Encouragement In The Hard Times #1
1 Peter Part 1
There is no doubt that we are in a season of Hard Times.
For some of us it’s been a “cascade of calamity.” (James Mac Donald, When Life is Hard, p. 12)
Psalms 42:3 (MSG)
I'm on a diet of tears— tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
These are hard times,
People out of work, people struggling financially, salaries not keeping pace
with inflation, not keeping up with the increased costs of basic
necessities.
Families relationally in crisis, the government in crisis, education in
crisis, young men and women graduating college and not being able to
find work that’s a crisis.
Dire warnings broadcasted to us daily about how things are going to
go from bad to worse,
about terrorists, viruses, and global warming, shortages
of water, electricity, gas and food.
Then there is the chaos in the culture. The lines that have separated right
from wrong in this country for over 200 years are systematically being
erased.
There’s moral confusion.
These are hard times.
You are living in hard times.
For some its harder than others.
But all of us are in the midst of hard times.
We are going to be looking at 1 Peter, a chapter a week for the next five weeks.
Peter has written some powerful words of encouragement to help us through the
hard times.
We believe that the Bible is God’s word to us.
Let me refresh your memory. Read with me our 4th article of faith.
We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by which we understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation…
What this means to us is that the letter that Peter wrote,
somewhere in the late 60’s, that’s 0060, first century,
wrote to believers in Asia Minor,
specifically congregations in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia
and Bithynia, (show picture)
the Holy Spirit uses to speak to us today to help us live our lives to the full.
God has something to tell you about hard times to encourage you.
What I want to do is read the entire chapter of 1 Peter,
connect us to the hard time Peter writes about and
then look at how he encouraged the folks he was writing to.
Hopefully it will encourage you too.
Today when you leave I want you to be able to figure out the difference between,
consequences and trials and how to handle both of them.
I am sure you have asked the question yourself:
“Why would a good God allow bad things to happen to good people?”
It’s the wrong question to ask.
It is based on a faulty assumption.
1. The world is full of suffering and evil.
This of course is partially true, there is also much beauty and
good.
2. God created the world.
3. Therefore, God is the one to blame.
(Dave Earley, 21 Reasons Bad Things Happen to God People, p. 13)
C.S. Lewis in his book the Problem of Pain put that same question this way:
'If God were good, he would wish to make his creatures perfectly happy, and if God were almighty he would be able to do as he wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either goodness, or power, or both.'
The Biblical response to this kind of logic is rather straight forward.
1. God created a good world. (Genesis 1:31)
2. God created people with free will. (Genesis 1:27)
We can not respond in love if we do not have the choice to do
otherwise.
And since everything rises and falls on relationships,
We must be free to choose to enter into a right
relationship with God and grow in that
relationship.
3. People chose evil. (Genesis 2:16-17 & 3:6)
Adam the representative of humanity chose not to love God,
By one act of disobedience.
4. Choosing to disobey brought evil into the world that Adam was entrusted
to care for. (Genesis 3:7-19, Romans 5:12)
5. That choice brought lasting consequences not only to the human race, but
to the very creation itself. (Romans 8:10-11)
(Dave Earley, 21 Reasons Bad Things Happen to God People, p. 14-17)
“Sickness, sorrow, pain, problems, trouble and turmoil have been
commonplace on this planet since the Fall.”
(Earley, , p. 95)
Because of Adams choice, “Thorns and other weeds began to grow (Genesis 3:18) Viruses were born, plagues were hatched…the table was set for
the rise of killer storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and
droughts..” (Earley, p. 94)
No, God is not to blame for the evil in this world.
Sin is the cause.
There is a huge difference between the trials sent by God and the consequences of
sin.
Let’s consider consequences first.
Consequences are the result of behaviors.
Why are their natural disasters?
Because God created such a world?
No the biblical explanation for natural disasters is sin.
Sin is anything that deters, damages or destroys right
relationships.
When something is not right, not the way it was created to be it is sinful.
In the case of the planet, it is sin cursed, because of what Adam allowed.
The planet in pain cries tears of natural disasters.
Why is their disease and death?
Again the answer is not that God created a faulty world.
But because of sin.
Germs, cancer, genetic disorders, sickness, and I believe even
death by advanced age is all a consequence of sin in this
world.
Not an individual’s sin, but because we live in the
consequences of sin.
Why do people hurt people?
Its not God’s will or intent that people hurt one another,
Its because of sin.
From ignoring someone to killing them all because we refuse to
enter into a right relationship with one another.
Now this is not a scientific answer,
This is a theological answer.
A scientific answer would describe how things are and postulate
observable hypothesis as to why things are the way they seem
to be.
A theological answer is to one that helps you to understand the type of
world we live in, it is a meta narrative, that gives us a why
answer for the mess that we are in.
Many of the evils that befall us are not God’s fault,
They are the result of fallen humanity and the consequence unleashed upon
the world because of sin.
They are the consequences of sin.
Right along with this concept of sin consequences
There is a cheer leader who desires to create even more sin.
The scripture calls this being the father of lies, accuser, the adversary,
the devil, the prince of the world, the tempter, the serpent, the
evil one—or simply Satan.
For those who have never
Accepted the fact that they live in the consequences of sin.
For those who have never
Believed that the only atonement for sin is found in Jesus Christ.
For those who have never
Committed themselves to following Jesus.
The devil has tempted them to do it.
Consequences,
Some we have to live with, there is nothing we can do about them.
We live in a sin sick world where bad things happen to good people,
While good things happen to bad people.
It’s not fair.
Consequences are sometimes the result of our own personal behavior.
Break a law, and there are consequences.
Now this can be a civil law,
But I’m thinking more of the law of love:
James 2:8 (NIV)
"Love your neighbor as yourself…"[
I’m thinking more of the golden rule:
Luke 6:31 (NIV)
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
I’m thinking more of greatest commandment:
Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
Break the law of love, the golden rule and the greatest commandment and there are
consequences for your actions.
Consequences
Some we must repent and turn from.
We have to seek forgiveness and do restitution and try to make things
right.
Bad things happen when we do bad things.
The scripture says that you are going to reap what you sow.
(Galatians 6:8)
Eventually the secret becomes known.
Because your sins seek you out. (Numbers 32:23)
But there is another reason the times get hard.
If you’re going through a hard time right now it may be a trial.
A trial is sent by God to accomplish something good.
A trial is a major part of the curriculum in the school of hard knocks.
It is God’s desire to sanctify you.
To make you more and more like Jesus.
To help you live your life to the full.
To enter into a more intimate relationship with Him.
To become the person He created you to be.
Most of us have deaf ear syndrome.
We won’t change when we see the light,
We are only motivated to change when we feel the heat.
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, …but shouts in our pains…”
~C.S. Lewis
Psalms 119:67 (NIV)
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
Trials are sent by God to correct you, perfect you, and make you infectious.
Let’s read 1 Peter chapter 1
1 Peter 1:1-25 (MSG)
I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!
3 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.
10 The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!
13 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
22 Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the
truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not
like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes
from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why
the prophet said,
The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass
dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.
Trails are not pleasant.
They are hard times.
Hard times filled with questions, with difficult decisions,
sometimes they come with great suffering and loss.
They can come with depression, anxiety, loneliness,
All creating a sense of hopelessness and despair if
you let them.
Peter wrote to folks going through hard times.
For the Christian hard times when not consequences can be trials.
Even though trials can be horrendous,
They bring a blessing if you submit to them.
1 Peter 1:6 (MSG)
…even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime.
Do you feel like you have to put up with a lot of aggravation right now?
You just might be in a trial.
1 Peter 1:6 (KJV)
“…though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations…”
Do you feel like you are being tempted to do stuff you know is wrong?
You just might be in a trial.
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV)
“…though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief…”
Do you feel like your living in a life of grief?
Grief always follows a loss.
You just might be in a trial.
1 Peter 1:6 (NCV)
“…even though now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad.”
Do you feel all those downer emotions because of the troubles you’re facing?
You just might be in a trial.
God allows trials to correct you, perfect you, and to infect others with the Gospel.
We have imperfections that can only be redeemed in the school of hard
knocks.
We have lessons to learn that can only be learned through desperately
needing God.
God is not concerned about your happiness,
He is concerned about your holiness.
God knows that true happiness is the result of holiness.
So the suffering of the hard times transforms us,
Hard times are a tool to sanctify us,
To make us more like Jesus.
Hang in there,
Let the hard times do its work
And then on the other side of hard times you will look back and see
that God has changed you for the good.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (MSG)
…even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
Here Peter likens trials to refining gold.
Natural gold has impurities.
The goldsmith heats is furnace to almost 2000 degrees (1947.52 F)
Places the gold into the furnace.
The gold melts in the intense heat,
Throws in a little lead and the impurities,
called slag, rise to the top.
The slag is poured off.
The more pure the gold, the more genuine it is,
the more times it has gone through this process.
Trials do that to your faith.
Faith is your belief in action.
When our actions fall short of what God wants to accomplish in
and through us, He sends trials our way to refine us.
So that we can be holy, as He is holy.
But God doesn’t send a trial and just leave you to deal with it.
God is right there to help you through your trial.
1 Peter 1:17 (MSG)
You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.
The hard time you find yourself in right now may be the result of God the Father
disciplining you because of your sloppy living.
Hard times help us clean up our act.
If you are indulging yourself with sloppy living you can be sure
Something will happen to force you to change.
God through Peter also has words of encouragement about trials.
1 Peter 1:1-5 (MSG)
Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.
Here’s some encouragement.
When I’m going through tough times.
Which occur more often than I care to admit.
I find joy, hope, power to keep on going, through these truths.
God has not forgotten you. (Hebrews 13:5)
God will never leave you or forsake you.
God will keep you obedient. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God will not allow the trial to consume you and discourage you to the
point of turning your back on the faith.
God will give you His best. (Luke 11:13)
No pain, no gain. In order to receive the best that God wants to give
He has to prepare you to receive it, and that preparation can
come in the form of hard times.
God raises Jesus from the dead.
Death the ultimate end, no longer has the last word.
Jesus suffered hard times, was killed for His testimony,
But the Father vindicated Him by the resurrection.
And God will raise you up also, (John 6:39)
Showing the whole world that your faith was not foolish.
God has given us a brand-new life. (1 Peter 1:3)
God gives us a right relationship with Him.
A new lease on life, with the direction and power,
to become the person He intended for us to be.
God has secured for us a good future. (John 14:1-2)
No matter what happens here and now,
God has a plan that ends on an eternal high note for you.
God is keeping watch over you. (Matthew 6:8)
I think of God sitting by my hospital bed side,
Monitoring all my vital signs,
Making sure I get everything I need to heal.
God has great things in store for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
This is a source of hope.
Great things are ahead,
The season of hard times will come to an end,
But God’s love for me will never cease.
There is a day coming, somewhere on the other side of our last hard time,
When we will be able to have every good thing God has in store for us.
On the other side of hard times is blessings.
God through Peter instructs what to do if your hard time is a trial.
1 Peter 1:13-15, 17 & 22(MSG)
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear … Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. …Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God…Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it.
God tells us that during the hard times,
Don’t give into the temptation of quitting,
Of doing just what you feel like doing.
Instead, think, obey and love.
If you think, obey and love in the midst of your trial,
your hard time will pull you along, transforming you into
the person who can receive all the good things
God wants to bless your life with.
So today,
You’ve learned the difference between consequences and trials and how to
deal with them.
“Consequences we repent and turn from.
Trials we embrace and learn from.”
(http://www.whenlifeishard.com/Downloads/DiscussionGuide.pdf)
Are you in the suffering a consequence or are you in the midst of a trial?
For you going through a trial,
Find encouragement in this,
God is using this hard time to refine you,
To prepare you for something better,
To fit you for greater blessing.
The Holy Spirit will give you the grace you must have in order to
persevere through your hard time.
Run to God who seems like He isn’t there and you just might find that He’s
carrying you through these hard times.