Hard times lead to examination

Acts 27: 21-44 1 Peter 4:12-19
Nobody likes hard times, especially when you’ve done right. You may lead a healthy life style, but become ill, you may do the right thing at work but get blamed for failure. Hard times are not out of the will of God. He forewarns of persecution that comes by God’s will. Persevering can be costly. We must persevere in the face of hardship and suffering. It is relevant for us today.
HARD TIMES DEVELOP OUR CHARACTER – verse 12.
We are in a spiritual battle and Satan is our foe. Our principles are different from unbelievers. We must deal with the sin in our lives. Peter calls his readers ‘dear friends’, he has affection for them. We may say ‘why does he allow this to happen if he loves us?’ Adversity is the diamond dust that shapes character. Those who dive into the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls says Spurgeon. If we wish to grow in grace we will pass through affliction and difficulties. Swindoll says ‘if we view life as a school and God as the instructor, it should be no surprise when we face examinations. Faith knows in its trials that character is built, why should we escape this?
HARD TIMES BRING US CLOSER TO GOD – verse 13
It is very hard to rejoice in trials but good comes out of it.
a) Participation. We share in the sufferings of Christ. Nothing moves us closer to Christ. Think of footprints in the sand. If we are believers we love fellowship with Christ. Suffering draws us closer to Christ if it is for his sake. Christ suffered emotionally and physically, as we grow closer to him, so shall we. Our union with him is closer. We share in his suffering when we suffer. Suffering leads to patience, patience leads to perseverance etc. Seed Romans 5.
b) We experience the inpouring of the Holy Spirit. It takes God’s Spirit to make us shine and cope with our trials. When they stoned Stephen, they saw that his face shone. This is God shining through him.
c) We will rejoice more when we see Christ. Trials will lead us to a deeper level of joy at his coming.
HARD TIMES SHOULD LEAD TO EXAMINATION – verse 14
When things are going badly we often ask why? Are we going astray or have we done wrong?
a) If you do wrong, you should expect to suffer. If I’m reaping the consequences, I need to repent for making Christ unpopular. A father disciplines his children when they go astray. God will not allow us to continue to dishonour him. Crimes invite retribution from the state. Also we may suffer because we meddle in the affairs of others. These people bring disgrace on God’s name, this should not be known among us.
b) Some suffering is worthwhile. It glorifies Christ. We should not be ashamed if our lives are more difficult than those of unbelievers. We should see it as an honour to be associated with Christ..
c) Consider the depth of sin and the eternal perspective in trials. Let the examination begin with us.
(i) Jeremiah 25:29 If the righteous need disciplinary judgement, how much more will the unrighteous need eternal judgement? So we will not be judged with the world.
(ii) If it starts with us, it won’t end with us. Unbelievers are in big trouble. This life is the only Hell God’s people will know. Hell is 10,000 times worse than this life.
It’s hard to be saved because you are misunderstood, people may give you a hard time for being a sincere Christian, Matthew 7:14. We don’t like being different.
It’s hard because people don’t like the Gospel message itself. People are told they are not good enough for Heaven. People have to be humble to come to God for salvation.
It’s hard for people to see conversion as the only way – Romans 10:9. People are very proud.
It’s hard to accept that a true Christian must pray – Acts 2:21. Paul was seen to be a believer because he prayed. This is a sign we have lost our independence and need to rely upon God.
HARD TIMES TEACH US TO TRUST GOD IN NEW WAYS.
We entrust ourselves to God in trials, verse 19. ‘Entrust’ means to deposit one’s valuables to another for safe keeping. 2 Timothy 1:12. It was the word Jesus uttered from the cross when he died – Luke 23:46. Jesus said ‘I commit myself into your hands.’ Have we committed ourselves to our creator? If you are discouraged and distressed, put your life in God’s hands. He is a good banker. He will take care of his own. He will sustain you. He will see you through. It is God’s desire that we deposit our trials to His care and charge, Isaiah 43:2. The occupants of the ship in Acts 27 had to commit themselves into God’s hands as we do spiritually, if we want to land safely on the shores of Heaven. We must grasp the Lord Jesus and never let him go. Have you done that?