Enduring Faith
1 Pedro 1:1-12
1 Ako si Pedro nga apostol ni Jesu-Cristo. Nagpangumusta ako kaninyong tanang mga pinili sa Dios nga nagkatag ug nagapuyo
sa Ponto, Galacia, Capadocia, Asia, ug Bitinia. 2Gipili kamo sa Dios nga amahan gikan pa kaniadto sa katuyoan nga himuon
niya kamo nga iyang mga anak pinaagi sa Espiritu Santo, aron magmasinugtanon kamo kang Jesu-Cristo ug mahinloan sa
inyong mga sala pinaagi sa iyang dugo.
Hinaut nga madawat ninyo ang dugang pa nga grasya ug kalinaw.
May Maayo Kita nga Mapaabot
3-4Dayegon ta ang Dios ug Amahan sa atong Ginoong Jesu-Cristo! Tungod sa iyang dako nga kalooy kanato, natawo kita pagusab pinaagi sa pagkabanhaw ni Jesu-Cristo. Mao kini ang nagahatag kanato ug dakong paglaom nga may gitagana ang Dios
kanato nga panulondon. Kini nga panulondon atua sa langit, kanunay nga hinlo ug matahom, ug dili gayod mawala. 5Ug pinaagi
sa inyong pagtuo, panalipdan kamo sa gahom sa Dios samtang naghulat kamo sa kaluwasan nga giandam nang daan sa Dios
nga ipadayag sa kataposang adlaw.
6Tungod niini maglipay kamo bisan may miabot karon nga nagkalain-lain nga mga pagsulay. Kay kini nga mga pagsulay
lumalabay lang, ug kinahanglan nga masinati ninyo 7aron masulayan ang inyong pagtuo, sama sa bulawan nga gisulayan sa
kalayo aron masayran kon tinuod o dili. Apan mas mahinungdanon ang atong pagtuo kaysa bulawan nga mawala lang. Busa
kon mapamatud-an nga ang inyong pagtuo tinuod gayod, dayegon niya kamo ug pasidunggan sa adlaw nga si Jesu-Cristo
moabot. 8Bisan wala kamo makakita kaniya gihigugma ninyo siya, ug nagatuo kamo kaniya bisan wala pa ninyo siya makita
hangtod karon. Mao kana nga dili matukib ang inyong kalipay, 9tungod kay madawat ninyo ang bunga sa inyong pagtuo nga
mao ang inyong kaluwasan.
10Kini nga kaluwasan gisusi pag-ayo sa mga propeta kaniadto. Sila mao ang nagtagna bahin niini nga grasya sa Dios kanato.
11Gipahibalo na silang daan sa Espiritu ni Cristo nga anaa diha kanila nga mag-antos siya ug pagkahuman niana pasidunggan
siya. Busa ang mga propeta kaniadto nagpadayon sa ilang pagsusi kon kanus-a ug sa unsa nga pamaagi kini mahitabo.
12Gipahibalo usab sila sa Dios nga ang ilang gipanulti dili alang sa ilang kaayohan kondili alang kanato. Ug karon ang ilang
mga panagna nadungog na ninyo gikan sa mga nagasangyaw sa Maayong Balita. Nagsulti sila kaninyo pinaagi sa gahom sa
Espiritu Santo nga gipadala kanila gikan sa langit. Ug bisan ang mga anghel gusto nga makasabot niining Maayong Balita nga
gisulti kaninyo.
I. Enduring faith regenerates.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto
a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
II. Enduring faith reserves.
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
IlI. Enduring faith reveals.
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:
IV. Enduring faith rejoices.
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory:
V. Enduring faith receives.
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto
you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand
the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us
they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy
Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
The Apostle’s Battle Plan in Perseverance
A. Remember the Past (Hebrews 10:32)
[32] But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,
Why would the apostle challenge believer to remember? When we remember former struggles, we remember our hopeless
state. We remember how we felt as if there was no answer possible. We felt as if it would never leave and we would be trapped
forever. We also remember the details of how God worked and provided just exactly what we needed.
2 Cor. 2:14 (ESV)
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of
the knowledge of him everywhere.
Without trials God could not provide the way. Without trials He would not be glorified by giving us what we need. Sometimes
He removes the trial from us. Sometimes He gives us the strength to remain in the trial, and sometimes he removes us from the
trial. In any case He should be praised.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound
in hope.
B. Care for Others in the Present (Hebrews 10:34)
[34] For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you
knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Another key to our perseverance is that while we are in the midst of struggles, we can still care for others. Some have the
attitude that I can’t help someone else because I’m in such turmoil myself. Once I get this under control then I’ll help them. I
want to challenge you to think biblically. When we are in a trial if we’re not careful we can become self-focused and selfcentered. Understand that God is working in the trial to cause our faith to be stronger and it takes a trial to do that. Another way
to strengthen your own faith is to be busy strengthening someone else’s. At the end of the day you can look back and thank the
Lord because one trial has potentially strengthened the faith of two Christians.
C. Anticipate the Future (Hebrews 10:36-37)
[36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
[37] For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
Perseverance brings about the fulfillment of God’s promises. As we endure hardships and having a rock solid faith the promises
of God are ours for the taking. I can endure hardship now because I know there is a day coming when everything will be made
right and never again will trials and hardships be endured. Sin will be removed and Satan destroyed and my sinful nature
overcome with glorification, all will be made right. So I can endure trials now knowing that the future is bright and glorious.