Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter Trial

Review Shadow of Nero's PersecutionShadow of Nero's Persecution Point: "Live out the faith in the midst of suffering"Point: "Live out the faith in the midst of suffering"

Review Elect ExilesElect Exiles − Considering myself already home − Considering heaven home and neglecting/disdaining the things and people of this world

Review Born AgainBorn Again InheritanceInheritance SalvationSalvation

Salvation Deliverance from the condemnation of God Deliverance from the condemnation of God Deliverance from the disease and power of sin Deliverance from the disease and power of sin  Deliverance from danger  Deliverance from disease

Belief/Experience What I believe determines how I live and in what way I experience life

Belief/Experience Why should I be mad at God for not delivering something he never promised?

Trial

1 Peter 1 (ESV)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…

…so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look- vs. 6-12

In this you rejoice… Rejoice= agalliao- to be exceedingly glad, to jump for joy. Why?

− Born Again − Inheritance- imperishable, undefiled, unfading − Salvation- end to danger and disease (all trials and hardships)

In this you rejoice… I have been saved, am being saved, will be saved I have an inheritance that is "sinner-proof" God's presence lives in me

In this you rejoice… What do I rejoice in?

In this you rejoice… What do I rejoice in? − Tells me what has power over me − Tells me how stable my joy is − Hints at what I worship

In this you rejoice… DC Universe vs. Mortal Kombat

In this you rejoice… God will never give me something to take me away from him, his people or his Lordship in my life − Didn't come from him OR − I'm misusing it

5 Days till Christmas

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials… Trials= peirasmos- Temptation, test, trial, prove Same word as used of the devil (“tempter”)

Enemy tempts to bring failureEnemy tempts to bring failure

God tests to bring about growth and maturityGod tests to bring about growth and maturity The determining factor is the purpose and result. I play a huge part in determining the resultThe determining factor is the purpose and result. I play a huge part in determining the resultHow?

Peter's audience: DiasporaDiaspora FaithfulFaithful Exceedingly joyful anyway- eyes on inheritance and the salvation to come: exilesExceedingly joyful anyway- eyes on inheritance and the salvation to come: exiles

…if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials… − Trials grieve (cause heaviness/ sorrow)

…if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials… − Trials grieve (cause heaviness/ sorrow) − But if I know Jesus, the trial has a purpose. Nothing is wasted with God

…if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials… − Trials grieve (cause heaviness/ sorrow) − But if I know Jesus, the trial has a purpose. Nothing is wasted with God − It's proof that God is at work in my life

…so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. What's worth more than gold? Why?

…so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. What's worth more than gold? Why? Faith is the key that unlocks the door to God's work in my life

Hardship met with faithfulness produces holiness, maturity, growth in intimacy with God

Ends in: Praise and glory and honor of Jesus when we see the reality of what we've believed

"Yay! I get to have an operation!"

Could it be: That some people go through the same thing over and over again because they keep trying to get out of the hardship? Or refuse to learn what God is trying to teach them?

Keys to Growth in Trials: Elect exile- Living in light of eternityElect exile- Living in light of eternity − Kills "pity parties" − Kills focus on self − Kills anger and unforgiveness Understanding what God has and has not promisedUnderstanding what God has and has not promised

Keys: Ask for wisdom, live in God's strengthAsk for wisdom, live in God's strength

Keys: Ask for wisdom, live in God's strengthAsk for wisdom, live in God's strength − Various (trials)= poikilos- "many- colored." Used by Peter only 1 other time- 1 Peter 4:10- to describe God's grace − There is no "color" of trial I can face that God's grace cannot more than match

Keys: See purpose and trust that God is at workSee purpose and trust that God is at work Refuse to compromise the faith to get a good resultRefuse to compromise the faith to get a good result Endure hardship like a good soldier - 2 Tim. 2:3Endure hardship like a good soldier - 2 Tim. 2:3

Athlete's Foot

The purpose is not to take strength out of me, but to put strength into me

BToL: Everyone goes through hard times. The only question is, will it be useless? Or will it have value?

How do I know? Can I have joy during the grief/heaviness?

"4 Stages of Man's Apprehension of Christ" (E.G. Selwyn) − Hope and desire − Knew Christ in the flesh − See Jesus with eyes of faith − Face-to-face, knowing him as we are known

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We can have joy in the midst of pain because we are living in the 2 nd best time ever: − The time of seeing Christ with eyes of faith − And being transformed into his image through his Spirit at work in us

We can have joy in the midst of pain because we are living in the 2 nd best time ever: − And the best is yet to come! …you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…

Being grieved over circumstances is normal Grief that overwhelms and erases joy is a sign that I need to refocus on God and his purposes

We're not there yet! Salvation is still being accomplished Danger and disease are still rampant in this world

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Jesus suffered- we identify with and serve a King who was tortured and killed as he hung on a tree …for the joy that was set before him endured the cross - Hebrews 12:2

Takeaways: What do I rejoice in? What does that tell me about what I really worship?What do I rejoice in? What does that tell me about what I really worship? Do I need to repent?Do I need to repent?

Takeaways: Am I learning what God wants to teach me in the trial?Am I learning what God wants to teach me in the trial? Am I focused on what God is doing? Or what I'm going through?Am I focused on what God is doing? Or what I'm going through?

Takeaways: We're all going to go through hardship? Will mine have purpose and meaning?We're all going to go through hardship? Will mine have purpose and meaning? Do I need to know Jesus?Do I need to know Jesus?