This message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on July 23, 2023.
Do you need encouragement? Hope in trouble? Through Jesus Christ there is encouragement, help, and hope. Peter didn’t say trouble wouldn’t come, but he did say there is joy in the midst of it. I’d love to tell you that when you accept Jesus as Savior, you’ll have no trouble, but it’s not true.
First Peter 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Peter is a good person to talk about trials. His trials made him stronger. He was courageous in Acts when he preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3,000 were saved. Being a Christian is like being in a race. To sprint is to run hard for a short distance and the race is over. The Christian race is a long journey in which we pace ourselves one day at a time. Trials are part of life. Don’t believe those who may say otherwise because reality will set in quickly. Trials come in various ways. Through blessing: very few can handle wealth because wealth tends to take a person away from the Lord. We must remember God above all our possessions. Through praise: people may praise you. Don’t begin to think you’re better than you are. Through afflictions: most trials come through afflictions. We’ll end our race when Jesus comes or we’re called home. We can endure because of what we’re able to look forward to. Remember the Bible says that if in this life only we have hope, we’re of all men most miserable. I enjoy life, but I still know the best is yet to come. It’s easier to get through because we know the outcome will be better. Surgery is an example. Going to the dentist is another. We can endure the pain for a while because of the expected outcome. It’s more fun to get into debt than to pay it off, but the joy is greater to pay it off. I thank God for what I have. He’s been gracious, giving me more than I deserve. But something to come is better. The end of labor is a reward. You don’t get paid in advance for working on your job. You work first.
You can endure if you remember trials are a test of faith. We didn’t enjoy tests in school, but it was a means of learning. Did we pass every test? Probably not. Neither do we in life, but we can learn from them. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son of promise. He was willing. God may ask us to sacrifice something. He may give us the opportunity to choose as he did Solomon. When God asked him what he desired, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead the people. If God allows you to suffer in the pathway of duty, look at Paul and Silas. They were thrown in jail for preaching the gospel. I would have probably sung “woe is me” but they chose to sing praise God because they were able to suffer for him. Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den because of his prayer life. The three Hebrew children wouldn’t bow to another god and were thrown in a fiery furnace. The trial may not be removed, but God will be with us just as he was with Daniel and the Hebrew children. Psalms 23 reminds us Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Jesus said he would be with us to the end of the world. When temptation comes, take the way out. The Lord promised to provide it. There will be a way of escape.
Trials may come to enable us to help others who go through the same thing. Trials help make us strong. Muscle is built by putting stress on it. We can endure when we realize it doesn’t last long. A storm doesn’t last forever. They pass and the sun shines again. Hold on. Turn trials over to the Lord and let him help. You can endure with the help of God.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 