1 Peter 4:12-13 – What Can I Get for My Trials? – Bible study

1Peter 4:12-13 What Can I Get for My Trials? The theme of the book of 1 Peter is Victory In Suffering, not Victory Over Suffering. Victory Over Suffering seems to imply that you defeat or stop the suffering. While that is a good victory, it is not always the victory God gives. I need a victory even if the suffering doesnt stop. \#1:7\ These peoples faith was still being tried. \#3:9\ These people were still being dealt with in an evil fashion. \#3:9\ These people were still being railed at. \#3:14\ These people were still suffering for righteousness sake. \#4:16\ These people were still suffering as a Christian. Peter tells us important truths about trials. 1. It is not a strange or unique thing for trials to come. That means trials are a normal part of lifeto the saved and lost. 2. While in the middle of these trails, I am to be able to rejoice. 3. That by entering into the trials, I enteralbeit in a small wayinto Christs sufferings. What are trials? Years ago, I said trials are anything that I dont like. That is true but pretty broad. A trial is a difficulty that God takes us through to grow our character. Everyone needs trials! You grow different ways in the trials that you could never grow in without them. Every Christian needs them. Every child needs them. Every human being needs them. Thankfully, most will have more than enough to grow into a fine Christian if they will not waste their trials. What are some lessons we might learn from our trials? I. In trials, we might learn Gods priorities. A. Everyone has priorities. You probably have a list of things that you want or plan on doing, either written or in your head. B. The question is not, "Do you have priorities, but do you have Gods priorities?" 1. I have noticed that most of our priorities focus on five areas. a. possessions b. career c. hobbies d. wealth e. personal beauty or strength (abilities) 2. I am not going to tell you that these things are utter wickedness. I do not believe they are. They are apart of life and to some extent all require some attention. 3. I would ask, "Where is God? Where is the spiritual?" C. \#Luke 12:16-21\ Was there anything wrong with what this man was doing? No. 1. The only thing that was wrong was it did not take into account eternity and eternity was much closer than the man realized. 2. Eternity is closer than most everyone realizes! 3. God send trials to get our attention off the barn. II. In trails, we might learn how to wait for Gods timing. A. Sometimes the reason we are having trails is because we have not learned to wait on Gods timing. 1. If God is in your heart and mind at all, you are way ahead of most people. However, you can be in the same book as God but on the wrong page. You might be a few chapters ahead or a few behind. a. Sometimes we are impatient for things God wants to give us in the future. The person that comes to my mind when I think of that is Moses. He wanted to be Gods deliverer but he was about 40 years too early! b. Sometimes we started late and we feel like we need to hurry things along. \#Acts 8:9-24\ Simon the sorcerer wanted to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit. 2. The secret to having the peace of God is learning to get in sync with Gods timing. B. It is an aggravation. Why should we have to wait for an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God? 1. That attitude reveals the whole problem. 2. We think the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God is there for our benefit. 3. The truth is that we are there for His. III. In trails, we might learn how to endure for Gods joy. A. I worded this carefullyendure for Gods joy. 1. Sometimes to get to the joy God wants us to have, we have to endure some things we dont want. Ps 30:5 weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. B. Joy is sometimes hard to come by. 1. Before a new born brings her mother joy, she first brings her pain. 2. Before a parent experiences the joy of seeing the toddler walk, he must first see him fall. 3. Before a child has the joy of riding a bicycle, he usually knows the pain of wrecking on it. 4. Before most of us got the joy of our mate, we experienced a few that we now glad got away! C. Even those known for the greatest accomplishments have most often experienced their share of failure. Abraham Lincoln Age 22 – failed in business Age 23 – ran for legislature and was defeated Age 24 – failed again in Buenos Age 26 – sweetheart died Age 27 – had a nervous breakdown Age 29 – defeated for Speaker of House of Illinois Age 34 – defeated for Congress Age 37 – elected to Congress Age 39 – Did not even win the nomination to run for Congress Age 40 – Rejected as a land officer Age 46 – defeated for Senate Age 47 – defeated for vice president Age 49 – defeated for Senate Age 51 – elected president of the United States http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/education/failures.htm D. Many of Jesus disciples understood the endurance for joy. 1. Mary out of whom seven devils was cast out – Before she could know the joy of deliverance, she had to first know the joy of bondage. 2. John tells us the story of the blind man who had to know the sadness of being blind from birth to know the joy of being given his sight. 3. The man who begged at the Gate Beautiful had to know the pain of being paralyzed for more than 40 years before he could know the joy of running and leaping. 4. Lazarus had to know the pain of death before he could know the joy of the resurrection. 5. The disciples had to know the loss of a crucifixion before they could know the power of the resurrection. IV. In trials, we might learn how to seek for God. A. There are three ways to know a thing. 1. It can be given to you. 2. It can be found out, discovered without much effort, as by accident. 3. It can be sought out. B. Most spiritual truths cannot be given or found out, they must be sought for. 1. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are this way. Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 2. I think many spiritual attributes are that way. 1. Gods power 2. Answered prayer 3. Salvation V. We might learn how to rest in Gods promises. Ps 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. A. Nothing teaches you how to rest better than exhaustion. 1. One things trials do, they teach us what wont work. 2. Trials will teach you that intellect, effort, planning, friendships, experts, working, wealth, and anything and everything you might try will not work. 3. Typically, it is not until you run out of everything else that you come to trust in Jesus. Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. B. Someone said that trails will show you want you are made out of. 1. We are all made out of dirt. 2. Trails come to show you what Jesus is made of.