I. Trials Produce Steadfastness
- Vs. 1-4;12
- Genesis 22:1-18
- Greek word “peirasmos” = proof
- Hebrew word “nâsâh” = prove
- Steadfastness = true Christian
- 1Jn_2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
- *note- vs. Genesis 22:11-12 Angel of the Lord
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul’s thorn in the flesh
- Mark 14:32-41 Jesus in the Garden
II. Faith Without Doubting
- Vs. 5-8
- Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- Php 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
- Faith without doubting requires an intimate knowledge of him
- The resurrection displays his power
- We must not reject testing and trials
- Killing off the old man (identify in Baptism) raising up the new man in Christ
- Displays our true relationship with Him
III. An Eternal Perspective Rather Than A Temporal Perspective
- 9-11
- Mat_6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- “When we put God first all other things will fall into their proper place.”
- The Sermon illustration
- More focused on the issue rather than the person
- Does the issue consider the eternal perspective and does it consider the person
IV. Quick And Slow
- 19-21
- Listening is understanding,
- Talk little and work much, is a rabbinical adage
- Slow to wrath - “There are four kinds of dispositions,” says the Midrash hanaalam, cap. v. 11: “First, Those who are easily incensed, and easily pacified; these gain on one hand, and lose on the other. Secondly, Those who are not easily incensed, but are difficult to be appeased; these lose on the one hand, and gain on the other. Thirdly, Those who are difficult to be incensed, and are easily appeased; these are the good. Fourthly, Those who are easily angered, and difficult to be appeased; these are the wicked.” Those who are hasty in speech are generally of a peevish or angry disposition. A person who is careful to consider what he says, is not likely to be soon angry. ~Clark
V. Doers & Hearers
- Vs. 22-26
- “deceiving yourselves” = miscalculation (as in mathematics)
- Doing here is meant to convey to encompass your whole life
- Put yourself out there
- Peter moved with great risk
- Risk to his life
- Risk to his credibility
- Risk to his comfort
- Jesus called him to be the first pastor
- To many times we are quick to listen and slow to do. This is wrong
- Some will pretend and appear to be wise because they speak very little but fool others because the in same ways does very little. Do not be fooled by them.
