Four things that are produced through hardship
A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men’s breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast.” Lord, I hate buttermilk”, the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour”. The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, “But Lord when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don’t like, when life gets hard when we don’t understand what you’re saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits Amen.”Within that prayer, there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Stay strong, my friends, because our LORD is mixing several things that we don’t really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it.
In the Bible there are only two things that will move you:
1. Afflictions
1 Thessalonians 3:3 AV
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
2. Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:21 AV
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Do not allow afflictions (hardship) to move you away from the Lord
1 Thessalonians 3:1–5 AV
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
Afflictions or Trials are necessary
They are a form of discipline
Discipline is not just negative
• Discipline is a sign of Love
Proverbs 3:12 AV
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
• Discipline is a sign of belonging
Hebrews 12:7 AV
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
• You don’t discipline strangers
• Discipline is helpful
Hebrews 12:11 AV
11 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.
Afflictions are part of our calling
1 Peter 2:18–25 AV
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
It is better to suffer for doing good than evil
• That is what you are called to do:
1 Peter 2:21 AV
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Taking unwarranted suffering with patience
The suffering that Joseph went through was Gods purpose for his life
Genesis 50:20 AV
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Two views of trials
Human (carnal)
Joseph’s suffering was due to:
• injustice
• ingratitude
Spiritual View
Joseph’s suffering was permitted for the purpose of
• training
• preparing
• him for the work ahead
All that Joseph went through was Gods purpose
Genesis 45:3–8 AV
3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Four things that are produced through hardship
1. Hardship proves the reality of your faith
1 Peter 1:6–7 AV
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 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:
Hardship will force you to consider what you really believe
2. Hardship provides opportunity to comfort and encourage others
2 Corinthians 1:3–6 AV
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Hardship gives you the ability to relate to other people
3. Hardship promotes Character
Romans 5:1–4 AV
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
• Character is not developed in ease and quiet
• Character is what rises to the top during trials
• want to see someones character?
• give them adversaries
4. Hardship purges impurity from your life
Job 23:10 AV
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Impurity is removed by testing and afflictions
Psalm 66:10–12 AV
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
To test the purity of precious metals, they are tested by placing them under intense heat
Fire Assay – is widely considered to be the most accurate way to test for gold purity.
First, the sample is mixed with lead oxide and a few control substances are melted together at about 1650 F.
The lead in the mixture binds with the gold in the sample. This mixture is poured into a mold and cooled.
Because the lead is so dense, it sinks to the bottom of the mold, where it is chipped off and placed into a cupel (a small container made of bone ash) and reheated.
The cupel absorbs the lead, leaving only precious metal behind.
This is measured against the size of the rest of the sample being tested to determine its purity.
Sometimes the thing that we need to keep us close to the Lord is adversaries and afflictions.
• Do not run from the very things that will draw you closer to the Lord
Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.
