The Christian Walk

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.