TEXT:  1 Pet. 1:6-7

INTRODUCTION:

A.      GOLD PURIFIED BY FIRE.

B.      COMPARED TO THE MORE PRECIOUS PROVING OF OUR FAITH.

C.      PROVEN DURABILITY ASSURES OUR REWARD AT HIS COMING.

          1.       Peter was tried by beating, imprisonment and in many other ways.

          2.       He spoke of the value of a tried faith as one who was experienced.

I.      HEROES' FAITH TRIED BY PERSECUTIONS.

A.      TRADITION DATING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT( Matt. 23:29-35 ).

B.      HEROES OF FAITH( Heb. 11:32-38 ).

C.      STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR( Acts 7:54-60 ).  GREAT COURAGE!

D.      PAUL'S PERSECUTIONS AND TRIALS( 2 Tim. 3:10-11 ).

          1.       Paul and Barnabas were expelled from Antioch( Acts 13:50 ).

          2.       Jews stirred up the Gentiles to stone Paul( Acts 14:1-6 ).

          3.       The succeeded in Lystra( 14:19 ).

          4.       All throughout Paul demonstrates remarkable courage in the cause of Christ.

E.      WE WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION( 2 Tim 3.12 ).

          1.       God will help overcome( 1 Cor. 10:13;  Phil. 4:13 ).

          2.       What is the power God gives us to overcome?( 1 John 5:4-5;  Eph. 6:16 ).

          3.       Is our faith strong enough to overcome?( 1 Pet. 1:6-7 ).

          4.       Luke 17:5.  How can we increase our faith?( Rom. 10:17 ).

          5        Eph. 6:10-13.

II.     THE PROVING OF JOB'S FAITH.

A.      THE CHARACTER OF JOB( Job 1:1, 8 ).

          1.       God knew and trusted the character of Job.

          2.       He allowed Satan to try him severely( Job 1:9-12 ).

B.      THE DEVIL'S FIRST ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME JOB.

          1.       Job's terrible losses( vs. 13-19 ).

          2.       Job's reaction to this misfortune( vs. 20-22 ).

C.      SATAN'S SECOND ATTEMPT AT JOB( Job 2:1-10 ).

          1.       God's endorsement of Job( vs. 1-3 ).

          2.       Satan's challenge and affliction of Job's flesh( vs. 4-8 ).

          3.       The great disappointment( vs. 9 ).

          4.       Faithful Job's answer( vs. 10 ).

D.      JOB'S TRIALS LEFT HIM STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.

          1.       Refined as gold( Job 23:8-10 ).

          2.       God blessed Job( Job 42:10-17 ).

III.    THE BLESSINGS OF ADVERSITY.

A.      ADVERSITY CORRECTS US( Heb. 12:3-13;  Isa. 48:10 ).

B.      ADVERSITY STRENGTHENS US( James 1:2-4;  1 Tim. 4:8 ).

C.      ADVERSITY IDENTIFIES US( 1 Pet. 1:6-7;  1 Cor. 3:12-13 ).

D.      THE PROOF OF FAITH IS PRECIOUS( Psa. 66:8-12;  Prov. 17:3;  Zech. 13:9 ).

E.      REJOICE, THEN IN THE PROOF OF FAITH( 1 Pet. 1:6 ).

          1.       For the benefit.

          2.       For the outcome( vs. 5-9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      PERSECUTION IS ONLY ONE FORM OF TRIAL.

B.      ANY HARDSHIP WILL SERVE TO MEASURE OUR FAITH.

C.      TRUST IN THE LORD'S ARMOR WILL SEE US THROUGH.