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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. PREPARATION FOR TRIALS
A. CAUSE
1. CAUSE FOR REFLECTION
I Pet 1:6a “In this [salvation]” (Jn 16:20; Heb 10:32-33; Eph 1:13-14)
2. CAUSE FOR REJOICING
I Pet 1:6b “you rejoice” (Ps 43:3-4; Is 35:10; Luke 2:10; Mt 5:3-11; Lk 1:47; Acts 2:26; Rev 19:5-7)
B. CIRCUMSTANCES
1. TRANSIENT CIRCUMSTANCES
I Pet 1:6c “though now for a little while” (Rom 8:18; II Cor 4:17)
2. NECESSARY CIRCUMSTANCES
I Pet 1:6d “if necessary,” (Job 5:6-7; I Thes 3:3-4; Ps 119:67, 71; Deut 8:3; I Pet 5:10)
3. DISTRESSING CIRCUMSTANCES
I Pet 1:6e “you’ve been distressed” (Ps 42:3ff; Heb 12:6-7)
4. VARIED CIRCUMSTANCES
I Pet 1:6f “by various trials,”
II. PURPOSE OF TRIALS
A. PROVE OUR FAITH
1. GENUINE CHRISTIANITY
I Pet 1:7a “so that the authenticity”
2. FAITH
I Pet 1:7b “of your faith”
B. PURIFY OUR FAITH
1. FIRE
I Pet 1:7c “- faith that is much more valuable than gold that perishes”
2. VALUE
I Pet 1:7d “even when tested by fire” (Job 23:10)
C. PREPARE OUR FAITH
1. RESULT
I Pet 1:7e “may result in praise and glory and honor”
2. REVELATION
I Pet 1:7f “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Ps 56:8; I Pet 5:4)
III. PRINCIPLES TO MASTER
A. WE WILL FACE TRIALS OF PERSECUTION
1. BENEFITS
2. HISTORY
B. WE WILL FACE TRIALS OF POSSESSIONS
1. COMMITMENT (Mt 4:19-20; Mk 10:28-30)
2. WHAT IS GOD USING?
C. WE WILL FACE TRIALS OF PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
1. FAMILY
2. SOCIETY (Acts 5:40; Eph 3:20-21)
D. WE WILL FACE TRIALS OF PHYSICAL HEALTH
1. SICKNESS (II Pet 1:14)
2. DEATH
Annie Johnson Flint wrote:
God hath not promised skies always blue
Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptations, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.