“HOW TO COPE WITH TRIALS”
TEXT: 1 Peter 1:3-7
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
INTRODUCTION:
Someone once said, “We can be certain in this life of 2 things: DEATH & TAXES!”
1. There are some things that you can count on:
The presence of God to be with you…
The hand of God to be upon you when you need it the most…
Because He is the “Same…Yesterday…Today…& Forever!”
2. But on a more negative note, you can be sure that you will encounter troubles and trials in your life.
Job 14:1
“Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”
Matthew 5:45
“God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
2 Timothy 3:12
“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
DAVID UNDERSTOOD TRIALS
Psalms 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, (thank God he doesn’t stop there) But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
King David had 9 sons…
1. Elishama -- “God HEARS”
2. Eliada -- “God KNOWS”
3. Eliphelet -- “God DELIVERS”
The fact that God hears and God knows might tend to be unbearable without knowledge of the fact that God DELIVERS!
Now, every time David calls for his sons, he is REMINDED:
1. God KNOWS what I’m going through…
2. God HEARS my cry in the midnight hour…
3. God DELIVERS me through every TRIAL & TRIBULATION!
There are 4 things that WILL definitely, positively, ALWAYS work when you find yourselves trying to
COPE WITH TRIALS:
I. RADIATE GOD’S PRESENCE! (Know God is with you!)
…to send out rays: shine brightly, etc.
Hebrews 13:5-6
For Christ Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
As a Christian, you need to be sure that God is ALWAYS with you!
When we Radiate God’s presence we know that God is with us!
a) I would like to think, that every time you see me… You can see Jesus living inside of me!
1. Saffy & I have been married for 26 ½ years…
2. We have a heart-shaped plaque that we had made the very first year of our marriage:
“MIKE ‘n SAFFY”
3. When I’m not with her I feel: Alone & Lonely
Helpless & Incomplete
Somber & Saddened
4. But, when we are together I feel: Alive & Vibrant
Happy & Joyous
Secure & Satisfied
b) Peter & John RADIATED God’s Presence!
Acts 4:13
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.”
1. When they were chained & shackled…they RADIATED God’s presence!
2. When they were thrown into prison…they RADIATED God’s presence!
3. When they were beaten & tortured for preaching Jesus…they RADIATED God’s presence!
c) The 3 Hebrews RADIATED God’s Presence!
…in the good times & in the bad times!
Daniel 3:17-18
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”
“But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
d) The Apostle Paul RADIATED God’s Presence!
1. Acts 27, Paul was in chains & handcuffed…on a ship…on his way to Rome, in 2 weeks of bad weather.
“…Then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ’Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God!”
In the midst of this storm…this trial…this peril…
PAUL SAYS:
“Everyone will be saved IF you STAY IN THE BOAT!”
In the midst of trial…In the midst of trouble…
here’s a little 5 ft. tall Jew who is
RADIATING GOD’S PRESENCE!
Whatever you do,
NEVER GET OUT OF THE OLD SHIP OF ZION!!
For one day, we are going to drop anchor in “HEAVEN’S HARBOR”…
II. REMEMBER GOD’S PROMISES!
Isaiah 43:2-3
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God…”
2 Peter 1:4
“There has been given to us exceedingly great and precious PROMISES, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…”
Whatever you are going through, God’s Word has a PROMISE for you:
If your need is FINANCIAL -- Philippians 4:19
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
If your need is SICKNESS -- Exodus 15:26
“For I am the LORD who healeth thee.”
CONFUSION -- Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
LONILNESS -- Matthew 28:20
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
FEAR -- Psalms 91
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
“I will say of the LORD,
"He is my rock…He is my shield…He is my refuge…He is my high tower…He is my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
III. RECOGNIZE GOD‘S PURPOSE!
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
a) Classic example: JOB
1. God had a HEDGE AROUND JOB to protect him.
Satan was allowed by God to afflict him…
He lost everything…family…wealth…health…
“Though HE slay me,
YET will I TRUST IN HIM!”
CONCLUSION:
IV. RELY ON GOD’S POWER!
We must understand that we cannot depend on the
“ARM OF FLESH”
WE EXHAUST EVERY AVENUE ON OUR OWN POWER!
1. Moses & the Israelites at the RED SEA!
“STAND STILL & SEE…”
2. Joshua & the TRIBE OF JUDAH at JERICHO!
