The Testing of Your Faith Part 2 (Pastor Josiah Shipley)

The Testing of Faith and the Call to Study

Now I want you to pay attention. It wasn't anything in Israel wasn't their military. Would you terminate a first Peter chapter 1 please. First Peter chapter 1. First Peter chapter 1. Let me do this now so I don't forget so last week I Made on your sermon notes a homework sheet on the back, and I forgot to mention it.

Let me just do that now. On your handout for today. What handout. The one at the door on your handout for today. On the back is Homework for you to do this week. Now for those of you who in class always just did the homework during class when the teacher Talked that's fine as long as you hear God's Word.

I don't really care, but I did that with the intention of you having something to study this week, and it is somewhat Somewhat connected to what we're talking about today. Okay today is part two of the testing of your faith now last week We're in James chapter 1 and we'll review that in just a moment.

But what I want to do right now is I want us to go to first Peter chapter 1 and we're going to read most Of this chapter so bear with me. We are in first Peter.

Chapter.

1 Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who are elect exiles in the dispersion in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia. That's all modern-day Turkey by the way. Verse 2. According to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit for the Obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling with his blood may grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Blessed be the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ according to his great mercy He has caused us to be born again To a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance that is imperishable and defiled and unfading kept in heaven for you.

Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you? Rejoice. Though now for a little while if necessary. You have been tested and grieved by various trials.

So that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes vote is tested by fire May be found to result in the praise honor and glory at the reveral revelation of Jesus Christ.

Skip down to verse 13 and keep reading with me. Verse 13.

Therefore.

Preparing your minds for action and being sober minded set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ as Obedient children don't be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.

But as he who called you as holy you also must be holy in all your conduct. Since it is written. You shall be holy for I am holy. And if you call on him as father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds.

Conduct yourselves with fear during your time of exile. Knowing you a ransom from your feudal ways inherited from your father's not with perishable things such as silver or gold. But with the precious blood of Christ like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Verse 20. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake. Who through him are believers in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory?

So your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by the obedience to the truth and a sincere brotherly love. Since you've been born again. Sorry love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

Since you have been born again, not a perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and abiding Word of God. For all flesh is like grass and its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls.

But the word of the Lord remains forever. And This word is the good news that was preached to you. Just to quickly review last week. So last week and James one part one of this series of the testing of your faith James told us to Count it all joy when he experienced Various types of trials and the reason he said to count all joy is because it's not purposeless.

There was a reason for it. You got something out of it and what you got out of it if you let it have its full effect is perseverance. The ability to push on. The ability to go one more step. The ability to go one more round.

We talked last week about the difference between trial and consequence and then maybe just review that one more time because Just want to make sure we understood what what I was saying there.

Trials, Consequences, and Temptation

Ladies and gentlemen.

Consequence just means with sequence. It is the next thing to happen and a logical sequence of events. Okay. Trials are tests from God. To test you in order to give you an opportunity to grow your faith.

And I gave the example last week and I stand by it. If you as a man have six children by four different women. No job and call the court hearings of your financial state to be a trial. You're fooling yourself.

That's disrespectful to those who are actually going through a trial. Ladies don't that's consequence of your actions. What are you talking about? Trials are that which is not a result of your action now.

We talked about temptation. That's during that test and when Satan tries to entice you instead of being molded into a mature man or woman of God. To sin against God. And then at the end we spoke about how unfortunately some people Even some Christians spend their whole lives Trying to limit the trial instead of growing in it.

We talked about how that's a wasted life. That's a wasted life.

So.

With that being said Part two is in first Peter and you note he says something very similar. You see Romans 5 James 1 and 1st Peter 1 all say basically the same thing three different Apostles saying the same thing.

That's because we recognize that the true author of Scripture is the Holy Spirit not any work of man. So I want to look one more time at Verse 3 through 7 and let's just look at that real closely at 1st Peter chapter 1 and remember if you don't hear anything else I say then hear God's Word.

1st Peter chapter 1 3 through 7. Let's read that again. Bless me the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy He has caused us to be born again. Ladies and gentlemen, if you think salvation was your doing you are fooling yourself.

Who has caused us to be born again? To a living hope. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Paul says if Jesus is not raised then we're to be pitied above all people because we're believing a fairy tale.

But in fact he has been raised so that our hope is a living hope. He's this living. Hope is what verse 4 an inheritance. Now if I could just for a moment make sure you understand what's happened. This is the measure of grace that some of us I've heard so often.

It's numb to our souls, but just hear it real quick. Here's the situation. Every single person in this room has looked at God and said forget you. I'm gonna do it my way. Whether with your words or your actions, that's what you said.

For those of you that are believers make sure you understand God's standard never changed, you know, the standard is to get in heaven.

Perfection.

You know what it was before the fall. Perfection, you know, it is right now perfection and look at me those of you who are thinking that I've lost it I'll say it again. The standard to enter heaven is Absolute total perfection.

That's the standard. That is what is required to get in the heaven. There is no Grading on a curve. There is no exceptions. That's the standard now the next logical question your brain should be. Then hat then will heaven remain empty forever.

And the answer is no. What salvation is it's not simply God forgiving you of your sins. That would not get you into heaven. That would just get you out of hell. Do you not see all that does is forgive the debt?

You still have no credit in your account, it's just not in the negative anymore when it comes to sin you understand. That's what forgiveness does what happens at salvation is the credit for Jesus's perfectly obedient life is Credited to your account.

So he gets the credit for your sin. You get the credit. For his obedient life and it's as if you live that life. So now in verse 4, we are now talking about your inheritance. What you get as a reward for that obedience.

The obedience that you didn't win but was given to you. See perfections required to get in the heaven, but it's not the perfection of your works. It's the works of another and that's the Savior Jesus Christ and his standard of perfection is charged to my account.

So when the father sees me He sees the perfect obedience of his son and I enter heaven based on the perfection of Jesus and the credit He gave me for that. So now. What that means is in verse 4 is we're now talking about my inheritance and that's something.

Does that is that numb to your soul right now? Or do you hear that we are now talking in verse 4 about our inheritance. The only thing we should inherit is eternity in hell. But now we're talking about our inheritance in heaven.

And what's it say? To an inheritance that is imperishable. Can't die. Non-perishable food items. You follow me. It's imperishable. It's undefiled. Nobody can mess with it and it's unfading. It's just as powerful on day one as it is on day 10 ,000 and that's something.

And it's kept in heaven for me Carolyn that something is kept in heaven Robert. Aren't you glad? See Justin if God entrusted an inheritance to us right now. What happened to the prodigal. What happened to that guy when he was given the inheritance early.

What happened? He squandered identity y 'all member. It's kept in heaven who by God's power are Being guarded through faith for our salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Now verse 6 is our focal point.

In this you rejoice. Though now for a little while in these next two words if necessary. You're being grieved by various trials, but let's read that again. In this you rejoice. So yeah, I mean that yeah, okay, we rejoice.

Yeah, our salvation is eternal and protected in heaven. That's a reason to rejoice right? It says this though now for a little while. If necessary. You are being grieved by various trials if necessary.

Maybe God misspoke right here. What's he mean by it's necessary to be grieved by various trials. Did he make a mistake right here? Is that is that a typo? Last week James talked about counting it joy.

When we go through various trials Peter's taking a step further see it as a necessity. A Necessity to be grieved by various trials. Why?

Look at the result.

Look at the result. So but tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold. That perishes though. It's tested by fire. May be found to result in what the praise. Glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ now.

I know. Then in this room, we don't have people who have used church words the whole life and don't know what they mean. I know that every one of you can define those three words and you haven't just lived your whole Christian life saying words that you don't Know what they mean.

I know no one in this room is that way. Yes. You know what the word hallelujah means. Praise Yahweh. Hallelujah praise Yahweh, right? Look here. That it may be found to result. So that whole tested genuineness of your faith the whole.

Greed by trials. Why is it necessary? Because it's found to result in the praise glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Let's let's review these terms. Okay, let's review these terms and I understand that this is a little more of a lesson than a sermon.

It's a good thing that I have the microphone. I can do what I want. So here we are here letter a as all of you have your hand out and your pencil out obviously on letter a here we go praise. You know what praise is.

What's praise. Somebody tell me what praise is. To worship no close. Just to speak a good word so praise is with your words to tell of Who God is? Okay, so Praising is giving God the credit. He deserves.

Let me say it again. Praising is giving God the credit. He deserves with your words now if any of you struggle with praise at its core. You know, what's amazing about God if you just describe him you automatically appraising him God you are unsearchable God you are all-loving God you are everywhere.

God, you know everything God you are loved. See God is so in in of himself. Worthy of praise that you can simply describe him. You don't have to start by saying what he's done. You can simply describe him and you're praising him.

So praise as brother Jeff said to speak a good word of praise is to with your words. Give God the credit he deserves. Now it's not on your sheet, but this is bonus worship worship is. Anything you do in your heart in obedience to God.

Anything you do in your heart in obedience to God. Now, here's why that's important. So Praises with your lips worship is with your heart praises with your lips worships with your heart because sometimes.

Sometimes I have to make myself praise even though I'm not worshiping in my heart. But that's not hypocrisy. That's training my body to submit to what my mind tells it to do. You follow me on that? Let me say it again.

Sometimes I'm not feeling like worshiping God right here. But I make myself praise anyway to train my body to be in submission to my spirit. Not my spirit to be in submission to my body. Okay worships with the heart now glory.

Glory is this. Glory is the outward manifestation of who God is you ready for that one? I'll say that one again Glory is the outward Manifestation of who God is. Don't ask me how to spell manifestation.

I don't know glory is the outward manifestation of who God is. Now watch this.

The.

Seraphim. You can call them angels if you want. There's some type of spiritual being. Remember they got six wings y 'all remember this. They got six wings, right? They got to cover in their eyes. Don't they they have to they're flying with.

To the cover in the feet right and day and night you find this in Revelation and in Isaiah 6 they're screaming Holy how many you don't like repetitive songs? You're gonna have a hard time in heaven. Day and night they never stop screaming these words.

Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of his. What do you think it would say holiness? Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty the whole earth is full of his Glory, you see holiness is who God is.

It's that which holy means set-apart, right? Holiness is that which separates God from everything else. Holiness is that which separates God from everything else. Glory is us being able to see that. When the Bible says Jesus is the glory of God.

He's God made visible. You understand the outward manifestation of who he is. It's like it fits together. It's like the same guy who wrote Genesis the same guy who wrote Matthew and that's something Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, but the whole earth the visible part for us is full of his glory full of his glory.

If this.

Were burned today. I could still see the glory of God by walking out that door. Because the whole earth is full of his glory. The outward manifestation of who he really is and that's something. So holiness is who God is that which makes him other that which separates him.

Glory is the visible manifestation of that. So when the Bible tells you to glorify God. Manifest shine light on who he really is. When you give glory to God, you're making much of him like a magnifying glass saying hey, look at God.

That's what glorifying God is. It's making much outward manifestation of who he is. The best example I've ever come across with this is is the moon. The moon has no light even of itself. It is a dead lifeless rock.

But 93 million miles away there is a star that we call the Sun. That can shine on that in such a way that it can light up my backyard. Where I can see and that's something the light reflecting off a rock.

Can shine and make things visible to me at night? That's what I want to be. For God in a dark world. I want to so reflect so Manifest so shine the light of God on somebody else that even in darkness it can be made visible.

That's what the Bible means when Jesus says let your light. So shine among men they can what before you've ever opened your mouth. They can see your works and Glorify the Father in heaven. So glory is the outward manifestation of who God is.

Y 'all y 'all got that? Okay honor Means to give someone the credit they deserve so praise is the speak it honors to give someone the credit they deserve so praise. Praise is with your mouth. Telling of who God is and what he's done.

Honor overall means to give someone the credit they're due. You see this is as I've said before this is the problem. Right now every day.

Jesus.

Is not getting the credit that's due him the problem. When I'm most grieved with that is not when people in San Francisco do that or Washington DC or Beijing? I'm used to that the problem is when I don't do that.

Give him the credit that's due him. You understand that's that's what grieves me the most. I want to live my life in such a way. Why. I'm giving him the credit that is due him and some of this shocks us because we are so.

Not used to hearing of the God-centeredness of this world even in the churches. This world was created by God and for God. Do you understand that what salvation is you are saved wait for it? By God. You are saved from God, and you are saved for God.

Let me do that again because several of you weren't listening there. You are saved by God now. Most people at least think they've got that one down. You're saved by God. You are saved from God as Pastor Jermiah was telling me this morning.

It's impossible to see God's grace if you're not looking through the lens of God's wrath. You're saved by God and from God. He is the destroyer he is the judge of all the earth and You are saved for God.

Your purpose as a Christian is to give God the credit he deserves and show others that that's your purpose. Now with all that being said. Look what it says again in verse 6 in this you rejoice though now for a little while if necessary.

You've been greed by various trials. So by the tested genuineness of your faith, you know repeatedly in the scriptures. The positive thing if we can use that term about persecution. About the people of God under severe testing the genuineness of their faith is revealed.

Those who aren't genuine fall away. Now here's what happens there and the example is used here of gold and this is the analogy God uses. You understand how you purify a substance? You understand what's happening?

You put it in the fire and what happens when someone says it's ninety nine point nine percent gold and this one's eighty percent. What's the difference between the two? Can you believe pastor Jeff is calling me right now?

He is so. Probably or he's probably forgotten that's probably more likely but anyway. The difference in that 80 pure gold and that 99 what's the difference. What happened to the one. They put it in the furnace.

They melted it down and the impurities the dirt the grime the carbon whatever melted away. Then they let it harden again. You know what they do. They do it again and. Then they do it again. And you know the worth of that gold far exceeds the other one.

Why. Because this one's been tested as genuine ladies and gentlemen the tested genuineness of your faith.

You know when.

You have to live in fear that at any moment a government agent come out and Punish anyone who's inside worship in Jesus. There's not a whole lot of fake Christians left in the room. Not a whole lot is there?

Trials are necessary for the tested genuineness of your faith, but not just as the corporate. But as for you individually. Let me tell you something. Let me tell you something and I can say this. I Can say this not even halfway through my life God willing yet I Can't even look back and say I am really glad for that test right there because now Lying in my bed at night.

I can reason in my spirit. Mm-hmm. God brought me through that one. He'll bring me through this one. You see when there's never been a test. When there's never been a test you don't know what you can do.

I remember After about my third or fourth MMA fight I ceased being super nervous. Because I recognized something. Well, not only have I already done this three or four times. I have spent thousands of hours in the gym doing this very thing a Practice last two hours this fight will last 15 minutes.

There's nothing that's gonna happen in here. I haven't already done with your faith ladies and gentlemen. Remember the whole thing about letting it have its full effect from last week. What you come out as is somebody who is more mature?

Somebody who can handle more. Someone who's more useful for helping others because you've been put through the test. You've been put through the fire and have been come out a little more pure a little less like Josiah a little more like Jesus a little less like James a little less like Brandon and a little more like Jesus and That's worth it to me.

That's what I want. I'm not gonna run away from that type of trial. I want to be that much more pure. Not on my own having been made that way by another. What do you love? Ladies and gentlemen, what do you love?

What's the Bible say that what you treasure where your treasure is. There's where your hearts gonna be. There's where your heart gonna be, you know. Don't miss what Jesus said. When he said out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Let me say that again out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks whatever you're putting in what's coming out. Out of the overflow, what are you filling that heart with? What are you filling that heart with?

Because where your treasure is it's not just there your heart will be also that's where the test is gonna come. That's where the test is gonna come. Look in the Bible. Look in the Bible those who were even with their actions.

Putting something ahead of God. That's where the test is gonna come and God Does not pass people along that test will be passed no matter how many times you have to retake it that test will be passed.

The Rich Young Ruler and the Test of What You Love

Think of the rich young ruler if you would turn with me just for a moment to Matthew chapter 19. If you would turn with me, please the Matthew chapter 19. Maybe you're familiar with this account. There's a rich young ruler and Jesus tells him something he never told a single other Person in his entire ministry.

Only this guy did he say this? The guy comes up to and says what hey you you say I must obey. I've obeyed everything. Since I was a boy the arrogance. I've obeyed everything perfectly since I was a boy.

What do I still lack? Because he asked him about entering eternal life and Jesus says all right. If you want to be perfect. Go sell all you possess and give it to the poor and you'll have treasures in heaven and then come follow me.

Now I have a question for you. Why did Jesus never say this to anybody else? Because this was the test of what this guy loved more than anything else. This guy see Jesus reads hearts. I don't. This is what this guy loved more than anything else.

And now there's the test. There's the test put in front of this young man. What do you love most? Decide right now. What do you love most and once you look at the result? Verse 22 when the young man heard this he went away grieved sorrowful.

For he had great possessions. See the test came and the temptation from Satan was to choose the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of God and Unfortunately, this young man failed that test.

Now we don't know what happened to him after this but right here. He failed that test. Because he loved the cares of this world more than he did Jesus and he showed that by his actions. Do your actions reveal that?

Do your actions reveal that Josiah. What if I've already failed that test? So did Peter. When the test came and Peter failed. He grieved but his grief was something different. He grieved and then repented.

See this rich young man grieved and left. Peter grieved and repented. So what's the conclusion? It's a different type of grief. It's a different type of grief. 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 by the way, there's a typo on number 3 letter C.

It's supposed to say 2nd Corinthians 7 8 through 10. 2nd Corinthians 7 8 through 10. But I just want to read this real quick to you Paul writing to the church of Corinth's for even though I made you grieve with my letter.

I don't regret it. Though I did regret it for I see the letter grieved you. Though only for a little while as it is I rejoice not because you agreed because you agreed into repenting for you felt a godly conviction a Godly grief so you suffered no loss through it.

Godly conviction godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. Whereas worldly grief produces death you see the rich young ruler felt bad. But not to the point of repentance and went away sorrowful, but keep doing the same thing he was doing.

Peter when grieved when tested. Repented that's the difference. That's the difference. Ladies and gentlemen when that conviction comes. What will it turn into godly grief or worldly grief. Not the same type.

Not the same type of repentance and but I want to note just one thing before we move on. Paul says he doesn't regret making them grieve with what he said to him. Can you do that for other people? Or if it's gonna make him uncomfortable.

Are you just not gonna say it? Let me read that again. For even though I made you grieve in my letter. I don't regret it because that grief led the repentance. Ladies and gentlemen, can you do that for somebody else?

Sometimes that's necessary. That's accountability. I Would rather someone be upset with me. But their spirit be restored. Then someone be a friend of me and be just as lost or just as disobedient. As it were the day before they talked to me.

I Need that. I need that. This is what the Bible teaches about accountability. Paul right here saying I know I made you upset and I'm not rejoicing in that. But I am rejoicing that it led to your repentance.

So I would do it again and again. That's what we're supposed to be for each other's ladies and gentlemen. What kind of grief are you experiencing over your sin right now? No grief at all. You should be afraid.

If you can openly sin against an Almighty God. With no conviction no desire to repent none at all and wake up tomorrow. Just like you did today and you have no Care in the world. You should be afraid and I beg you to hear the Word of God today.

Maybe you're like no Josiah. I Feel that conviction but it never leads to repentance. If I only ever kept that to myself I'd be in the same boat as you. But the whole purpose the entire purpose of the church is that I wouldn't stay that way.

See if we're all moving towards the same goal. We're gonna buy nature grow closer together. But if you just worry about you you just worry about you and you just worry about you. Well individual parts of a body.

Never coming together as a body. That's not how the body works. It's called the body of Christ because we all serve a purpose. Obviously Roberts the eyebrow and. And maybe Clift is the left pinky toe.

Maybe Jeremiah is the right eyeball and the point is we all serve a purpose. But if and I think about it for a minute and I know this analogy. But it's in the Bible so I can use it if I took out my knife.

Right now and I'm not going to and I cut off my right ear and I threw it on the ground over there. How much hearing would it do? You can say none. What purpose would it serve? But as part of the body it serves a great purpose don't it.

Some of you are living your Christian lives. Which God designed to be as part of a body off on your own and wondering why you feel no sense of purpose. Because your purpose is meant to be fulfilled in the body.

Not on your own. Does that not make sense to you. Well that analogy is repeated in the Bible over and over. Is it not the body. How many times you use that phrase the body? Of Christ and never recognize what it means.

Let today that change. That's because your purpose is to serve another. We're almost done the purpose back in first Peter, and this is where we'll end back in first Peter. It says That now if necessary you've been grieved by various trials so the tested Genuineness of your faith more precious than gold though it perishes.

Though it's tested by fire may be found to result in something. To result in the praise the honor and the glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ you see I want to be thick-skinned and tender-hearted.

Not tender-skinned and thick-hearted. Now which are you today? See I want what the Bible says a mature Christian supposed to be thick-skinned and tender-hearted. But I fear there are a lot of Christians today That are tender-skinned and thick-hearted.

It takes nothing to offend you. Nothing at all. The smallest thing someone can be by your side the moment they do one thing that bothers you you cut them off. And you're so offended you got to tell a hundred people about it except for the person that wronged you by the way.

And you're so thin-skinned. Nothing can happen to you without it being an all-out assault on your character. That you and you'll even call it a trial and yet your heart is so thick. That you can't pour out love to somebody else to save your life.

That's backwards. What are we doing? See the Bible says that we should be thick-skinned and tender-hearted. That's what we're supposed to be. Let that be the mold you follow. Let that be the mold you follow.

Let it be easier to serve someone than it is for you to be offended. There's your test right now. What. And I'll be honest with yourself what comes easier. You being offended by somebody or serving somebody.

Wait for it with a pure heart. What comes easier to you?

If it's.

It's easier for me to be offended. You need to read verse 7 one more time. How is he test that faith? Throw it in the fire Ladies and gentlemen where your treasure is. That's where the test is coming.

We are not as Christians to be soft or to be soft-hearted. But we're not to be soft. I am I know that as believers here. It's Amazing to me not just how easily offended we are. But how little. And look at me as I say this Persecution Testing has to come for you to fold.

Some of us in this room lose our joy. I mean our joy over a flat tire. Or your AC being out. Burkett will be there tomorrow to fix it. Just you can live one day and I mean You're yeah within two hours.

Yeah, okay. I.

Mean.

With something like that your joy can be shaken. Your joy can be shaken. Ladies and gentlemen a day of testing by fire is coming for everyone. Where it will cost you something far more than a little discomfort to be a Christian.

And if you think you're gonna stand that test. When you can't even see the joy in your present circumstance, you are a fool. You are a fool. Let the test have its full effect so you won't be a soft weak.

Christian.

But a mature one that can show somebody else who's struggling a little bit. Show somebody what it means to be a man and a woman of God to stand the test of time. To be able to look back and say no. This is where God brought me forward and he was faithful and he taught me how to be faithful.

That's the measurement. I want to end by saying this and whatever music crews coming up if you could.

I.

Want to end by saying this? I.

Know we have a lot of our ladies out today, which actually works in our favor.

Husbandly Leadership, Family Worship, and the Church as a Body

Gentlemen.

I'm gonna beg you right now I'm gonna beg you to take that piece of paper and Go home, and if you are not already now if you're already doing this thing, let's do this right now. Gentlemen who are married I want you to raise your hand if you are currently Reading your Bible or praying with your wife at least on a somewhat regular basis.