Victors or Victims in Trials
Introduction
1 Peter 1:6-9 (NASB)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (NAS)
What is the difference in temptation and trials? I found a good explanation from Alexander MacLaren, in a sermon entitled Faith Tested and Crowned, distinguished between being tempted and being tested or tried.
He said that "the former word conveys the idea of appealing to the worst part of man, with the wish that he may yield and do the wrong. The latter means an appeal to the better part of man, with the desire that he should stand. Temptation says, "Do this pleasant thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is wrong." Trial or proving says, "Do this right and noble thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is painful."
The one is a sweet, beguiling melody, breathing soft indulgence and relaxation over the soul; the other is a peeling trumpet-call to high achievements." In the text we have the opportunity to be victors in times of trial. We can be:
Victors by Rejoicing in Trials. v 6
Victors by Results of Trials. v 7
Victors by Reverence in Trials
I. Victors through Rejoicing in Trials v 6
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, from Strongs on the word "greatly rejoice"
21 agalliao (Ag-al-lee-ah'-o); from again (much) and 242; properly, to jump for joy, i.e. exult: KJV-- be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly)
A. Great Rejoicing in Momentary Trials
v 6 b " . . . even though now for a little while, . . ."
1 Pet 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. (NAS)
B. Great Rejoicing in Mandatory Trials
v 6 c ". . . if necessary, . . ."
Alford: "if it is God's will for you"
Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: (NAS)
Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (NAS)
Revelation 2:24 'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-- I place no other burden on you. (NAS)
C. Great Rejoicing in Miserable Trials
v 6 d ". . . you have been distressed . . . "
Matt 26:37, “37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.” (NAS)
3076 lupeo- Thayers
1) to make sorrowful 2) to affect with sadness, to cause grief, to throw into sorrow 3) to grieve, to offend 4) to make one uneasy, to cause him to have a pang of conscience
D. Great Rejoicing in Manifold Trials
v 6 e
". . . distressed by various trials, . . . "
1. Physical Trials.
2. Mental Trials
3. Spiritual Trials.
2 Cor 12:7-9, “7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (NAS)
Illustration
A young coed had two problems common to many students: low grades and no money. She was forced to communicate both to her parents, who she knew would have trouble understanding. After considerable thought she used a creative approach to soften the blows of reality and wrote:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Just thought I'd drop you a note to clue you in on my plans. I've fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high school after grade eleven to get married. About a year ago he got a divorce.
We've been going steady for two months and plan to get married in the fall. Until then, I've decided to move into his apartment (I think I might be pregnant).
At any rate, I dropped out of school last week, although I'd like to finish college sometime in the future.
On the next page, she continued:
Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I've written so far in this letter is false. NONE of it is true.
But Mom and Dad, it IS true that I got a C in French and flunked Math. It IS true that I'm going to need some more money for my tuition payments.
Even bad news can sound like good news if it is seen from a certain vantage point. So much in life depends on "where you're coming from" as you face your circumstances. The secret in this case and in yours is perspective.
Application
If we have a pity party we will be victims if we rejoice we will be victors.
II. Victors through Results of Trials. v 7
7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
A. Trials Result In Praise
v 7 c ". . . found to result in praise . . . "
Proof of our salvation by the praise from Jesus, and our Praise of Jesus.
Matt 25:21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.' (NAS)
1868 epainos (ep'-ahee-nos); from 1909 and the base of 134; laudation; concretely, a commendable thing: KJV-- praise.
B. Trials Result In Glory
v 7 d ". . . found to result in . . . glory . . . "
Proof of our salvation by the glory of and for Jesus.
1391 doxa (dox'-ah); from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective): KJV-- dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
John 17:22 "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; (NAS)
C. Trials Result In Honor
v 7 e ". . . found to result in . . . honor . . . "
Proof of our salvation by the Glory of and for Jesus.
Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and {all} tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches {were} in their hands; (NAS)
5092 time (tee-may'); from 5099; a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself: KJV-- honour, precious, price,
Illustration
Mrs. Monroe lives in Darlington, Maryland. She's the mother of eight children. And except for a few interesting experiences. She came home one afternoon from the grocery store and walked into her home and everything looked pretty much the same, though it was a little bit quieter than usual.
She looked into the middle of the living room and 5 of her darlings were sitting around in a circle, exceedingly quiet, doing something, with something in the middle of a circle. So she put down the sacks of groceries and walked over closely and looked and saw that they were playing with 5 of the cutest skunks you can imagine.
She was instantly terrified and she said, "Run children, run! Each child grabbed a skunk and ran, in 5 different directions. She was beside herself and screamed louder, more frantically, with great gusto. It so scared the children that each one squeezed his skunk! As the writer put it, "Skunks don't like to be squeezed!"
Application
When you squeeze a lemon you get lemon juice. When you squeeze a Christian what comes out? Christianity! In the midst of great trials a Christian can give great praise, honor , and glory to the Lord.
III. Victors by Reverence in Trials
v 8-9 "8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (NAS)
A. In Reverence We Adore Him
v 8 a ". . . you love Him, . . . "
B. In Reverence We Affirm Him
v 8 b ". . . but believe in Him,. . . "
C. In Reverence We Accept Him
v 9 ". . . obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."
Illustration
I have observed the power of the watermelon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and through itself 200,000 times its weight. When you can tell me how it takes this material and out of it colors an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and then forms inside of it a white rind and within that again a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which in turn is capable of drawing through itself 200,000 times its weight-when you can explain to me the mystery of a watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925)
Conclusion
Even though we have not seen Him we reverence Him and we are Victors.