“Faith More Precious than Gold”
-In all circumstances give thanks-
I Peter 1:3-9 (NLT)
I Thess. 5:18 “In all circumstances give thanks…” (NIV)
Thanksgiving is a time of thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving is a reminder of the thankful attitude we need to have all year. The Apostle Paul instructed Christians to “…in everything give thanks.” Not give thanks “for” all that happens but “in” everything give thanks.
# Rev. Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something to be thankful for. One Sunday morning, the weather was stormy and dark. One of the church leaders said, “The preacher won’t be able to thank God for anything on a day like this. It is absolutely horrible outside!”
But Rev. Whyte began the service by praying: “We thank You, O God, that it is not always like this.” Like the Apostle Paul he believed in giving thanks to God in all circumstances.
# Corrie Ten Boom was a prisoner in a Nazi German Concentration Camp. She was staying in a Barrack that was infested with fleas. The living conditions were almost unbearable. One night she read I Thess. 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Corrie’s sister told her, “God wants us to be thankful for the fleas.”
Corrie, said, “No way, That’s taking the Christian faith a little bit too far! I’m not going to thank God for these infernal fleas!”
The Bible studies kept growing with more and more women. Corrie wandered if they would get caught so she asked on of the other women, “Why don’t the Nazis ever come in and check on us?” The woman answered, “It’s because of the fleas. They won’t come near this place for that reason.” Then Corrie remembered this Bible verse and said, “God, thank you for the fleas.”
The Apostle Peter talked about “Faith More Precious than Gold.” “…and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:7 (New Living Translation)
Why be thankful? Why live a life of praise. Peter give there reasons:
1. We live with wonderful expectations. V. 3
2. There is wonderful joy ahead. V. 6,8
3. Your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. V. 7
I. WE LIVE WITH WONDERFUL EXPECTATIONS. V. 3 b
“Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.”
Because Jesus rose from the dead we also have the wonderful expectation of rising from the death. Verse 4 “We have a priceless inheritance – pure and undefiled, eternal in heaven beyond change or decay.”
When Jesus rose from the dead he arose in a spiritual and immortal body. During his 30 years as the son of Mary and Joseph Jesus was fully human and divine. Jesus limited himself to live by faith in God as a person just like you and me. When he rose from the grave he was no longed limited by human weakness. He had all the attributes of a person but also the attributes of God no longed limited to natural law.
Jesus appeared to his disciples and showed him his hands and feet and said, “See and believe.” But a greater blessing is given to all who believe without seeing.
Jesus appeared to more than 500 believers who became eye witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. The Christian Way is all about a Person, Jesus. The Christian life is not about a religion or certain organization, it is about a Person.
That is why we face the future with wonderful expectation and boldness. The resurrection of Jesus is our foundation stone of hope and proof of the immortality of the human soul.
As parents we want to teach our children to have wonderful expectations. We want our children to embrace the spirit of thanksgiving.
Developing thankfulness in our children takes time. It is more like baking a turkey for Thanksgiving than it is micro waving a vegetable. Developing a thankful child is something we as parents must work on day in and day out. There are several things we can do to help in that process.
Model Thankfulness - Our goal should be to model the characteristic of thankfulness before our children. The old slogan, “Don’t do as I do, but do as I say,” doesn’t work.
We need to use every opportunity to tell our children that we are thankful for them. We can be honest and look for something good in every situation. Negative attitudes reproduce faster than rabbits and attitudes of discontent are enemies of thankfulness.
One rule we found helpful was the rule of five to one. When we heard one of our children give a negative remark about a brother or sister we asked him or her to say five positive things before saying anything else.
When we as parents have grateful hearts our attitudes tend to sprout in our children.
Give Freely – Our children need to know that they are a high priority in our life and work. Giving of our time to our children is more important than giving our children a lot of material things.
As pastor working in my office I have always had an open door policy, within reason, for my children. I’m willing to drop whatever I’m doing to give attention to a hurt or a question.
Please and thank you – Developing the common courtesy of saying “Please” and “Thank You” in daily life is important for a positive atmosphere in the home.
Praying before meals and at bedtime always includes giving thanks for God’s many blessings.
Don’t Give up – Helping our children live with thankful hearts is a long process. It’s like planting a garden. Beautiful gardens don’t pop up overnight. Seeds are planted and watered long before any fruit comes from all the effort. (I have wonderful expectations for an orange tree I planted five years ago)
During the Thanksgiving season is a great time to model and teach thankfulness.
We have wonderful expectations for our future and for our family.
II. There is Wonderful Joy Ahead (V. 6 and 8)
Peter is saying because of anticipated joy the Christians can endure many trials because of the joy that is promised.
I confess that I haven’t watched a “Survivor” TV show all the way through, but I know people do grotesque things to try and survive and win lots of money.
Peter is writing to Christians throughout the Roman Empire to encourage them to endure hardness and persecution they will face. God promises to help them survive whatever situation they might face.
Many of the Christians had become believers after Jesus ascended into heaven. They had not personally seen Jesus like most of us. Verse 8 “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
Becoming a Christ follower does not guarantee a life of ease. Joy and grief are co-existent in the life of a Christian. To not embrace grief is not to be human.
How do you endure times of pan and suffering? You know that you are not forever locked into a box of hopelessness. You have hope that you will be set free. You anticipate wonderful joy that will be yours in the future.
Jesus had a lot to say about our future hope. Luke 21:25-28.
Jesus God’s only Son, came to earth in a lowly manger – First Advent. The Second Advent will take place sometime in the future. It is a Historical Fact, Jesus Christ is Coming Again.
What wonderful joy lies ahead for all who believe?
There will no longer be a divided world – by war or politics or wealth
Terrorism will end
We will live without fear
The scare of infectious disease will be gone
Death will be defeated
Time will give way to eternity
What a wonderful day that will be.
• You live with wonderful expectations of thanksgiving and hope.
• You know there is wonderful joy for our future
III. Your Faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. (V. 7)
Peter in this passage is talking about Wonder Expectations, Wonderful Joy and Wonderful Faith. The Faith Peter is talking about is more precious to God than mere gold. “Remain strong after fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (I Peter 1:7 NLT)
It is Faith that establishes Christians in believing; obedience directs them in doing; and patience comforts them in suffering.”
Peter is telling you that nothing you go through in this life can compare to the life God has prepared for those who stay true to their Faith.
When you live by faith you are able to “give thanks in every circumstance.” Your Christian Faith encourages you to live a lifestyle of generosity, humility and care.
Christian care for one another and for those in need…
Christian give generously of their time and financial
support to advance the good news about Jesus in the
world…
As a church we know it is more blessed to give than to
Receive – We try to live up to our name as a Community
Church by allowing community groups to use our facilities – Monday nights, NA Recovery Group, Thursday nights, GA Groups, Friday nights, AA groups, Saturday nights NA group.
We share our facilities with the Korean church and Hispanic Church we partner with in ministry.
We want to partner with City Team in providing Thanksgiving baskets for families with financial needs.
In many ways Jesus is revealed to the non-believing world through you. You become the hands and feet to a hurting world. If you find just one person seeking God you can make a difference.
Your Christian Faith is more precious than gold.
You have wonderful expectations
You have wonderful joy
You have wonderful faith
In every circumstance you can give thanks.
