Four Things Trials Should Produce

Temple Baptist Church - 12-28-2016

1 Peter 1:6-9

Introduction:

A.  We have spent a lot of time looking at trials because they are a way of life.  The Old Testament is a “gold mine” when it comes to preaching on the troubles and trials of this life.  One Book often referenced is Job.  Job summed things up in chapter 14:

Job 14:1-2  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.  (2)  He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. (Trials and tears are a way of life!  Sorrow comes our way more often than we like.)

B.  It is in the valleys that we grow.  It is the hard places in life that produce both spiritual growth and spiritual strength.  Men are born out of adversity!  I have often said that the true measure of a man is not found in that which he accomplishes but rather in what it takes to stop him.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.  (3)  Sorrow isbetter than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  (4)  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

C.  Tonight, I want to look at three things that trials should produce in the life of God’s children.  Verse 7 says, “might be found.”  Might or might not is up to the individual.  I have often said that, when troubles hit, you can come out better or bitter.  It is personal choice and I choose better.

1.  A Faithfulness to the Will of God.  Verse 6.  “A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.”  Paul said to “Examine yourselves.”  Too many people leave the will of the God and the local church when trials come.  Satan is an “isolator!”  He divides and conquers.  Our Lord said that “a house divided” cannot stand.  Sin can divide but also trials tend to do so.  Trials caused Peter to deny the Lord thrice. 

Luke 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  (Satan uses our circumstances to “sift” us.  “sift” simply means to separate.  Most of you ladies have a sifter to remove the lumps in flour.  Satan uses the “sifter” of trials to remove our faith in Christ.)

2 Timothy 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Luke 22:41-43  And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,  (42)  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  (43)  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  (When we, in our weak moments, bow to the will of God—it is there that we will find strength to endure and overcome.)

2.  A Whole heartedness in our Trust of God.  Verse 7.  The Holy Ghost compares our trials to be far better than “gold that perisheth.”  Trials become precious when they produce the right results.  I have often said that, if you can trust the Lord with your eternal soul, you can trust Him with your life.  Trusting Christ when you cannot track Him. 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  (This is one of those easy to quote but hard to live verses.  We often use it until we come to the hard places in life.  Trusting the Lord with all our heart means to know that He loves us and has final say in all our circumstances.  We must trust “though now for a season, if need be” as God knows!)

John 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

3.  A Fervent Love for God.  Verse 8.  “Whom having not seen, ye love … joy unspeakable and full of glory” are words that the world will never understand.  The child of God loves the Lord Jesus!  One who does not love Him does not know Him!

1 Corinthians 16:22  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.  (As trials are what strengthens the love between a man and a woman, our trials should strengthen our love for Christ.

4.  A Blessed Hope of Deliverance.  Verse 9.  Trials are proof that this world is not our home.  One day, the Lord will wipe all tears from our eyes because the “former things” of pain, suffering, disappointments, sorrow, troubles and trials will all come to an eternal end when we are finally and eternally home.  We have a place prepared for us through the applied blood of Christ on the Mercy Seat in heaven.  Until that day, we will indeed suffer but must do so with commitment to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.