Refining Faith: Trusting God Through Trials
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often encounter trials that test the very core of our beliefs. Today, we explored the dual nature of faith, which encompasses both belief and trust. Belief is knowing the truth, as even demons believe in the resurrection of Christ, yet they do not trust Him. Trust, however, is the deeper commitment to rely on Christ for salvation, as exemplified by the Apostle Paul's exhortation to the Philippian jailer to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith, therefore, is believing in what God has revealed and trusting Him in what He has kept hidden.
We delved into the testing of faith, a process that no believer volunteers for, yet all experience. Trials, though grievous, serve a divine purpose. They refine our faith, proving its genuineness, much like gold is purified in fire. This tested faith is more precious than gold, for while gold perishes, genuine faith grants us access to eternal joy in God's presence. The trials we endure now will one day result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Peter reminds us of the blessings we have in Christ: new birth, living hope, and an inheritance kept in heaven. Despite these blessings, we are grieved by various trials. These trials, however, are not without purpose. They test the genuineness of our faith, proving it to be real and valuable. Genuine faith is not a crutch for the weak but a gift of infinite worth, more precious than gold.
The trials we face refine our faith, producing a reflection of God's image in us. When our faith is tested, it grows, and God sees His likeness in us. This tested faith will result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The greatest honor we can give to Christ is to love, trust, and obey Him amidst sorrow and loss. In the end, any praise or honor we receive will be laid at the feet of Jesus, acknowledging that it was by His grace alone.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith is a combination of belief and trust. Belief acknowledges the truth, but trust commits to relying on Christ for salvation. This dual nature of faith is essential for a genuine relationship with God. [02:17]
- Trials test the genuineness of our faith. When we endure trials and continue to love and trust Christ, it proves that our faith is genuine and not merely a human decision or passing phase. [14:20]
- Tested faith is more precious than gold. While gold offers temporary pleasures, genuine faith grants eternal joy in God's presence. The refining process of trials strengthens and purifies our faith. [18:28]
- The trials we endure will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Our perseverance through trials is a testament to the life of God within us, and it will be commended by God Himself. [22:02]
- In the darkest places of our lives, we discover gems of God's grace. Trials offer unique opportunities to grow in faith and experience God's presence in profound ways. We must not come out of these experiences empty-handed. [32:49]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Definition of Faith
- [01:23] - Belief vs. Trust
- [02:35] - Faith in Revelation and Mystery
- [03:47] - Trusting God in the Unknown
- [05:01] - The Testing of Faith
- [06:06] - Blessings in Christ
- [07:46] - Grief and Trials
- [09:32] - Various Trials
- [11:00] - Purpose of Trials
- [11:51] - Genuine Faith
- [16:18] - Faith More Precious Than Gold
- [21:41] - Praise, Glory, and Honor
- [25:16] - Perseverance Through Trials
- [30:42] - Parable of the Pit
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Peter 1:3-9
2. James 2:19
3. Deuteronomy 29:29
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Peter 1:3-9, what are the blessings that Peter reminds believers they have in Christ? How do these blessings relate to the trials they face? [06:06]
2. In the sermon, what distinction is made between belief and trust, and how does this relate to the example of the demons' belief in James 2:19? [00:51]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of refining faith, and what analogy is used to explain this process? [19:25]
4. What does Deuteronomy 29:29 say about the things God has revealed and the things He has kept hidden, and how does this relate to the concept of faith discussed in the sermon? [02:54]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the dual nature of faith, involving both belief and trust, impact a believer's relationship with God, especially during trials? [02:17]
2. Why might God allow His children to experience grief and trials, according to the sermon and 1 Peter 1:6-7? What purpose do these trials serve? [11:00]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that tested faith is more precious than gold, and how does this comparison help believers understand the value of their faith? [18:28]
4. How does the concept of trials resulting in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ provide hope and encouragement to believers? [22:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent trial you have faced. How did your belief and trust in God help you navigate through it? What did you learn about your faith during this time? [14:20]
2. The sermon mentions that genuine faith is not a crutch but a gift of infinite worth. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for your faith in your daily life? [17:26]
3. Consider the areas of your life where you struggle to trust God with the unknown. What steps can you take to strengthen your trust in Him, especially in those areas? [03:47]
4. How can you actively seek the "gems of God's grace" in the darkest places of your life, as mentioned in the sermon? What practical actions can you take to ensure you don't come out of these experiences empty-handed? [32:49]
5. Think about a time when you felt grieved by a trial. How did you see God's presence and grace during that period? How can you use that experience to encourage others who are currently facing trials? [09:32]
6. The sermon emphasizes the importance of loving, trusting, and obeying Christ amidst sorrow and loss. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate your love and trust in Christ, even in challenging circumstances? [25:46]
7. How can the promise of praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ motivate you to persevere through current trials? What changes can you make in your perspective or actions to align with this promise? [22:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as Belief and Trust
Faith is not just about acknowledging the truth; it involves a deep commitment to trust in Christ for salvation. Belief is the intellectual acceptance of truth, but trust is the heart's reliance on that truth. This dual nature of faith is essential for a genuine relationship with God. Even demons believe in the resurrection of Christ, yet they do not trust Him. True faith requires both belief and trust, as exemplified by the Apostle Paul's exhortation to the Philippian jailer to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This combination of belief and trust is what allows us to rely on Christ for our salvation and to navigate the trials of life with confidence. [02:17]
James 2:19-20 (ESV): "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it easier to believe in God's truth but harder to trust Him fully? How can you begin to cultivate a deeper trust in those areas today?
Day 2: Trials as Tests of Genuine Faith
Trials are an inevitable part of the Christian journey, serving as tests of the genuineness of our faith. When we endure trials and continue to love and trust Christ, it proves that our faith is genuine and not merely a human decision or passing phase. These trials, though grievous, serve a divine purpose. They refine our faith, proving its genuineness, much like gold is purified in fire. This tested faith is more precious than gold, for while gold perishes, genuine faith grants us access to eternal joy in God's presence. [14:20]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial you have faced. How did it challenge your faith, and in what ways did it strengthen your trust in God?
Day 3: The Preciousness of Tested Faith
Tested faith is more precious than gold. While gold offers temporary pleasures, genuine faith grants eternal joy in God's presence. The refining process of trials strengthens and purifies our faith, making it more valuable than any earthly treasure. This tested faith will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Our perseverance through trials is a testament to the life of God within us, and it will be commended by God Himself. [18:28]
Job 23:10 (ESV): "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel your faith is being tested? How can you view this testing as an opportunity for growth and refinement?
Day 4: Trials Leading to Praise, Glory, and Honor
The trials we endure will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Our perseverance through trials is a testament to the life of God within us, and it will be commended by God Himself. The greatest honor we can give to Christ is to love, trust, and obey Him amidst sorrow and loss. In the end, any praise or honor we receive will be laid at the feet of Jesus, acknowledging that it was by His grace alone. [22:02]
Romans 5:3-5 (ESV): "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective to see your current struggles as opportunities to bring glory and honor to God?
Day 5: Discovering God's Grace in Trials
In the darkest places of our lives, we discover gems of God's grace. Trials offer unique opportunities to grow in faith and experience God's presence in profound ways. We must not come out of these experiences empty-handed. Instead, we should seek to find the grace and growth that God offers through these challenges. By doing so, we can emerge from trials with a deeper understanding of God's love and a stronger faith. [32:49]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace in the midst of a trial. How can you carry that experience forward into your current challenges?
Quotes
Faith involves two elements the first is belief and the second is trust there are really two sides of the same coin someone asked me just last week if believing is the same as faith and that's a very good question and the answer to it is well sometimes you see sometimes the word believe is used in the Bible simply of knowing that something is true for example James tells us that even the demons believe and they shudder in other words the the demons know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead they have no doubt about it whatsoever they they believe it and because they know it to be true they even tremble in the light of it no the demons believe but they do not trust despite what they know to be true they remain in Rebellion against God so faith is more than believing that certain things are true Faith involves trusting the one we have come to believe [00:23:34]
Faith involves these two Dimensions it involves believing and it involves trusting and these are two sides of the same coin now I find it helpful to put these two dimensions of Faith alongside a distinction that God makes in Deuteronomy chapter 29 and verse 29. the scripture says the secret things belong to the Lord our God but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever so there are some things that God has revealed and there are other things that God has kept hidden and very simply Faith then is believing God in what he has revealed and trusting God in what he has kept secret [00:44:06]
we're going to see today the tested faith is more precious than gold and we're going to see that the same trials that cause you grief and sorrow right now will one day bring praise Glory and Honor when Jesus Christ is revealed right now you are grieved by the trials of your life but a day is coming when you will rejoice in what God has accomplished through them [00:53:58]
you have been grieved by various trials why would God who has blessed his children so richly in the Lord Jesus Christ allow his own dearly loved children to be grieved why would God do that this is the great enigma of the Christian Life if God really loves me so much why is my life so hard how can it be that if you are truly a child of God and an heir of Heaven that you would be grieved by various trials that's what Peter is about to address [08:05:40]
you have been grieved by various trials so that so that now you see he's going to tell us something good will come out of the trials that cause you to grieve and Peter's going to tell us what that is now we're going to see three things today first the tested faith is genuine faith second the tested faith is more precious than gold and third that tested faith will result in Praise Glory and Honor when Jesus Christ is revealed [11:11:40]
how do you know that your faith is genuine and that is a real question because there are many people who at one time profess some kind of faith and then turned back Jesus speaks about this very clearly in the parable of the sword remember he says now some people they're just like rocky soil and when the seed of the word is sown in them they receive it immediately and they receive it with great joy but Jesus says they have no root in themselves but endure for a while just for a while and then when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word immediately they fall away they're gone they turn their back on what they once professed [12:30:00]
Peter tells us here that far from being a crutch genuine faith is a gift of infinite value and to press home how valuable it really is he makes this comparison he puts it alongside money not just a little money but a lot of money he talks about pure gold suppose a man has millions of dollars millions he is blessed there are many joys of life that he can Savor because of his money but only for a short time very soon he will have to kiss his money goodbye gold is a finite value but genuine Faith Peter is telling us is of greater value by far it is more precious than gold [16:43:40]
when your faith is tested it will grow it will be refined and when the refining is done God will produce a reflection of his own image and likeness in you and that is why faith is of Greater worth than gold faith that is tested and proved genuine is of infinite value tested faith is genuine faith tested faith is more precious than gold and then Peter tells us that tested faith will result in Praise Glory and honor [21:07:40]
the greatest honor that you can give to the Lord Jesus Christ in all of your life is to love him trust him and Obey him in the midst of sorrow and loss that you do not understand now what will those who have endured great trial do with this praise and this honor and this Glory well you know what they will do they will lay any praise any honor and any Glory that they receive at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ and they will say any strength that we had and any perseverance that we showed and any faithfulness that we sustained was by your grace and by your grace alone [25:40:38]
there are discoveries of God's grace that we can only make in the darkest places there's something that you can gain in the hardest places of your life that you will not gain anywhere else imagine then with me for a moment that you are told that you will be in a pit for one week you're told that after that week in the pit you will never ever go there again never in all of your life and that while you are there you are to use the time and the opportunity to make a life and the future [30:47:52]
there are gems of Grace that can only be found in the darkest of places so when your faith is tested make sure that you don't come out empty-handed let's pray together shall we father as our faith is tested we pray that by your grace it will be proved genuine we thank you that a genuine faith tried and tested is of Greater worth than gold by far and that it will result In Praise Glory and Honor when Jesus Christ is revealed [32:49:38]
so strengthen Us in faith that we may bear up under whatever trials you call us to face that we may love you trust you worship you serve you obey you in all things at all times and under all circumstances so may we honor Christ until the day when any honor that comes to us by your grace will be laid at the feet of the savior and we shall enter into the fullness of his Joy forever and ever through Jesus Christ Our Lord in whose wonderful name we pray amen [33:20:00]
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