TRIAL OF FAITH
1 PETER 1:6-7
INTRO: WHY DO WE HAVE TRIALS?
1: WHAT IS A TRIAL?
A) TEST, OR PAINFUL EXPERIENCE, AN INSATNCE OR HARDSHIP; ESPECIALLY ONE THAT TESTS SOMEBODYS ABILITY TO ENDURE.
B) TO ENDURE, TO BE FOUND UNTO PRAISE AND HONOUR AND GLORY
C) TRIALS ARE THE METHOD OF REFINEMENT
POINT: GOD TESTS HIS CHILDREN, THE TEST ARE DESIGNED TO MATURE AND TEACH THE CHRISTIAN. TO PURIFY THE SOUL, AND TO CLEANSE THE MIND.
2: WHY IS OUR FAITH TESTED?
A) MOST CASES IT IS TESTED TO HELP US GROW
B) SOME INSTANCES IT IS TESTED TO HELP OTHERS GROW IN FAITH
POINT: SOME OF OUR TRIALS ARE OPEN, PEOPLE SEE THEM, THEY LOOK TO SEE HOW WE WILL REACT. OTHER TRIALS ARE PRIVATE AND THEY TEST THE QUALITY OF TRUST WE HAVE WITH GOD IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES.
BODY: UP AND DOWN
1: GREATLY REJOICE
A) VICTORIOUS MOMENTS WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES
B) GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN
C) TIMES WHEN GOD FEELS AS THOUGH HE IS ANSWERING EVERY PRAYER THE WAY YOU WANT HIM TO.
POINT: THE JOY OF THE LORD IS ALWAYS PRESENT, WE SEEM TO ONLY THINK THAT WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GOOD FOR US.
2: HEAVINESS THROUGH MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS
A) MANY OR VARIOUS WAYS
B) TEMPTATION IS MULTI FACETED
C) IT IS NOT ONE DIMENSIONAL
POINT: TEMPTATION CAN MAKE A PERSON WEAK, IT CAN MAKE A PERSON WONDER, IT CAN BREAK A PERSONS WILL. WE WILL NOT WIN EVERY BATTLE WITH TEMPTATION, BUT WE CAN STAND ASSURED THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
3: DANIEL 3 FIERY FURNACE
A) THE KING SETS UP A GOLDEN GOD FOR ALL TO WORSHIP
B) THE PRICE FOR NOT WORSHIPPING THIS GOLDEN GOD WAS A FIERY FURNACE
C) THREE HEBREW CHILDREN WOULD NOT BOW TO THE KING’S GOD
POINT: THEY HAD A WORLD OF GOLD AND RICHES AT THEIR FEET, A LIFE OF EASE AND COMFORT. THEY WOULD NOT BOW, THEY WOULD NOT WORSHIP THE GOD OF THE KING. THE TRIAL OF FAITH FOR THEM WOULD TURN OUT TO BE A TRIAL FOR THEIR LIVES.
CLOSING: TRIED WITH FIRE
1: MAL 3:3
A) SIT AS A REFINER
B) PRECIOUS METAL ( GOLD, SILVER ETC. )
C) IS REFINED WITH FIRE
POINT: THE SMITH WILL HEAT THE METAL UP TO BURN OUT ALL THE IMPURITIES. GOD WILL TEST US AT TIMES TO GET SIN OUT OF OUR LIVES.
2: THREE HEBREW CHILDREN
A) CAST INTO THE FIRE
B) FURNACE HEATED 7 TIMES HOTTER THAN NORMAL
C) THEY WALKED OUT OF THE FURNACE AND DID NOT EVEN SMELL LIKE SMOKE.
POINT: GOD WILL LEAD AND GUIDE US THROUGH EVERY STORM AND HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED. AND WHEN EVERYTHING IS DONE YOU WON’T EVEN BE ABLE TO SMELL THE SMOKE ON OUR CLOTHES.
