How’s Your Faith Now?

1 Peter 1:6-9-In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that 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, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Trucker driver-"I would wake up Fred!" "Why?" "Cause he ain’t never seen a wreak like we’re fixing to have!"

Verse 6-GREATLY REJOICE-A farmer was driving his pickup with his dog in the seat next to him and a horse trailer in tow behind him. On a dangerous curve, the farmer was forced off the road by a large truck. A highway patrolman happened upon the accident and quickly assessed the damages. When he saw that the dog and horse were suffering, the patrolman pulled out his revolver and put them out of their misery. He then walked over to the farmer and asked, "How are you doing?" The farmer looked at the smoking pistol and then quickly replied, "I’ve never felt better!"

A LITTLE WHILE-Trials Are Controlled by God — "The greatest thing about trials is that they do not last foreverl"

Someone has said, "When God allows His children to go through a the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat!"

IF NEED BE-Trials Meet Our Needs

There are special times in which God knows we need to go through trials;

Sometimes because we have disobeyed God’s Word;

Sometimes to prepare us for growth;

Sometimes to prevent us from sinning.

There was woman who was visiting in Switzerland.

She came to a sheepfold on one of her daily walks. Venturing in, she saw the shepherd seated on the ground with his flock around him. Nearby, in a pile of straw lay a single sheep, which seemed to be suffering. Looking closely, she saw that its leg was broken.

Her sympathy went out to the suffering animal, so she went and asked the shepherd how it happened. “I broke it myself," said the shepherd sadly. He then explained, “Of all the sheep in my flock, this was the most wayward. It would not obey my voice and would not follow when I was leading the flock. On more than one occasion it wandered to the edge of a cliff. Not only was it disobedient itself, but it was leading some of the other sheep astray. "Based on my experience with this kind of sheep, I knew I had no choice, so I broke its leg.

The next day I took food and it tried to bite me. After letting it ne alone for a couple of days, I went back and it not only eagerly took the food, but licked my hand and showed every sign of submission and affection.

“And now, when this sheep is well, it will be the model sheep of my entire flock. No

sheep will hear my voice so quickly nor follow me so closely. Instead of leading others astray, it will be an example of devotion and obedience. In short, a complete change will come into the life of this sheep. It will have learned obedience through its sufferings."

VARIOUS-Differing one from another, several kinds or many!

The Hunters- Some organization offered a bounty of $5,000 for wolves captured alive. It turned Sam and Jed into fortune hunters. Day and night they scoured the mountains and forests looking for their valuable prey. Exhausted one night, they fell asleep dreaming of their potential fortune. Suddenly, Sam awoke to see that they were surrounded by about fifty wolves with flaming eyes and bared teeth. He nudged his friend and said, "Jed, wake up! We’re rich!"

He didn’t see a problem, he saw potential

There is only one group of people who don’t have any problems, and they’re all dead."

Verse 7-9-Purpose of Trials = To Highlight and Reward Genuine Faith

The ultimate purpose of such trials is to bring praise and honour and glory

to Christ!

Satan's goal = to use trials to extinguish our faith

God’s goal = To ignite our faith

How’s your faith now?