1
...do not think it strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you

• 1 Peter 412

2
Peter Teaches About Trials

• First Receiving spiritual gifts.
• As each one has received a gift
• 1 Peter 410a
• A spiritual gift is a special ability God gives
  to each of us

3
Gifts Used To Serve Others

• 1 Peter 410c
• ...minister it to one another, as good
  stewards
• Now As good stewards (managers)
• expect to have troubles and trials.

4
Trials Follow Acts of Faith

• Throughout Old Testament
• Abraham
• Moses
• Elijah
• David
• Jesus

5
Abraham - Father of all who believe

• left his homeland
• left his kindred (family)
• in obedience to God
• Fiery trial - a famine!

6
Abraham

• Promised a son by God through whom all earth
  shall be blessed
• He waited for twenty four years
• Abraham, 99, Sarah,89 Isaac born
• God asked Abraham to sacrifice him
• Faith sustained him through fiery trial

7
Moses - Deliverer and Lawgiver

• Israel was in slavery to Egypt
• God called Moses to deliver them
• Israel rejected him. He had to flee
• 40 years in desert in exile
• Moses knew fiery trials

8
Elijah - Gods Preaching Prophet

• At Gods command
• Rebuked King Ahab
• Hid from King near stream
• Stream of water dried up
• Widow and her son too poor

9
Elijahs Faith

• His faith did not falter
• Called down fire from heaven
• Turned Israel to God
• Had to run for his life
• God honored him

10
Jesus God In Human Flesh

• Jesus was baptized by John
• Not for cleansing of sin
• Pictured cleansing by His death
• Immediately was taken to wilderness
• 40 days tempted by Satan

11
Trials Strengthen Our Faith

• As Boot Camp strengthens soldiers
• Trials strengthens faith
• 1 John 54-5
• this is the victory that has overcome
• the world--our faith.

12
Trials Develop Patience

• James 13
• knowing that the testing of your
• faith produces patience.
• Faith tested produces maturity

13
Trials Equip Us

• To comfort others
• That we may be able to comfort
• With which we ourselves are comforted
• 2nd Corinthians 13, 4
• Preachers learn to comfort and empathize
• by going through fiery trials

14
Trials Prepare Us To Serve

• Joseph is a chief example
• hated by his brothers
• sold as a slave and bought by
• Potiphar
• lied about by Potiphars wife
• spent 13 years in jail
• Prisoner to deliverer in one day

15
Trials Purify Our Faith

• Job understood this principle
• When He has tested me,
• I shall come forth as gold.
• Job 2310
• Gold ore is put to the fire.
• Dross is removed, gold becomes pure.

16
Faith Is Rewarded

• Jobs faith stood the trial
• God blessed him with twice as much
• He lived another 140 years
• He is example to all of us
• Faith conquers the fiery trials