Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 6

 Being Born Again to a Living Hope Part 4

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: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: KJV

It is with fervency, fierceness, yet in foolishness does the devil 😈 through his demons and the lost human beings constantly and continuously persecute or pursue we true begotten again or born again believers in Christ Jesus our Lord, therefore with these next couple of verses the Apostle Peter wants to reassure those scattered Jewish converts to Christ back then and us today and all true believers of every era and generation since the Cross ➕ (for the reason they were scattered far from their land of Jerusalem was because of the intense attacks upon their lives by those Jews still unconverted to Christ; many were not able to flee and were murdered or martyred for Christ). Remember shortly after Saul's (later known as the Apostle Paul) conversion to Christ on the Damascus road, as it is written, "And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket." (Acts 9:19-25) (KJV). So then we see that from the very beginning that all those who became true converts to Christ were immediately hated and persecuted and pursued to the point of trying to kill them and the devil 😈 has not changed his tactics today he still designs, desires, and determines to do the very same thing to everyone of us who are truly begotten again or born again by Christ Jesus our Lord, as it is written, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) (KJV). So, the Apostle Peter writes these words of edifying, encouragement, and exaltation, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: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:" (1 Peter 1:6-7) (KJV). The little English phrase 'ye greatly rejoice' is translated by the Greek word agalliao meaning properly, to jump for joy, i.e. exult:--be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly). The little English phrase 'for a season' is translated by the Greek word oligos meaning of uncertain affinity; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); plus long, a season, short, small, a while. The little English phrase 'ye are in heaviness' is translated by the Greek word lupeō meaning to distress; reflexively or passively to be sad: - cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, be sorrowful. The English word 'manifold' is translated by the Greek word poikilos meaning of uncertain derivation; motley, i.e. various in character:-divers, manifold. The English word 'temptations' is translated by the Greek word peirasmos meaning (as used here) a putting to proof (by experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, trying. The English word 'trials' is translated by the Greek word dokimion meaning a testing; by implication, trustworthiness:--trial, trying. In other words, Peter wants us to have joy in the midst of our persecution, even though we will be distressed, grieved, sorrowful and saddened by them, for to lose (in death, some even by murder) those whom you love 😍 very dearly can do nothing but sadden your soul, however, we can rejoice in hope knowing that the testing of our faith and the adversity we encounter through our pilgrimage will discipline us and strengthen us in our walk with Christ and cause us to cling tighter to Him in all divers or different trials.

Here is what Matthew Henry said of 1 Peter 1:6-7, "Every sound Christian has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice. Great rejoicing contains more than an inward placid serenity of mind or sensation of comfort; it will show itself in the countenance and conduct, but especially in praise and gratitude. The chief joy of a good Christian arises from things spiritual and heavenly, from his relation to God and to heaven. In these every sound Christian greatly rejoices; his joy arises from his treasure, which consists of matters of great value, and the title to them is sure. The best Christians, those who have reason greatly to rejoice, may yet be in great heaviness through manifold temptations. All sorts of adversities are temptations, or trials of faith, patience, and constancy. These seldom go singly, but are manifold, and come from different quarters, the effect of all which is great heaviness. As men, we are subject to sorrows, personal and domestic. As Christians, our duty to God obliges us to frequent sorrow: and our compassion towards the miserable, the dishonour done to God, the calamities of His Church, and the destruction of mankind, from their own folly and from divine vengeance, raise, in a generous and pious mind, almost continual sorrow. I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart, Romans 9:2. The afflictions and sorrows of good people are but for a little while, they are but for a season; though they may be smart, they are but short. Life itself is but for a little while, and the sorrows of it cannot survive it; the shortness of any affliction does much abate the heaviness of it. Great heaviness is often necessary to a Christian's good: If need be, you are in heaviness. God does not afflict His people willingly, but acts with judgment, in proportion to our needs. There is a conveniency and fitness, nay, an absolute necessity in the case, for so the expression signifies: it must be; therefore no man should be moved by these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto, 1 Thessalonians 3:3. These troubles, that lie heavy, never come upon us but when we have need, and never stay any longer than needs must. The afflictions of serious Christians are designed for the trial of their faith. God's design in afflicting His people is their liberation, not their destruction; their advantage, not their ruin: a trial, as the word signifies, is an experiment or search made upon a man, by some affliction, to prove the value and strength of his faith. This trial is made upon faith principally, rather than any other grace, because the trial of this is, in effect, the trial of all that is good in us. Our Christianity depends upon our faith; if this be wanting, there is nothing else that is spiritually good in us. Christ prays for this Apostle, that his faith might not fail; if that be supported, all the rest will stand firm; the faith of good people is tried, that they themselves may have the comfort of it, God the glory of it, and others the benefit of it. A tried faith is much more precious than tried gold. Here is a double comparison of faith and gold, and the trial of the one with the trial of the other. Gold is the most valuable, pure, useful, and durable, of all the metals; so is faith among the Christian virtues; it lasts till it brings the soul to heaven, and then it issues in the glorious fruition of God forever. The trial of faith is much more precious than the trial of gold; in both there is a purification, a separation of the dross, and a discovery of the soundness and goodness of the things. Gold does not increase and multiply by trial in the fire, it rather grows less; but faith is established, improved, and multiplied, by the oppositions and afflictions that it meets with. Gold must perish at last - gold that perisheth; but faith never will. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, Luke 22:32. The trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Honour is properly that esteem and value which one has with another, and so God and man will honour the saints. Praise is the expression or declaration of that esteem; so Christ will commend His people in the great day, Come, you blessed of my Father, etc. Glory is that lustre wherewith a person, so honoured and praised, shines in heaven. Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, Romans 2:10. If a tried faith be found to praise, honour, and glory, let this recommend faith to you, as much more precious than gold, though it be assaulted and tried by afflictions. If you make your estimate either from present use or the final event of both, this will be found true, however the world may take it for an incredible paradox. Jesus Christ will appear again in glory, and, when He does so, the saints will appear with Him, and their graces will appear illustrious; and the more they have been tried the more bright they will then appear. The trial will soon be over, but the glory, honour, and praise will last to eternity. This should reconcile you to your present afflictions: they work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…