as well.
10:24
Back in Matthew 16:21, it tells us they're from that time.
10:30
Jesus began to show his disciples that He must go to
10:33
Jerusalem and suffer, many things from the elders and the
10:38
chief priests. And the scribes and be killed
10:42
and be raised the third day, then Peter took Jesus aside and
10:48
it says he began to rebuke him. That's not really a good thing
10:51
to do. By the way to rebuke Jesus,
10:54
right perhaps that's exactly what we do when we go through a
10:58
trial. Perhaps there's a rebuke God.
11:00
How could you allow this guy? This isn't right.
11:02
How Hops. We ourselves rebuke Jesus at
11:05
times. Peter does here, Peter says, far
11:09
be it from you. Lord, this shall not happen to
11:12
you verse 23. Jesus says, he turns and says,
11:16
to Peter, get behind me. Satan, you are an offense to me
11:20
for. You are not mindful of the
11:21
things of God, but of the things of men.
11:25
So, Peter revealed their, the, he didn't understand that the
11:28
trials that Jesus was about to endure were part of the Plan
11:33
that he had to save you and me. But here he is writing, don't
11:39
think it's strange. When you also experience these
11:42
different trials, my favorite author, FB Meyer, he wrote 150
11:47
years ago, he says it this way. He says, once it seemed strange
11:50
to the Apostle Peter, that his master should think of
11:53
suffering. Now, he thinks it's strange that
11:56
he could have imagined anything else.
11:59
It's a trials are mandatory because they're part of the
12:01
normal Christian Life trials are also mandatory because the
12:05
primary way to strengthen our faith as to test it.
12:10
The primary way to strengthen our faith is tested.
12:14
Our faith doesn't really grow in the good times.
12:17
It's a blessing to have a reprieve.
12:19
It's a blessing to experience, Bounty and favor and those
12:23
things. But but our faith is
12:26
strengthened in the difficulties.
12:29
Of Life verse 12 he says, don't think it strange concerning the
12:33
fiery trial, the hot trial the painful trial the purifying
12:39
trial which is to try you as though some strange thing has
12:43
happened to. It's that strange expected if
12:47
you would just keep your finger in First Peter for and just turn
12:49
a couple pages to the left just for a moment.
12:52
First Peter chapter 1 because he kind of helps us understand this
12:56
idea a little bit better of this fiery.
12:58
That he says, we will endure. First Peter, chapter 1 starting
13:02
at verse 6. Peter says, this in this, you
13:06
greatly Rejoice, though. Now, for a little while, if need
13:10
be you have been grieved by various trials that the
13:16
genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold,
13:19
that perishes though it is tested by fire, that may be
13:24
found to praise honor and Trust at the revelation of Is Christ
13:29
whom having not seen you love though.
13:33
Now you do not see him yet believing you rejoice with joy
13:38
inexpressible and full of Glory receiving.
13:41
The set, the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
13:46
So Peter is saying here that the trials are mandatory because the
13:51
primary way to strengthen our faith is to test it just like
13:56
gold goes through. Fire to The purity of the gold
14:00
at a friend of mine, once who worked at a little clock shop
14:03
and it was really cool. He take clocks watches apart and
14:05
clocks apart and put them back together.
14:07
Fix it was fascinating to me, but he took all these little
14:10
pieces of gold at one point and just wanted to show me this and
14:13
he brought them together and he had this flame and he put the
14:16
flame over these little pieces of gold and they all sort of
14:19
melted together and created this ball.
14:21
And as that was underneath the flame, it was pure look like
14:24
glass. So you can see your reflection
14:26
in it. And then after a couple seconds,
14:28
I Bunch of this black stuff started coming to the top of the
14:32
gold there and obviously what was happening is as it was under
14:34
the fire. The impurities that were in the
14:36
gold were coming out of the gold and one of the things that was
14:40
doing is it was testing the quality of the Gold & Peterson.
14:44
That's exactly what trials do it were put under Fire but it's
14:48
testing the quality of our faith and it's actually purifying us
14:54
as well. He says, in verse 7 of First
14:56
Peter one, your faith is more precious than gold.
15:02
He says, in verse 9, there the end of your faith.
15:04
At the end of all of this. For all of us sitting here, the
15:06
end of it. Is the Salvation of your souls.
15:09
So, what is this Faith? Well, most of us would probably
15:13
answer what it says in Hebrews 11:1, which is the right answer.
15:16
Faith is the Assurance of things hoped for the evidence of Things
15:21
Not Seen. So simply put Faith is trusting
15:25
in something that you can't explicitly prove. so, if you're
15:30
here this morning and you're going through a difficulty You
15:36
can't prove necessarily as a result of your difficulty that
15:39
God is good. You might not be able to prove
15:43
as a result of this difficulty that he's present with you.
15:47
Perhaps you're going through season where you don't sense his
15:49
presence with you, but that's where faith comes in.
15:53
Faith is trusting in something that you can't explicitly prove.
15:58
So trials, strengthen this Faith by testing it, to see how
16:03
genuine it is, because Faith scripture tells us pleases, God,
16:09
God loves it. When we are able to God.
16:11
Even if I don't feel that I believe it, God, even if I don't
16:15
believe it, your word says it. And so, I'm going to keep saying
16:18
what your word says until I believe it.
16:21
I'm going to keep declaring it until I feel it.
16:24
But Trials. Come and say, do you really?
16:26
Is that true? Do you really believe this?
16:29
It's like a pop quiz. If you remember back from middle
16:31
school, you show up on a Monday. And your teacher says, okay
16:34
close your books. We're going to do a pop quiz, a
16:37
surprise quiz here to see if, you know, the material of
16:40
everything that we've been studying.
16:41
For the last couple months, right?
16:42
And most of the time, you're like, man, I didn't know this,
16:44
right? Because a pop quiz is an
16:46
unannounced quiz. It's just a way of seeing.
16:48
Are you getting it? Are you learning the material?
16:51
And that's exactly what a trial is.
16:52
It's an opportunity for us to say, are you, are you getting?
16:55
It is the faith that you declare Real and True in your life.
17:00
See the trials are not meant to force us to quit though.
17:04
We often feel that way. It's meant to push us to endure
17:08
in the secular View. If you were to talk to someone
17:11
about suffering it's never seen as a meaningful part of life.
17:15
It's only seen as an interruption to Interruption to
17:18
my plans and it's an interruption to my dreams and
17:20
it's an interruption to my desires, but in the Christian
17:25
worldview, What scripture tells us as is that Great Hearts can
17:30
only be made by great troubles. It's the only way there's people
17:35
in my life that I look up to spiritually and I have for many
17:39
years, older men older women in my church that I'll talk to you
17:43
in my life and as I begin to talk to them and and one of the
17:46
things I always ask him, I want to know their story.
17:49
I want to know how they came to this place where they love Jesus
17:53
and they're so genuine and and they've got such great faith.
17:56
But every single person in my life, at least that that I look
18:00
up to every single one of them has gone through great trouble.
18:03
That's part of their story, that's part of the reason why
18:06
they are the way they are because they believed so deeply
18:09
because they love Jesus. So deeply it's because they've
18:12
gone through trial after trial after difficulty.
18:17
And I don't know about you. I want that same faith and I
18:19
want that same love, but I want to take the correspondence
18:22
course. I don't want to walk through the
18:23
difficulty. I want to sort of skip over that
18:26
process. Yes, and get to the maturity.
18:29
But I'm realizing it's not the way it works.
18:31
And I wish I could say to you is you guys come to us as pastors
18:34
with your difficulties. I think every Pastor would say,
18:36
man if we could just take that difficulty away from you, we
18:40
works. We don't like to see how many of
18:41
us like to see our children go through difficulty.
18:44
So, hardest thing for a pastor it's the same way when we see
18:47
you guys go through difficulty, but we realized there's a
18:49
purpose behind it that it's not a bad thing that Jesus is
18:53
accomplishing something in it. So trials are mandatory.
18:56
Number two, if you're taking notes, Trials are temporary
19:01
trials are temporary. It says here in verse 13,
19:04
chapter 4 back in First Peter, chapter 4, Rejoice to the extent
19:09
that you partake of Christ's sufferings notice this, that
19:13
when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding
19:19
Joy. So ultimately, my friends, at
19:22
the end of whatever it is that you're going through the end of
19:24
the day. The end of our Lives Joy is at
19:27
the end of The Journey. There's joy.
19:30
It says here, when his glory is revealed, you may be glad With
19:36
exceeding Joy, your trial may feel like they, the opposite of
19:39
that. There's nothing glad in your
19:41
trial. There's no joy in your trial,
19:43
but Jesus promises. The end, there will be Joy.
19:47
He says, actually in fact that Faith would do this Faith would
19:51
Rejoice now because of the fact that we are in this trial and as
19:57
we're in this trial, were actually taking part in some way
20:01
of the sufferings of Jesus. Jesus was a man of sorrow.
20:05
It says acquainted with all grief which is encouraging
20:09
because whatever it is that you're going through, he knows
20:12
he sees he understands, he's felt the weight, he's felt the
20:16
pain. He's felt that betrayal.
20:19
He's felt overwhelmed. So we're taking part in some of
20:22
his suffering but the beautiful part about that is we know that
20:26
someday we will also take part in his glory as well.
20:29
Amazing thoughts that we get to take part in his glory back in
20:33
First Peter one you don't have to turn there but We read this
20:36
verse 5 there it says you are kept by the power of God through
20:41
faith for salvation to be revealed in the last time.
20:45
So one of the ways we know that trials are temporary is because
20:48
you're being kept by the power of God and I just want you to
20:52
hear that this morning, if you're here, and if you're in
20:55
the midst of a trial, you are being kept.
20:59
The Bible says, underneath you are the Everlasting Arms.
21:03
You may feel like you're falling or that the bottom has been
21:07
pulled out underneath you, but underneath you are the
21:09
Everlasting Arms. He holds you, he keeps you, he's
21:12
near you. You're being kept.
21:15
When it feels like all things are out of control.
21:18
Nothing, we go through is out of his control, nothing, he
21:22
controls the length, Of our difficulties in our trials.
21:27
I would like to tell him. Lord, if my, if I have a trial,
21:30
could it be very quick sometimes?
21:32
They're not quick right? Sometimes they last sometimes
21:34
are ongoing but he controls the length of it.
21:37
Most of our trials will pass, most of them will.
21:41
So that should hopefully be a word of encouragement for you.
21:43
Very seldom are is a trial, a lifelong trial, but even still
21:49
James tells us that life itself is like a vapor or a Mist.
21:52
It's like your cup of coffee that most of you.
21:54
We had this morning and you saw the little bit of mist, not
21:58
missed steam coming off of the coffee and it was there for a
22:02
moment and then it was gone and James says, that's kind of like
22:04
what life is life is quick. It's, you know, you talk to a
22:07
person that's lived many years, the their life and an older
22:11
person and every single one of them will tell you, I look back
22:13
on my life and then it flew by like it has.
22:16
I don't even know where the time went because that's how life is.
22:19
So at the end of the day, we do know this that God controls the
22:23
length of them. M, the trials, but God also will
22:26
control the severity of the trials as well because trials do
22:30
vary in degree. That's why he says there's
22:32
various kinds of Trials. So sometimes what can happen is
22:35
if I'm going through a really deep trial in my life, it's easy
22:39
for me to look at you. Talking about your trial and to
22:42
sort of look down on you because your trial isn't the same as my
22:44
trial, and I feel like my trial is much worse than your trial.
22:48
You know, one of the things is that God is in control of the
22:50
severity of it. Another thing that can also
22:53
happens or the opposite, I can hear your trial and then I can
22:56
downplay my trial and think, well, gosh, what I'm going
22:58
through is nothing compared to what you're going through, I
23:01
have no right to even talk about my trial, but the reality is, if
23:04
you're in it, whatever degree, whatever severity it is.
23:09
It's your trial for God to use in your life.
23:11
That's the point. That's the point.
23:13
And if it's a difficult one guide to using it, if it's less
23:17
difficult in the person on your right, or the person on your
23:19
left guides using it in your life.
23:22
Again, it tells us back in First Peter 1:6.
23:24
In this you greatly Rejoice. Notice this though now for a
23:28
little while, if need be you have been grieved by various
23:32
trials. So trials, do produce grief in
23:36
our life. They they, they produce this but
23:39
Peter says they're only for a season trouser temporary.
23:43
Only for a season, the great preacher.
23:45
Charles Spurgeon says, this, our trial shall have an end when God
23:51
has gotten his end in them. I try also have an end when God
23:55
has gotten his end in them. So if you're in a trial and the
23:59
trial is not over yet, it's because God is still
24:01
accomplishing something in it P. Paul says in 2nd Corinthians
24:06
4:17, this light momentary Affliction is preparing us for
24:12
an eternal weight of Glory beyond all comprehension.
24:16
So, trials are a necessary means to a glorious end, to a glorious
24:22
end. The end of your journey is Joy.
24:27
There is a African-American hymn writer.
24:31
His name was, Charles A Tinsley and what he did is he wrote
24:35
spirituals for African Americans that were in the midst of
24:39
slavery. And we're in the midst of facing
24:41
extreme prejudice and persecution, because of the
24:45
color of their skin, we all know that that dark part of our
24:48
history. And so here, they were in the
24:51
midst of a deep trial, not knowing, when that trial was
24:54
going. Come to an end.
24:55
And so this man Charles Tinsley would write these spirituals for
24:59
them, to sing to stir up, Faith in them as they were in the
25:03
midst of these trials. And here's some of the lyrics of
25:06
what he wrote that many of our African-American brothers and
25:10
sisters sang in the midst of their deep trial, they would
25:14
sing this beams of Heaven. As I go through this Wilderness
25:18
below guide, my feet and peaceful ways turn my Midnight's
25:23
in two days. When in the darkness, I would
25:26
grope Faith always sees a Star of Hope.
25:30
And soon from all life's grief and danger, I shall be free
25:34
someday. I don't know how long it will be
25:38
nor what the future holds for me.
25:40
But this I know if Jesus leads me.
25:42
I shall get a home someday burdens.
25:46
Now, may crush me down disappointments all around
25:51
troubles, speak and mournful sigh, sorry, Row through a
25:55
tear-stained eye, but there is a world where pleasure rains, no
26:01
morning, Soul, shall roam, its planes and to that land of peace
26:06
and Glory, I will go someday. And what a powerful way of
26:12
stirring up, Faith. To be able to say those words to
26:16
sing. Those words to go to the
26:17
promises of God. It says, in verse 14 here, if
26:23
you are reproached For the name of Christ.
26:28
Blessed are you, you're blessed for that for the spirit of glory
26:32
and of God rests upon you on their part.
26:35
And the person's part that is reproaching you persecuting.
26:39
You, it says on their part, he has blasphemed.
26:41
But on your part he is glorified then verse 15.
26:44
Says, let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, and evil
26:47
doer, or as a busybody and other people's matters.
26:50
So, Peter saying here we should expect to suffer and if we
26:55
suffer You are blessed because you do.
26:58
It is a unusual way of God. Bringing a blessing in a
27:03
peculiar way into your life. It's like what scripture says
27:06
that God can take what was meant for evil and bring good out of
27:09
it, right? That he can take ashes and bring
27:12
beauty from ashes. And one of the reasons that
27:15
difficulty and suffering and persecution even does that is
27:18
because now we're identifying with Jesus.
27:20
Now, we're becoming closer to Jesus.
27:22
Now, we're experiencing some of the pain and some of the sorrow
27:25
that Jesus Experience. And Jesus said, look, the world
27:28
hates me. And Jesus said, if the world
27:30
hates me, it's going to hate you too.
27:32
So just be prepared for that, they may blaspheme him, but it
27:38
says, in verse 14 on your part, he is glorified, which means,
27:41
your trial, whatever it is, is bringing him.
27:45
Glory and verse 15 says, now possible to suffer as possible
27:50
to be in a, in a difficulty because you bring it on yourself
27:55
and Peter saying, Don't do that. Don't don't be as it says in
27:58
verse 15, a murderer, or thief or an evildoer.
28:01
I like how he even adds in there a busybody and other people's
28:04
matters, right? Don't be that person because
28:06
that's not a true trial that there's difficulty.
28:09
As a result of that, it's just the consequences for your own
28:12
behavior, right? So he's trying to separate that
28:14
they're so again, trials are mandatory, Trials are temporary
28:20
and then our third and final Point.
28:22
Here is a trials are praiseworthy Trials are
28:27
praiseworthy verse 16. First Peter 4 tells us if anyone
28:32
suffers as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him
28:37
glorify God in this matter. I wrestle with that.
28:42
My first thought is easier said than done, it tells us back in
28:46
verse 13, it says to rejoice in the midst of your trial, but I
28:51
think we see there. Are three reasons why trials are
28:54
praiseworthy. There's three reasons why trials
28:56
are praiseworthy number one. God will use your trial for his
29:01
glory. Now, if you're an unbeliever
29:05
here or you're not a Jesus follower, you don't know him,
29:08
that may not sound like a big deal.
29:10
Give God glory through your trial, but if you are a Believer
29:14
and you do know Jesus, then you know that anytime we bring God
29:18
glory, that is a big deal. That is everything to us.
29:21
Paul says, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
29:24
right? Do it all to the glory of God,
29:26
which includes the difficulties that we go through.
29:29
It says here in verse 16, not to be ashamed, that word is Shane.
29:33
The Greek they're literally means don't shrink back like
29:36
one. Who is disfigured?
29:39
I thought I think about Quasimodo, right?
29:41
Or somebody that is just ashamed because of the way that their
29:44
face looks their disfigured and they don't want anybody to see
29:47
that Peter saying here, don't be that, don't be ashamed, don't
29:50
shrink back because sometimes our natural response to a
29:54
difficulty is exactly that. It's to shrink back its to want
29:57
to move away from it. I think of Paul and Silas they
30:01
were both beaten close. Is to death because they were
30:04
preaching. The gospel that were thrown into
30:07
prison into a dungeon literally there were chained against the
30:11
wall the next day. They were going to stand trial
30:15
and potentially be killed for the very fact that they were
30:18
preaching the gospel. But accept her. 16 verse 25
30:22
tells us that in the middle of the night, at midnight, they
30:26
began to pray and they began to sing, praise to God.
30:30
And it says all the other prisoners heard them.
30:34
Here, they are in a great difficulty, a great trial, but
30:37
they're bringing glory to God in the midst of their trial.
30:40
They didn't shrink back. In fact, what they did is they
30:42
shouted out, right? Not because it felt good, but
30:46
because they knew God was in control.
30:48
They knew God's character. They knew that God loved them
30:51
that God was with them. The God wouldn't have banned in
30:53
them. They were not ashamed.
30:56
The prophet Isaiah says, this, Isaiah 54, verse 4, and if
31:00
you're in a trial, maybe you want to write that down, Isaiah
31:02
54 verse 4. He says do not fear.
31:06
For you will not be put us. You will.
31:08
I'm sorry. Do not fear for you will not be
31:10
ashamed. Neither be disgraced for you
31:13
will not be put to shame. I think this is a word for
31:16
somebody because it's not God's heart, and whatever it is that
31:19
you're going through to embarrass you, God would never
31:22
want to do that. It's not God's heart to
31:24
frustrate you. That's not why God allows trials
31:27
into our life. It's his heart to be your helper
31:31
in time of need. It's his heart to give you the
31:34
strength that you need. And it's Heart to comfort you.
31:39
We're only comforted when we go through something uncomfortable
31:42
and it's his heart to be that comfort and that help in time of
31:45
need, you know, we can either be ashamed of our lot in life at
31:49
the present moment and we can shrink back from it or we can do
31:52
it, the old hymn writer wrote. We can say, whatever my lot thou
31:57
Hast taught me to say it is. Well, it Is Well with My Soul.
32:04
So the greatest response to difficulties is not to be
32:07
ashamed but to glorify God in them.
32:09
The second reason why trials are praiseworthy is because your
32:13
trials will end in Triumph. Your trials will end in Triumph.
32:17
Look at what it says here in verse 13.
32:19
Again Rejoice to the extent that you partake of.
32:23
Christ's sufferings notices that when his glory is revealed, you
32:28
may also be glad with exceeding Joy.
32:31
I like that not just Joy but exceeding Joy.
32:34
This is what this means cancer is.
32:37
Not the end of your story. Your unpaid bills that are
32:41
piling up. That's not the end of your
32:43
story. If you lost your reputation or
32:46
your relationships, that's not the end of your story.
32:49
If your dreams have been crushed and broken.
32:52
If you're lonely, if you're experiencing persecution at
32:55
work, that's not the end of your story because he's saying here
32:58
there's a day coming when Glory will be revealed when faith will
33:03
be made slight you. Will see and you will know and
33:06
you'll be filled with exceeding Joy.
33:08
It says, right now, we look through this glass, that's a
33:11
little foggy and we can't quite See Clearly.
33:13
But he says, someday, we're going to see things clearly, and
33:16
there's going to be glory and Triumph at the end of your
33:19
trial, which means this right now, God is wanting to stir up.
33:23
Faith in you and as he's stirring up, faith in you, that
33:27
faith is being strengthened and it's being purified so much.
33:31
So, and this is what's amazing about what God can do.
33:34
So, Much. So you can actually glorify him
33:37
in the trial for what you know is coming after the trial.
33:42
That's great. Faith has so often you read the
33:43
Psalms and you see the psalmist and he's in the midst of
33:46
difficulties. He'll say things like my there
33:48
are enemies and camped all around me.
33:50
And he is know how he's going to get out of this.
33:52
And he's honest with God. He says, Lord, I'm downtrodden.
33:56
And I'm afraid, and I'm fearful, but the end of the psalm, he
33:59
always says, yet. I praise you because you are
34:02
good, but I praise you because you are God.
34:04
Because you are my strength because you are my tower because
34:07
in you I run and I hide. He Praises him before.
34:10
He knows the outcome of a situation because God has
34:14
stirred up faith in him. As a result of the difficulty,
34:16
you know, even Jesus did this. Even Jesus look ahead to what
34:20
was coming beef as he was walking through his own
34:24
suffering, it tells us in Hebrews 12:2 as we look to Jesus
34:28
the author and the finisher of our faith who for the joy that
34:33
was set before him. He endured During the cross,
34:35
despising the shame and is now sat down at the right hand of
34:39
the Throne of God Peter's again. In verse 19, here's it says
34:44
therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God
34:47
commit their souls to him. I love this as to a faithful
34:52
Creator so this morning, no matter what you're up against.
34:59
As difficult as I know. It is for some of you.
35:02
He's faithful to you and you can commit your soul to his
35:07
faithfulness. He's not going to, he's not
35:10
going to leave you. He's not going to let you go.
35:13
He's going to walk through this with you.
35:16
One of the ways you can know that he's been, he will be
35:19
faithful. Is because you can look back and
35:22
if he has been faithful to you and I'm sure that all of us
35:25
should have walked with Jesus for any amount of time.
35:27
Could say? Yes, he has been faithful.
35:29
He's brought me up to this point.
35:31
It's great. Thanks.
35:32
If he's not going to leave you, he hasn't brought you this far
35:35
to abandon you. He hasn't brought you this far
35:38
to frustrate you. He didn't bring you this far to
35:40
crush you. He's going to continue to be
35:43
faithful every day for the rest of your life, whether you sense
35:47
it or not. And I would say this, whether
35:49
you believe it or not, he who began a good work in you.
35:53
He will be faithful to complete that work that he began in, you
35:56
verse 13. When his glory is revealed, you
35:58
will be glad with exceeding joy. And then finally, our Our third
36:03
and our final reason why trials are praiseworthy as we get ready
36:06
to shut. This study down today.
36:09
Trials are praiseworthy because no trial is wasted.
36:15
This is no wasted trial that you're up against, he's going to
36:18
put to use whatever it is, and he's putting you through right
36:21
now. Second Corinthians chapter 1,
36:25
says this Paul who experienced more trials and probably all of
36:29
us says blessed be the God and father of our Lord.
36:32
Jesus Christ, the father of mercies notices, and he is the
36:36
God of All Comfort. That's who he is in your life
36:38
today. He's the God of All Comfort who
36:41
comforts us in our trial. That we may be able to comfort
36:45
those who are in any trial with the Comfort, which we ourselves
36:49
are comforted by God, for as the sufferings of Christ abound in
36:53
us. So our comfort, our consolation
36:56
also aboundeth through Christ. He's saying there that God is a
37:01
god of comfort, his desires to comfort you today in the midst
37:05
of your trial and someday. He's going to use the same
37:08
comfort that you're given in your trial to be able to comfort
37:10
someone else in their trial. That's the way God works.
37:14
Yesterday, Pastor Ian, and I were talking and he reminded me
37:17
of a quote from Pastor Ray Bentley.
37:20
I love this Pastor Ray says this, oftentimes your past
37:24
misery becomes your future Ministry.
37:28
Oftentimes your past misery becomes your future ministry.
37:30
That's exactly what Paul is saying with, with what you went
37:33
through that was miserable, God gives you comfort and then some
37:36
day you get to see someone else miserable and comfort them with
37:39
the same comfort that you've been given.
37:41
That's the goodness of God, he will put to use what he puts.
37:44
You through there's this verse we all have probably heard this.
37:47
Psalm 56 verse 8 it tells us that God collects our tears and
37:50
a little bottle. And I remember my kids saying
37:54
like Is that real to his God actually have a little bottle
37:57
and he puts yeah, he collects every single tear.
38:00
I don't think that's literal, but what I do think it means is
38:03
that they're not wasted tears. He sees he sees each tear that
38:08
falls when you're alone. He sees those tears, not only
38:12
does he see them, but they're precious enough for him to catch
38:15
each one of them? That's what he's saying.
38:18
You're not alone. Our trials are not wasted.
38:23
One of the ways, we know our trials are not waste, is because
38:26
Jesus is Trials, weren't wasted, Jesus, laid aside his glory, so
38:32
that you and I could be clothed in it, Jesus was shut out so
38:37
that you and I could have access in.
38:40
Jesus was bound and nailed so that you and I could be free.
38:46
Jesus was cast out so that you and I could approach and draw
38:50
near and Jesus took away, the only kind of suffering that can
38:55
really destroy you which is being Cast Away From God.
38:59
That's the only suffering that can destroy you.
39:02
Whatever you're going through will not destroy you.
39:04
You you will make it through. He took that suffering.
39:07
So now whatever suffering comes into your life, is going to make
39:10
your faith great just like a lump of coal under pressure.
39:15
Becomes a diamond, the suffering of a person in Christ.
39:19
Only turns you into something, beautiful.
39:23
Your trial will become your Triumph.
39:29
You know, I went through a number of Trials on my own life.
39:33
One of the deepest trials was a number of years ago.
39:37
My son Josiah, who's my oldest when he was six years old, he
39:42
came down with a fever and was getting really sick and stopped
39:45
eating, and we didn't know what was going on.
39:47
So we took him to the doctor, and they said, we'll give it a
39:49
week. Maybe it's a virus and week
39:52
later. His fever, kept growing up 103
39:54
104, 105. He wasn't eating, the doctor
39:58
says that he probably, Need to take her to children's hospital
40:00
and have them. Check them out.
40:01
And so we took him to children's hospital and week one, no one
40:05
knew what was going on. In the meantime, he's getting
40:07
sicker and he's getting sicker and week to now.
40:10
The cancer, doctors are showing up and infectious disease
40:13
doctors and and my wife and I are looking at each other going.
40:16
What in the world is going on? Are like, we didn't know we had
40:20
the doctor start to say like something's happening but we
40:22
don't know what's going on. And as the week's progressed, he
40:27
was getting Near and skinnier nothing, he would eat, it would
40:30
go completely through him. I remember after a couple weeks,
40:34
I went to go give him a bath and it took his shirt off for the
40:36
first time and I could see every single bone in his body and it
40:40
was the most crushing heartbreaking thing I've ever
40:42
been through and driving home at night, my wife would stay in the
40:46
hospital. I remember driving in my car
40:49
going. God, what is the point of this?
40:51
I would do, and I'm sure every father knows this feeling and
40:54
mother too. I would do anything to take that
40:58
stuff. Away from my son and to take it
41:00
upon myself and we were beginning to prepare for the
41:04
fact that maybe God's going to take him from us.
41:07
And so we were there for three weeks and then, four weeks and
41:12
then five weeks and it was probably around week five.
41:16
We finally got a diagnosis that he had a very severe case of
41:19
something called Crohn's disease.
41:21
It was eating away his insides and so he ended up getting on
41:25
medicine and we were there for six weeks and then there for
41:29
seven weeks, and he finally came home, and it was a great party
41:33
and we were so excited. And, yeah, our dog came up and
41:36
met him. And I, Him being there, petting.
41:38
The dog. So, excited to see a dog after
41:40
seven weeks, and our phone rings and it's the doctor.
41:43
And the doctor says, hey we just got, you know, some more testing
41:46
back, you need to come back to the hospital again, and it just
41:49
going through that season. Felt like crushing upon crushing
41:51
weight upon weight. But there's a moment, I
41:54
remember, in particular, when I was there at the hospital at one
41:59
of my lowest points trying to trust God as much as I could,
42:04
but finding it very difficult that a couple of my friends.
42:07
Who were pastors come in and that was the moment I lost it
42:11
and I just held them and I wept and I don't even remember
42:15
exactly what it was that they said to me, but I remember being
42:19
encouraged that look. This is this is not going to be
42:22
the end of your story. Whatever is going on.
42:25
Whatever happens, God is going to be faithful.
42:31
And I can say this on the other side of this trial, my son, now
42:33
is 20 years old, he's healthy. He's still with us.
42:38
Thank Jesus. And it's not the story for
42:40
everybody, but that was a trial for us, for sure.
42:44
That God used to strengthen, it was mandatory for us.
42:48
It was not something we signed up for, it's not something we
42:50
wanted. It was temporary for us
42:53
thankfully. And now we can look back and we
42:55
can praise God. Maybe not praise God for the
42:58
suffering. That my son went through a
43:00
praise God, for what? Accomplished in the midst of it.
43:03
But one of the reasons I wanted to just tell that story is
43:06
because it was my brothers. And for my wife, our sisters
43:11
that came around us and I want to do this is the worship.
43:17
Team comes out this morning. if you're here and you're in the
43:21
midst of a trial, And you're going through difficulty and I
43:28
know that there's a number of you this week.
43:30
There were at least two people in our church that I find out.
43:34
They have a diagnosis, that's not good.
43:37
There was a brother in our church who lost his wife
43:39
unexpectedly this week? I know that there are trials
43:42
That you're going through and I just want to ask if you would no
43:45
pressure, If you would just stand if you're in the midst of
43:48
it, so that we can pray for you. And I want to read something
43:51
over you. If you're going through a trial,
43:53
would you just stand Wherever You Are?
44:05
What I'd like to do. And by the way, I understand
44:08
there may be some of you here that are going through a trial,
44:10
but you don't have the strength to stand.
44:14
That's okay. I want to read this over you
44:17
it's a devotional that I read a number of months ago, And it
44:23
comes from Matthew 28 verse 20, where Jesus says, lo I am with
44:27
you always, I'm with you. Jesus is saying that you today.
44:32
He's with you whatever it is you're going through.
44:36
Never look ahead to the changes and the challenges of this life
44:39
and fear instead as they arise, look at them with the full
44:44
assurance that God whose you are will deliver you out of them.
44:49
Hasn't he kept you safe up till now.
44:53
So hold his loving hand, tightly and he will lead.
44:56
You safely through all things. And when you cannot stand, He
45:02
will carry you in his arms. So do not look ahead to what may
45:07
happen tomorrow. The same Everlasting father, who
45:11
cares for you today? We'll take care of you tomorrow.
45:15
And every day either, he will shield you from suffering or he
45:20
will give you his unwavering strength that you made
45:22
Barrett's. but either way, be at peace, and set, aside all
45:27
anxious, thoughts and worries, Can we do one more thing?
45:33
Those of you have standing, if you're near someone that
45:36
standing could you just stand with them and put your hand on
45:38
them and don't ask them what their struggle is, that's
45:42
between them and the Lord. Let's just pray for them.
45:49
Lord, Jesus. You see Lord.
45:55
Your word says, you see each tear that falls.
46:00
And you've given us a place this morning.
46:04
Of people whose hands. Are around us right now.
46:08
Lord that will bear this burden with us.
46:11
Lord We don't have to carry this alone. but one thing we do know,
46:17
Lord, Is it you will forever be faithful.
46:22
One thing we do know is that you are good.
46:25
One thing we do know, Lord, as you will not leave us, you will
46:28
not abandon us. Your word, says, nothing can
46:31
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus,
46:35
our lord. And so, as Paul says, be anxious
46:38
for nothing. But in everything, with prayer
46:40
and supplication would, here we are.
46:42
We're bringing these trials were bringing these difficulties.
46:45
We're bringing our heartache to you, Lord.
46:48
And then you give us a And so we want to claim that promise right
46:50
now, Lord that the peace of God, which surpasses all
46:54
understanding that, that will guard our hearts and our minds
46:58
in Christ Jesus. So for our brothers and our
47:00
sisters that are standing, Jesus Prince of Peace.
47:05
Would you fill them with a peace, that passes their
47:08
circumstances, that passes their difficulty Lord, that passes,
47:12
even their trial, the passes their understanding and would
47:15
you guard their heart and guard their minds in Christ?
47:18
Jesus, I prayed they would know your peace.
47:24
Even right now, holy spirit. Would you come upon them when
47:27
they sense your presence? Maybe it's been a while since
47:29
they've sensed your presence Lord.
47:35
So, all of us in this place, all of us, Lord, as Peter says, we
47:41
commit Our Lives to you. We commit our souls to you, as
47:44
to a faithful Creator. You're a faithful God.
47:51
You've been faithful yesterday. You are faithful today.
47:55
And you will be faithful tomorrow.
47:59
In Jesus name. Amen.
48:01
We pray that you've been encouraged by this Bible.
48:04
Study delivered live from the sanctuary of Calvary Church for
48:07
prayer. Call us at 877, 30 Grace.
48:12
That's eight 77304, 2:53 to listen to this message in its
48:18
entirety or to join us for our live stream Services.
48:22
Visit us online at Calvary co.'s Church or download our free
48:27
Calvary Church app. Be blessed as you worship Jesus
48:30
this week.