LESSON 15 THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH
Trying—Testing, trustworthiness.
2. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6, 7, 9
Season—Puny (in extent, degree, number, duration.)
Need— It is (was etc.) necessary.
Heaviness—To distress; to be sad.
End—(To set out for a definite point or goal), conclusion, result, purpose.
3. It is in mercy that the Lord reveals to us our hidden defects and trials are one of the ways He does this. God would have us understand the complicated emotions and motives of our own hearts, and by His grace bring them into subjection to the will and Word of God.
4. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12, 13
5. The purification of the people of God is often accomplished by suffering. God allows difficulty and affliction to refine our character, to separate the worthless from the valuable. If we are unwilling to be tested by the Lord preferring rather the easy way, then our condition is one of peril.
God will sanctify and purify those who claim to be His servants. He places us in the heat of the furnace that the dross may be forever separated from the true gold of Christian character. Jesus watches the testing of our faith and He knows just what fire of temptation and trial is needed to purify our souls.
6. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:28, 35, 37
7. No trial or affliction can touch us except by the Lord’s permission. Therefore in all our sufferings and sorrows, our temptations and trials, in our sadness and grief, our persecutions and privations, when we trust and obey Christ we have the promise that all things work together for our good.
9. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: [trials and distress and frustration] but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
10. The trials and perplexities that tests our faith, perhaps even leaving us to feel as though God has forsaken us, is allowed to lead us more closely to Him. His purpose in trial and perplexity is that we would lay all our burdens at the feet of Christ, and experience the peace which He will give us in exchange.
11. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.
For just as Christ’s [own] sufferings fall to our lot [as they overflow upon His disciples, and we share and experience them] abundantly, so through Christ comfort (consolation and encouragement) is also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us. 2 Corinthians 1:3–5, Verse 3 KJV, Verses 4, 5 AMP
12. Jesus is acquainted with all our trials, and He does not leave us to struggle alone with temptations, to battle alone with sin, and to be finally crushed with burden and sorrow. He says, I know your sorrows; I have endured them, I am acquainted with your struggles; I have experienced them I know your temptations; I have encountered them when as the Son of man I walked the earth. I have seen your tears; I also have wept. Your earthly hopes may seem crushed, but let your heart in faith be uplifted to heaven and there anchor your hopes. Then the assurance of Scripture shall be yours for you have a friend that will be closer than a brother.
13. When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:32
Judged—Punish, to distinguish, i.e. decide, by implication to try.
Chastened—To train up a child i.e. educate or (by implication) discipline (by punishment).
But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:32 AMP
14. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:5–11
15. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law. Psalm 94:12
16. We must not think when we are afflicted with trial and perplexity that the Lord is angry with us. God allows and even brings us into trials and He sometimes does this that we might see the folly of our ways. His purpose in allowing difficulties to come upon us is that we would call upon Him for help, wisdom and grace.
17. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. Proverbs 6:23
Reproofs—Chastisement; figurative (by words) correction.
18. He that refuseth instruction [correction] despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth [obeyeth] reproof getteth understanding. Proverbs 15:32
Instruction—Figurative, reproof, warning, or instruction.
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LTBS - Section 1
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LTBS - Section 4
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LTBS - Section 6
LTBS - Section 7
LTBS - Section 8
LTBS - Section 9
LTBS - Section 10
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